RIVER RADIO NEWS 012115
TENNESSEE MAN ARRESTED IN BUTLER COUNTY ON DRUG CHARGES
A Tennessee man was arrested Tuesday in Butler County on drug charges.
According to the Highway Patrol, 39 year old Jacob Ross, of Covington, was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine; driving while intoxicated, drugs; possession of a controlled substance, synthetic narcotics; possession of marijuana; and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident.
NO ONE INJURED AFTER GUN WAS DISCHARGED AT CAPE GIRARDEAU RESTAURANT
Nobody was injured when a gun accidently went off Tuesday at a Cape Girardeau restaurant.
According to authorities, the gun had fallen out of a man’s jacket and discharged when it hit the floor. The bullet went into a wall of the restaurant.
The man was not arrested in connection to the incident.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS WOMAN FACING ADDITIONAL CHILD SEX CHARGES
A Northeast Arkansas woman is facing additional child sex charges in connection to her arrest last year.
According to the Izard County Sheriff’s Department, 32 year old Beth Dickerson was charged Friday with sexual assault in the fourth degree and distributing, possessing, or viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.
Dickerson was arrested in October on charges of sexual indecency with a child, sexual assault fourth degree, and rape.
The additional charges stem from a forensic analysis of her computer which was seized at the time of the original charges.
FERRY CONNECTING MISSOURI AND KENTUCKY REOPENS THIS MORNING
A ferry that connects Missouri and Kentucky is scheduled to reopen this morning.
The Dorena-Hickman Ferry is set to restart operations at 7 am on the regular winter operating schedule. The ferry has been closed since November for outfitting and inspection of a new barge.
The Ferry connects KY 1354 at Hickman, Kentucky, with Missouri Route A and Route 77 near Dorena, Missouri.
INTERSTATE REPAIRS THIS WEEK IN PEMISCOT COUNTY
Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be in Pemiscot County this week for pavement repairs on Interstate 55.
Northbound I-55 will be reduced daily from 8 am to 5 pm through Friday. The work zone will be located between mile markers 14 and 16.
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS HEAR PLEAS TO RELEASE FUNDING
(AP) - Missouri groups are asking for state lawmakers' help in releasing millions of dollars in funding withheld by the governor.
Members of the state Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday listened for three hours as groups fighting for arts education, help for victims of domestic violence and other programs pleaded for lawmaker assistance.
Democratic Governor Jay Nixon withheld roughly $700 million this fiscal year, but Missourians in November amended the state constitution to allow lawmakers to override a governor's budget restrictions.
It's unclear whether lawmakers can use those powers on budget restrictions made by Nixon before that amendment passed.
Appropriations Committee chairman and Republican state Sen. Kurt Schaefer of Columbia says if lawmakers act, they'll prioritize money for many of the programs discussed Tuesday.
NEW PROPOSAL WOULD REDUCE RESTRICT WELFARE BENEFITS IN MISSOURI
(AP) - A Missouri Republican says his proposal to restrict welfare benefits will encourage Missourians to get back to work.
A proposal to reduce lifetime limits for temporary cash assistance and impose other restrictions on welfare programs met strong opposition at a hearing Tuesday.
The proposal sponsored by Senator David Sater of Cassville reduces the lifetime limit for temporary cash assistance for families from five to two years and bars dangerous felons from receiving cash benefits.
It also restricts benefits for an entire family if one member does not comply with work activity requirements.
Opponents of the bill say it would make helping families out of poverty more difficult and would not give individuals enough time to overcome barriers to success.
Sater says he's open to changing some parts of the bill.
MISSOURI REPRESENTATIVE PROPOSING MEDICAID EXPANSION THAT WOULD COVER VETERANS
(AP) - A Missouri Republican who supports Medicaid expansion will introduce a bill that would cover veterans and their families.
Missouri residents with incomes below the federal poverty level, or $19,530 for a family of three, do not qualify for Medicaid or for subsidies to buy health insurance through a federally run website.
Senator Ryan Silvey, of Kansas City, says that group includes veterans' families. He plans to introduce a bill expanding Medicaid for veterans that fall in the coverage gap created by Missouri's decision not to expand the program.
Silvey says he still supports a broader Medicaid expansion but doesn't want to leave veterans in a lurch if those proposals do not move forward this year.
Republican leaders have said Medicaid expansion is unlikely this session.
