Rep Rocky MillerJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House has given initial approval to a bill that would tighten the requirements for a minor to get an abortion.
The House voted 109-35 Wednesday to endorse legislation that would require a minor to submit to her abortion doctor the written consent of one parent as well as written proof that the other parent was notified. Currently, a minor requires only the written consent of one parent.
Lake Ozark Republican Representative Rocky Miller says his bill is intended to start a conversation among families about abortion — not make it harder to get one.
Opponents say the bill could endanger girls who live in abusive households. Miller says the requirement excludes parents who have been convicted of abusive behavior, but Democrats say many abusers are never convicted.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Senate could vote Thursday on whether to send the House a proposal creating religious protections for those objecting to gay marriage.
The Republican-led Senate gave initial approval early Wednesday to the proposed constitutional amendment after halting a Democratic filibuster that lasted 37 hours.
Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard told MissouriNet that allowing Democrats to filibuster for 36-hours was fair.
But, he said Republicans had to do something to end the delay. They used a parliamentary procedure to end the filibuster.
“We didn’t have a choice,” Sen. Richard said. “Filibusters are part of our rules, and the other part of the rules for a leveling of the filibuster is the ‘previous question.’ We rarely use it, but we couldn’t come to a negotiated settlement.”
The measure would prohibit government penalties against those who cite religious beliefs while declining to provide wedding-related services to same-sex couples. The religious protections would apply to clergy, religious organizations and some businesses such as florists and photographers.
Another Senate vote is needed to send the measure to the House. Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard says that is likely to occur Thursday.
If passed by both chambers, the measure would appear on the ballot during either the August primary or November general election.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The House has endorsed a bill creating a grant program to attract more conventions to Missouri.
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 out of state, and their grants would be tied to how many hotel rooms their attendees are expected to fill. The fund would be capped at $3 million annually.
Bill sponsor Representative Caleb Rowden said this would help Missouri cities compete with other states to attract large conventions.
The proposal needs another vote before it goes to the Senate.
BARNHART, Mo. (AP) — A man has been charged in connection with the death of a 3-year-old girl in suburban St. Louis.
Twenty-five-year-old William Harris was charged Wednesday with abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, a Class-A felony. Aubrey Harvey was found dead Monday at a home in Barnhart. Authorities have not released details about how she died.
Harris’ bond has been set at $500,000 cash-only.
The Associated Press has left a message seeking comment from the attorney listed as representing Harris but so far has not received a reply.
STANTON, Neb. (AP) — The third of four northeast Nebraska teenagers accused of torturing a cat and an opossum has been sentenced.
On Tuesday in Stanton County Juvenile Court the boy was given a year of probation and 50 hours of community service — similar punishments handed two of the other boys. The fourth boy’s case is pending.
Authorities say the boys made an audio recording of the cat being tortured. Only two of the four participated in both incidents last fall.
An adult also has been charged: Kirk Van Pelt, a Stanton school board member and a former sheriff’s deputy. Van Pelt has pleaded not guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting and four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child. His next hearing is set for March 22nd.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A woman who says she was sexually assaulted by a jail guard who was later imprisoned for having sex with inmates is suing the former guard, Phelps County and several county officials.
The lawsuit was moved to federal court Tuesday from Phelps County. In it, the woman says she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by Louis Campana while she was in the jail in 2012 on bad check charges.
The Associated Press generally does not identify people who say they’ve been sexually assaulted.
Campana he pleaded no contest in 2013 to two counts of sexually abusing an inmate. He was sentenced to 20 months to four years in prison.
He has since been released and is a registered sex offender. A phone number for Campana could not be found Wednesday.
JEFFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers have given initial approval to a requirement that high school students receive some first aid training.
The House on Wednesday endorsed a bill that would make 30 minutes of instruction in CPR and choking first aid a prerequisite for high school graduation. The mandate would begin for health and physical education classes in the 2017-2018 school year.
Rep. Ron Hicks said the curriculum would include CPR practice, but students would not receive CPR certification. He said the American Heart Association would provide training kits to schools.
A similar bill passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate. Republicans blocked attempts Wednesday to add world history requirements and swim safety information to the bill, saying they didn’t want to complicate its path through the Senate.
PECULIAR, Mo. (AP) — Missouri authorities say an 18-year-old has died after jumping from a moving car on Interstate 49.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Tuesday that the investigation revealed that Lloyd Huff, of Jerico Springs, jumped on purpose, although it’s not clear why. A passer-by discovered his body early Sunday in a highway median between Harrisonville and Peculiar.
The release says a tip led investigators to the driver and passenger. They said Huff was sitting in the rear passenger seat Saturday night when he jumped from the vehicle. The driver and passenger were released after it was determined that no criminal charges would be filed.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says a proposed constitutional amendment granting religious exemptions to some business owners opposed to gay marriage could be “harmful to our economy.”
The Democratic governor also said Wednesday that the measure would “condone discrimination” and urged the House to oppose it.
His comments come after the Republican-led Senate ended a 37-hour filibuster by Democrats and gave initial approval to the measure. It would bar government penalties against those who cite a “sincere religious belief” while declining to provide wedding-related services to same-sex couples.
A second Senate vote is expected Thursday to send the measure to the House, where Republican leaders also have expressed support. If passed by the Legislature, the proposal would go before voters on either the August primary or November general election ballot.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas minors could be barred from using tanning beds and sunlamps under a measure that won first round approval Wednesday in the House.
A salon owner who allowed a person younger than 18 to use one of the devices could receive a fine of up to $250 fine and disciplinary action under the measure.
Rep. Kathy Wolf Moore, a Democrat from Kansas City and supporter of the bill, says those who use tanning beds are 59 percent more likely to develop melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.
But Republican Rep. Randy Powell, of Olathe, says the bill would infringe upon parents’ rights to make decisions for their children.
