JEFFERSON CITY- A Missouri man died in an accident just before 12:30 a.m. on Friday in Cole County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 GMC Sierra driven by was Derek J. Schrimpf, 46, Jefferson City, was eastbound on U.S. 54 just east of Shepherd Hills Road. The vehicle ran off the right side of the road, struck a guardrail, overturned and ejected the driver.

Schrimpf was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Houser Millard Funeral Home.

The MSHP reported he was not wearing a seat belt.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri lawmaker wants to lift a state law requiring all motorcyclists wear a helmet.

Newly elected state Rep. Shane Roden of Cedar Hill recently filed legislation that would require only minors to wear helmets.

Anyone driving or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle now must to wear a helmet or face a maximum $25 fine.

A similar bill that would lift the helmet requirement for those 21 and older failed last session.

The measure passed the House but never made it to the Senate floor.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Wealthy political activist Rex Sinquefield’s donations to Republican Catherine Hanaway’s campaign for governor have reached $900,000.

Campaign finance records show Sinquefield this week gave Hanaway another $10,000, the 10th straight week he’s given her that amount.

The recent donation comes after an October contribution from Sinquefield for $750,000 and another for $50,000 in March.

Most of the more than $1.1 million she’s raised so far this year has come from Sinquefield.

Sinquefield is a retired investment firm founder who has been one of Missouri’s most active political donors in recent years. He has backed efforts to cut income taxes and revamp public school teacher evaluation methods.

Hanaway is a former U.S. attorney and Missouri House speaker who is the only declared GOP gubernatorial candidate for 2016.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – A second initiative petition to legalize marijuana in Missouri has been filed.

Secretary of State Jason Kander this week announced the petition, 2016-013, is open for public comment.

The proposal would amend the Missouri Constitution to allow residents to use the drug for medical or recreational use. Missourians also could legally grow the plant if the initiative passes.

Initiative petitions need approval from Kander’s office before they can be circulated to the public. Residents vote on the measures if they receive enough signatures to make it on the ballot.

Another initiative, 2016-009, that would allow those 21 years or older to use or grow marijuana also is open for public comment.

KANSAS CITY (AP) – Unrest that erupted after in August after a white police officer shot an unarmed black 18-year-old in suburban St. Louis has been named the top Missouri story of 2014 by Associated Press reporters and editors.

Violence erupted in late November after a grand jury announced it would not indict officer Darren Wilson for shooting Michael Brown, who some witnesses said had his hands up.

A judge’s decision overturning Missouri’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage was named the state’s second-biggest story of the year, followed by the state’s execution of 10 inmates even as questions swirled around the lethal drugs used to end their lives.

The Kansas City Royals’ improbable run through the playoffs that ended with a Game 7 World Series loss to San Francisco came in fourth.

SPRINGFIELD (AP) – A southwest Missouri school district will be short more than $47,000 because of a county assessment error.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that Christian County assessor Danny Gray said that earlier media reports of a $1.9 million shortfall reflect assessed tax valuation. The means Nixa Public Schools will get $47,300 less.

The county recently stopped valuing personal property as if it were in perfect condition. It now assess vehicles assuming they’re worn an average amount. But county programmers didn’t apply the new policy, and those who paid online had their vehicles overvalued.

Superintendent Stephen Kleinsmith says the mistake will cost the school “about a teacher.”

Thirteen other school districts in Christian County also were affected, but Nixa took the hardest hit.

WASHINGTON (AP) – A Missouri firm is recalling its Happy Apple brand caramel apples because of the potential that they could be contaminated with listeria.

The recall comes after at least three deaths and at least 29 illnesses in 10 states have been linked to an outbreak of the deadly bacteria.

Happy Apple Co. of Washington, Missouri, said in a statement Wednesday that one of the apple suppliers to its California facility reports that there may be a connection between the listeria outbreak and the apples it had supplied. The recall covers 31 states.

The Food and Drug Administration is continuing to advise consumers not to eat prepacked, commercially produced whole caramel apples.

BERKELEY (AP) – Demonstrators have taken to the streets for a second night after a white police officer in Berkeley, Missouri, killed a black 18-year-old who police said pointed a gun at him.

Dozens of protesters held a vigil Wednesday night at the gas station in the St. Louis suburb where Antonio Martin was shot the night before. Then they marched to Interstate 170, at times blocking traffic, before returning to the station.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports about 75 people staged a peaceful protest outside of a church early Christmas morning. Police in riot gear were present.

The actions were calmer than a night before, when about 300 people gathered at the gas station, throwing rocks and bricks in a scene reminiscent of the sometimes-violent protests that followed the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson.

BERKELEY, Mo. (AP) — The attorney for a suburban St. Louis police officer who shot and killed an 18-year-old says his client is lucky to be alive.
The Berkeley, Missouri, officer, whose name has not been released, fatally shot Antonio Martin late Tuesday. Police say surveillance video shows Martin pointing a gun at the officer, who was questioning him about a theft at a convenience store.
Attorney Brian Millikan says the officer is shaken, but is absolutely certain he had no choice but to use lethal force.
Millikan says it isn’t clear why Martin didn’t shoot the officer.
The shooting, the fourth in the region since August involving a white officer who killed a young black man, led to a violent protest.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some northeast Kansas American Indian tribes say they need more information before making a decision on whether to grow and sell marijuana on tribal land after the federal government said it wouldn’t interfere with those who do.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Kickapoo Tribe spokesman Fred Thomas says he doesn’t see how legalizing marijuana on the reservation would benefit his tribe. Alan Kelley of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska says he sees no need for it, either.

Earlier this month the U.S. Department of Justice said Indian tribes can grow and sell marijuana on their lands as long as they follow the same federal conditions laid out for states that have legalized the drug.

But tribes have been taking a cautious approach as many questions remain unanswered.