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US appeals court reinstates suit over Missouri alcohol ads

alcoholKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit challenging Missouri regulations limiting how alcohol producers and retailers can advertise.

An 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Thursday unanimously reinstated the 2013 lawsuit by the Missouri Broadcasters Association, a radio group, a retailer and winery.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan dismissed the lawsuit last year at the state’s behest.

At issue are regulations such as one making it illegal for an alcohol advertisement to mention prices, rebates or discounts. That essentially bars references to things like two-for-one beer specials, a wine shop’s going-out-of-business sale or a restaurant special offer of a free drink with a meal purchase.

The broadcasters’ group says such restrictions have cost it advertising revenue.

A message was left Thursday with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.

Student health insurance rates to increase next school year

kansas board of regents logoTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — After two years without increases, student health insurance premiums will go up more than 5 percent at state universities next year.

The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday approved a 5.2 percent premium increase for all plans for the 2017-18 academic year.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports a student-only plan will cost $1,464 a year, an increase of $72. No changes to plan benefits were recommended.

In 2017-18, plans for a student plus spouse, or student plus child, will cost $2,928 per year, an increase of $144.

Plans for a student plus spouse and child, or student plus two children, will cost $4,392 per year, an increase of $216. And plans for a student plus spouse and two or more children will cost $5,856 per year, an increase of $288.

Revised MLS stadium plan cuts St. Louis’ share by $20M

An HOK Image of where a new MLS stadium would be built in downtown St. Louis. Photo courtesy Missourinet.
An HOK Image of where a new MLS stadium would be built in downtown St. Louis. Photo courtesy Missourinet.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — There’s new life for a plan to have St. Louis taxpayers help fund a new downtown soccer stadium.

Eight days after the public funding proposal was declared all but dead, Alderwoman Christine Ingrassia on Wednesday requested a hearing before the city Ways and Means Committee. The hearing is set for Thursday.

Ingrassia says a revised proposal would ask voters to approve about $60 million in new tax revenue for the $200 million project. The earlier plan sought $80 million from the city.

Investor group SC STL hopes to build a stadium near Union Station to attract a Major League Soccer expansion franchise.

SC STL spokesman Jim Woodcock says the group appreciates Ingrassia’s decision to move the bill to the committee and looks forward to Thursday’s meeting.

FBI investigating threats to Jewish centers

FBI logoCHICAGO (AP) — Federal authorities say they’re investigating threats to Jewish centers nationwide.

A brief FBI statement Wednesday says it and the Justice Department’s civil-rights division are investigating “possible civil rights violations in connection with threats.” The statement from the agency’s Washington headquarters doesn’t characterize the threats.

But the Anti-Defamation League the same day issued a statement citing “a series of bomb threats to Jewish community centers in at least 17 states.”

The ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt adds about actual explosives that “so far these threats do not appear to be credible.” But the statement says centers should still take them seriously.

The ADL says it’s received reports of threats in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Delaware, Connecticut, Alabama, California, Maine, Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas and Kansas.

Man dead after traffic stop by Columbia cops

Boone County Sheriff patchCOLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating after a man died of a gunshot wound after a traffic stop in Columbia.

Boone County Sheriff Sgt. Scott White says the confrontation began Wednesday afternoon when Columbia police pulled over a car.

White said two females got out of the vehicle and police fired at the car after they heard a gunshot.

He says investigators are trying to determine whether officers shot the man or if he suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

No officers were injured.

White did not release the names or ages of anyone involved.

The Columbia police department asked the patrol to conduct the investigation.

Kansas legislators leery of budget fix yet moving toward it

Gov. Brownback gives the 2015 State of the State address- courtesy photo
Gov. Brownback – courtesy photo

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators are gravitating toward an accounting move proposed by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback to help paper over a shortfall in the current state budget.

They’re receptive to his complicated plan even though they doubt it is a good idea.

Brownback’s plan would liquidate a state investment portfolio to raise cash to back $317 million in internal borrowing, with the state paying itself back over seven years.

House and Senate committees reviewed Brownback’s proposal Wednesday as many states struggle with budget problems. In Kansas, Oklahoma and Indiana, the problems are serious enough for legislators to reconsider past tax cuts designed to stimulate the economy.

But Kansas can’t raise taxes quickly enough to plug the projected $342 million hole in the budget for current fiscal year before it ends June 30.

Authorities not sure driver knew his car hit person

Lancaster County NE sheriff patchLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have talked to a man whose vehicle fatally struck an Iowa woman in southeast Nebraska.

Nineteen-year-old Merzedes Hart, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was killed late Friday night as she crossed U.S. Highway 6 northeast of Lincoln. The vehicle that hit her continued on.

The driver hasn’t been arrested, though. Capt. Ben Houchin of the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office says investigators aren’t certain the driver knew that he’d struck a human being. He’s reported that he thought he struck a deer.

Hart was a student at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and was on the track team.

Teen and mom under arrest in Missouri State player’s death

Richard Nelson. Courtesy Missourinet.
Richard Nelson. Courtesy Missourinet.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police say a teenager and his mother are under arrest in the death of a Missouri State University football player who tried to stop a fight involving his sister in Las Vegas.

Police say the 17-year-old suspect was booked into juvenile detention Tuesday on suspicion of murder with a deadly weapon in the Saturday shooting that killed 18-year-old Richard J. Nelson.

The teenager’s name was not released due to his age. His mother is being held on suspicion of accessory to murder. She’s suspected of driving her son away from the scene.

No attorney was immediately listed for her in court records.

Nelson was a redshirt freshman last season at Missouri State. Witnesses tell police that he tried to pull someone away from his sister before the shooting.

Missouri man sentenced for aiming laser at police helicopter

USDOJ bas relief logoKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City man will serve three years in federal prison without parole for pointing a laser at a police helicopter in 2013.

Federal prosecutors say 26-year-old Jordan Clarence Rogers was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty in September to violating a federal law that makes it illegal to point laser beams at aircraft.

The pilot of the helicopter reported he suffered eye strain for several hours after Rogers pointed the laser at the helicopter three times in 2013.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Casey said before the sentencing that Rogers has an extensive criminal history, which he argued should be a factor in sentencing.

$34,000 PTO theft leads to shock time, probation

blue-valley-schoolsOLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A 45-year-old Olathe woman was placed on probation for stealing more than $34,000 from the parent teacher organization of an Overland Park middle school.

Christine Glover was sentenced Monday for the theft from the organization at Pleasant Ridge Middle School in the Blue Valley School District.

The thefts occurred while Glover was treasurer of the parent-teacher group between August 2014 and February 2016.

She pleaded guilty in November to felony theft.

The Kansas City Star reports Glover has made restitution of $34,660. She also was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and write an apology letter.

Glover also was taken into custody after Monday’s hearing to serve seven days in jail as a condition of her probation.

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