Region briefs 7/6/07

Crowell honored as legislator of year

State Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, was honored as the senator of the year at the 87th annual Veterans of Foreign Wars state convention in Columbia, Mo., last week. "Sen. Crowell played a central role in this legislative session that secured several victories for veterans in the state of Missouri," said Dewey Riehn, Missouri chairman of the VFW National Legislative Committee. Those achievements included the phasing out of the state income tax on veterans' pensions, an additional $250,000 in funding for the veterans' service officer program and an increase of $2.8 million in funding for Missouri's veterans homes, Riehn said.

Sikeston police probe shooting death

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Police are investigating the death of a 16-year-old Sikeston boy who died Wednesday of a gunshot wound. The family of the teenager found him unresponsive and bleeding from the head. They called 911, thinking he had fallen from an existing medical condition. Police and EMS responded to the call and found that the boy had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Investigating detectives from the Sikeston Department of Public Safety questioned several nearby residents who reported hearing a pop but thought it was fireworks.

Gov. Blunt signs bill for senior tax cuts

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missourians will be getting a tax cut on their Social Security benefits. Gov. Matt Blunt signed legislation Thursday gradually exempting most Social Security benefits from state income taxes, starting this year and being phased in through 2012. The legislation contains a similar tax break for some people who opted out of Social Security for their pension systems, including teachers, firefighters, police officers, military personnel, federal employees and railroad workers. Once it's fully phased in, the tax cut is estimated to cost the state $154 million annually. Legislative researchers project it to cost the state $27 million this year. The legislation was a top priority for Blunt and House Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, who were touring the state together for bill signing ceremonies at several senior centers and a state tax office. Jetton said Missouri was one of 15 states that collects income tax on Social Security benefits. Blunt called the tax "an unjust cut on Missourians' hard earned income."

-- From staff, wire reports