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St. Louis ciyy and county police are launching a new program that targets violence in high-crime areas.

The "St. Louis Initiative to Reduce Violence" or "SIRV" was announced this morning. Officials say SIRV is a grass roots crime fighting effort that will combine the efforts of additional police resources and community leaders. The pilot program will focus on kids and young adults and include Jennings in North County and the Walnut Park and Baden neighborhoods in north St. Louis.

St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson, St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch, and former police chief Dan Isom, were on hand for the announcement.

It has been over two hundred years since the powerful New Madrid earthquakes.

Scientists now say that lull could end in the not-too-distant future. They expect a the fault to unleash a large scale quake within the next 50 years. That could cause devastation in seven states, including Illinois and Missouri and come with a price tag in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri's legislative session is over, but the work may continue for some lawmakers.

Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey says he is considering appointing at least three committees to study issues before the 2014 session.

A joint panel of Senate and House members could look into potential changes to the Medicaid health care program for the poor.

Another committee could study potential projects to be included in a bonding proposal that would be put before voters.

Dempsey said an interim committee also could look into changes to the state's regional solid waste management districts.

All of those committees would be continuing work on measures that failed to pass during the legislative session that ended Friday.