Springfield man kills self, ex-stepdaughter

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A man who was apparently upset about losing a farm in divorce proceedings broke into his ex-wife's Lebanon home, fatally shot her daughter, then took his own life, authorities said. Police said James Edward Crank, 45, blasted 11-year-old Hannah Rose Sellers in the face with a shotgun late Wednesday but allowed her mother, Lisa Weatherly, 43, to escape before turning the gun on himself. Police said Weatherly called authorities late Wednesday to say Crank was trying to break into her house. Weatherly then told police that Crank told her to get out of the house. Officers found Crank's body in the basement with a gunshot wound to the head.

Turkey processing plant faces odor complaints

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Department of Natural Resources has told a company facing odor complaints over a turkey plant to clean up its act. The department issued six excess emission notices from late March through this month and has upgraded them to violation notices after it said Renewable Environmental Solutions could not justify the emissions. The company turns turkey byproducts into oil at a plant in Carthage.

Former transit employee indicted for fraud

ST. LOUIS -- A former employee for the agency that operates mass transportation services in the St. Louis area was indicted Friday, accused of offering a lawyer a higher settlement of a case if the lawyer would share the additional money with him. Arthur Sales, 61, of St. Charles, faces one count of embezzlement. He was a casualty claims representative for Bi-State Development Agency, which now does business as Metro. Sales reviewed legal claims which had been filed against Bi-State, negotiating settlements within limitations set by its board of directors.

Driver of ambulance in fatal accident charged

KENNETT, Mo. -- An ambulance driver from the Missouri Bootheel was charged Friday with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for an accident that killed a patient in the ambulance and the driver of the other vehicle. The accident happened Sunday on Missouri 164 near Kennett in Dunklin County. Patrick White, 23, of Poplar Bluff, was driving an ambulance for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said White failed to stop at a stop sign and struck a 1992 Buick driven by Dorothy Worrell, 64, of Hornersville. The ambulance's siren and emergency lights were not on, the patrol report said. Worrell and a patient in the ambulance, William Braden, 66, of Wappapello, were killed.

-- From wire reports