RIVER RADIO NEWS 121814
MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON ON CAPITAL MURDER CHARGE
A man is facing life in prison after being found guilty of capital murder.
A jury found 24 year old Tevarius Green guilty Wednesday for the death of a Blytheville man, who was reportedly shot in the head in July of 2013.
Green received a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
SEVEN YEAR OLD BOY INJURED IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS SHOOTING INCIDENT
Police in Northeast Arkansas say a 7 year old boy has been wounded by another boy while target shooting.
Ravenden Police Chief Tim McComas told the Jonesboro Sun Tuesday that the boy had minor surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. He says the victim and another 7 year old boy were firing a .22-caliber gun on Sunday while an adult was present.
McComas says the victim walked into the other boy's line of fire and was struck in his lower body.
BENTON MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED STATUTORY RAPE
A Benton man is facing a statutory rape charge.
According to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, 20 year old Dustin Sauceda has been charged with first degree attempted statutory rape by attempting sexual intercourse with another person under 14 years old.
Sauceda was arrested Tuesday afternoon. During an interview with authorities, he reportedly confessed to a specific sexual act with the victim.
PROSECUTOR FINDS OFFICER’S SHOOTING OF PARAGOULD WOMAN JUSTIFIED
A Northeast Arkansas prosecutor has ruled that a police officer was justified in the shooting of a Paragould woman earlier this month.
On December 10th, Tonya Turner reportedly ran at an officer with a large kitchen knife. The officer shot Turner twice in the stomach. Turner was injured in the incident and taken to an area hospital.
According to KAIT, 2nd Judicial District Prosecutor Scott Ellington says that the officer was justified in using deadly force.
SIX INJURED IN SCOTT COUNTY WRECK
Six people were injured Wednesday afternoon during a two vehicle wreck in Scott County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 27 year old Patricia Robinson, of Caruthersville, was allegedly driving the wrong way on Interstate 55 and caused a nearly head on collision with another vehicle.
Robinson, four passengers in her vehicle, and the driver of the second vehicle all suffered serious injuries in the wreck.
POPLAR BLUFF TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING
Poplar Bluff is among 12 communities in Southeast Missouri that will receive federal transportation alternative funds.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the funding is to allow communities to develop projects that improve the quality of a community and enhance the travel experience for people traveling by all modes.
Some of the projects submitted for funds consisted of trails, historical preservation projects and sidewalks.
In addition to Poplar Bluff, Bloomfield, New Madrid, and Butler County will also receive funds.
DUNKLIN COUNTY ROAD TO BE CLOSED TODAY FOR PIPE REPLACEMENT
Route P in Dunklin County will be closed today as the Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a pipe beneath the roadway.
The work zone is located between County Road 513 and County Road 509.
Weather permitting, work will take place from 7 am to 3:30 pm.
BRUSH CUTTING TO CAUSE DELAYS THIS WEEK IN WAYNE COUNTY
Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be in Wayne County today and tomorrow.
Route HH in Wayne County will be reduced to one lane from Route 34 to the Reynolds County line so crews can perform brush cutting.
Work is scheduled to be performed today and tomorrow from 8 am to 2:30 pm each day, weather permitting.
BILL WOULD REQUIRE EATING DISORDERS TO BE COVERED BY HEALTH CARE PLANS
Health care plans would have to cover eating disorder treatments under proposed Missouri legislation.
State Senator David Pearce of Warrensburg recently filed a bill requiring coverage for diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of the disorders. Coverage would include specialist services recommended by a patient's treatment team.
Under the measure the Department of Insurance would be required to make an annual report to lawmakers regarding those insured and treated for eating disorders.
SMALL CONCERNS RAISED IN MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AUDIT
A new audit faults the Missouri Department of Agriculture for failing to inspect some grain and petroleum devices and giving sizable pay raises to several employees.
But Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich says those are "relatively small" concerns. Schweich says the Agriculture Department audit released Wednesday is probably the best of any major state agency during his four years in office.
State audits don't typically list positive findings, just areas of concern.
The audit questioned the need for significant salary increases given to six employees during the 2013 budget year and to four employees during 2014. The department said the raises were generally due to increased job responsibilities.
The department pointed to staff shortages for failing to complete inspections of some petroleum devices and grain meters.
