RIVER RADIO NEWS 022515
JONESBORO MAN ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGE
A Jonesboro man is facing drug charges following a parole check on Tuesday.
According to authorities, 53 year old Alvin Lee Green was arrested on charges, including possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with the purpose to deliver.
Police allegedly found crack cocaine and marijuana during a search of Green’s residence Tuesday morning.
EMPLOYEES NOTIFIED THAT PIGGOTT PLANT WILL CLOSE ON MAY 15TH
A Northeast Arkansas manufacturing plant will reportedly close in May.
According to the Daily Dunklin Democrat, the L.A. Darling Company of Paragould recently told employees that the store fixture manufacturing plant in Piggott will close on May 15th.
Retail market changes were one of the reasons cited for the decision.
POLICE SAY MEN ASKING FOR CABLE BOXES ARE LEGITATE
Two men who have been knocking on doors in New Madrid and asking residents for their cable box are legitimate and are working for a company called CES, on behalf of Charter Cable.
New Madrid Police originally contacted Charter, who informed they that had no men working in the area, which led the police department to issue a warning about the men. However, since then, officers discovered that CES has a contract with Charter to recover cable boxes from former Charter customers.
SIKESTON POLICE DOG AWARDED BALLISTIC VEST
An area police dog was recently awarded a ballistic vest from a national charity.
The Sikeston Department of Public Safety says that their K9 officer, Levi, was awarded the vest from Vested Interest in K9s, Incorporated.
The nationwide charity raised over $11,000 through their 2015 calendar sales, which will provide bullet and stab resistant vests for law enforcement dogs.
CAPE WOMAN CLAIMS $100,000 PRIZE, JUST IN TIME
A Cape Girardeau woman has claimed a $100,000 Missouri Lottery prize, just in time.
Lottery officials say 66 year old Margaret Friend claimed her prize only three days before the “Cadillac Riches” Scratchers game expired.
Friend bought her winning ticket at Schnucks in Cape.
BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS TO CAUSE INTERSTATE DELAYS NEXT MONTH
Bridge improvements will cause delays next month on Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties.
North and Southbound I-55 will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction between Mile Markers 90 and 105.
Weather permitting, work is scheduled to be performed between 7 pm and 6 am daily from March 1st through April 1st.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE TO CLOSE FOR A YEAR
(AP) - The Mississippi River bridge connecting the southern parts of Missouri and Illinois will close for a year while crews make major repairs to the 86-year-old structure.
Illinois Department of Transportation spokesman Brian Williamsen said Tuesday that the bridge will shut down March 16 and is expected to reopen March 18, 2016.
The bridge carries U.S. 60 and U.S. 62 traffic, spanning the Mississippi River from the Cairo area of southern Illinois to near Charleston in southeast Missouri. Another bridge is just six miles to the north.
Message boards are alerting motorists in parts of Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky to the pending closure and to seek alternate routes.
The two-lane bridge opened in 1929. Plans call for nearly $3 million to be spent on joint and beam repairs.
MISSOURI HOUSE ENDORSES BILL TO AUTHORIZE EMERGENCY SPENDING
(AP) - Missouri's local governments and school districts are closer to getting federal funds for storm shelters and disaster repairs.
The Missouri House Tuesday gave first-round approval to a budget bill for this fiscal year to release federal money for local projects in declared disaster areas.
Already-completed local projects totaling about $30 million are awaiting federal funds.
The bill, which needs final approval in the House before going to the Senate, approves the transfer of that money.
The bill also authorizes $8.5 million in general revenue for emergencies- $5.1 million to match federal grants and $3.4 million is for future emergencies such as tornadoes, floods or ice storms.
Missouri has already used much of its previously approved emergency funding, partly because of the response in Ferguson.
MISSOURI JUDGE RULES PACT WITH COMMON CORE TESTING ILLEGAL
(AP) - A Missouri judge says the state's membership to a testing company aligned with the national Common Core education standards is illegal and that it shouldn't pay fees to be part of the group.
Cole County Circuit judge Daniel Green ruled Tuesday that the state's partnership with the Common Core testing company is an "illegal interstate compact not authorized by the U.S. Congress."
The attorney general's office represents the state and is reviewing the ruling.
Missouri's education department budgeted about $4.3 million for member dues this fiscal year.
The Common Core education standards and tests aligned with them have been a magnet for critics, including the three plaintiffs in the court case ruled on Tuesday.
