ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ferguson’s former municipal court clerk who was fired last month over racially charged emails linked to her says she’s not a bigot and that she shared the messages as funny items she didn’t consider offensive.

The St. Louis suburb fired Mary Ann Twitty after the Justice Department called the emails into question in its report that found widespread racial bias in Ferguson’s policing efforts and the municipal court system. The emails frequently belittled black residents and President Barack Obama.

The scrutiny followed uproar over August’s shooting death of black 18-year-old Michael Brown by a white police officer.

Twitty told The Associated Press on Wednesday the emails “were jokes,” and that “of course I’m not racist.”

Ferguson Mayor James Knowles III declined to discuss Twitty’s firing, saying it’s a personnel matter.

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A Joplin family’s lawsuit against the city of Joplin, the police department and two police officers has been settled.

City attorney Peter Edwards says the city will pay $65,000 to Kevin and Julissa Russell and their son, Brant Russell.

The Russells alleged they were wrongfully arrested in March 2013 after a family member suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They said they called 911 while taking the girl to the hospital and were told to take her to the Joplin police department, where an ambulance would be available.

The Joplin Globe reports the lawsuit alleged emergency personnel delayed putting the girl into the ambulance while they questioned the family and arrested Kevin and Brant Russell after a confrontation. The girl died at a hospital while they were in custody.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A foundation set up by the H&R Block Inc. co-founder and his wife will pay for a nearly two-year, $11.7 million renovation at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.

The Kansas City Star reports that the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation gift will bring into view 29 impressionist and post-impressionist works from the couple’s personal collection. As part of the museums 75th anniversary in 2010, the family promised to donate the paintings from artists such as Manet, Monet, Gaugin, Cézanne, Degas and van Gogh.

Work will begin this summer to reconfigure the museum’s impressionism and post-impressionism galleries in the original Nelson-Atkins building. When renovations wrap up in spring 2017, the new works will be integrated into the museum’s existing collection on the main floor.

BOSTON (AP) — A jury has convicted Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv) of all 30 counts he faced stemming from the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon.

Tsarnaev was found guilty Wednesday on charges that included conspiracy and use of a weapon of mass destruction. Of the 30 charges, 17 are punishable by death.

Tsarnaev’s lawyers admitted he participated in the bombings, but said his now-dead older brother was the driving force behind the deadly attack.

In the next phase of the trial, the jury will hear evidence on whether Tsarnaev should get the death penalty or spend the rest of his life in prison.

Three people were killed and more than 260 were injured when twin pressure-cooker bombs exploded near the marathon finish line on April 15, 2013.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Supporters say a measure requiring hospitals to disclose whether a person is being admitted is needed to protect consumers.

The Missouri House on Tuesday gave first-round approval to a bill that would require written notices when a patient is admitted or placed on observational status by a hospital.

Republican Rep. Sheila Solon, of Blue Springs, says hospitals have been placing people on observational status instead of admitting them.

She says that puts patients on the hook for thousands of dollars in costs that often are not covered by health insurance or Medicare.

The measure faces another vote in the House before moving to the Senate.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Students in Missouri schools could learn about the dangers of online sexual predators and the consequences of sending sexually suggestive text messages under a measure moving forward in the Statehouse.

The Missouri House on Tuesday approved a bill that would add to the information included in sexual education instruction in public and charter schools.

Democratic Rep. Genise Montecillo of St. Louis says it’s necessary to help protect children. The measure would require the inclusion of information about sexual predators, particularly online.

It also would require instruction about responsible Internet use and the potential consequences of sending sexually explicit or graphic text messages, even to friends.

The measure now goes to the Senate.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Senators have passed a proposal to grant amnesty to Missourians who agree to pay back taxes.

The measure passed 26-7 early Wednesday morning. The House last month voted 141-7 in favor of the bill, which will head back to that chamber before it can go to the governor’s desk.

Delinquent taxpayers would need to pay between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30 to qualify. They also would need to comply with state tax laws for the next eight years.

Unpaid taxes dating before Dec. 31 would be eligible for pardon.

The Legislative Research Committee estimates the proposal could mean $20 million or more in additional revenue next fiscal year.

The last time taxpayers were granted amnesty was in 2002.

BOLIVAR, Mo. (AP) — A southwest Missouri man drowned while trying to unload his boat in Pomme de Terre Lake.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the body of Ralph Prince of Bolivar was recovered from the lake Tuesday afternoon.

The patrol says Prince was trying to launch his boat at the Bolivar Landing launch early Tuesday when the boat floated off its trailer. Prince, whose age was not available, went into the water to retrieve the boat and drowned.

A search for his body began after a witness reported an unoccupied boat drifting on the lake and the unattended truck and trailer.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has lifted restrictions on the movement of poultry flocks in two counties imposed after a case of bird flu was confirmed last month.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the state Department of Agriculture lifted its restrictions for parts of Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties earlier this week.

The department created a so-called surveillance zone in mid-March after samples from a flock with ducks and chickens in Leavenworth County tested positive for bird flu.

The department said it responded to seven reported cases of sick birds but the tests for avian influenza were negative.

The agency still is encouraging poultry owners to isolate new animals, move livestock away from property boundaries and thoroughly clean equipment and animal areas.