Parkway School Board approves changes to sex education classes
(KTRS) – There will be a new sexual education curriculum for students in the Parkway school district after a tight vote by the school board. The Post-Dispatch reports that the biggest changes include teaching eighth through tenth-grade students about LGBT issues, sexual consent, and protection against sexual predators. Students turned out at last night’s school…
Defense contractors fined nearly $3.7 million for shipping fraud
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AP) – Two shipping companies have paid nearly $3.7 million in civil penalties related to fraudulent contracts for U.S. Department of Defense efforts in Afghanistan. Federal prosecutors in the southern district of Illinois announced the fines against Farrell Lines and Damco USA on Thursday. Acting U.S. Attorney Jim Porter says…
Suspect Blames ‘Bad Dope’ For Fatal Shooting
Poplar Bluff, MO (KTRS) Poplar Bluff police say a man accused in a fatal shooting blames what he calls “bad dope” for the crime. Joseph Wade Wisdom of Poplar Bluff is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 50-year-old Stahl Lee Sturgeon of Doniphan. Sturgeon’s body was found Tuesday inside his car at…
Southern Illinois University Expects Job Cuts Amid Funding Loss
Carbondale, IL (KTRS) Hundreds of Southern Illinois University employees could be laid off if the university loses over $45 million in state funding in the budget for fiscal year 2017. President Randy Dunn issued a report Wednesday that detailed how the university’s three campuses would be affected if Governor Bruce Rauner’s proposed 20 percent reduction in…
Hit And Run Suspect Sought In East St. Louis Child’s Death
East St. Louis, IL (KTRS) A suspect is being sought in connection with a hit and run accident that claimed the life of a child in East St. Louis. Police say the 11-year-old boy who a family member has identified as Maurice Richards, was struck by a passing vehicle Wednesday night in the 3700 block…
Missouri House approves funds to attract conventions
( KTRS ) The Missouri House has endorsed a bill creating a grant program to attract more conventions to the state. Lawmakers gave initial approval Wednesday to a measure authorizing grants for large conventions that could cover up to half the operating expenses. Eligible conventions would have to draw at least half their attendees from…
Illinois advances bill to end tampon tax
( KTRS ) Illinois lawmakers have advanced a measure to exempt feminine hygiene and incontinence products from the state sales tax. The Senate revenue committee forwarded the bill to the full chamber Wednesday for consideration. No official vote was taken, but one Republican lawmaker suggested the plan be considered for a tax code change instead…
Slaying suspect managed to elude US immigration authorities
( KTRS ) Immigration authorities last year sought to detain a Mexican national charged with killing five men, but they sent the detention order to an agency that didn’t have him in custody. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, it wasn’t the first time Pablo Antonio Serrano-Vitorino eluded the agency In 2015, officials from a…