State briefs 5/27/04

DNA match solves cold 18-year-old rape case

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Cameron man was charged Wednesday with breaking into a woman's apartment and raping her at knifepoint after DNA evidence linked him to the 18-year-old crime. Ozie Banks, 47, faces one count each of rape and sodomy in what prosecutors are calling the oldest rape case to be prosecuted in Jackson County.

Agency ending voluntary regulatory farm program

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The state Department of Natural Resources is scrapping a program that allowed smaller animal farms to voluntarily seek environmental permits. The program has been praised by both farmers and environmental groups, but the agency said it will no longer issue what are known as letters of approval, citing a staff reduction. Farmers use the letters to apply for federal funding and to protect themselves against litigation.

Innsbrook fined for Clean Water Act violations

ST. LOUIS -- The Environmental Protection Agency has fined Innsbrook Corp. $100,000 for Clean Water Act violations at the company's eastern Missouri resort, the EPA said Wednesday. As part of a settlement with the EPA, Innsbrook also agreed to pay $120,000 to the Missouri Stream Stewardship Trust Fund, which is used to restore stream habitat and ecosystems in Missouri.-- From wire reports

Missing money that fell on highway returned

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A day after a "substantial" amount of cash and checks tumbled out of an armored truck and onto a busy highway, authorities said Wednesday most of the money has been returned. A truck belonging to PSI Armored Inc. was traveling on Interstate 70 Tuesday morning when a canvas bag fell from a back door. The bag containined cash and checks from 40 stores in the Kansas City area. Some motorists stopped on the highway to retrieve money, and the bag itself was picked up by a man from suburban Blue Springs. That man, 37, took the bag to Blue Springs police.

Audit critical of St. Louis election board

ST. LOUIS -- An audit critical of the St. Louis Election Board cites cost overruns for cell phones, poor controls and voter files that include dead people, felons and Illinois residents. The audit, released Wednesday, is the work of State Auditor Claire McCaskill, who agreed a year ago to examine the Election Board's finances. Mayor Francis Slay had asked for an audit after learning in February 2003 that $350,000 in cell phone bills went unpaid for two years. A criminal investigation found that 40 missing cell phones were used to rack up $35,000 in calls. Slay said at the time the office had virtually no fiscal controls.

-- From wire reports