President Barack Obama is taking 23 executive actions aimed at curbing gun violence that don’t require congressional action, including measures to encourage schools to hire police officers, increase research on gun violence and improve efforts to prosecute gun crime.

He is also calling on lawmakers to reinstate a strengthened assault weapons ban and instate a 10 round magazine limit.

The executive actions are part of an overarching package assembled by a task force led by Vice President Joe Biden. The measures come a month after the mass shooting in Newtown, Ct., that killed 20 elementary school children.

Obama is directing the Centers for Disease Control to research gun violence and is seeking rules to ensure that law enforcement conducts background checks before returning seized firearms.

He intends to nominate Todd Jones as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Jones is the agency’s acting director.

A regional effort aims to prevent deadly crashes in Northwest Missouri.

The Northwest Regions Coalition for Roadway Safety will hold a workshop next month for area high schools.

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for youth from 15-24 years old, according to the organization.

The one day workshop will focus on the safety issues facing teens and driving. Issues include seat-belt usage, drunk driving, speeding and texting while driving.

“We know we continue to lose precious lives to needless crashes in our area because young drivers don’t buckle up, they text and drive, drive impaired or do a variety of other unsafe behaviors,” said Jackie Spainhower, the executive director of the Northwest Region’s coalition. “This Team Spirit event is a great way for schools to proactively educate their students and hopefully save lives and prevent injuries – all at no cost to them.”

The Team Spirit event will be March 6th in the St Joseph Civic arena.  Schools must sign up by February 25th and can do so by calling 888-275-6636

“Sign your school up today to keep our teens safe on our roads and help them Arrive Alive,” Spainhower said.

The local Red Cross Chapter will hold a flu shot clinic next week.

The Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold the clinic on Tuesday in St Joseph.

They will be providing flu shots for $30 and pneumonia shots for $55 for those over 18-years-old. Those shots can be covered by certain insurance companies.

An appointment is not necessary, as the clinic is walk-in only.

“If we can reduce one person’s illness or save one life with a flu or pneumonia vaccine, it is a great service our Red Cross volunteers can provide the community,” said Kevin Kirby, Executive Director of Midland Empire Chapter.  “The Red Cross offered flu shot clinics across the St. Joseph area earlier in the season, but we realize there are still people who want the chance to get protected against the flu.”

The Centers for Disease Control reports the flu season has yet to hit its peak. The flu clinic is from 9:00am-5:00pm Tuesday at the American Red Cross on North 12th street.

A Nodaway County man was sentenced to prison this week for his role in a fatal drunk-driving accident.

Scott Woods of Hopkins was sentenced to 10 years in prison by Circuit Judge Roger Prokes on Monday.

The October 2011 accident killed three and injured three others. Woods already had pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter and three counts of assault.

Court records show at the time of the accident Woods was driving 92 miles-per-hour and had a blood-alcohol content of .146 after the accident near Hopkins.

22 year-old Benjamin McIntire, 18-year-old Chrystal Olerich and 21-year-old Joshua Bix all died as a result of the accident.

Governor Jay Nixon has appointed a handful of new members to different state boards, including the Northwest Missouri State University board of Regents.

The announcement was made just before the state legislature was to convene Wednesday.

The Governor appointed Dr Patrick B Harr of Shell Knob and John W. Richmond of Albany to the Universities board of regents.

Dr. Harr is a physician specializing in family and sports medicine at Mercy Family Medicine in Shell Knobb.

Richmond is a retired president and CEO of the Northwest Missouri Medical Center in Albany. Both appointments must be confirmed by the state senate. If confirmed, their terms would expire in 2019.

Other appointments made by the governor  include:

Missouri State University Board of Governors Carrie Carroll – Jefferson City; Lloyd Joseph Carmichael – Springfield

Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority Bruce Thomas Sommer – Glendale; Edward J. Tabash – St. Louis City; M. Zane Yates – Oakville

Truman State University Board of Governors David L. Bonner – Matteson, Ill.

University of Central Missouri Board of Governors John Allen Collier – Weston

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri drivers will see changes in their driver’s licenses beginning this year.

The Department of Revenue says new licenses will have security features such as special printing, laser perforations and bar codes.

The state says the changes are designed to protect the owner’s identity and fight fraud.

The state also plans to issue temporary licenses at licenses offices, and drivers will receive their permanent licenses in the mail seven to 10 days later.  Drivers under the age of 21 will get vertical licenses.

The revenue department says the new licenses will be phased in by April and will be provided at no extra cost.

View a complete list of changes here.

One suspect is in custody after a high speed chase involving a stolen Limo.

Livingston count deputies assisted in the chase, deploying a spike strip to catch the suspect.

Livingston deputies responded around 8:05 p.m. and arrested 25-year-old Vincente Agustin Soto of Kirksville.

The limo was allegedly stolen from another county. The vehicle was heading west on U.S. 36 Highway when a deputy was able to deploy the spike strips and help stop the high speed chase.

The suspect was turned over to authorities who initiated the chase and is being held in the Macon County Jail. Charges could be filed in Livingston county as well.

“Fortunately no one was injured by the dangerous and stupid choices allegedly made by Mr. Soto.” Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox said.