JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Some county courthouses in Missouri could soon host visits from the state Supreme Court’s chief justice – but good luck figuring out the anonymous visitor’s identity.

Chief Justice Mary Rhodes Russell tells the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that she visited circuit courts in Howell, Osage and St. Louis counties during her most recent summer break while wearing casual clothes and tennis shoes in a scenario similar to the television reality show “Undercover Boss.”

Russell spoke with aggrieved plaintiffs, witnesses, jurors and criminal defendants without identifying herself. Only the presiding circuit judges knew of her arrivals in advance.

Russell’s efforts were highlighted by Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, a St. Charles Republican, during his opening remarks at the start of the 2015 Missouri legislative session.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Opponents of a large mid-Missouri hog farm are launching a new effort to stop the operation.
The Friends of Responsible Agriculture is awaiting state approval for a meeting that could halt plans for the farm in Callaway County while the appeals process continues.
The group filed a request last week for a new motion-to-stay hearing with the state Administrative Hearing Commission. The Columbia Daily Tribune reports It’s the latest step in a lengthy effort to stop construction of a 10,000-sow breeding operation in the western part of the county.
The Department of Natural Resources has granted a permit for the farm, which would be owned by Eichelberger Farms of Wayland, Iowa. Opponents have filed a separate appeal of that decision.

WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. (AP) — A suburban St. Louis man has been certified by Guinness World Records as the oldest person to climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Bob Wheeler of Webster Groves reached the summit in Tanzania on Oct. 2, making the 19,340-foot climb with his son, Jack Wheeler. Bob Wheeler is 85.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — Police say a man and his 7-year-old daughter were injured when they were shot as they drove along Interstate 70 near Kansas City.
Independence police say the shooting occurred Sunday evening. The father was able to drive to a nearby gas station and get help. The father was released from the hospital but the girl remains in critical but stable condition. Their names have not been released.
Independence Police Officer Tom Gentry said investigators are trying to determine a motive for the shooting, including whether it was a case of road rage.
Authorities are looking for a gold or tan colored Mercury sedan in connection with the shootings.

MATTHEW LEE, AP Diplomatic Writer

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A senior U.S. official says Cuba has completed the release of 53 political prisoners that was part of last month’s historic deal between the United States and Cuba.

The official, who was traveling with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the issue on the record. The official said the U.S. has verified the release of the prisoners.

The prisoners had been on a list of opposition figures whose release was sought as part of the U.S. agreement last month with the Cuban government. They had been cited by various human rights organizations as being imprisoned by the Cuban government for exercising internationally protected freedoms or for their promotion of political and social reforms in Cuba.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police are investigating a death that occurred over the weekend at a water park.
Authorities were called on Sunday afternoon to the Bay Water Park, where they found a dead person inside.
Police say they are investigating the incident as a suspicious death, but did not release any further details.
Sgt. Kari Thompson of the Kansas City Police Department told WDAF-TV that the Jackson County Medical Examiner will determine the person’s manner of death.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers return to Topeka to begin the 2015 session, with a massive state budget shortfall looming over most other issues.

The Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature is expected to spend much of the session debating how to address a projected shortfall of more than $710 million in the current budget and for the fiscal year beginning in July.

The shortfalls resulted from personal income tax cuts enacted last session at the urging of Gov. Sam Brownback. The governor is scheduled to offer a spending plan to address the budget shortfall Friday.

Before the session begins Monday afternoon, Brownback will be inaugurated for his second term and eight statewide elected officials and new lawmakers will be sworn in. The inauguration ceremonies have been moved inside because the forecast includes dangerous wind chills.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – A bill would make it illegal for Missourians found guilty of domestic assault to possess a firearm.

The legislation recently filed by Democratic state Rep. Stacey Newman of St. Louis would restrict gun possession in multiple instances of domestic violence or suspected domestic assault.

Anyone under a restraining order that cites threats of violence also would be banned from owning a gun.

The bill also would allow police to remove a gun from the scene if domestic assault is suspected.

The firearm owner could take back the weapon within two weeks of any proceedings related to a suspected assault.

Police would be required to safely store the firearm during that time.

COLUMBIA (AP) – The University of Missouri’s flagship campus in Columbia is offering a buyout option for some of its academic administrators.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that 28 administrators are eligible out of 48 total academic administrators, including deans and the provost. To receive the buyout, the administrators must be retirement eligible and turn 62 by Aug, 31, 2015. Participants will receive a one-time payment of 1 1/2 times their base salary, not to exceed $200,000.

MU spokeswoman Mary Jo Banken said eligible employees received letters Thursday about the program. Applications are due March 2.

The university previously offered a buyout option for some of its tenured faculty members, and 110 people were approved. The earlier buyout was credited with freeing up about $17 million in budgeted salaries and benefits.