State briefs 4/26/18

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri House committee investigating Republican Gov. Eric Greitens has hired former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Edward "Chip" Robertson Jr. as special counsel.

Chairman Rep. Jay Barnes in a Wednesday statement said Sedalia attorney Mark Kempton, a former county prosecutor, also is helping the committee.

House communications director Trevor Fox says both are working pro bono. The House is reimbursing their out-of-pocket expenses.

The Republican-led House launched an investigation after a grand jury indicted Greitens on a felony invasion-of-privacy charge over allegations that he took a partially nude photograph of a woman he said he had an extramarital affair with in 2015.

The panel is still investigating separate claims Greitens took a donor list without permission from a veterans' charity and used it for his gubernatorial campaign.

NORMANDY, Mo. -- A suburban St. Louis school district has suspended a security official accused of using a stun gun on a 14-year-old.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Normandy police chief Frank Mininni said the security official was arrested Friday at Normandy Middle School after witnesses were interviewed and security footage reviewed. No charges have been filed.

Mininni said the pupil was a half-day student who was getting ready to go home when the security official told him to go back to class. Mininni said the student replied, "I'm not going back to class, I'm going home," and tried to outpace the security official before being stunned. Police called an ambulance, but the student's father took him to a hospital.

A school district spokeswoman said the district is cooperating with police.

BRANSON, Mo. -- Branson will not be giving tax incentives to developers of a proposed $446 million water park and resort.

The Branson Board of Aldermen voted 5-1 against the incentives Tuesday night.

The Springfield News-Leader reported the proposal would have allowed the city to set up a tax increment financing plan for the Branson Adventures water park and to declare the 302 acres where it would be built as blighted.

The developer, CP Branson, sought up to nearly $116 million, plus interest, in reimbursements over 23 years.

After the vote, the company said it is considering alternate locations for the park.

Alderman Betsy Seay said she voted against the tax increment financing because she didn't believe the developer was transparent enough and she found several discrepancies in the proposal.

SULLIVAN, Mo. -- Authorities have found an adult's body in a stolen car abandoned in the parking lot of a closed fast-food restaurant.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Franklin County law enforcement made the discovery Tuesday near Sullivan, about 60 miles southwest of St. Louis.

Franklin County Sheriff Steve Pelton said the Burger King has been closed for a few months, but some commuters use the parking lot as a pick-up and drop-off area. Pelton said a man noticed a "foul smell" coming from one of the cars and called authorities. It isn't clear how long the car had been there.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The director of a financially troubled jazz museum in Kansas City's historic 18th and Vine district said she's stepping down.

The Kansas City Star reported Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner said Wednesday she would leave the American Jazz Museum before its annual May 15 meeting but would "remain a champion" of the attraction. A major shakeup also is expected on the museum's board of directors.

The leadership changes are among the recommendations made in a consultant's report issued last month. The report was highly critical of the museum for lacking a clear vision and identity, despite opening its doors 20 years ago.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri State University and its food supplier are investigating to determine how a small mouse was found in a dining hall meal this week.

The Springfield News-Leader reported freshman Miles Shelfter found the mouse Tuesday in his salad at Garst Dining Center.

University spokeswoman Suzanne Shaw said the school is working with its food service provider, Chartwells, to determine how the mouse ended up in the meal.

A food inspector was called to the university Wednesday. Chartwells said in a statement it pulled the prepackaged, pre-washed spinach from its facilities. Chartwells says it has also contacted its Quality Assurance team and is reviewing all pest inspection reports for the last six months.

-- From wire reports