RIVER RADIO NEWS 120414
TWO FACING MURDER CHARGES IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Two people have been charged with murder in connection to the death of 49 year old James Hunt.
Hunt’s body was found partially burned under a vehicle on November 29th near Marked Tree. According to KAIT, Hunt had also been shot.
Two Marked Tree residents, 48 year old Christopher Terrell and 40 year old Betty Grant have been taken into custody. They are both facing a charge of first degree murder.
CAPE GIRARDEAU POLICE LOOKING FOR MAN WHO TOOK WOMAN’S PURSE
Police in Cape Girardeau say a suspect is being sought for allegedly taking a woman’s purse Wednesday night.
The strong arm robbery reportedly occurred when a man approached the woman in a parking lot near Main Street and Independence at around 10 pm. He then fled with her purse.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Cape Girardeau Police Department.
TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY TO SEE MEDICARE CLAIM COUNSELOR AT POPLAR BLUFF LIBRARY
Today is the final day to visit with a Medicare CLAIM counselor at the Poplar Bluff Public Library.
The session will be held this afternoon from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. The free service can help you compare the different Medicare options and plans available, check coverage availability and discover ways to lower your costs.
You can call and make an appointment at 573-300-6180 or just walk in during the session.
MOBILE OFFICE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK IN BOLLINGER COUNTY
Staff members of United States Senator Roy Blunt will be in Bollinger County next week for a Mobile Office.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 9th from 2 pm to 3 pm at the Bollinger County Courthouse in Marble Hill.
Mobile Offices are opportunities for Missourians to discuss their questions or concerns with the federal government one-on-one with members of Senator Blunt’s staff.
FOREST SERVICE MAKES AMENDMENT TO HELP PROTECT THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
The Mark Twain National Forrest has made an amendment to a 2005 management plan in order to protect several threatened and possibly endangered species.
The measures are to help conserve and recover declining populations of the Ozark Hellbender along with Snuffbox, Spectaclecase and Sheepnose Mussel populations.
Those species are listed as endangered by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Current Ozark Hellbender populations number approximately 1,100 in Missouri.
The amendment also is for the conservation and recovery of Running Buffalo Clover, and ensures persistence of Forest populations of various other Regional Forester-designated sensitive species.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE WANTS TO MAKE IT HARDER TO AMEND CONSTITUTION
A Missouri lawmaker is proposing to make it harder to amend the state constitution.
Republican Representative Elijah Haahr, of Springfield, wants to require a 60 percent vote - instead of a simple majority - to approve constitutional amendments at statewide elections.
Haahr has filed his proposal for lawmakers to consider during the 2015 session. If approved by the General Assembly, it would be referred to the 2016 ballot.
Haahr says he's proposing the higher standard because the Missouri Constitution is being amended with increasing frequency and has grown to well over 100 pages long.
Voters approved five constitutional amendments this year. But two of those amendments - creating a right to farm and limiting the governor's budget-cutting powers - didn't meet Haahr's proposed 60 percent threshold.
JUST OVER A THIRD OF REGISTERED VOTERS TOOK PART IN MISSOURI’S GENERAL ELECTION
The results are official for Missouri's general election, and there are no last moment surprises.
Secretary of State Jason Kander on Wednesday officially certified the results of the November 4th election. Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich and all eight of Missouri's incumbent Congress members were easily re-elected, so there was no suspense over the final figures.
More than 1.4 million people cast ballots - about 35 percent of Missouri's registered voters.
The top attraction appeared to be Constitutional Amendment 3, which would have required teachers to be evaluated based largely on student performance. More people voted on that measure than on any other issue or race. The amendment was overwhelmingly defeated.
STATE LAWMAKERS ATTEMPTING TO APPEAL COURT RULING FOR SAME SEX MARRIAGES
Missouri's Republican legislative leaders are seeking to appeal a court ruling requiring officials to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey and House Speaker Tim Jones have filed a motion asking to intervene in a Jackson County court case so they can appeal it to the state Supreme Court.
Judge J. Dale Youngs ruled in October that Missouri must legally recognize same-sex couples who got married elsewhere - even though Missouri has a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage.
Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster decided not to appeal that case. But Koster is appealing separate federal and state court rulings striking down the gay marriage ban.
Dempsey said no taxpayer dollars are being spent on the legislators' court filings.
