Stories from Thursday, January 3, 2013

By KEITH LEWIS SEMO News Service A disease that has caused the loss of millions of North American bats recently was found in a bat that lives in a Perry County cave. The Missouri Department of Conservation confirmed in December that a big brown bat had tested positive for White Nose Syndrome, a disease that plays havoc with a bat's internal system during hibernation...

The University of Missouri Extension Council of Butler County will elect seven people for two-year terms according to County Program Director Phyllis Flanigan. Fourteen candidates have filed for the seven two-year terms. Voting begins today and continues through Jan. 19...

The Associated Press Highlights of a bill Congress passed Tuesday aimed at averting wide tax increases and budget cuts scheduled to take effect with the new year. The measure would raise taxes by about $600 billion over 10 years compared with tax policies that were due to expire at midnight Monday. It would also delay for two months across-the-board cuts to the budgets of the Pentagon and numerous domestic agencies...

By ALAN FRAM and DAVID ESPO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- Past its own New Year's deadline, a weary Congress sent President Barack Obama legislation to avoid a national "fiscal cliff" of middle class tax increases and spending cuts late Tuesday night in the culmination of a struggle that strained America's divided government to the limit...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man is wanted after being charged earlier this week with raping a teenage girl and may face charges for sexually assaulting another woman. Stephan Dewayne "Wayne" Anderson, 30, of the 300 block of Relief Street was charged with the Class C felony of second-degree statutory rape Monday by Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Oesterreicher...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor DUDLEY, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., hunter has died after an accidental shooting Monday. According to Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner, Robert P. Marler, 32, was duck hunting at Otter Slough Conservation Area's Pool 22 early Monday when a nearby shotgun fell over and discharged, striking him in the neck and shoulder...