Missouri Law

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon signed a law on Thursday that criminalizes the sale of bath salts and other types of synthetic marijuana.  It also makes those substances a schedule 1 illegal substance with criminal penalties the same as those for marijuana.  Substances falling into the “synthetic cannabinoid” category include 'K2', 'K3' and 'Bath Salts', among others. The governor's office says the law, which is effective on Aug. 28, provides law enforcement with a new tool to stay ahead of criminals.  It eliminates the need to seek new legislation each time a new derivative of these drugs is developed.  The governor's office says any cannabinoid compound that is developed will fall under this new definition.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri college students soon could find it a little easier to transfer credit hours among institutions.  Gov. Jay Nixon signed legislation Thursday requiring public colleges and universities to formulate by July 2014 a core of 25 lower-level courses for which credit hours can be transferred among all public institutions. The bill also requires the state higher education board to come up with a "reverse transfer" policy. That would allow students with credit hours from universities to put those toward an associate's degree at other institutions.  Nixon says the new law fits with a goal of increasing the number of Missouri's working-age adults with college degrees from the current 35 percent to 60 percent by 2020.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A proposed Missouri law could give high school athletes more protection from brain injuries.   Experts say at least 2-million U.S. high school sports players receive concussions each year.  A few of those cases have resulted in disability and even death.   Experts say those playing football, soccer, and women's basketball are more susceptible to such injuries.   The Missouri House has given approval to a set of bills that seek to prevent repeated concussions in sports players.

ROLLA, Mo. -- Twelve jurors recommended Friday evening that Christopher Collings get a death penalty for raping and killing his friend's 9-year-old daughter more than four years ago at Collings' home near Wheaton.  The jurors unanimously found, after 45 minutes of deliberations, that the murder involved two of the 17 possible aggravating circumstances that are necessary under Missouri law to impose a death penalty. The jury found Rowan Ford's death involved torture and that it occurred because the girl was a witness to her own rape and could have identified her rapists to investigators.  Prosecutors and defense attorneys wrapped up their closing arguments around 5:30.  The jury told the judge at 6:15 that it had a verdict and returned to the courtroom shortly afterwards.  The jury convicted Collings of first-degree murder on Tuesday for the death of Rowan Ford of Stella in November 2007.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon announced the date for the special election to fill the Eighth Congressional District Seat held since 1996 by Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.  In a news release on Tuesday afternoon, the governor's office said the election will be June 4. The announcement was prompted by a letter from Emerson saying her resignation from the seat was effective as of 11:59 a.m. on Tuesday.  The governor's office couldn't set a date for...

GREENE COUNTY, Mo. - With prom and graduation season here, Missouri law enforcement want to make sure Missouri youth are celebrating safe and sober.  The Greene County Sheriff's Office will join other Missouri law enforcement agencies to crack down on drunk driving May 3-13, 2012.  On Saturday, May 5th, the Greene County Sheriff's Office will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint in Springfield (a location in Greene County jurisdiction). ...

OZARK, Mo. -- A member of the Billings School Board was charged Wednesday afternoon with sending lewd photographs to teenagers.  The Christian County prosecuting attorney filed five misdemeanor charges of providing pornographic material to a minor against Rob Verch. Verch has been on the board since 2006 and there's no indication he's going to step down from that elected position, according to Billings R-IV School Superintendent Cindy Brandt. Brandt said the district can't fire him, "Missouri law does not provide dismissal of a board member for being charged with this type of an offense, nor does Missouri law actually provide for any dismissal for even conviction of most misdemeanors.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- For the past two years, Missouri law has required each convicted sex offender to shut off his or her porch light on Halloween and post a sign that says "no candy or treats at this residence.”  Things are a little different this year.  First, the law applies only to Sunday night, Oct. 31.  Second, fewer convicted sex offenders are covered by that requirement this year. Erin Tierney’s daughter, Caitlin, will dress as a princess this Halloween. “We actually have a few friends that have kids around her age, so I think there's going to be four of us trick-or-treating,” said Tierney.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Attorney General Chris Koster today filed a lawsuit in Greene County Circuit Court against a defunct Springfield company, scrapscrap, inc., doing business as The Queen City Emporium, and its former president, Jayne E. Wilson, for multiple violations of Missouri's consumer protection laws. Koster alleges that beginning at least as early as March 1, 2010, The Queen City Emporium and Wilson operated a retail store selling handmade items such as jewelry, clothing, food items, healthcare products, and art work.

Jefferson City, Mo. -  Attorney General Chris Koster today filed suit against Tennessee-based Simplex Health Care, Inc., doing business as Simplex Diabetic Supplies, and its chairman and CEO Larson Douglas Hudson, for numerous violations of Missouri's no-call law.  According to Koster, the Attorney General's Office has received at least 500 complaints against Simplex. “Missourians place their phone numbers on our no-call list for a very simple reason - they do not want to receive annoying, unwanted calls,” Koster said.  “We will continue to take action against companies that ignore Missouri law.” Koster is asking the court to stop the telemarketers from making any further calls to Missourians, both temporarily, while the suit is pending, and permanently.  He is also seeking penalties and the costs of the investigation and prosecution of the case.

