Former Pine Lawn Cop Found Guilty On Federal Charges
St. Louis, MO Â (KTRS) Â A former Pine Lawn police lieutenant is facing up to twenty years behind bars after being convicted on federal charges. The U.S. attorney’s office announced that 35-year-old Steven Blakeney has been found guilty of three criminal civil rights charges. Prosecutors say the false arrest happened in March 2013 while Blakeny was…
Senate Committee Approves Bill To Eliminate St. Louis’ Earnings Tax
St. Louis, MO  (KTRS)  A bill that calls for eliminating St. Louis’ one-percent earnings tax is moving forward. The measure was approved by a Senate committee on Thursday.  Republican Senator Kurt Schaefer of Columbia,  sponsored the measure, which would eliminate the one-percent earnings tax for St. Louis and Kansas City.  In Thursday’s amended version, Kansas City…
Columbia man enters plea in teen’s heroin death
( KTRS ) A Columbia man has admitted to renting a motel room where a teen girl died of a heroin overdose. The U.S. attorney’s office says that 29-year-old Jon Patrick Washington pleaded guilty Thursday to maintaining a drug-involved premise. Prosecutors say Columbia police officers responded to a suspected heroin overdose death at a now-closed…
Cunningham, No. 22 Missouri women beat LSU 52-46
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – Lindsey Cunningham hit three 3-pointers and finished with 16 points to lead the 22nd-ranked Missouri women past LSU 52-46 Thursday night. Morgan Stock scored 12 – on 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range – and Jordan Frericks added eight points, nine rebounds and three assists for Missouri. Missouri (17-4, 4-4 Southeastern Conference)…
FEMA to help assess Illinois flood damage
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is coming to Illinois to help assess damage from early-winter floods that struck nearly two dozen counties. Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday vowed to “do everything possible to help people and communities” affected by the late December and early January flooding. FEMA will work with its…
Missouri lawmakers block higher taxes on some farmland
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri lawmakers are blocking a tax increase on the state’s most valuable farmland. The Senate voted 29-2 on Thursday to reject the State Tax Commission’s plan to raise some agricultural tax values for 2017 and 2018. The House passed the same resolution last week on a 133-24 vote. It does…
Illinois GOP calls Democrats’ college spending bill a hoax
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois Democrats have approved $721.5 million for tuition grants and community colleges, but Republicans call it an empty promise because the state still doesn’t have a budget. The funding measure sent to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner Thursday allocates $324.4 million to community colleges for operating costs and $397.1 million to the…