SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A former mayor of Bourbon says a man believed to have killed his two children before shooting himself in Springfield had been liked and respected years ago when he was Bourbon’s top police official.

Mary Heywood was mayor of Bourbon between 1997 and 2006. She says William Williams had previously served as city marshal — the equivalent of a police chief in the community of about 1,500. She says Williams left Bourbon in 2006.

Another former mayor, Mark Nilges, tells the Springfield News-Leader that he had thought Williams was a friendly person.

Authorities say Williams on Monday fatally shot his 4-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. Police say the children likely were dead before officers ended a 23-hour standoff by entering Williams’ apartment.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A University of Missouri student is suspended after allegedly making harassing, hostile remarks toward another student about a screening of the “American Sniper” movie.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that the Columbia campus’ chancellor, R. Bowen Loftin, announced the disciplinary action this week.

The suspended student’s name wasn’t released.

Officials say the student made the remarks at an unspecified place online, responding to another student’s letter to the editor in the university’s student newspaper.

That published letter’s author wrote that the film to be shown on campus April 3 “glorifies the mass murder of Iraqis, including civilians who are men, women and children.”
The film is based on the memoir by the late Chris Kyle, who by his own count made more than 300 kills as a Navy SEAL.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration says it has issued online retailer Amazon a certificate to experiment with unmanned aircraft for research, development and crew training.

The FAA said Thursday that under the provisions of the certificate, the flights must be conducted at 400 feet or below during daylight hours. The drone must also remain within the line of sight of the pilot and observer. The person flying the aircraft, meanwhile, must have a private pilot’s certificate and current medical certification.

Amazon.com Inc. must also provide monthly data to the FAA on the number of flights conducted, pilot duty time per flight, unusual hardware or software malfunctions and other information.

The Seattle company had asked the FAA for permission to fly drones for package deliveries last July.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A prominent Republican donor says the Missouri Republican Party chairman had made negative comments about the religion of a state auditor who later killed himself.

David Humphreys released a signed affidavit Thursday saying GOP Chairman John Hancock told him in November that Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich was Jewish. It’s the first time anyone has publicly attested to hearing such comments.

Schweich fatally shot himself Feb. 26, a month after declaring his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor. The shooting occurred just minutes after Schweich told The Associated Press he wanted to go public with allegations that Hancock had made anti-Semitic remarks about him.

Schweich had Jewish ancestry but attended an Episcopal church.

Hancock has said he can’t recall telling people Schweich was Jewish but that it’s possible he did.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Legislation aimed at spurring growth in Missouri’s dairy industry is heading to the governor’s desk.

The Senate on Thursday voted 31-2 to give the measure final approval. It now needs support from Gov. Jay Nixon to become law.

The measure by Republican Rep. Bill Reiboldt of Neosho would create a state subsidy to pay for 70 percent of farmers’ premium payments for federal dairy insurance.

Students studying agriculture who pledge to work in the dairy field could receive a $5,000 scholarship if lawmakers set aside money for that.

The bill also would require the University of Missouri to craft a plan each year detailing strategies to grow the dairy industry.

The bill is one of several proposed this year to help state farmers.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Hundreds of people are rallying at the Missouri Capitol to urge lawmakers to expand Medicaid eligibility for low-income adults, despite resistance from Republicans leaders.

About 300 members of the Missouri Medicaid Coalition marched through the Capitol halls Thursday near the Senate chamber chanting, “Silence is violence. Have the debate.”

Republican legislative leaders have said that expanding Medicaid is a nonstarter this year.

Democratic House members have used debate on next fiscal year’s budget as an opportunity to criticize the GOP for blocking the measure, which could mean as much as $2 billion in additional federal money.

Republicans have cautioned that expanding the federal health care program might not have such a sweeping economic impact. They also say the current system is susceptible to fraud.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today announced the reintroduction of a bipartisan bill that would abolish the federal National Technical Information Service, an outdated agency that has lost more than $1 million in taxpayer money per year over 10 years trying to sell government reports that are mostly available online for free.

