RIVER RADIO NEWS 091514
TWO KILLED IN CRAIGHEAD COUNTY WRECK
Two Jonesboro residents are dead following a wreck Saturday night in Craighead County.
According to the Arkansas State Police, the wreck occurred when a vehicle driven by 33 year old Matthew Rutherford crossed the center turn lane of State Highway 18 and struck another vehicle.
Both Rutherford and the driver of the second vehicle, 20 year old Kenneth Collins, were fatally injured.
A passenger in the second vehicle suffered undisclosed injures.
FOUR CHICAGO RESIDENTS ARRESTED IN NEW MADRID COUNTY ON DRUG CHARGES
Four Illinois males are facing drug charges following their arrest Friday afternoon.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the four were arrested in New Madrid County on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute for marijuana and mushrooms.
The four arrested were 24 year old Eric Uribe, 21 year old Matthew Cukrowski, 19 year old Nicholas Cantu, and 17 year old Lewis Beltran, all of Chicago, Illinois.
BIRCH TREE MAN ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE
A Birch Tree man was taken into custody Friday afternoon in Shannon County on a marijuana related charge.
According to the Highway Patrol, 20 year old Austin L. Pribble is facing charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.
Pribble also reportedly had warrants for theft and possession of a controlled substance.
WAPPAPELLO MAN ARRESTED ON WARRANTS FOR ASSAULT AND ARMED CRIMINAL ACTION
A Wappapello man was recently taken into custody in Stoddard County.
According to the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department, 57 year old Donald R. Rhodes has been arrested on warrants for second degree assault and armed criminal action.
According to Missouri Case Net, the charges are in connection to an incident on September 3rd.
MOBILE OFFICE TO BE HELD TOMORROW IN VAN BUREN
Staff members of United States Senator Roy Blunt will be in Van Buren on Tuesday to meet with constituents.
The Mobile Office will provide Missourians the opportunity to discuss their questions or concerns with the federal government one-on-one with members of Senator Blunt’s staff.
The Mobile Office has been scheduled for 10 am to 11 am Tuesday at the Float Stream Restaurant in Van Buren.
OVER A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO GO TO OVERPASS IN JONESBORO
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $1.2 million grant to create a railroad overpass in Jonesboro.
The grant was announced Friday by U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman. The money will be used to conduct a review and create design plans for an overpass at Arkansas 18 and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.
That area sees regular traffic congestion because of nearby schools.
The grant is part of the transportation department's TIGER program - or Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery. The program invests in transportation projects that will have a significant economic impact.
TWO WEEK ROAD PROJECT BEGINNING TODAY IN BUTLER COUNTY
Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be in Butler County beginning today for a two week road project on US 60.
From 7 am to 4 pm daily through Friday, September 26th, US 60 will be reduced to one lane for shoulder repairs.
The work zone will be located between US 67 and County Road 409.
STODDARD COUNTY ROAD TO BE CLOSED TODAY FOR REPAIRS
Route 91 in Stoddard County will be closed today so railroad company crews can perform repairs.
The work zone is located between County Road 351 and County Road 342.
Work will take place today from 8 am to 3 pm.
PAVEMENT REPAIRS BEGIN TODAY IN PEMISCOT COUNTY
An outer road in Pemiscot County will be closed this week as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs.
This section of roadway is located from Route U to the end of Outer Road.
Work will take place Monday, Sept. 15 through Thursday, Sept. 25 from 6:30 am to 5 pm daily.
DITCH WORK TO CAUSE POSSIBLE DELAYS ON INTERSTATE 55
Delays will be possible this week on Interstate 55 due to ditch work.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, Interstate 55 will be reduced to one lane between County Road 820 and the Sikeston city limits in New Madrid County.
Work is scheduled to be done today through Thursday from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm each day.
GOVERNOR NIXON BLOCKS $54 MILLION DOLLARS OF SPENDING
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has blocked expenditures for all 47 budget items on which lawmakers overrode his line-item vetoes.
Nixon said Friday he was restricting $54 million of spending items to ensure a balanced budget. That means that despite the veto overrides earlier this week, there will not be additional money flowing to such things as services for victims of child abuse and rape or for school safety grants.
But Nixon also said he was releasing $22 million of spending that he had previously frozen for state aid to county governments, job training and other programs.
The Missouri Constitution gives governors the power to withhold money that has been budgeted for programs in order to balance the budget.
After Friday's actions, Nixon now is restricting $735 million of budgeted expenses.
RECOUNT CONFIRMS PASSAGE OF MISSOURI FARMING RIGHTS AMENDMENT
A recount of a Missouri farming rights amendment appears to have confirmed its passage.
Opponents of the measure had asked for a recount after the official tally from the August election showed the proposed constitutional amendment passing by a margin of 2,490 votes out of nearly 1 million cast.
According to figures submitted by local election authorities to Secretary of State Jason Kander, the recount has reduced that margin of passage to 2,376 votes.
The secretary of state's office is expected to officially certify the results of the recount Monday.
The amendment creates a constitutional right to engage in farming and ranching. Missouri is just the second state behind North Dakota to place farming rights in its constitution.
