MISSOURI CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 3 WOULD REMOVE THE STATE’S BAN ON ABORTIONS
Continuing our look at constitutional amendments that will be decided in Missouri during the general election, we turn to abortion.
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 3 would establish a constitutional right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, with any governmental interference of that right presumed invalid.
The amendment also removes Missouri's ban on abortion; allows regulation of reproductive health care to improve or maintain the health of the patient; and requires the government not to discriminate, in government programs, funding, and other activities, against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care.
The amendment also allows abortion to be restricted or banned after fetal viability except to protect the life or health of the woman.
BUTLER COUNTY CLERK DONNA HILLIS TALKS ABOUT VOTING AHEAD OF THE ELECTION
Election Day is only a week away and Butler County officials are wanting residents to be prepared when they come to vote.
KWOC News spoke with Butler County Clerk Donna Hillis about what you should do when you arrive to vote.
“You can speed up the process by having your Missouri Photo ID ready. You will not be able to cast your vote in the tabulator without a non-expired Missouri Driver’s License, a Missouri non-driver’s license, a passport, or a military ID.
If you are registered to vote in Butler County but you still have an out of state driver’s license, you will only be permitted to vote provisionally. If you want to cast your vote in the tabulator, you must go to the DMV and get your license taken care of before next Tuesday.
Please be aware that electioneering laws prohibit people from wearing anything that displays a political party, candidate name, or ballot issue, which includes shirts, hats, buttons and stickers.
You will not be allowed inside the precinct or within 25 feet of the polling place wearing this type of attire. We do not expect any problems at the polls in Butler County, but be advised that law enforcement will be available to each of the precincts should the need arise. Acts of violence, or attempting to keep any voter from voting will not be tolerated.
Among other offenses, the Missouri Law states that it is unlawful to engage in or threaten any act of violence at a polling place. Please respect others' right to vote the way they want, and move on. Engaging in disorderly conduct, violence, or threats is considered interfering with election processes.
We are asking everyone to be kind and be respectful to all of the poll workers at the precincts. It will be a tough day for each of them. They are committed to helping each person navigate the lines, and guide people through the process so please be courteous.
If you have any problems or questions, please call the Clerk's Office at 573-686-8050.”
KWOC will be providing live election coverage during the night of November 5th on the KWOC Facebook page.
STATE SUPREME COURT RACE TO BE DECIDED IN ARKANSAS
When Arkansas voters head to the polls next week, they will be deciding on who will be sitting on the state Supreme Court.
Karen Baker and Rhonda Wood are running to fill position 1 on the Arkansas State Supreme Court.
Voters will also be electing a state treasurer between John Pagan, John Thurston, and Michael Pakko.
You can find the KWOC Voters guide online at KWOC.com.
MULES FOOTBALL TEAM TRAVELS TO FARMINGTON ON FRIDAY FOR DISTRICT QUARTERFINALS
The Poplar Bluff Mules football team will begin the district playoffs this week in Farmington.
The Mules earned the six seed in the Class 5, District 1 football tournament and will be traveling to Farmington on Friday to take on the three seed Knights in the District Quarterfinals.
Friday’s game will be a rematch of last year’s District Semifinal which saw the five seed Knights upset the top seed Mules 28-21.
When the two teams met earlier this year in Poplar Bluff, Farmington picked up a close 36-33 win.
Live audio coverage of the Mules District Playoffs will be provided by Today’s Talk KWOC 93.3 FM and 930 AM.
Live video coverage will be available for $10 plus fees at MSHSAA.tv.
TWIN RIVERS AMONG MULTIPLE SOUTHEAST MISSOURI SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE GRANT MONEY TO RECRUIT LOCAL EDUCATORS
Twin Rivers R-X School District in Butler County was one of several schools across Southeast Missouri to receive grant money to recruit local educators.
Officials with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education tell KWOC News that the agency was able to award Grow Your Own grants to 125 local education agencies.
The one-time grants of $10,000 to local education agencies are to be used to create or strengthen their local Grow Your Own program, designed to increase recruitment of quality teachers across the state.
In addition to Twin Rivers, other schools in Southeast Missouri to be selected for the grant include Bloomfield, Campbell, Clearwater, and Van Buren.
SUPPORT GROUP ESTABLISHED FOR FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS IN POPLAR BLUFF
A support group has been established in Poplar Bluff for foster and adoptive parents.
Trisha Lambert with FosterAdopt Connect tells KWOC News that the group will meet at 6 pm on the 1st Monday of each month at the FosterAdopt Connect Poplar Bluff office.
The group is free for parents to attend and will offer a safe place for them to discuss being a foster or adoptive parent.
Lambert says that they are asking for parents to not bring their children, as conversations can involve heavy subjects at times.
For more information, call 573-552-4338.
