RIVER RADIO NEWS 020515
HOMICIDE SUSPECT ARRESTED IN NORTHEAST MISSOURI
A suspect in a weekend Wayne County homicide is in custody.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 47 year old Michael Burkman, of Cape Girardeau, was arrested Wednesday night in Buchanan County.
Burkman was wanted in connection to the death of 57 year old John Fowler, of St. Peters. Fowler’s body was found Sunday morning in Wayne County.
NAME RELEASED OF MAN KILLED IN JONESBORO SHOOTING
Jonesboro authorities have released the name of a man who was shot and killed Tuesday night.
According to the Jonesboro Police Department, 24 year old Isaac Bailey was pronounced dead at an area hospital after being shot while he was allegedly attempting to rob a residence.
The shooting was at around 9:30 pm.
POPLAR BLUFF ARMED ROBBERY LEADS TO ONE ARREST, MORE ARRESTS EXPECTED
A Poplar Bluff man is facing multiple charges after he and another suspect allegedly robbed a man and his mother.
According to Captain David Sutton with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of Pershing Street shortly before 6 pm Tuesday.
Upon arrival, 24 year old Craig Cassinger told them that he and his mother had given a ride to two black males that he knew only as Sheldon and Dee Dee. Cassinger told officers that when they arrived at Sheldon’s residence, Sheldon displayed a handgun and ordered him inside the home. When inside the residence, the two suspects took Cassinger’s cash and prescription medications.
Dee Dee then left in Cassinger’s vehicle with Cassinger’s mother, Karla, in the car. A member of the Butler County Sheriff’s Department later observed the stolen vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop. The deputy pursued the vehicle until the driver abandoned it and fled on foot.
After a short foot pursuit, 19 year old Demetri Rodgers was taken into custody. Rodgers faces charges of receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance and numerous traffic violations. Additional charges of first degree robbery, armed criminal action and stealing a motor vehicle have also been requested.
The investigation continues and additional arrests are expected.
CARUTHERSVILLE MAN ARRESTED ON SEXUAL ASSAULT WARRANT
A Caruthersville man is in custody following his arrest on a sexual assault warrant.
According to the Caruthersville Police Department, 67 year old Paul Ezell was arrested shortly after 6 pm Wednesday on an outstanding warrant for sexual assault on a minor through the Dunklin County Sheriff’s Office.
No details were released about what led to the warrant being issued.
TWO ARRESTED ON DRUG WARRANT IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
Two Portageville residents were taken into custody Wednesday morning on a drug warrant.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 52 year old Mila Dunn and 51 year old Karen Wells were each arrested in New Madrid County on a warrant for distributing a controlled substance, marijuana.
SCHOOL BUS INVOLVED IN COLLISION WITH CAR IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
A school bus was reportedly involved in a collision with a car Tuesday afternoon in Walnut Ridge.
The incident occurred at the intersection of West Elm and Southwest 6th Streets. According to KAIT, several students on the bus had minor injuries and were taken to an area hospital.
CEREMONY TO BE HELD THIS WEEKEND FOR COACH BESS
Three Rivers College Men’s Basketball Coach Gene Bess will be honored this weekend.
A ceremony will be held at the Bess Activity Center in celebration of Bess’s 1,200 lifetime wins as coach of the Raiders. The ceremony will begin following the Raiders game against State Fair Community College.
The basketball game is scheduled to start at 7 pm Saturday. The ceremony will feature presentations from Three Rivers College, the Three Rivers Booster Club, and guests such as State Senator Doug Libla and State Representative Steve Cookson.
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION SEEKING INPUT ON PROPOSED DEER HUNTING CHANGES
The Missouri Department of Conservation is seeking public input on changes that have been proposed for deer hunting regulations for the 2016-2017 hunting season.
Some changes include reducing the length of the November portion of the fall firearms season to 9 days and allowing crossbows during the fall archery deer and turkey seasons.
A full list of the proposed changes and their rationale, along with a way to provide comments is available online at mdc.mo.gov.
MISSOURI HOUSE PANEL ENDORSES VIDEO FOR ABORTION SEEKERS
(AP) - A measure requiring women seeking an abortion to watch a video with information about the procedure and alternatives is moving forward in the Missouri House
A House committee on Tuesday gave initial approval to the first piece of abortion-related legislation this session. It requires the state's health department to create a video containing state-mandated information about abortion.
The video would have to be shown to the woman at least 72 hours before the abortion. The information already is provided verbally and in a written packet.
Supporters say the additional method of providing the information will ensure women understand it. Opponents say it's another way to shame and intimidate women seeking to end a pregnancy.
MISSOURI HOUSE PANEL ENDORSES RIGHT TO WORK BILL
(AP) - The Missouri House is a step closer to debating a bill forbidding employers from requiring workers to pay dues to a union.
The House Workforce Standards and Development Committee on Wednesday approved three right-to-work bills, marking an early start on a measure that failed to pass the full chamber last year.
Two identical bills ban Missouri employers from requiring workers to pay any dues or fees to a labor organization. The third bill is sponsored Democratic Rep. Courtney Curtis and would apply only to the construction industry.
Curtis, who is black, says he introduced the measure because he believes minority contractors and workers are not treated fairly in the building trades.
The bills need approval from the Select Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations before going to the full House.
MISSOURI HIGHWAY PANEL APPROVES LIMITED CONSTRUCTION PLAN
(AP) - Missouri drivers will see limited maintenance on some roads as the state's transportation department grapples with a budget shortfall.
The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved a plan Tuesday that will focus its efforts on about one-fourth of the state's 32,000 miles of roads when the agency's annual construction budget drops to $325 million in 2017.
The department plans to keep the primary roads used to travel between cities in good shape, while other roads will get only minimal maintenance such as filling potholes.
Commission Chair Stephen Miller says the scaled back plan will result in roads and bridges deteriorating.
The plan was first outlined by the agency last month. It comes after voters in August rejected an increase in the state sales tax to fund the state's transportation department.
