Region/state digest 03/16/05

Fire at Jackson home contained to attic

Jackson firefighters contained a fire to the attic of a home on Tuesday, saving a guinea pig and a deaf dog in the process. The fire started around 8 a.m., when a neighbor noticed smoke coming from the residence at 2217 Old Toll Road and called 911. Fire chief Brad Golden said the fire started somewhere around the back side of the house in the deck area. A cause has not yet been determined. Carolyn Ridings, who lives at the home with her daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren, said she found out about the fire when she pulled up to the house after taking one of her grandchildren to school. No one was home when the fire began.

Senators give first OK for scaling back Medicaid

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Citing concerns over rising costs, Republican senators gave initial approval late Tuesday to legislation that would scale back Missouri's Medicaid program by eliminating recipients and services added in recent years. The legislation would end Missouri's current Medicaid program in mid-2008 and create a legislative commission to recommend reforms by the end of this year. In the meantime, the bill would authorize much of Republican Gov. Matt Blunt's plan to tighten Medicaid eligibility standards as a way to help balance the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. After more than 17 hours of debate, senators gave first-round approval to the bill on a 20-12 vote, with Republicans Kevin Engler, of Farmington, and Rob Mayer, of Dexter, joining all Democrats in opposition. A final vote is needed to send the bill to the House.

Man accused of hanging dog in suburban park

ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis County man was arrested Tuesday on charges that he hanged his dog by its collar and leash at the top of a suburban park's slide. Investigators said the killing was unrelated to a similar, still-unsolved case Feb. 5, when a 40-pound husky mix was found hanging from a tree in Babler State Park in west St. Louis County. "We never thought there was a connection between the two," St. Louis County police spokesman Mason Keller said. In the latest case, prosecutors charged Dennis Farrow, 30, in a warrant with felony animal abuse, alleging that he hanged his young female boxer named Mya from a crossbar on playground equipment in south St. Louis County's Clydesdale Park.

-- From staff, wire reports