SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A book checked out from a southwest Missouri library 37 years ago is back after the borrower deposited it into an outdoor book drop with an apology note and $6 to cover late fees.

The book, which ponders whether the Bermuda Triangle exists, was due back in 1978, but didn’t make it back to the library until this week.

The anonymous borrower’s note simply says, “sorry this is so late.”

Springfield-Greene County Library District spokeswoman Kathleen O’Dell says it’s the most overdue return that current employees can recall.

Technically the borrower overpaid because the district’s maximum fine for late-but-returned books is $5.

The 1976 book likely won’t go back on the library’s shelves because of its age.

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. (AP) — Police say a fatal shooting was prompted by an argument over loud music at an apartment building in south Maryland Heights.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a 35-year-old man died in a local hospital shortly after suffering multiple gunshot wounds around 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Bennington Heights Apartment Complex.

Police arrested a 26-year-old man and recovered a handgun that investigators believe was used during the incident.

Witnesses told police that the argument between the two neighbors began over loud music.

Police have not released the name of the victim pending notification of family members.

The suspect was in custody pending application of warrants.

 

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A University of Missouri professor’s documentary about an actress preparing for the role of a suicidal newscaster has been selected for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

The Columbia Missourian reports that Robert Greene’s film is “Kate Plays Christine.” The film explores themes of suicide, voyeurism and the nature of performance while following actress Kate Sheil as transforms into Christine Chubbuck, a Florida newscaster who killed herself on air in 1974.

Chubbuck’s 1974 death is also the topic of “Christine,” one of the 16 narrative films premiering in Sundance’s U.S. Dramatic Competition next month.

Greene said that Sundance is “the biggest place to start the life of a film in this country.” He added that he feels “really lucky.

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — With the approval by Illinois regulators for its part of a 780-mile transmission line to carry wind power from the Kansas high plains to Eastern power grids, Missouri farmers are the only ones standing in the way of the $2.2 billion project.

The battle pits Houston-based Clean Line Energy against a row of Missouri farmers stretching from Buchanan County in the west to Ralls County in the east who vow to remain steadfast in their opposition to the plan.

The Kansas City Star reports the power line is being touted by supporters as a first-of-its kind project and a major step in the fight for renewable energy against coal-fired power plants.

Opponents have cited concerns about crops, pastures and difficulties in maneuvering large equipment around towers.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Governor Sam Brownback argues that Kansas legislators shouldn’t tinker further with tax laws next year.  He says the state budget is in good shape despite a projected shortfall because his economic policies are working.

The governor spent much of a recent AP interview throwing out statistics aimed at bolstering his argument tax cuts he championed in past years are boosting the economy.

The state has struggled to balance its $15 billion budget since those reductions; it hiked sales and cigarette taxes earlier this year and still faces a projected deficit of about $160 million for the fiscal year that begins in July.

Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka says the state’s budget problems show that Brownback’s policies have failed.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. (AP) — A longtime Missouri elected official who was convicted of swindling an elderly woman out of more than $80,000 says he plans to keep his job after being sentenced to two seven-year prison terms.

Perry County Coroner Herbert Miller’s sentence was suspended Friday and he was placed on five years of probation.  Miller must repay $80,600 in restitution and could serve prison time if he violates probation.

Miller has served as the county coroner for 20 years. He was convicted in October of financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person and theft of $25,000 or more.

Prosecutors say he was given power of attorney by the victim in 2004 when she was 83 years old and by 2013 had emptied her checking account.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita double amputee says she didn’t have time to panic before managing to crawl to safety after waking up to flames next to her bed.

Theresa Williams threw herself off her bed Sunday morning and struggled to get out of her home as it began to burn. She was able to crawl from her bedroom to her front door, but that was the easy part compared to reaching two locks to get the door open.

A next-door neighbor called 911 after hearing Williams yelling and falling to the floor. By the time Williams got out of her home neighbors were coming to her aid.

She lost all of her possessions and her home in the blaze.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The list of Missouri cities where police have alerted the FBI of suspicious bulk purchases of prepaid, disposable cellphones from Wal-Mart stores is growing.

Last weekend, two men bought roughly 60 of the phones in Lebanon in southwestern Missouri. Thirty-two cellphones were purchased in Macon, and an unspecified number of the phones were bought in Columbia.

But the Southeast Missourian of Cape Girardeau reports that on Dec. 4, police in Jackson say four dozen of the cellphones were bought at a Wal-Mart there. Several prepaid cellphones also were purchased in Cape Girardeau, and Jefferson City police tell the Columbia Missourian that three people bought more than 50 of the phones at a Wal-Mart there.

Such phones, often called “burners,” can be bought and used anonymously, then discarded to avoid detection.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Officials say the FBI will help investigate some officer-involved shootings and excessive force complaints against Kansas City police under an agreement with the local police department.

The Kansas City Star reports that authorities announced Thursday that four cases were already under investigation, but they didn’t identify the cases.

Under the agreement, the FBI, the U.S. attorney’s office, Jackson County prosecutor and the Kansas City police investigations bureau will review an incident and determine whether it should be investigated as a possible violation of federal civil rights or state law.

U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson says law enforcement agencies may correctly investigate themselves most of the time, but that self-policing can leave a negative perception in the community.

Officials say the agencies began discussing the arrangement 18 to 24 months ago.

 

ST. LOUIS (AP) — One of the more visible protesters during last year’s unrest in Ferguson has been sentenced to eight years in prison for starting a fire at a gas station during demonstrations after a fatal police shooting in nearby Berkeley.

A St. Louis County circuit judge sentenced 19-year-old Joshua Williams on Thursday. Williams pleaded guilty last month to arson, burglary and stealing.  The fire at a QuikTrip was lit during protests over the killing of Antonio Martin, who was fatally shot in December by a police officer at a gas station across the street.

Prosecutors had asked for a 15-year sentence, while Williams’ attorney asked for a suspended or lesser sentence.

Williams was frequently quoted and photographed while protesting the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson.