JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Missouri Senate has approved legislation that would require public employees’ annual, written permission for unions to withhold dues from their paychecks. Senators debated the measure for about seven hours Tuesday before passing it 23-7 shortly before midnight. That vote total is enough to override a gubernatorial veto. Gov. Jay…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri House panel has decided against a small cut to the University of Missouri-Columbia but refused to undo a $7.6 million cut for system administrators. The House Budget Committee voted Tuesday to restore roughly $400,000 in cuts to the Columbia campus that would have equaled the salaries of several…
( KTRS ) A Belleville woman who pleaded guilty to fraud charges for lying about a terminal ovarian cancer diagnosis has been sentenced to three years in prison. Alissa Jackson, 32, was charged in June 2014 with bilking thousands of dollars in donations, free food and a donated minivan from hundreds of people on behalf…
CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois medical marijuana shops had their best month yet in February with nearly $1.5 million in sales, bringing total retail sales to more than $4.4 million since the program began Nov. 9. Program director Joseph Wright announced Tuesday that registered dispensaries served 3,042 unique patients during February. Two new dispensaries joined the…
( KTRS ) Missouri lawmakers are grappling with how to address questions of racial bias in policing and how to manage body camera footage. A Senate panel heard two proposals Tuesday to establish more rigorous reporting requirements for police encounters. Democratic Sen. Jamilah Nasheed said the bills would help restore trust in law enforcement. Sheldon Lineback…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri House members have given initial approval to a prescription drug monitoring program. Lawmakers debated the legislation Tuesday after House leadership spent about three weeks trying to smooth over disagreements between Republicans. It was approved 91-68. A monitoring system is aimed at informing doctors and pharmacists when similar prescriptions were…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri measure would create a panel aimed at finding ways to address concerns about the University of Missouri. Columbia Republican Sen. Kurt Schaefer proposed a resolution Tuesday to establish a commission to review the university and suggest changes. The measure notes that if the university doesn’t follow recommendations, lawmakers…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois lawmakers want to hold additional hearings to discuss how to proceed with a pair of similar bills aiming to deal with the state’s pension debt. The state House Personnel and Pensions Committee held its first meeting Monday on the two proposals. Members of the committee said more hearings needed to…
Dutzow, MO  (KTRS)  The search for a missing St. Charles County woman is over. Police say the body of Amanda Sue Ford of Augusta was found in her Jeep Monday afternoon. The vehicle was discovered on its roof in a ravine off Highway 94 near Dutzow. Ford went missing on Saturday. This was the day before…
Richmond Heights, MO  (KTRS)  A suspect is being sought in connection with a Richmond Heights bank robbery. Police say a man held up Pulaski Bank on 6510 Clayton Road Monday afternoon. After entering the bank, the suspect handed a note to the teller demanding money and implying he had a gun. After receiving money from the…