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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A Branson man who did business arranging employment contracts for workers has pleaded guilty to violating federal laws on foreign labor.

The U.S. Attorney's office says 39-year-old Steven Teel entered the pleas Thursday to harboring aliens and making false statements.

Prosecutors said Teel admitted arranging for 78 people from other countries to enter the U.S. in 2009 under a temporary worker visa program. The workers were supposed to be placed with companies in the South Carolina resort of Myrtle Beach.

Instead, Teel admitted putting them in jobs in Branson to satisfy contracts he had with employers there. But the federal government had not yet approved the temporary worker visa program for the Branson area.

Teel was about $124,000 by Branson employers for providing the workers.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Friends say a St. Louis businessman who killed three employees before turning the gun on himself who had lingering anger years after the divorce from his first wife.

They also say that 59-year-old Ahmed Dirir (DUR'-ur) was an intelligent man and that the Somali immigrant was quick to reach out to other new-arriving Somalis.

Police say Dirir walked into his business, AK Home Health Care LLC, on Thursday, got into a brief argument, and then shot his three employees. Killed were 44-year-old Khadra Muse (KAH'-druh myoos) of Olivette, Missouri, 29-year-old Seaeed Abdulla (SAH'-eed ahb-DOO'-luh) of St. Louis, and 54-year-old Bernice Solomon-Redd of East St. Louis, Illinois.

Police haven't disclosed a motive.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Major insurance companies already have received more than 6,300 claims from people whose property was damaged during recent tornadoes in the St. Louis area.

The state insurance department said Friday that it has received data about the May 31st tornadoes from insurance companies that make up about three-quarters of the state's homeowners insurance market. They reported that 6,321 claims have been filed so far.

The insurance department said most of those claims relate to damaged homes, though some also could be for vehicles.

The department says it's monitoring the situation to ensure consumers receive the benefits due under their policies.

The worst damage from the high winds and multiple tornadoes that struck the night of May 31 occurred in St. Charles and St. Louis counties.