State digest 05/24/06

Saint Louis Zoo has a new baby giraffe

ST. LOUIS -- The Saint Louis Zoo's latest addition -- a baby male giraffe born five days ago -- is standing tall at more than 5 feet, the zoo announced Tuesday. The 138-pound youngster looks little compared to his towering parents -- Jessie and Dexter. The giraffe is the tallest living land animal, with heights ranging from 14 feet for females to 18 feet for males. After a pregnancy of 15 months, giraffes give birth to a single baby. They're pretty good nurturers, too, licking and touching their young frequently. The species are at risk in the wild because of habitat loss and hunting. The zoo participates in a national breeding program designed to ensure the species' survival.

Trial begins in slaying of SIU student

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. -- Jury selection got underway Tuesday in the trial of a couple accused in the January slaying of a Southern Illinois University student from Chicago. John and Lisa Bryant, both 37 and of Murphysboro, Ill., are charged with four counts each of first-degree murder in the death of Christopher Gandy, 23. John Bryant also is charged with concealing a homicide. A third defendant, Rocky Maki, 26, is scheduled to be tried July 17 on four murder counts and a concealment charge. Gandy's burned body was found near a car Jan. 28 in Mount Carbon Cemetery near Murphysboro.

State not responsible for local voter roll errors

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's chief election official cannot be held responsible for local election authorities who failed to keep their voter registration rolls up to date, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. The ruling was praised as a victory by Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, whose office was sued last November by the U.S. Justice Department for allegedly violating a federal law that requires election officials to make reasonable efforts to remove ineligible voters. Missouri law assigns the duty of updating voter registration lists to its 116 local election jurisdictions -- not the secretary of state's office. Carnahan spokeswoman Stacie Temple called the ruling "a big victory" for the office.

-- From staff reports