MISSOURI GOVERNOR SIGNS NEW TAX CUT INTO LAW
Missouri’s Governor has signed a new tax cut into law.
Governor Mike Parson signed SBs 3 and 5 and HB 3 during a ceremony on Wednesday at the State Capital.
According to the Governor’s office, SBs 3 and 5 reduces Missourians' income tax liability by making several changes to income tax laws in the state of Missouri, including reducing the top individual income tax rate from 5.2 to 4.95 percent and eliminating the bottom income tax bracket, allowing Missourians to earn their first $1000 tax free.
The new law also eliminates income taxes for individuals making less than $13,000 a year and couples making less than $26,000.
Governor Parson also signed HB 3 into law, which includes the extension and creation of several agriculture tax credit programs intended to help develop key areas of Missouri's agricultural industry. The sunset for each program is for a minimum of six years.
FORMER PIEDMONT POLICE OFFICER INDICTED ON CIVIL RIGHTS CHARGES
A former Police Officer in Wayne County has been officially charged with violating the civil rights of two people and then lying to the FBI about it.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 66 year old Woodrow Massa was indicted by a grand jury in U.S. District Court on Tuesday on two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and two counts of lying to the FBI.
The indictment says Massa, while a Piedmont police officer, participated in the arrest and detention of two people “despite the absence of an arrest warrant or probable cause.” The arrests both occurred in 2020.
The indictment says Massa lied about the arrest of the first victim twice in FBI interviews by saying he was not present in the booking room while the victim was being processed, despite a video recording depicting his presence there.
Massa is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court on October 13th to answer the charges. Each misdemeanor civil rights charge carries a potential penalty of up to a year in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both. The felony charge of making a false statement carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING SHOOTING IN PARAGOULD
Authorities in Northeast Arkansas are investigating a non-fatal shooting.
According to the Paragould Police Department, at around 6:30 pm Tuesday evening, Paragould Emergency Services received a 911 call advising of shots being fired in the 600 block of Magnolia Drive and that one person had been struck.
At the scene, officers located a victim that had a single gunshot wound in one of his limbs.
The victim was transported to a Jonesboro hospital for treatment and later released.
Officials say that the incident is being investigated by the Paragould Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division and there is no reason to believe that the public is in danger as a result of the incident.
PUBLIC MEETING TO BE HELD IN BUTLER COUNTY TO DISCUSS NEXT PHASE OF FUTURE I-57
A public meeting will be held this month in Butler County to discuss upgrades to US Route 67.
The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold the meeting from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19th at the Neelyville High School cafeteria.
The proposed project includes upgrading Route 67 to interstate standards from the Route 160/158 interchange south of Poplar Bluff, Missouri to the Missouri/Arkansas state line. The entire project limits are broken down into five phases: Phases 1A and 1B, as well as Phases 2 through 4.
The public meeting will focus on options for future access at Neelyville and Phase 3, which includes upgrading a five-mile section of Route 67 to four lanes from County Road 352 to near County Road 272.
The public meeting will be open house style, and visitors can stop by anytime between 4 and 7 p.m. to discuss the details of the project with the project team.
BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION CAUSES CLOSURE OF PEMISCOT COUNTY ROAD
Construction of five bridges on Route EE in Pemiscot County will cause the closure of the road beginning today.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the bridges are located over Drainage Ditches 1, 65, 251, 258, and 259 near Peach Orchard.
Officials say that beginning today Route EE will be closed from Route A to County Road 229 as the new bridges are tied-into the existing pavement and the final bridge over Drainage Ditch 65 is constructed.
Completion is anticipated by Saturday, December 31st.
ROUTINE BRIDGE REPAIRS SET FOR TODAY IN RIPLEY COUNTY
Route 142 in Ripley County will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform routine bridge repairs.
The section of roadway to be reduced is located between Route P and County Road 160W-17.
Weather permitting, work will be performed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
