Missouri House advances motorcycle-helmet exemption
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri lawmakers are advancing a bill to exempt motorcyclists who are 21 and older from wearing a helmet. House members gave the measure initial approval Tuesday. Riders 21 and older wouldn’t have to wear a helmet if they’ve had their motorcycle license at least two years or if they complete a…
Mercer lifts Pirates over Cardinals 6-5 in 11 innings
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Jordy Mercer singled home Gregory Polanco from second base with one out in the 11th inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. Polanco, who agreed to a $35 million, five-year contract earlier in the day, drew a walk from Seth Maness…
Missouri House advances rules on daily fantasy sports
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Missouri House is advancing a bill to allow daily fantasy sports and exempt the practice from gambling regulations. The House in a voice vote Tuesday gave the legislation initial approval. Daily fantasy sports sites would need to pay an annual $5,000 registration fee. They would face some additional restrictions…
Driver strikes family after overdosing on heroin
( KTRS ) St. Ann police say a driver overdosed on heroin, while driving, and struck a couple and their 2-year-old son, seriously injuring the family members. The accident happened Tuesday afternoon. Police say the driver, a man in his 20s, fell asleep at the wheel, causing the car to accelerate and strike a couple…
Battle between religious and gay rights splits GOP states
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Republican lawmakers have advanced measures in about a dozen states this year that could strengthen protections for those who refuse for religious reasons to provide services to gay couples. The bills could benefit court clerks, photographers, florists, bakers, wedding-hall operators and others who say gay matrimony goes against their beliefs.…
Kansas City, St. Louis voters renew cities’ earnings taxes
( KTRS ) With all precincts reporting, voters in Missouri’s two biggest cities have overwhelmingly renewed the earnings tax. The tax requires those who work in Kansas City or St. Louis to pay a 1 percent tax on their pay. Because nonresidents also must pay, thousands of commuters from the neighboring states of Kansas and…
The Latest: Ferguson voters pass 1 tax hike, not the other
FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) – Ferguson voters have approved one tax increase but rejected another, creating uncertainty about whether the town where 18-year-old Michael Brown died in a 2014 police shooting will be able to afford changes required in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Complete, unofficial results show voters in the Missouri town…
Missouri officials confirm third case of Zika virus
(KTRS) – Missouri health officials confirm that there is a third person in the state who was infected with the Zika virus. The man recently traveled to Columbia and officials believe that is where he may have picked up the virus. It is not clear at this time where the man lives. The virus is…