NewsBook: Missouri Government News for September 2, 2002

 

. The Red Cross - which was accused of misleading donors and depriving victims' families after Sept. 11 - is sponsoring the Missouri state Capitol's one-year remembrance of victims (09/06/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - The organization will conduct ceremonies on the statehouse steps at noon.

Statewide elected officials will participate.

Melissa Friel, executive director of the Capital Area Red Cross, said the organization has "learned a lot since Sept. 11."

"We do want to assure the American public that we are doing what we do best - helping disaster victims," Friel said. "We've learned the lessons, some of them the hard way, and we don't want to repeat them."

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    . State Capitol administration considers background checks on employees (09/05/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Following the arrest earlier this week of a state official involved with security measures at state government buildings, the agency overseeing facilities management is considering background checks on employees and applicants. The agency apparently did not know of the employee's previous criminal record.

    This is not the first time a state employee is fired for illegal conduct since September 11. This summer, an employee with the governor's office was fired because his work visa had expired.

    . The future of the Senate's controversial security door will be discussed next week. (09/05/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder said he has a meeting scheduled for next Tuesday to discuss the future of a security door that restricts access between the Senate's garage and the Capitol building.

    The door has been criticized by legislative leaders, including Kinder, for causing problems for state workers.

    . Anti-death penalty leaders claim a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision raises questions about Missourians on death row. (09/04/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - A group of anti-death penalty critics say a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision could prove a reprieve for at least eight Missouri death row inmates -- including the latest death sentence from Columbia.

    Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon has claimed the ruling will not affect any Missouri inmates.

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    . A top state security official is charged with theft. (09/04/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The state official who has been handling installation of much of the state's security measures since Sept. 11 has been arrainged on a felony charge of stealing.

    Mark Allen had been arrested Aug. 18 in Columbia afteer witnesses reported seeing him take a lawn mower from a store.

    Allen has since been placed on unpaid leave from his state job.

    . The Missourian who had been the nation's oldest woman on death row is paroled. (09/04/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Corrections Department confirmed that Faye Copeland has been paroled for medical reasons.

    Copeland is 81 years of age. She and her husband had been sentenced to death for killing transients.

    Her death sentence later was thrown out by a federal court, leaving her with a life sentence. Her husband died in prison while awaiting execution.

    . Missouri students show little progress in the latest statewide tests released by the Education Department. (09/04/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Reading improvements were offset by a decline in math skills from 2002 statewide test of students released Wednesday by the Missouri Department of Education.

    Results from the 2002 Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests show a drop in math scores at each of three grades tested.

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