New rules aimed at reducing number of feral pigs in Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A top Missouri Department of Conservation official says new rules banning the hunting of feral pigs on state land could help control the invasive species. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1ZUz3v2 ) reports deputy director Aaron Jeffries told a panel of state lawmakers on Thursday that the ban will give agents…
CrimeStoppers offering $5000 reward in Deyon Smith shooting
( KTRS ) CrimeStoppers is offering a $5000 reward, for information that leads to an arrest, of the suspect involved in a fatal shooting. Officials say that the victim, Deyon Smith, and a friend were standing outside a home in the 9800 block of Wendell on the night of June 2nd, when a man wearing…
Missouri health officials confirm 7th case of Zika virus
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – State health officials have confirmed a seventh case of Zika virus in a Missouri resident who had traveled outside the country. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services says a non-pregnant woman who went to the Dominican Republic tested positive for the virus. Officials say there have been no reported…
Illinois unemployment rate drops as workforce shrinks
CHICAGO (AP) – The unemployment rate dropped across Illinois in May to 6.4 percent, but state officials attributed the drop to a decrease in the size of the state’s workforce. The Illinois Department of Employment Security said Thursday that unemployment fell from 6.6 percent in April. It was the first decline in the jobless rate…
Missouri man gets probation for online threats to blacks
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – A man who posted threatening messages against black people on an anonymous social media app during racial protests at the University of Missouri last year has been sentenced to probation. Hunter Park was a Missouri University of Science and Technology student on Nov. 10 when he posted the messages on Yik…
Illinois borrows millions for building despite budget mess
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois has borrowed $550 million for construction at what Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration says is a record-low interest rate despite the state’s beleaguered financial position. Rauner’s office announced Thursday that it sold $550 million in bonds at an interest rate of 3.7 percent. That’s below the 4 percent interest offered when…
Cell phone outages hit St. Louis area
(KTRS) – Many St. Louis area residents could be having problems with cell phone service today. The website DownDetector shows that there is a large AT&T outage in the Wentzville area, but some customers in St. Louis are also reporting problems. You can see a live and updating outage map here.