Authorities believe two women arrested last week in St. Charles may be part of a ring that resells stolen baby formula.

The two St. Louis women were stopped Thursday after an officer recognized their car as one used in the theft of formula from a St. Charles Wal-Mart store.

Officers say they found 40 cans of Enfamil valued at $619 in the car, along with two large purses they believe were used to conceal the formula during the theft.

Police say both women told officers they had made multiple trips to the store on Thursday and four other days. Investigators are trying to determine who was purchasing the stolen formula.

Both women were arrested on suspicion of felony theft.

A fire in a small southwest Missouri town destroyed three vacant downtown buildings, but no one was injured.

Seven volunteer fire departments fought the fire Monday night in Weaubleau. The buildings were vacant brick structures thought to be close to 100 years old.

One had housed the Common Ground Cafe, but the cafe was closed.

 

Weaubleau Fire Chief Roger Foster says the cause is under investigation but electrical problems might be involved. No one was in the buildings and no firefighters were injured.

A convenience store across the street from the fire shut off its gas pumps as a precaution.

Missouri sheriffs say the state isn’t paying them enough to cover the cost of housing state prisoners.

Currently, the state pays counties $19.58 a day for food, housing and some medical care for inmates convicted of state crimes.

Some county sheriffs say they spend $30 or more every day to house the prisoners.

State Rep. Galen Higdon, a Republican from St. Joseph, is chairman of a house committee on sheriff’s operations. He acknowledged that county taxpayers are bearing some of the cost for housing state prisoners.

Higdon says his committee will propose legislation this session to address compensation as well as several other issues for law enforcement agencies. He wouldn’t discuss specific recommendations until all committee members have approved a draft of the bill.

Stan the Man, Cardinals baseball legend, has died.

St. Louis Cardinals fans remembered Musial, gathering around the larger of the two statues honoring him outside Busch Stadium.

The Hall of Famer died Saturday at 92. On Sunday, Stan the Man was the main topic at the Cardinals’ annual fan festival.

Despite near-freezing temperatures, there was a game-day feel Sunday at the ballpark. Dozens of fans at a time congregated around Musial’s statue, often blocking a lane of traffic to get the perfect photo. Many fans dropped off mementoes, including miniature bats, balls inscribed with messages, hats, flowers and flags at the base.

The team was awaiting word from Musial’s family on arrangements for a formal tribute. Weather could preclude a home-plate ceremony and casket viewing for fans such as was done when broadcaster Jack Buck died in 2002

A convicted rapist who unsuccessfully challenged Kansas’ sex offender rehab program before the U.S. Supreme Court, then co-founded a talent agency after he was released, is now accused of raping a 14-year-old girl at knife point in a Tennessee hotel.

Police said the man was managing the teen when he brought her to Nashville over the weekend for a talent showcase. After attacking her, Robert Gene Lile allegedly left the terrified girl behind. She then called her family for help.

Police tracked the suspect down to a relative’s home in Bates County where he was arrested.

The man allegedly met the girl through a talent show in Topeka. Lile was a judge in the contest apparently offered by a Topeka radio station.

The chairman of Missouri Republican Party says he’s conducting a nationwide search for a new executive director.

Republican chairman Ed Martin said Wednesday that he’s already received resumes from people in Virginia and New Mexico and is looking for whoever is best suited to serve as party CEO — even if that person is from outside Missouri.

Lloyd Smith stepped down Tuesday after four years at the post. Smith wants to focus on his bid for Missouri’s 8th District seat in Congress.

Emerson has said she will resign within the next month to take a job as director of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Missouri’s two U.S. senators are divided on President Barack Obama’s agenda for reducing gun violence.

Republican Senator Roy Blunt said Wednesday that Obama’s proposals “fundamentally fail” to address ways of preventing tragic events like the shooting the killed 26 people at a Connecticut school. He says the focus should be on treatment for the mentally ill.

Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill says she supports services for the mentally ill, as well as Obama’s proposals to expand background checks to all gun purchases and limit the size of ammunition magazines that can be sold. McCaskill says such steps can be taken while still protecting Second Amendment rights.

But Blunt says Obama’s proposals attempt to restrict Second Amendment rights. Among other things, Obama wants Congress to ban the sale of military-style assault weapons.

A Missouri man who stole about $3.5 million from friends and neighbors in an investment fraud scheme will spend 11 years in prison with no chance of parole.

A federal judge sentenced 51-year-old Daniel Meredith of Excelsior Springs on Tuesday for promising his victims high profits on investments in a purported Bolivian land scheme and fake coffee house franchises.

His victims lived mostly in Missouri and Kansas.

One lost millions of dollars and at least one other had to declare bankruptcy.

Federal prosecutors say Meredith claimed to have connections with former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and several other government officials.

Meredith spent the money at casinos, on horses and for an extravagant home. Prosecutors say Meredith conducted the schemes between serving sentences for other cons.