More Money For Those Who Care For Veterans

A pay increase for those who care for veterans in Missouri. Starting this month, those who provide care to vets in Missouri Veterans Homes get an 8.7% pay hike — plus a one time payment of more than $900.

These pay increases are seen as critical in helping to retain and recruit care givers at the state’s seven veteran’s homes.

Soccer For Little Kids Ready For Sign-Up

Kirksville Parks and Recreation says you can start signing-up for Tiny Tykes Soccer. It’s a four-week program, for children kids 3 through 5, to be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting April 11th. Registration is $30 per child.

One Highlight of Mayors Speech: Tax On Pot

In his annual state of the city address, Kirksville Mayor Zac Burden talked about street work and parks and rec. He also hopes voters will show up at the polls in April and approve that 3% city tax on pot. That vote is set for April 4th…along with other local elections.

Local Gas Prices Higher Than Most Of Missouri

Gas prices coming down in Missouri — but not locally. AAA says the statewide average is
3-bucks a gallon — down a nickel in a week.

But in Adair county, we are still at $3.09 and Sullivan county at $3.23 a gallon, which cents higher than much of the state

Court Fight Over Dirty Books In Missouri Schools

The American Civil Liberties Union now suing the state over a new law that says sexually explicit books cannot be in schools in Missouri. The ACLU contends that the law violates the rights of students and librarians.

The suit says that since the law went into effect, about 300 books have been prohibited in school libraries.

No Prosecutor Elected — So Judge Appoints One

New prosecuting attorney in Sullivan county. Jane Dunn of Chillicothe was appointed to the job by a judge.

Normally, prosecutors are elected. But nobody ran for the job in the last election. Dunn will serve as the new Sullivan County prosecutor until another election — that is, if somebody signs-up to run.

Effort Underway To Remove Controversial Prosecutor

The state attorney general is calling for a St. Louis prosecutor resign. Andrew Bailey says if Kim Gardner doesn’t quit today he will get the ball rolling to remove her.

He says Gardner failed to protect the public in the case of a driver caused a wreck in which a girl lost both of her legs.

The attorney general says the driver was out on bond — even though he had violated the conditions of his bond more 50 times. Bailey says the driver should have been behind bars not behind the wheel. And he blames Kim Gardner for that.

New Elementary Principal Selected

A new principal selected for Ray Miller Elementary in Kirksville. Nicole Marshall will take over next school-year. She will replace Kristin Van Rie who is retiring. Marshall has been teaching 4th grade classes at Ray Miller for 22 years.

Teens Hurt When SUV Blows A Tire

Two teens in a wreck Sunday afternoon on Highway 36 near Hannibal. The patrol says their SUV blew a tire. It careened into the median then flipped over in the opposite lane. The 16 year old boy who was driving had minor injuries. A 16 year old girl with him had more serious injuries, and she was flown to University Hospital in Columbia. The patrol says neither of them were wearing a seat belt.

A Break On Your Natural Gas Bill

Some good news: a break on your natural gas bill. The Public Service Commission says Kirksville area customers of Liberty Utilities will see a rate decrease beginning on February 23rd.

There will be a cut of 36-cents per hundred cubic feet of natural gas used.

That translates into a drop of $19.44 in the monthly bill for a typical Kirksville residential customer.