With a money-losing profit model, the agency attempts to sell government reports to other federal agencies and the public, most of which are otherwise available for free and easy to find using a simple internet search.

“This agency has outlived its usefulness, and Americans might gain a little more confidence in their government if we recognized and acted on that,” said McCaskill, the top-Democrat on the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. “This is a government office performing a function that the advent of the Internet rendered outdated, and it’s past time we eliminate it.”

McCaskill’s legislation to abolish the agency is cosponsored by Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire.

In 2013, the Government Accountability Office highlighted NTIS’ operations, in its annual duplication report, finding, “Of the reports added to NTIS’s repository during fiscal years 1990 through 2011 … approximately 74 percent were readily available from other public sources.” Meanwhile, from 1995 to 2000, the office sold only 8 percent of the 2.5 million reports in its repertoire. NTIS has lost on average at least $1.3 million per year over the last 11 years, running a deficit on its document production for nearly a decade.

JEFFERSON CITY -Gov. Jay Nixon today named former Joplin Police Chief Lane Roberts as the new director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety. Roberts, a 42-year veteran of law enforcement, served as Joplin Police Chief from April 2007 until his retirement last year.

“A 42-year veteran of law enforcement, Lane Roberts is a dedicated public servant who is uniquely qualified to lead the Missouri Department of Public Safety,” said Gov. Nixon. “From serving our country in Vietnam to demonstrating courageous leadership in the aftermath of the deadliest tornado in Missouri history, Lane Roberts’ long and distinguished career exemplifies the true meaning of public service.”

Roberts was instrumental in the coordinated local, state and federal effort to respond to the EF-5 tornado that struck Joplin on May 22, 2011.

“Both in the immediate aftermath of the tornado and during the rebuilding process that followed, the people of Joplin saw Chief Roberts’ compassionate and courageous leadership in action,” the Governor continued. “Lane’s extraordinary skills, experience and leadership abilities will make him an invaluable asset to the Department of Public Safety and all Missourians.”

During his tenure as chief, the Joplin Police Department became accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and total crime decreased by 27 percent. In 2013, Roberts was selected as Chief of the Year by the Missouri Police Chiefs Association.

“After more than 40 years in law enforcement, I am deeply honored to serve as Director of Public Safety,” said Lane Roberts. “Having worked closely with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the State Emergency Management Agency during my tenure as Joplin Police Chief, I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for the men and women who have dedicated their careers to serving the department. I thank Gov. Nixon for the privilege to serve in this capacity and for all that he continues to do to make our communities safer and stronger.”

Roberts served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1970, serving tours in the Philippines and Vietnam. He began his career in law enforcement in Okanogan County, Washington and went on to become Chief of Police in Twisp, Washington, Union Gap, Washington, and Redmond, Oregon. From 2004-2005 he served as president of the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police.

In 2011, the Governor appointed him to the Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission. Since his retirement from JPD last year, Roberts has been a Criminal Justice Instructor at Crowder College in Neosho.

Roberts has an associate’s degree in law enforcement from Wenatchee Valley College in Washington, a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University in Virginia and received a Master’s in Business Administration from William Woods University in Fulton. He and his wife have three daughters and seven grandchildren.

Chief Roberts’ appointment is subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Local governments in Missouri that built storm shelters or repaired school and hospital buildings after disasters like the 2011 Joplin tornado will soon be reimbursed with federal funds.

Gov. Jay Nixon Thursday signed a bill that gives the state the authority to send federal money for disaster relief projects to local governments.

Cities and towns are waiting for about $30 million for already-completed projects.

The bill authorizes up to $124 million in federal money be passed through by the state, plus $5 million in general revenue so the state can match those funds.

The bill also includes an additional $3.5 million for future emergencies. The state’s emergency fund was partially exhausted by the response to events in Ferguson after the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown sparked protests.