RIVER RADIO NEWS 031915
FOUR YEAR OLD DIES IN RIPLEY COUNTY ACCIDENT
A four year old child has died after the vehicle she was a passenger in ended up in a flooded ditch yesterday.
Authorities say the child’s father was driving on Highway H in Ripley County, when his vehicle ran off the road, flipping on its side into a flooded ditch.
The man was knocked unconscious. Two children were attempting to get out of the vehicle, when the four year old slipped and was carried away by the current.
The child’s body was later found by deputies.
MAN WANTED IN BUSINESS BREAK-IN LOCATED IN JAIL ON OTHER CHARGES
A man who was wanted in the Saturday break-in of a Jonesboro business has been located in the White County Jail on other charges.
Authorities say Earthly Coleman, of Benton, was identified as a suspect in the break-in of Express Mart on North Church Street. Coleman allegedly used a vehicle to break down the doors of the business.
Cash and an iPad were taken during the incident.
Police say Coleman admitted to the break-in during an interview.
CARUTHERSVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH MAKING THREAT
A Caruthersville man’s idea of a joke has led to legal troubles.
Authorities say 55 year old William Taylor has been charged with making a terroristic threat.
According to Caruthersville Police Chief Tony Jones, Taylor posted a message about the Caruthersville Elementary School on Topix.com under the name of Karl Marx. The message read, “Why don’t you go up there and shoot ‘em all.”
Police subpoenaed Topix to get the IP address for the message, which led them to Taylor’s home. Chief Jones says Taylor told officers that he had made the post as a joke.
MISSOURI SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES STUDENT TRANSFER BILL
(AP) - A House bill aimed at addressing issues with Missouri's student transfer law is moving forward.
The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday voted 7-0 to support the measure, with one senator voting as present.
The transfer law requires failing school districts to pay for students to attend better-performing schools nearby. Lawmakers have crafted bills to allow students first to transfer to accredited schools within their district, which could alleviate the financial strain of paying for their tuition elsewhere.
But the Senate version stalled because of a more than $200 million price tag to implement it next fiscal year.
The more modest House bill would have cost about $13.5 million, although senators beefed that up with more than $20 million worth of additional provisions.
That legislation now moves to the full Senate.
MISSOURI TO RECEIVE $2.4 MILLION FOR MEDIAID FRAUD SETTLEMENT
(AP) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster says the state will get more than $2.4 million from a Medicaid fraud settlement.
Koster on Wednesday announced the civil settlement with offshoots of APS Healthcare and Innovative Resource Group over claims that the companies submitted false Medicaid claims.
The companies will immediately pay the state and federal government $5 million.
APS contracted with Missouri from 2008 to 2010 to provide services for the state's chronic care and administrative services programs. The company was responsible for managing preventative care for chronically ill patients on Medicaid to avoid emergency room expenses.
But Koster claims the companies didn't do their part and submitted false claims for Medicaid payments.
MISSOURI SENATE PANEL MOVES FORWARD WITH “BAN THE BOX” MEASURE
(AP) - The full Missouri Senate will consider a measure that would bar public employers from inquiring early in the employment application process into the criminal history of an individual.
A Senate committee on Tuesday voted 5-3 to send the bill to the floor.
It's modeled on the 'ban the box' effort to prevent people with criminal histories from being ruled out early for a job opportunity. After a conditional offer has been made, an employer could inquire about any criminal history and would be able to withdraw an offer if the offense is related to the position.
Democratic Senator Jamilah Nasheed, of St. Louis, says the measure will give people a second chance.
Private employers or law enforcement agencies would not be subject to the law.
AMBER ALERT CHANGES ENDORSED BY MISSOURI HOUSE
(AP) - Changes to Missouri's Amber Alert system are progressing in the Missouri House.
The House gave initial approval Wednesday to changes made in response to the kidnapping and death of a 10 year old girl last year in Springfield.
Springfield police responded within minutes to a call about fourth-grader Hailey Owens being abducted but a statewide Amber Alert was not sent for another two hours. The girl was found dead hours later in the basement of a Springfield man's home.
The bill would integrate the Amber Alert system with the electronic law enforcement system, ending the need for local police to fill out paper forms before an Amber Alert is issued.
MISSOURI HOUSE OKS STRICTER WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR WELFARE
(AP) - Missouri residents receiving temporary cash assistance would be limited to 30 months of benefits under a proposal that is moving forward in the Legislature.
The Missouri House approved shorter lifetime limits and stricter work requirements for welfare programs by a 115-44 vote on Wednesday.
Supporters say the threat of losing half their benefits and eventually all of their benefits will encourage individuals on assistance to get employment or engage in work-related activities.
The measure would lower the lifetime limits on cash assistance from the current five years.
Opponents say that families may need the assistance for longer and that the cuts would harm needy families.
The House vote means the bill now goes back to the Senate, which previously passed a different version of the bill.
