Missouri News Morning of May 2nd, 2012:
A resolution has been approved by the Missouri Senate-and must now be
approved by voters-that would change the way judges for the state Supreme
Court and Court of Appeals are selected. The resolution changes the
Appellate Judicial Commission and increases the number of nominees given to
the governor when a judgeship becomes available. The resolution must now go
to the House.
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Former customers of US Fidelis, once one of Americas largest sellers of car
service contracts, will split $14.1 million and creditors will get less than
a third of the $12.4 million owed to them. This is under a proposed
liquidation plan filed Tuesday in bankruptcy court. Consumers were duped
into vehicle service contracts or extended warranties; the company took the
money and spent it on a lavish lifestyle.
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The Missouri Public Service Commission approved a request by Ameren Missouri
on Tuesday for an increase in electrical rates. About 1.2 million
electrical customers will see the increase-an average customer using 1,100
kilowatt-hours per month now pays approximately $1.74 each month. After the
increase, residents will pay about $3.17 per month. Ameren said the
increase is due to off-system sales revenue during October 2011 through
January 2012.
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Prosecutors will likely drop murder charges in a high-profile murder case in
Kansas City-this after the Supreme Court of Missouri refused to hear the
states appeal on the case. Attorney Richard Buchli was charged with
first-degree murder and armed criminal action in 2000, in the death of his
law partner. He was convicted in 2002 and sentenced to life without parole,
but the conviction was overturned in 2006. An appeals court ruled in
December that all the murder evidence should be thrown out.
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A Missouri State Highway Patrol investigator helping take down a major
cocaine operation in Springfield said the leader was not an average drug
dealer. Sergeant Dan Banasik said Carlous Horton had a sharp business mind,
wide knowledge of the Bible, and made $15,000 a week. Thousands of dollars
in cash and guns, plus large amounts of cocaine were found in Hortons 3
houses after a 14-month investigation.