State briefs 8/5/04

Tickets issued in two-car crash in Scott County

Tickets were issued Tuesday afternoon following a two-car crash at Route DD and Lewis Street in Vanduser, Mo., in Scott County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 1989 Chevrolet driven by Rebecca Cureton, 30, of Bell City, Mo., struck a 1993 Dodge driven by Paul Hatley, 39, of Vanduser. The patrol said that Hatley failed to yield to Cureton's vehicle which struck Hatley's vehicle in the side. Hatley was issued summonses for failure to yield, no seat belt and no insurance. Cureton was taken to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston for treatment of moderate injuries.

Priests removed from Polish church in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS -- Two priests who served a historic Polish parish that's been at odds with the Archdiocese of St. Louis have been transferred suddenly to another Catholic church in a move certain to strain already difficult relations. The archdiocese announced Tuesday that Archbishop Raymond Burke temporarily relocated the priests of St. Stanislaus Kostka in the near northside, to St. John, Apostle and Evangelist parish downtown, leaving the Polish church without a minister. Burke ordered that as of Tuesday, no Masses, services, sacred rites or sacraments were to be celebrated at the Polish church, but that they would be offered at St. John.

Farmer challenges Bond to televised debates

ST. LOUIS -- One day after winning the Missouri Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Nancy Farmer on Wednesday challenged Sen. Kit Bond to five televised debates around the state. She challenged the three-term Republican senator to debate economic policy in Kansas City, health-care policy in St. Louis, foreign policy in Springfield, fiscal policy and the middle-class squeeze in Cape Girardeau, and education policy in Columbia.

McCaskill takes over as Democratic Party leader

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Hours after State Auditor Claire McCaskill won the Democratic nomination for governor, she announced changes in the party's structure, including naming a new executive director -- a woman who had worked in the auditor's office. Corey Dillon will be the new state party director, handling day-to-day operations, replacing Mike Kelley, a supporter of incumbent Gov. Bob Holden. Kelley said he only intended to fill the role until the party chose a gubernatorial candidate and then step aside.

Nurse could face charges over not reporting abuse

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Attorneys said Wednesday they will seek the dismissal of charges against a Springfield emergency room nurse accused of failing to report the possible abuse of 2-year-old Dominic James. Plans for the legal maneuvering came a day after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that a state law requiring some health-care workers to report suspected cases of child abuse is constitutional.

-- From staff, wire reports