RIVER RADIO NEWS 031215
JACKSON MAN STRUCK AND KILLED BY VEHICLE
A Jackson man has died after getting hit by a vehicle Wednesday in Cape Girardeau County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 88 year old Delmar Feiste reportedly walked into the path of a vehicle on US 61, near Fruitland. Feiste was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the vehicle was uninjured.
WOMAN SERIOUSLY INJURED AFTER GETTING STRUCK BY CAR DOOR
A Doniphan woman was seriously injured Tuesday when she was hit by a car door in Ripley County.
According to the Highway Patrol, 88 year old Opal Lomax was partially in a vehicle when the incident happened.
A different vehicle hit an open door on Lomax’s car which then hit her.
Lomax was taken by ambulance to an area hospital with serious injuries.
EX SENATOR PLEADS GUILTY IN ARKANSAS FEDERAL COURT
(AP) - A former Arkansas state senator has pleaded guilty to a federal mail fraud charge connected to his spending more than $150,000 from a campaign fund.
Paul Bookout of Jonesboro entered the plea Wednesday in U.S. District Court.
Prosecutors said Bookout spent campaign money on clothing, a sound system, liquor and other personal items while claiming it was going toward legitimate political expenses.
A sentencing hearing is pending. He faces 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, though under sentencing guidelines terms could be much less.
Bookout was elected to the state Senate in 2006 to replace his late father and was re-elected in 2010 and 2012.
The Democrat stepped down in 2013 after the Arkansas Ethics Commission fined him for improperly spending campaign money. He declined comment.
HISTORIC DEPOT RESTORATION CONTINUES THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS
The historic Poplar Bluff Depot is one step closer to being restored to its original glory after a group of volunteers spent Saturday working on a number of projects.
Jim Chrisman, with the Poplar Bluff Historic Depot Restoration Corporation, says 33 students with the University of Illinois Students Today Leaders Forever group, eight AmeriCorps volunteers, four community volunteers, and nine board and committee members gathered and split into teams to tackle several projects.
One team spent the day preparing for an upcoming silent auction fundraiser. Another group tackled the demolition of an old chimney. Still another cleaned the 105 year old tile floors in the restrooms, and removed a section of rotten flooring.
THREE RIVERS-SIKESTON RIVER CUTTING CEREMONY SET FOR MARCH 20TH
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Sikeston location of Three Rivers College is scheduled for later this month.
The ceremony will be held at 10 am on Friday, March 20th. Following the event, an open house will be held from 11 am to 4 pm.
The new $7 million facility features 17 classrooms, including three ITV rooms, four computer labs, and two science labs; along with LPN-to-RN Bridge Program facilities with a state-of-the-art simulation lab. There is also an auditorium/community meeting room that doubles as a 770-person storm shelter.
STATEWIDE CRACKDOWN ON IMPAIRED DRIVING PLANNED FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Over 200 Missouri law enforcement agencies will be participating in a statewide crackdown on impaired driving for St. Patrick’s Day.
Additional officers will be on the road from March 14th through the 17th. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol Colonel Ron Replogle, law enforcement made 247 DWI arrests during a similar campaign last March.
Everyone is reminded to designate a driver or take a cab if they will be drinking while enjoying the holiday.
MISSOURI FIGHTS RULING SAYING COMMON CORE TEST PACT UNLAWFUL
(AP) - Missouri's education department is appealing a ruling that says the state's membership to a Common Core-aligned testing consortium is unconstitutional.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on Wednesday issued a statement saying the partnership with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium saves money and should continue.
The national education standards for K-12 students and aligned tests have attracted criticism from those who say they were adopted without enough local input.
And a Cole County Circuit judge in February ruled Smarter Balanced is an unlawful interstate compact.
The announcement of the appeal comes a day after the House approved a budget for next fiscal year preventing the state from paying dues to Smarter Balanced.
But the budget still needs Senate approval, and the state could buy those tests without membership.
MISSOURI SENATE PANEL OK’S LIMIT TO RAMS STADIUM BONDS
(AP) - A Missouri Republican's effort to limit Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's authority to use bonds to fund a new football stadium in St. Louis is moving forward.
A Senate committee Wednesday approved a measure to stop the state from extending or issuing new bonds without Legislature or voter approval.
Senator Ryan Silvey, of Kansas City, says the governor should not be able to put the state into debt on his own.
Members of Nixon's administration have said he has the authority to extend payments on the existing Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis to pay for a new dome with hopes of enticing the Rams to stay or attracting a new team.
Rams owner Stan Kroenke is working to build a new Los Angeles stadium.