Jefferson City, Mo. -  Attorney General Chris Koster today filed suit against Tennessee-based Simplex Health Care, Inc., doing business as Simplex Diabetic Supplies, and its chairman and CEO Larson Douglas Hudson, for numerous violations of Missouri's no-call law.  According to Koster, the Attorney General's Office has received at least 500 complaints against Simplex. “Missourians place their phone numbers on our no-call list for a very simple reason - they do not want to receive annoying, unwanted calls,” Koster said.  “We will continue to take action against companies that ignore Missouri law.” Koster is asking the court to stop the telemarketers from making any further calls to Missourians, both temporarily, while the suit is pending, and permanently.  He is also seeking penalties and the costs of the investigation and prosecution of the case.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is offering boating safety certification courses.  They will be at the following places: Saturday, April 13, 2013 - Cassville High School, 1501 North Main, Cassville, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Maximum class size is 40. Saturday, April 20, 2013 - Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop D Headquarters, 3131 E. Kearney St., Springfield, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Maximum class size is 30. Saturday, May 11,...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon announced the date for the special election to fill the Eighth Congressional District Seat held since 1996 by Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.  In a news release on Tuesday afternoon, the governor's office said the election will be June 4. The announcement was prompted by a letter from Emerson saying her resignation from the seat was effective as of 11:59 a.m. on Tuesday.  The governor's office couldn't set a date for...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Some people who live just outside the city say they have a beautiful neighborhood.  Now, however, the Sherwood Village residents are afraid to let their kids play alone outside because of a halfway house. It's a neighborhood where kids used to run around playing all the time.  Now they only do so under the watchful eyes of their parents or grandparents. "If they do go out, we have to stand out and watch them go from one house to the other,” said resident Melissa Holt-Allen.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Mayor Bob Stephens says he believes a letter sent by the leader of the Assemblies of God to community pastors and the Springfield City Council is the result of a misunderstanding. "It's clear by reading the letter," said Stephens in a telephone interview, "that there is a belief that the amendments currently being proposed are being interpreted as the entire ordinance.  That is not the case.  Religion is not being deleted or touched.  It is against federal law to interfere with the conduct of religious entities.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- Raids like those at Luckie's Novelties and Jefferson Package Liquor on Wednesday in Lebanon happened all over the U.S. on Wednesday.  Operation Log Jam involved 90 cities and 265 warrants, including some in the Ozarks. "We know they're not buying this stuff for what the packages say.  They're buying it to get high," says Detective Tim Early of the Lebanon Police Department. Known as K2, incense, or bath salts under a slew of different names, officers have been struggling to keep up with the growing problem.  "Usually when we hear somebody's naked in the streets, it's the first thing law enforcement thinks is bath salts.  Truly delirium; they're completely set aside from reality.  They don't know what's going on, where they're at, who they are," said Cpl. Matt Brown, a spokesman for the Springfield Police Department.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri college students soon could find it a little easier to transfer credit hours among institutions.  Gov. Jay Nixon signed legislation Thursday requiring public colleges and universities to formulate by July 2014 a core of 25 lower-level courses for which credit hours can be transferred among all public institutions. The bill also requires the state higher education board to come up with a "reverse transfer" policy. That would allow students with credit hours from universities to put those toward an associate's degree at other institutions.  Nixon says the new law fits with a goal of increasing the number of Missouri's working-age adults with college degrees from the current 35 percent to 60 percent by 2020.

LANAGAN, Mo. -- A McDonald County grand jury has charged the Lanagan Police chief and another officer with felony forgery.  Chief Larry Marsh is accused of writing citations for Missouri laws that don't even exist along with altering a racial profiling report.  Officer Michael Gallhue also faces similar charges.

GREENE COUNTY, Mo. - With prom and graduation season here, Missouri law enforcement want to make sure Missouri youth are celebrating safe and sober.  The Greene County Sheriff's Office will join other Missouri law enforcement agencies to crack down on drunk driving May 3-13, 2012.  On Saturday, May 5th, the Greene County Sheriff's Office will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint in Springfield (a location in Greene County jurisdiction). ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Attorney General Chris Koster today filed a lawsuit in Greene County Circuit Court against a defunct Springfield company, scrapscrap, inc., doing business as The Queen City Emporium, and its former president, Jayne E. Wilson, for multiple violations of Missouri's consumer protection laws. Koster alleges that beginning at least as early as March 1, 2010, The Queen City Emporium and Wilson operated a retail store selling handmade items such as jewelry, clothing, food items, healthcare products, and art work.