RIVER RADIO NEWS 011415
JONESBORO MAN SENTENCED ON MURDER CHARGE
(AP) - A 21 year old Jonesboro man has been sentenced to 47 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to his role in a 2013 slaying.
KAIT reports that Garrett Allen Chamblis pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse charges. He won't be eligible for parole for at least 25 years.
Chamblis was charged in the August 2013 death of 66 year old Harold Hagar of Newport. Hagar's body was left on a rural Jackson County road.
After the crime, prosecutors said Chamblis used Hagar's car to flee to Jonesboro, where it was later found burned in Craighead Forest Park.
MAN IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING STANDOFF WITH POLICE
One man is in custody following police standoff Tuesday night in Scott County.
According to KFVS, the man had reportedly barricaded himself inside a home during a domestic disturbance. The standoff caused a portion of Highway 77 to be closed for almost two hours.
The man, whose name was not released, was convinced to leave the home and was arrested.
MISSING BOLLINGER COUNTY WOMAN FOUND
A woman, who officials in Bollinger County had reported missing on Monday, has been located.
According to the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Department, 34 year old Brandi Lee was found at a home Tuesday morning.
Authorities say she was safe, but have released no further details at this time.
MAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE
A northeast Arkansas man is facing five years in prison on a child pornography charge.
According to KAIT, 26 year old Joshua Collins, of Jonesboro, was sentenced to 60 months after pleading guilty to a charge of distributing/possessing/viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.
Numerous images of child pornography were reportedly found on a laptop during a search of Collins’ apartment.
ILLINOIS MAN ARRESTED IN CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY ON MULTIPLE DRUG CHARGES
An Illinois man is facing multiple drug charges in connection to his arrest early Tuesday morning in Cape Girardeau County.
35 year old Adam Beck, of McClure, Illinois, was arrested on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, cocaine; possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute; and driving while intoxicated, according to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
POLICE CHASE LEADS TO ARREST OF CHARLESTON MAN
A chase involving police officers has resulted in the arrest of a Charleston man.
A police officer attempted to pull over 29 year old Jeremy Warren in Miner, however Warren allegedly sped up and tried to elude the officer.
The chase went from Miner to Sikeston, where Warren’s vehicle faltered and he was taken into custody. Warren is facing charges including resisting arrest and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.
24TH ANNUAL JAZZ FEST TO BE HELD NEXT MONTH AT TINNIN FINE ARTS CENTER
The 24th annual Three Rivers College Jazz Band Festival has been scheduled for next month at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center.
The multi night festival will feature concerts by area junior high, high school and Three Rivers College jazz bands on Thursday, February 12th; the Arkansas State University Jazz Ensemble on Friday, February 13th; and the 2015 All-District High School Jazz Band on Saturday, February 14th.
The All-District Jazz Band is a select group of the best high school jazz students in the Southeast Missouri District 10 chosen by audition.
The free concerts will each begin at 7 pm.
SHOULDER REPAIRS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK IN STODDARD COUNTY
A portion of Route O in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane this week for shoulder repairs.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, Route O will be reduced daily from 10 am to 3 pm through Friday. The work zone will be located between Highway 25 and Route P.
MISSOURI BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES MINIMUM SCORES ON NEW TESTS
(AP) - Missouri is moving forward with testing for the national Common Core educational standards for schoolchildren.
The State Board of Education this week approved minimum scores on new assessments to gauge how well students perform on the tests.
Missouri students will take the new test aligned with the Common Core standards for the first time this spring. The national standards in Common Core set goals for what students should learn in kindergarten through high school.
A state law passed last year prohibits scores from the first year of testing to be used against schools.
There are no estimates for how well Missouri children will do on the test, but nationally between 32 and 39 percent of students in states with Common Core are expected score at proficient levels.
MISSOURI SUPREME COURT ISSUES RULING ON SOME SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS
(AP) - The Missouri Supreme Court is limiting the sales tax exemptions for items used for construction.
In three separate cases Tuesday, the high court barred businesses from claiming sales tax breaks on cranes, asphalt and steel beams used in constructing buildings and paving roads.
Business groups quickly vowed to pursue legislation that would effectively reverse those rulings.
Tracy King is the vice president of government affairs at the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She says she will be working with others to craft a bill as soon as next week.
King contends that the Supreme Court has misinterpreted the Legislature's intent and that the rulings incorrectly limit the types of manufacturing that should qualify for a sales tax exemption.