St. Louis, MO (KTRS) A former Pine Lawn police lieutenant is facing up to twenty years behind bars after being convicted on federal charges. The U.S. attorney’s office announced that 35-year-old Steven Blakeney has been found guilty of three criminal civil rights charges. Prosecutors say the false arrest happened in March 2013 while Blakeny was…
St. Louis, MO (KTRS) A bill that calls for eliminating St. Louis’ one-percent earnings tax is moving forward. The measure was approved by a Senate committee on Thursday. Republican Senator Kurt Schaefer of Columbia, sponsored the measure, which would eliminate the one-percent earnings tax for St. Louis and Kansas City. In Thursday’s amended version, Kansas City…
( KTRS ) A Columbia man has admitted to renting a motel room where a teen girl died of a heroin overdose. The U.S. attorney’s office says that 29-year-old Jon Patrick Washington pleaded guilty Thursday to maintaining a drug-involved premise. Prosecutors say Columbia police officers responded to a suspected heroin overdose death at a now-closed…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is coming to Illinois to help assess damage from early-winter floods that struck nearly two dozen counties. Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday vowed to “do everything possible to help people and communities” affected by the late December and early January flooding. FEMA will work with its…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri lawmakers are blocking a tax increase on the state’s most valuable farmland. The Senate voted 29-2 on Thursday to reject the State Tax Commission’s plan to raise some agricultural tax values for 2017 and 2018. The House passed the same resolution last week on a 133-24 vote. It does…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois Democrats have approved $721.5 million for tuition grants and community colleges, but Republicans call it an empty promise because the state still doesn’t have a budget. The funding measure sent to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner Thursday allocates $324.4 million to community colleges for operating costs and $397.1 million to the…
( KTRS ) A fired Pine Lawn police lieutenant has been convicted of conspiring to falsely arrest a mayoral candidate. The U.S. attorney’s office says in a news release that 35-year-old Steven Blakeney has been found guilty of three criminal civil rights charges. Prosecutors say the false arrest happened in March 2013. Witnesses testified during…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Missouri Senate could debate a bill that would repeal the state’s death penalty. A Senate panel approved the Republican-sponsored legislation Tuesday. It would end capital punishment in a state that’s executed 18 killers in the last two years. Sen. Paul Wieland, of Imperial, is Catholic and opposes abortion. He…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Motivated by the resignations of two lawmakers, the Missouri Legislature has advanced another round of ethics-related legislation. The Missouri House passed legislation 157-3 Thursday to prohibit most investments of campaign money. Members also voted 157-4 to impose greater reporting requirements for taskforce members appointed by the governor. Legislation to close…
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