State briefs 6/8/2015

New judge named for suspect in girl's death

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Another judge has been named to preside over the trial of a man accused of kidnapping and killing a 10-year-old girl. Craig Wood is charged with first-degree murder in the February 2014 death of Hailey Owens. Prosecutors say he grabbed her off the street as she walked home. Her body was found in Wood's home. The 47-year-old defendant is scheduled to stand trial in Springfield in front of a Platte County jury. The judge assigned to the case recused himself last month, sending the case to Judge David Jones. But Wood's defense team sought a new judge. The case has been assigned to Judge Thomas Mountjoy, presiding judge of the 31st Judicial Circuit.

Columbia schools may change bias policy

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Columbia Board of Education is considering adding "gender identity" and "gender expression" to the school district's nondiscrimination policy. The policy addition will be considered during a meeting today. The district's nondiscrimination policy covers district employees and students and would be amended to include the terms "gender identity" and "gender expression" under categories for which the district prohibits discrimination and harassment. School board president Jim Whitt says he's in favor of the changes.

Ferguson gets new Boys & Girls Club

FERGUSON, Mo. -- Ferguson is getting a new Boys & Girls Club that will provide area youth with a variety of services. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis opens its new location at Ferguson Middle School today. Member services will include college and career planning, sports and tutoring. The Rev. Starsky Wilson serves on the board of the Deaconess Foundation, which provided $20,000 to help with the club's summer program in Ferguson. He says the club will serve all youth who apply, even if they don't live in Ferguson.

No injuries during small plane crash

VICHY, Mo. -- No injuries were reported when a single-engine plane crash-landed. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the crash occurred Saturday afternoon at the Rolla National Airport in Vichy. The plane came to a rest off the runway on its nose. The patrol says the pilot, Larry C. Gregory and his wife, Donna, of Lesterville, Missouri, were in the 1968 Cessna and got out of the aircraft on their own after the accident. The pilot and his wife were flying from Farmington, Missouri.

-- From wire reports