RIVER RADIO NEWS 012215
ONE PERSON DEAD IN CONNECTION TO TUESDAY WRECK
One man has died in connection to a single vehicle wreck Tuesday in Dunklin County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 79 year old Joseph Baker, of Campbell, died Wednesday at a Memphis Hospital. Baker was involved in a wreck Tuesday when his vehicle hit a large highway sign off of US 412 near Kennett.
A passenger in the vehicle suffered moderate injuries.
AREA MAYER DIES
Joe Stuckey, the mayor Benton, has passed away.
According to an obituary posted by Amick Burnett Funeral Chapels, Stuckey died Wednesday in Benton.
He was 68 years old.
2.2 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE REPORTED NEAR GOSNELL
A micro earthquake was reported Wednesday near Gosnell.
According to the Center for Earthquake Research and Information, a 2.2 magnitude earthquake occurred 10 miles northeast of Gosnell at 4:01 pm.
The earthquake had a depth of almost 6 miles.
MAN TO HIKE OVER TWO HUNDRED MILES TO RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS
A man with Cystic Fibrosis is planning on hiking over 200 miles along the Ozark trail to raise money and awareness for the disease.
45 year old Michael Burke will hike 230 miles from Leasburg, Missouri, to Winona in September. Burke is coordinating his hike with the 30.1 mile Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Xtreme Hike fundraising event on September 12th.
Cystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease that causes debilitating lung infections that lead to premature death. It affects 30,000 adults and children in the United States and 70,000 people worldwide.
MEDICAID EXPANSION PANEL TO BE HELD IN POPLAR BLUFF
Missouri Highlands and the Missouri Rural Crisis Center will be hosting a Medicaid Expansion Panel Discussion next week in Poplar Bluff.
The panel will discuss how Medicaid Expansion would impact Missouri’s rural economies, hospitals and access to healthcare services in rural communities.
The panel has been scheduled for 6:30 to 8 pm, Thursday, January 29th, at the First Church of God on South Westwood Boulevard in Poplar Bluff.
DRAINAGE REPAIR PROJECT ONGOING IN STODDARD COUNTY
Route J in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane through next Tuesday as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage repairs.
The section of roadway to be reduced is located from County Road 413 to Reed Street.
Weather permitting, work will take place from 7 am to 4 pm daily through Tuesday, January 27th.
MISSOURI GAINS OVER 40,000 JOBS IN 2014
(AP) - Missouri's unemployment has fallen again and now is at its lowest point in almost seven years.
The state Department of Economic Development on Tuesday released data showing the seasonally adjusted jobless rate dropped to 5.4 percent in December, its lowest rate since April 2008.
Unemployment has continued to drop slightly in recent months, from 5.9 percent in October to 5.6 percent in November.
Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment grew by 1,700 jobs in December, bringing the number of new jobs for 2014 at about 44,700.
That's the largest annual growth from December-to-December since 1997.
GOVERNOR NIXON PROPOSES BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR
(AP) - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon says he is asking for relatively few funding increases in his $26 billion budget proposal for next fiscal year.
State budget director Linda Luebbering calls the budget 'modest' and says the state is recovering after revenues fell significantly short of expectations last year.
Nixon's proposed budget includes a $50 million increase in basic aid for public schools and $12 million more for performance-based funding for public colleges and universities. He's also asking lawmakers to approve more money for services to people with disabilities and programs to help the aging.
The Democratic governor said even more could be spent on education and other programs if lawmakers would approve several measures that could enhance revenues, including an expansion of Medicaid. Republican lawmakers have previously declined to do that.
TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS CAUTION AGAINST NEW BILL THAT WOULD END WEIGHT LIMITS ON SOME TRUCKS
(AP) - Missouri transportation officials say a bill to end weight limits on trucks carrying livestock and grain would damage state bridges and roadways.
The concerns came along with praise from farmers who told the Senate's agriculture committee on Wednesday the bill would help foster the state's agricultural industry.
The legislation would expand a current law that removed weight limits on trucks carrying milk across the state.
But officials from the Department of Transportation warned that the additional weight could hurt roads at a time when money for repairs already is strained.
Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger says the proposal could result in bridge closures and damaged road surfaces.
Republican Senator Brian Munzlinger of Williamstown says he plans to keep the proposal in the bill, which includes several other agricultural provisions.