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MISSOURI CONGRESS

Deadline looms to request Mo. absentee ballots

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Voters in southeast Missouri voters are running out of time to request absentee ballots by mail or fax for next month's congressional election.

The special election to replace Republican Jo Ann Emerson in the 8th Congressional District takes place June 4. Emerson gave up her seat in the U.S. House to lead a national association of rural electric cooperatives.

Secretary of State Jason Kander says voters unable to go the polls June 4th have until 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 29th, to get applications for absentee ballots to their local election authority.

Absentee ballots may be cast at county clerks' offices through June 3rd.

The four candidates in the race are Republican Jason Smith, Democrat Steve Hodges, Libertarian Bill Slantz and Constitution Party member Doug Enyart.

SEMI-TRAILER-FATAL CRASH

Trucker pleads not guilty in fatal SW Mo. crash

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - A tractor-trailer truck driver has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a crash that killed two other motorists in southwest Missouri.

KOLR-TV reports 31-year-old Lei Sun of Alhambra, California entered the pleas through an interpreter Friday to two counts of involuntary manslaughter. He remains held in the Greene County Jail, with his next court appearance scheduled for late July.

Sun is accused of speeding on U.S. 60 near Republic and failing to stop for a line of traffic on March 27th. His rig rear-ended a car and a pickup truck, pushing them into another truck.

The collisions killed pickup driver Lawrence Coan Junior of Kimberling City, and the driver of the car, Corey Gresham of Macon, Missouri.

Sun's public defender has called the crash a tragic accident.

ILLINOIS-CONCEALED CARRY

Il. House advances concealed carry bill

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois Senate President John Cullerton says a concealed carry bill that would wipe out all local gun ordinances in the state is "offensive."

Cullerton's comments Friday came after the Illinois House approved such a measure by a vote of 85-30.

The measure brokered by House Speaker Michael Madigan also would allow qualified gun owners to carry their weapons in public, with some restrictions.

Cullerton says another problem with Madigan's bill is that it would allow people to bring guns into some places that serve alcohol.

Cullerton says his Democratic caucus will meet Monday to decide whether to vote on the House's bill.

He says his chamber also is revising a Senate gun bill that would adopt some of the House's suggested restrictions.

LIFESAVING MEDALS

Tow crew members honored for saving family

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Two crew members from a tow boat, including one who died, have been honored for their efforts to save a family of 5 after the family's boat became disabled on the Mississippi River at St. Louis.

The U.S. Coast Guard hosted a ceremony Friday to honor Jarvise Shelton and Kyle Hardman. Coast Guard officials say the pleasure craft was in "imminent peril" last year when Shelton and Hardman launched a small boat to save the family.

The rescue boat capsized, killing Hardman. Shelton and crew members from three other tows were able to save the family.

Shelton was presented the Coast Guard's Gold Lifesaving Medal during a ceremony in Alton, Illinois. Hardman's survivors will receive his medal at a later date.

JEFFERSON CITY-HOSPITAL EXPANSION

Mid-Mo. health center announces $35M expansion

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Jefferson City hospital is planning a $35 million expansion that will increase the space at its main building by about one-third.

The Jefferson City News Tribune reports executives of Capital Region Medical Center announced the project Friday.

The 115,000-square-foot expansion will include two floors for medical services. Capital Region's chief medical officer, Doctor Randy Haight, says the extra space will allow for consolidating specialty physician services that are now scattered around Jefferson City.

Officials expect at least 30 to 35 physicians to move their offices to the new building when it first opens.

Groundbreaking is expected this fall, with the new facilities to open in spring 2015.

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