State: insect fatal to ash trees found in southwest Missouri
LEBANON, Mo. (AP) – The Missouri Department of Conservation says a beetle that is fatal to ash trees has spread to southwest Missouri. The department says the emerald ash borer was recently found in Laclede County. It is the first time the insect was found in southwest Missouri. It has now been found in 31…
Partial budget ends with new year; Illinois deal not near
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The temporary Illinois budget plan agreed to last summer expires with the new year. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the General Assembly have hardly talked about how to replace it. Elementary and high school funding continues through June. Billions more gets spent because it’s court-ordered or is automatically…
Man charged in St. Louis County murder-for-hire plot
ST. LOUIS (AP) – A suburban St. Louis man has been charged in a murder-for-hire plot. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that court documents say 51-year-old Willie Jackson, of Florissant, wanted the “victim tied up, beaten and left for dead.” He was arraigned Tuesday on charges of second-degree attempted murder and violating an order of…
A lawmaker’s solution for marriage debate: Remove the state
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A Republican Missouri lawmaker says he has a solution to end tense debates over same-sex marriage. Rep. T.J. Berry wants to take government out of marriage and leave it to houses of worship by classifying such legal partnerships as domestic unions. His bill, pre-filed ahead of the 2017 legislative session,…
Woman shot in face Thursday afternoon
( KTRS ) Authorities are investigating after a woman was shot in the face. Police say the incident happened just after 4:40pm Thursday afternoon in the 4000 block of Delmar. The woman’s current condition is unknown at this time. No further details have been released.
Washington University study raises welding safety concerns
ST. LOUIS (AP) – A new study by Washington University in St. Louis researchers has found that current safety standards to protect welders from harmful fumes may be inadequate. Dr. Brad A. Racette, senior author of the study, tells the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the research showed that the more exposure one had to airborne manganese,…
Missouri Governor-elect Greitens to make budget cuts
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri Republican Gov.-elect Eric Greitens will make budget cuts after he takes office. Greitens’ senior adviser Austin Chambers announced plans for budget cuts Thursday but declined to provide further details, including how much spending previously approved by lawmakers the next governor will restrict. Greitens takes office Jan. 9. He replaces…
St. Louis Murder Count Slightly Behind 2015’s Murder Total
St. Louis, MO (KTRS) St. Louis’ murder count continues to inch behind last year’s murder total. The latest murder happened Wednesday afternoon when a man was found shot to death inside of a vehicle along Warren Street in north St. Louis. The victim has been identified as 26-year-old Sammie Tabor of south St. Louis. This brings…