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Missouri lawmakers finish record $49 billion state budget hours before deadline

3 years 6 months ago

The largest budget in Missouri history passed with relative ease Friday, in part because the final version was larger than the spending plans passed earlier in either the House or Senate. The total, just over $49 billion, includes big increases for school transportation, help for colleges and universities in the form of bigger budgets and […]

The post Missouri lawmakers finish record $49 billion state budget hours before deadline appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Rudi Keller

Cape Girardeau Man Faces Federal Hate Crime Charges

3 years 6 months ago
A southeast Missouri man is facing federal hate crime and arson charges for burning down a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last year in Cape Girardeau. Christopher Scott Pritchard, 46, also faces state charges of arson, burglary and property damage motivated by discrimination. Court records list Pritchard as homeless.
Ryan Krull

Fitz, The Courthouse Facility Dog, Makes Every Day "The Best"

3 years 6 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE - A 5-year-old black Labrador Retriever - Fitz - has had an amazing impact in his time at the Madison County Courthouse in Edwardsville. Fitz arrived at the courthouse in 2019 from Duo Dogs in St. Louis as a fully trained courthouse facility dog. Courthouse facility dogs assist litigants, victims, kids, and families during stressful stages of the legal process. They can be used in case management, forensic interviews, and criminal or civil proceedings and are handled by professionals in these fields. The dogs are specially trained by assistance dog organizations that are members of Assistance Dogs International. Fitz’s handlers are Tiffany Brooks and Emily Bell. Madison County State's Attorney Thomas Haine is a dog lover himself and in his time at the courthouse, he has come to also love Fitz. He said Fitz is a tremendous help with victims and kids during stressful parts of the legal process. Here is some additional background on Fitz from Victim Services Coordinator

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