RIVER RADIO NEWS 040414
TORNADOS REPORTED IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI LAST NIGHT
Last night’s severe weather brought tornados to Southeast Missouri.
According to the National Weather Service, a tornado was reported at 8:07 pm northeast of Doniphan. A tornado was also reported at 8:11 pm northeast of Fairdealing in Butler County.
At 9:14 pm two funnel clouds were reported by spotters west northwest of Bloomfield in Stoddard County.
Funnel clouds were also reported at 9:44 pm near Doniphan and at 10:05 pm near Poplar Bluff.
Hail was also reported at various places across Southeast Missouri.
WOMAN FACING NEGLIGANT HOMICIDE CHARGE IN CONNECTION TO FATAL WRECK
A Northeast Arkansas woman is facing a charge of negligent homicide.
33 year old Andrea Spradling, of Pocahontas, was arrested in connection to a wreck Monday that resulted in the death of Carmen Stayton, of Walnut Ridge.
Spradling had allegedly been drinking the night of the wreck. According to the Arkansas State Police, Spradling failed to stop at an intersection in Walnut Ridge and hit Stayton’s vehicle.
ARMED ROBBERY REPORTED IN PEMISCOT COUNTY
Authorities in Pemiscot County are investigation a report of an armed robbery.
According to KFVS, the incident occurred Tuesday at a residence south of Hayti. A black male reportedly entered the home with a gun and took a purse from a victim.
Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call the Pemiscot County Sheriff’s Department at 573-333-4104.
POLICE CHASE LEADS TO ONE ARREST, SEARCH FOR SECOND SUSPECT
A police chase has led to the arrest of one man and a search for a second.
Authorities say the chase began in Miner when officers attempted to pull a vehicle over for multiple traffic violations.
An officer with the Miner Police Department says the driver refused to stop and led police on a chase from Miner to Sikeston, where Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers used spike strips to stop the vehicle. Two males ran from the scene.
Officers apprehended Meshaw Daniel, of Sikeston. Authorities are still looking for the driver of the vehicle, who was able to elude police.
Daniel was taken into custody for a warrant out of Mississippi County on a charge of distribution of a controlled substance.
THREE ARRESTED IN BUTLER COUNTY ON METH CHARGE
Three people are facing drug related charges following their arrest in Butler County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 58 year old Robert D. Colborn, of Cabool, along with 38 year old Barry F. Hatton and 30 year old Patricia A. Mcintosh, of Wynona, were arrested Wednesday evening on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.
POPLAR BLUFF RECIEVES HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT
The city of Poplar Bluff has been awarded a grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
The $13,200 grant comes through the federal Historic Preservation Fund and will be used to prepare the nomination of the Kinzer and Cynthia Streets Historic District for the National Register of Historic Places.
CHANGES PLANED FOR TODAY AT AREA INTERSECTION
The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced a minor change to the way traffic is handled at an area intersection.
Currently, the intersection of Route 160 and Old Route 67 gives Route 67 traffic the right of way and the traffic on Route 160 has the burden of a STOP condition.
According to MoDOT Area Engineer, David Wyman, beginning today at 1 pm, cars on Route 160 will have the right of way and cars on Old Route 67 will have the STOP condition.
JOBLESS BENEFITS SLASHED UNDER BILL APPROVED BY MISSOURI SENATE
Missouri senators have passed legislation that could lead to a reduction in jobless benefits for people laid off in the future.
The bill would make Missouri one of only a few states to link the duration of unemployment benefits to the state's unemployment rate.
Missouri workers currently can receive unemployment benefits for 20 weeks.
Under the bill, the full 20 weeks of benefits would be available only if the state's unemployment rate is at least 9 percent.
The maximum duration of jobless benefits would be cut by a week for each one-half percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate - bottoming out at 13 weeks of benefits when the unemployment rate is less than 6 percent.
The Senate's 24 to 8 vote Thursday sends the bill to the House.
BILL WOULD ALLOW EMERGENCY WORKERS THE CHANCE TO CAST ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
Legislation under consideration in Missouri could give emergency workers summoned to duty near Election Day a greater chance of casting absentee ballots.
Missouri law limits absentee ballots to people who will be unable to vote in person on Election Day because of such reasons as illnesses, disabilities or expected absences.
But lawmakers say some emergency workers can be called to duty on such short notice that they don't have time to request an absentee ballot.
A bill passed Wednesday by the Senate would allow people responding to federal or state emergencies to cast absentee ballots by email or facsimile machine. The bill now goes to the House.
The legislation would take effect immediately upon the governor's signature, so that it could be in place for the August primary elections.
