Southwest Airlines adds former Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri to its board of directors

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines is adding a former Republican senator to its board of directors. Southwest said Monday that Roy Blunt, who represented Missouri in the Senate and before that the U.S. House of Representatives, joined the airline’s board on Sunday. That gives Southwest 15 directors. Blunt served in the Senate from 2011 until…

3 dead, 14 hurt after Greyhound bus strikes semis in Illinois; NTSB investigating

HIGHLAND, Ill. (AP) — Illinois State Police say a Greyhound passenger bus crashed into three tractor-trailers parked along a highway exit to a rest area in southern Illinois, killing three people and injuring 14 others, some seriously. State police say the bus was traveling westbound along Interstate 70 in Madison County around 1:55 a.m. when…

Missouri’s Parson signs laws for new moms’ health care, ban on texting while driving

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Parson has signed legislation to extend health care for new mothers and prohibit handheld phone use while driving. Parson last week signed almost all of the remaining bills passed by the GOP-led Legislature this year. Bills signed by the governor include expanded Medicaid for lower-income new mothers…

Bunge to buy Viterra in $18 billion deal that would create an agricultural powerhouse

Bunge is buying Viterra in a deal valued at approximately $18 billion to great a global agricultural giant. As part of the transaction, Viterra shareholders will receive about 65.6 million shares of Bunge stock, valued at approximately $6.2 billion and about $2 billion in cash. Bunge will assume $9.8 billion of Viterra debt. The deal…

Missouri governor signs bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors, some adults

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Transgender minors and some adults soon will be banned from accessing puberty blockers, hormones and gender-affirming surgeries under a bill signed by Missouri’s Republican governor. Gov. Mike Parson also on Wednesday signed legislation that will block transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams at all school levels,…

St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell vies for GOP Sen. Hawley’s seat

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Black prosecutor who stepped into leadership during protests over the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown is running for Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley’s Missouri seat. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination Wednesday. Bell is a former municipal judge who was…

Missouri professor not guilty by reason of insanity in stabbing death of colleague

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A former history professor at Missouri State University who was charged in the stabbing death of a colleague has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. The Springfield News-Leader reports that Edward Gutting, who was charged with first-degree murder in the 2016 killing of Marc Cooper in Springfield, was found…

Body of Missouri ER doctor had apparent gunshot wound, was found in Arkansas lake

Authorities say a missing emergency room doctor from Missouri whose body was found in an Arkansas lake had died of an apparent gunshot wound. But they’re still investigating what happened in the week since Dr. John Forsyth was last seen. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that a kayaker discovered the 49-year-old’s body a…