Stories from Tuesday, June 24, 2014

JEFFERSON CITY- Less cigarette smoking, soda drinking and physical fighting, but more time at computers and other tech devices. That's the snapshot from the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Youth Risk Behavior survey.
The government goal of reducing teen smoking nationally to less than 16 percent has been met. ...

USS Long Beach CGN-9 Association, Inc. would like to announce their 2014 Reunion will be held September 8-14, 2014 in St. Louis, MO at the Hilton St. Louis Airport. There is a room rate of $89.00 including all taxes and breakfast for two people. Make sure you identify yourself as a member of the USS Long Beach Association Reunion. The Hilton St. Louis Airport is located at 10330 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO. 63134, and the phone number for reservations is 314-426-5500...

PORTAGEVILLE- Two men are in custody following an armed robbery in Portageville. Brandon Lee Johnson, 21, of Slidell, Louisiana, and Kevin L. Sago, 30, of New Madrid, Missouri, are charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and three felony charges of kidnapping, facilitating a felony, inflicting injury and terrorizing in connection with a robbery at a Portageville business...

PADUCAH, Ky -- The National Weather Service has issued a "Hazardous Weather Outlook" for Southeast Missouri. According to NWS, thunderstorms are possible over all or part of the area today and tonight with the passage of a frontal boundary. "Widespread severe weather is not expected," forecasters said. "Dangerous lightning and locally heavy rain will be the primary hazards."...

Tonight will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Partly sunny on Wednesday with a high near 88 then becoming mostly cloudy Wednesday night with a 20 percent chance of showers and a low around 70. Thursday will be mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers and a high near 85 while Thursday night will be mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and a low around 72. ...

BERNIE -- A Malden man is in custody following a high-speed police chase and crash south of Bernie Saturday morning. According to Bernie Police Chief Justin Allen, a Bernie policeman attempted to pull over Steven M. Kirkwood, 32, for a traffic violation just before 10 a.m. ...

CARUTHERSVILLE -- The Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department has investigated cases in recent days involving copper wire and iPads. Sheriff Tommy Greenwell said 48-year-old Geoffrey Spearse was detained at Wilson's Salvage Yard in Kennett, Missouri, after authorities were informed he was there trying to sell stolen copper valued at $4,800. Greenwell said Spears has been arrested several times over the years in connection with thefts at Pemiscot Dunklin Cooperative...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL TO TESTIFY IN IRS PROBE Congress is expected to hear from Jennifer O'Connor about Lois Lerner's lost emails after issuing a subpoena for her to appear...

SIKESTON - Southbound I-57 in Mississippi County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. This section of roadway is located from Route J overhead extending south one mile. Weather permitting, work will be from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday...

DEXTER - Gov. Jay Nixon and Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Richard Fordyce will meet with local soil and water district officials in Stoddard County Wednesday for a roundtable discussion regarding legislation passed by the General Assembly that would reduce funding for the state's soil and water conservation districts...

NEW MADRID - Five vehicles were involved in an accident on Interstate 55. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported at 2:52 p.m. Monday at the 50.4 mile marker, a southbound vehicle driven by James J. Comtois, 50, of Dewey, Ill., was slowing down when it was struck in the rear by a southbound vehicle driven by Benjamin J. ...