Local briefs 2/18/05

Civil War Roundtable features Nickell

The Cape Civil War Roundtable will hold its monthly meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday at Hanover Lutheran Church, 2949 Perryville Road, Cape Girardeau. The speaker will be Dr. Frank Nickell, head of the Southeast Missouri State University Center for Regional History, presenting "General John McClernand: Fighter and Writer."

Man pleads guilty to stealing tax credits

ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis man pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing $35,000 in tax credits from the state, the fifth person in the past year to have pleaded to felony charges stemming from a state investigation of the alleged scheme, Attorney General Jay Nixon said. Gregory Marshall, 45, admitted he presented bogus checks and invoices to prove his business, Innovative Computers, spent more than $408,000 in equipment so he could claim tax credits, Nixon said. Marshall is required to pay the state $35,000, and faces up to seven years in prison, Nixon said.

Carnahan unveils early voting plan

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Secretary of State Robin Carnahan on Thursday unveiled her plan for making voting easier, proposing an early voting system that includes satellite polling places and Saturday hours. Carnahan's proposal has not yet been filed as legislation. It would allow an early voting period, starting next year, that would begin six weeks before Election Day and run until the day before the election.

-- From staff, wire reports