RIVER RADIO NEWS 121014
CAPE GIRARDEAU MAN FACING CHILD MOLESTATION CHARGE
A Cape Girardeau man has been taken into custody on a child molestation charge.
According to the Southeast Missourian, 44 year old Joseph F. Crawford was recently arrested and is facing a charge of first degree child molestation.
An investigation was started following a call made to a child-abuse hotline.
CARUTHERSVILLE MALE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY THREATENING TO KILL HIS GIRLFRIEND
A Caruthersville man is facing multiple charges after allegedly threatening to kill his girlfriend.
According to the Caruthersville Police Department, the victim told police that her 59 year old boyfriend pulled a knife and threatened to kill her during a verbal confrontation.
The suspect, whose name was not released, was arrested and is being held pending the filling of formal charges for armed criminal action and second degree domestic assault.
JONESBORO WOMAN ARRESTED FOR BATTERY INCIDENT
A Jonesboro woman has been arrested after police say she cut her exgirlfriend with a box cutter in a Kmart parking lot.
Twentyone year old Rokoiya Smith was being held at the Craighead County jail Tuesday morning on a domestic battery charge. Police arrested her Sunday after the other woman called 911.
The victim says she gave Smith a ride to work at the store. She says Smith became upset after the victim's cellphone rang and she wouldn't tell Smith who was calling.
Police say Smith stabbed the woman repeatedly with car keys to no affect before using the box cutter. They say Smith told the victim that stabbing her was worth the criminal charge.
It's unclear if the victim was hospitalized.
QULIN MAN ARRESTED ON FELONY WARRANT
A Qulin man was arrested Tuesday night in Butler County on a felony warrant.
According to the Highway Patrol, 60 year old Charles McClellan was taken into custody shortly after 10 pm on a felony Butler County warrant for unlawful possession of a firearm.
PARAGOULD POLICE WARNING OF PHONE SCAM
Authorities in Paragould are warning area residents to be on the lookout for a phone scam.
According to Paragould Police Department, a caller, who has been known to give the name of the CEO of Publisher's Clearinghouse, will advise the potential victim that they have won over a million dollars, in addition to a very expensive Mercedes automobile.
The victim is requested to go to their bank and open an account so that the money can be deposited into said account. They will request that the victim go to Walmart and get a money order and give them a phone number to call when they obtain it, and then do the transaction over the phone.
Police say to never give out bank account information, social security numbers, dates of birth, or any other information that could compromise your accounts or your identity. Companies such as Publisher's Clearinghouse will not contact you by phone and request personal information, and certainly not ask for account numbers for bank accounts.
TWO ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED MEDICAID FRAUD
Two people in Northeast Arkansas were recently arrested in separate fraud cases.
According to Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, 26 year old Jonathan Chandler, of Blytheville, was arrested Monday for Medicaid Fraud, for fraudulently billing Medicaid for reimbursement for attendant care services he didn’t provide.
In a separate case, 50 year old Martha Renshaw, of Lake City, was also arrested Monday for Medicaid Fraud. Renshaw is accused of billing the Arkansas Medicaid Program over $4000 for in-home services that she did not provide.
MOBILE OFFICE TO BE HELD TODAY IN CARTER COUNTY
Staff members of United States Senator Roy Blunt will be in Carter County this morning for a Mobile Office.
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.
The meeting is scheduled to run from 10:30 to 11:30 this morning at the Carter County Courthouse in Van Buren.
PORTION OF NEW MADRID COUNTY ROAD TO BE CLOSED THIS WEEK
A portion of a New Madrid County road is closed this week due to a pipe replacement.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, Route W in New Madrid County will be closed between Route D and Route 62.
Weather Permitting, work is scheduled to be done daily from 8 am to 3:30 pm through Friday.
PROPOSED BILL WOULD MANDATE CHILD SAFE PACKAGING FOR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES
Electronic cigarettes would have to be wrapped in child-safe packaging under a bill proposed by a Missouri House member.
State Representative Sheila Solon of Blue Springs recently filed legislation requiring stricter packaging for vapor products. Electronic cigarettes heat liquid nicotine into an inhalable vapor, and some is flavored to taste like candy.
Lawmakers last session approved a bill to ban sales of electronic cigarettes and other alternative nicotine products to minors. But the bill faced opposition from Governor Jay Nixon, who vetoed it because of concerns that it also prevented the products from being taxed or regulated as tobacco.
Lawmakers later overrode the veto.
Federal officials have suggested a similar ban nationwide, with experts saying nicotine is especially dangerous for children.
LAWMAKER PROPOSES WORK LEAVE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS
A Missouri lawmaker is proposing some victims of domestic violence get two weeks of unpaid leave from work.
Democratic state Senator Gina Walsh of St. Louis recently filed legislation that would require employers give their workers time to cope with abuse. Employees would qualify if they or a family member experienced any of a number of forms of domestic violence.
They would need to notify their boss two days in advance of time off.
The bill aims to give survivors of domestic violence time to seek counseling, medical attention or legal help.
Workers at companies with 50 or more employees would get two weeks off a year. Companies with more than 15 employees would allow one week off.
Employers could not discriminate against individuals who seek unpaid leave.
