RIVER RADIO NEWS 042314
SILVER ALERT ISSUED FOR MISSING CARAWAY MAN
Authorities in Caraway, Arkansas, have requested activation of a Silver alert for an elderly man who went missing on Tuesday.
According to the Arkansas State Police, 81 year old Donald E. Ashley was last known to be at 307 Lynn Street in Caraway. Ashley is described as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds with brown eyes.
Authorities say he may be travelling in a 1998 White Ford Ranger with a black tool box in the back. Anyone with information about Ashley’s whereabouts should contact Caraway Police at 870-482-3434.
A picture of Ashley is available on the KWOC Facebook page.
FATALITY REPORTED IN JONESBORO FIRE
A fire at an apartment complex Tuesday has resulted in one death.
According to authorities, the fire was at Aspen Gardens in Jonesboro.
The identity of the person who died has not yet been made available.
TEENAGER IN CUSTODY FOR FIRING SHOTS IN CAPE
A teenager has been taken into custody in connection with a weekend shooting incident in Cape Girardeau.
Authorities say they were called to a location on South Frederick Street Saturday night in reference to shots being fired. Witnesses told officers that a gray vehicle had driven by and that a juvenile inside the vehicle had fired several shots.
Investigators located the vehicle and a 16 year old male who matched the description given by witnesses.
Officials say the teen has been turned over to juvenile authorities, who will decide what charges the boy will face.
ST. LOUIS MAN ARRESTED IN SCOTT COUNTY FOR DRIVING OVER 110 MPH
A St. Louis man was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon after allegedly driving over 110 miles per hour.
According to the Highway Patrol, 24 year old Devlin M. Gandy was arrested in Scott County on charges of speeding, 112 miles per hour in a 70 miles per hour zone and driving while revoked.
NEW MAYOR ELECTED FOR POPLAR BLUFF
Poplar Bluff has a new mayor.
Angela Pearson has been elected mayor of Poplar Bluff by the Poplar Bluff City Council. Councilman Ed DeGaris had previously held the spot.
In a post on her Facebook page, Pearson wrote, “My dreams for Poplar Bluff include prosperity for all, working together as a community, continued growth, revitalizing our downtown area and areas that have been left out in the past and much more.”
New council member Jack Rushin was chosen for Mayor Pro Tem. The positions of mayor and mayor pro tem are chosen each year by the city council.
EMERGENCY DISINFECTION TO BEGIN TODAY FOR WATER DISTRICT #2 IN DUNKLIN COUNTY
Water District #2 customers in Dunklin County are under a boil water order due to an emergency disinfection that is set to begin this afternoon.
According to KFVS, the disinfection comes after authorities found Chironomidae larvae in the water system and compromised water storage tanks. The report says that no known human illnesses are associated with exposure to the larvae.
The boil water order will remain in place until the water quality has been restored.
SENATE COMMITTEE SCALES BACK PLAN CONCERNING COLLEGE TUITIONS
A Missouri Senate committee has scaled back a state budget provision that sought to prohibit public colleges and universities from offering in-state tuition rates to students living in the country illegally.
The Senate Appropriations Committee's plan would bar institutions from "knowingly" offer discounted tuition to such students. The committee resolved the final sticking points Tuesday in crafting its budget proposal for the next fiscal year.
Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer, of Columbia, says universities don't have the means to investigate whether students are lawful residents. The House included the overall ban in its budget proposal after a St. Louis Community College decided to offer cheaper tuition rates for those students.
The Senate language would bar colleges from actively recruiting students from other countries to attend Missouri schools at lower rates.
GOVERNOR NIXON SPEAKS ABOUT TAX CUT LEGISLATION
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon is raising new concerns that an income tax cut passed by the Legislature could have "cataclysmic" consequences for state revenues.
The Democratic governor said Tuesday that the bill could eliminate taxes on all income over $9,000, punching a $4.8 billion hole in the state budget.
Republican legislative leaders called Nixon's assertion "ridiculous," ''absurd" and "laughable."
Nixon did not veto the bill Tuesday but has indicated he will do so.
House Majority Leader John Diehl said Tuesday that lawmakers will attempt to override the veto before their session ends May 16.
An override requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers. That means Republicans would have to vote in block and pick up the support of at least one House Democrat.
CANNABIS EXTRACT BILL GIVEN FIRST APPROVAL BY MISSOURI HOUSE
The Missouri House has endorsed legislation allowing use of a cannabis extract by people whose epilepsy is not relieved by other treatments.
The bill would permit use of "hemp extract" with little of the substance that makes marijuana users feel high and greater amounts of a chemical called cannabidiol, or CBD. Patients would need to have epilepsy that a neurologist has determined is not responding to at least three treatment options. Patients or their parents would need a state-issued registration card.
Growers would have to be nonprofit organizations and have a license from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
House members gave the measure first-round approval Tuesday by voice vote. It needs another affirmative vote to move to the Senate.
