GAS TAX LEGISLATION PASSED BY MISSOURI LEGISLATURE
Missouri's gas tax could soon rise for the first time in 25 years.
State lawmakers have given final approval to a bill that would gradually add 12 and a half cents to Missouri's current 17-cent-a-gallon tax. The first 2.5 cent increase would take effect in October.
On Wednesday, Governor Mike Parson praised lawmakers for passing it and said the tax increase would provide “much needed funding for road and bridge repairs.”
The Missouri Department of Transportation estimates that the state faces a $745 million annual gap in road-and-bridge funding.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER CHARGE
A Poplar Bluff man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to a murder charge.
According to Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Proctor, Ricky Davis Jr. has pled guilty to murder in the second degree, two counts of assault in the first degree, and three counts of armed criminal action.
The charges stem from an incident in 2018.
Proctor says that Davis was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
JOB FAIR SET FOR LATER THIS MONTH IN POPLAR BLUFF
A Job Fair has been scheduled for this month in Poplar Bluff.
According to the Butler County Community Resource Council, the Parents Working Committee will host a job fair from 10 am to 2 pm on May 27th at the Black River Coliseum.
The free event is open to both job seekers and employers.
For more information, contact the Community Resource Council at 573-776-7830.
INTERSTATE 40 BRIDGE CONNECTING ARKANSAS AND TENNESSEE COULD SEE MONTHS LONG REPAIRS
A transportation official says repairs to the Interstate 40 bridge linking Arkansas and Tennessee could take months after a crack was found in the span.
Thousands of trucks and cars are being forced to detour and shipping on the Mississippi River is shut down in the Memphis area. Both states' transportation agencies are working to make sure the 48-year-old bridge is safe.
Traffic is flowing on the Interstate 55 detour. The bridge usually carries about 50,000 vehicles a day.
ROUTE 67 AND 160 INTERCHANGE RAMPS TO BE CLOSED FOR PART OF NEXT WEEK
Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be in Butler County next week for pavement repairs on the US Route 67 and 160 interchange.
Officials say the Route 67 south ramp onto Route 160 west and the Route 160 east ramp to Route 67 south will both be closed on May 18th and 19th.
Work is scheduled to take place from 6:30 am to 5 pm each day.
MAGNITUDE 3.0 EARTHQUAKE SHAKES SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
An earthquake shook parts of Southeast Missouri on Wednesday.
According to the United States Geological Survey, a magnitude 3.0 earthquake was recorded at 10:40 am.
The quake was located approximately one mile northeast of Marston and had a depth of almost five and a half miles.
