RIVER RADIO NEWS 012815
MAN FACING SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
A Walnut Ridge area man is facing a sexual assault charge in connection to an investigation that began as a missing juvenile case.
According to Imboden Live, last week authorities arrested Jerry Hampton on charges of fourth degree sexual assault and possession of child pornography.
Hampton, who is a registered sex offender, was found to be having contact with the minor. Hampton was arrested after authorities found and interviewed the juvenile.
WAPPAPELLO MAN ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE DRUG RELATED CHARGES
A Wappapello man was taken into custody Tuesday on multiple drug related charges.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 29 year old Travis Birkenmaier is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; possession of marijuana; unlawful use of drug paraphernalia; and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Birkenmaier was arrested at around 6:45 pm in Butler County.
HARVIELL TEEN ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF METH
A teenager from Harviell is facing a meth charge in connection to his arrest Tuesday afternoon in Butler County.
According to the Highway Patrol, 19 year old Anthony Norman was taken into custody on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.
AREA WOMAN ARRESTED ON METH AND MARIJUANA CHARGES
A Wappapello woman was taken into custody Tuesday morning in Wayne County.
According to the Highway Patrol, 50 year old Elizabeth Jones was arrested at around 7:30 am on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.
Jones is also charged with possession of marijuana.
VA TO HOST VETERANS ART SHOW
The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center will host a special Veterans Art Show on Saturday, February 14th. The event is part of the National Salute to Veteran Patients Week.
Local veterans are encouraged to enter their art work in the show. Each veteran may enter one art item. Entries may be submitted to the Voluntary Services Office at the VA Medical Center, 1500 N. Westwood Blvd., by Friday, January 30th.
The entries will be displayed at the medical center after judging. Winners will be announced during a reception to be held February 14th, at 1 pm in the Medical Center lobby.
PBJHS CHEERLEADERS WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Poplar Bluff Junior High School Cheerleaders won the National Cheerleaders Association High School Open National Championship earlier this month in St. Charles.
The team participated in the large intermediate division on January 18th.
The Poplar Bluff High School Competition Cheer Squad will be competing at the National High School Cheerleading championship on February 7th and 8th, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
ROAD CLOSURE TODAY IN STODDARD COUNTY
Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be in Stoddard County today to replace a culvert pipe under Route PP.
During the replacement, Route PP will be closed from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm between Harty Street and Richardson Avenue.
SECOND PROPOSAL TO END ARKANSAS’ MEDICAID PLAN IN 2015 FILED
(AP) - A second proposal has been filed in the Legislature to end Arkansas' compromise Medicaid expansion this year, days after Governor Asa Hutchinson called on lawmakers to continue the program through 2016.
Republican Representative Donnie Copeland of Little Rock filed a proposal Tuesday to end the "private option," which uses federal funds to purchase private insurance for the poor. Copeland's proposal would end the program December 31st.
Hutchinson last week called on lawmakers to continue the program through the end of next year while a proposed task force looks at alternatives for coverage and larger Medicaid reforms.
A similar measure was filed in the Senate on Monday that would end the program December 31st. That measure and the task force proposal are expected to go before a Senate panel Wednesday.
MISSOURI BILL WOULD SHIELD HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS’ INFO
(AP) - The Missouri secretary of state is pushing a bill that would allow the state to keep human trafficking victims' addresses secret.
Secretary of State Jason Kander on Tuesday announced legislation that would expand the Safe at Home program to cover those victims.
The program gives confidential addresses to survivors of domestic violence, rape and some other crimes. The aim is to prevent the victims' assailants from tracking where they live and potentially harming them again.
Sex trafficking survivor and advocate Katie Rhoades says her pimp threatened her with violence before she escaped. She says the legislation could help other survivors who later worry about their own safety.
North Carolina, Washington, Oregon and Maryland have similar programs for human trafficking victims.
OVER 200 THOUSAND MISSOURIANS SIGN UP FOR HEALTH CARE ON FEDERAL EXCHANGE
(AP) - Nearly 38 percent more Missourians than last year have signed up for health insurance under the federal exchange.
U.S. Health and Human Services data released Tuesday shows that 209,336 residents had signed up for coverage as of Jan. 16, up about 57,000 from the first enrollment period. The number of enrollees could grow larger because the deadline for getting coverage doesn't end until February 15.
Among the people who've signed up so far this year, about 88 percent chose a plan with financial assistance. Forty-one percent were new to the federal insurance exchange, and 59 percent re-enrolled.
Total enrollment in the 37 states served by HealthCare.gov is about 7.1 million people.
