ST. LOUIS (AP) – A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to overturn a stay of execution for Missouri inmate John Winfield, and the state has appealed for a hearing before the full court.

The panel issued its ruling late Monday. Winfield is scheduled to die at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday for killing two St. Louis County women in 1996.

A federal judge granted the stay Friday, ruling that a prison worker dropped plans to write a letter in support of clemency due to intimidation from staff.

There have been no executions since April, when Clayton Lockett died of a heart attack during a botched execution in Oklahoma. Georgia plans an execution Tuesday night, followed six hours later by John Winfield. A Florida execution is set for Wednesday night.

LEXINGTON- An investigation continues into the fatal Monday accident that took the life of a Missouri man.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Pontiac driven by Dalton S. Rardon, 22, Polo, was northbound on Mo. 13 just north of Garrison Rd. The vehicle crossed the centerline and was struck by a 2003 Chevy driven by Katie L. Reagan, 33, Corder.

Following the impact, the Pontiac traveled off the right side of the road and the driver was ejected. The Chevy traveled off the right side of the road and caught fire. Rardon was pronounced dead at the scene.

Reagan was transported to Lafayette Regional Hospital with minor injuries.

The MSHP reported Rardon was not wearing a seat belt at the time of collision.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — The wife of Kansas Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce has withdrawn her lawsuit against the state over a drunken driving arrest.

Sarah Bruce, of Nickerson, sued the Kansas Department of Revenue in March to have her driving privileges restored after an arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Bruce was arrested in December 2013 in Hutchinson when her vehicle hit another vehicle. No one was injured. Court records indicated her blood alcohol level was .159.

In April, she was granted diversion and fined for a driving under the influence. If she completes the six-month diversion, the DUI charge will be dismissed.

The Hutchinson News reports Bruce’s attorney notified Reno County District Court in May that she was dropping the complaint.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Reynolds American Inc. plans to begin national distribution of its Vuse brand electronic cigarette next week.

The owner of nation’s second-biggest tobacco company said Tuesday that retail outlets in all 50 states will be carrying Vuse beginning June 23. More stores will be added throughout the rest of the year.

The Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based company launched Vuse in Colorado last summer as part of an industry-wide push to diversify beyond the traditional cigarette business. It expanded into Utah earlier this year. Reynolds says Vuse quickly became the top-selling brand in both states with high levels of repeat purchase.

The company says its rechargeable e-cigarette assembled in the U.S. has technology that monitors and adjusts heat and power to deliver the “perfect puff.”

 

PILGER, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska authorities say dual tornadoes that touched down in a small town about 100 miles northwest of Omaha killed a 5-year-old and injured at least 19 people, some of them critically.

VIdeo courtesy Weatherstorm.net YouTube

It happened in Pilger, a community of about 350.

The National Weather Service says the twin twisters touched down within roughly a mile of each other.

A county commissioner says more than half the town was wiped out. Many homes were damaged and the structures that were demolished including the co-op grain bins. A sheriff said a school is beyond repair.

The injured had to be taken to three regional hospitals, including a trauma center in Omaha.

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman declared a state of emergency. The National Guard is preparing to assist local emergency responders and help with the cleanup.

Pilger was evacuated for the night and roads were closed by state police. Some residents were taken to a shelter at a school in a nearby town.

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service says it’s unusual that dual tornadoes have funnel clouds of roughly the same strength. Severe weather also damaged nearby counties.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s frogging season is starting soon.
From sunset on June 30 until Oct. 31, Missourians will be allowed to capture bullfrogs and green frogs. Conservation officials say the taste and texture is similar to fish.

Either a fishing or a hunting permit can be used, and frogs can be taken by a variety of methods including hand, net, bow and pole and line. With a hunting permit, Missourians can bag hoppers by using a rifle or pistol, pellet or bow.
A frog that has been speared must be kept. Artificial light can be used while frogging, and the daily limit is eight frogs. The possession limit is 16.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Greene County authorities say it’s unclear if the death of a court reporter will affect the trial of a man accused of kidnapping and killing a 10-year-old girl.

Longtime court reported Jeanette Freeman died June 3 at her home of natural causes. She had taken notes during the preliminary hearing for Craig Wood, who is accused of killing young Hailey Owens of Springfield in February.

The Springfield News-Leader reports prosecutors aren’t sure if Freeman had completed the transcript of the hearing, although she also made an audio recording.
Judge Dan Conklin, who will preside over Wood’s arraignment this week, said a transcript problem could prompt another preliminary hearing, but he is hopeful the questions can be worked out before that is necessary.

JEFF HORWITZ, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mississippi’s attorney general says sweeping errors by a major credit reporting bureau harmed consumers and violated federal law.

A new federal lawsuit says Experian Information Solutions’ lax quality control jeopardizes consumers’ ability to get loans, taints their employment background checks and hampers sensitive government security clearances. It says some are even put on a federal terrorism watch list.

Mississippi is the first state to file suit over what it considers a violation of federal laws aimed at protecting consumers’ credit. A separate group of states is probing similar allegations involving the credit reporting industry at large.

Experian declined to comment on the complaint.

Consumer advocates have argued that lax quality control, and inadequate investigations of disputes are part of the credit bureaus’ business model.

HILLSBORO (AP) – A soldier from eastern Missouri who died in Afghanistan will be laid to rest.

The funeral for 20 -year-old Pfc. Matthew Walker is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Manchester United Methodist Church in Hillsboro.

Walker died June 5 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, after his unit was hit by enemy fire. KSDK-TV reports his body arrived in St. Louis on Saturday.

Gov. Jay Nixon has ordered that flags across the state be flown at half-staff Monday in Walker’s honor.