Jury Selection Begins in Coleman Murder Trial
Jury selection begins today in Perry County Illinois in the trial of Christopher Coleman. That’s according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The former Marine is accused of strangling his wife and two sons and then staging the crime scene with threatening messages on the walls.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, which they can legally do until July 1 when a new law abolishes the punishment in Illinois. Police contend that Coleman was having an affair with a woman in Florida and may have killed his family to escape his marriage without sacrificing his job with Joyce Meyer Ministries to a no-divorce policy.
Opening statements are to begin April 25.
Heat Poses Problems for Go! Marathon
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, more than 15,000 runners and walkers finished the GO! St. Louis marathon, half-marathon and marathon relay Sunday, but many runners and spectators say the heat and humidity was a problem for the event. Organizers closed the last 16 miles of the marathon course at 9 a.m., two hours after the start to runners who had not passed the half-marathon turnaround.
The Post-Dispatch reports that about 2,700 runners registered for the marathon; 1,910 finished the 26.2 miles. Competitors who were turned around at Mile 10 were counted among the half-marathon finishers and received half-marathon medals.
Stan Kroenke to Control Arsenal
The Arsenal Supporters' Trust says St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke is set to take control of the storied English Premier League club Arsenal. The AST tells The Associated Press an announcement is to be made today that Kroenke plans to raise his holding from just under 30 percent to 62 percent, giving him legal control of Arsenal.
Missouri Senate to Debate Nuclear Power Legislation
Missouri legislation sought by utilities considering a second nuclear power plant could be headed for debate by the full Senate. A Senate committee has signed off on the legislation, and the Jefferson City News Tribune has reported that the chamber's leaders say the full body could debate the bill as soon as this week.
Missouri utilities are asking the Legislature to allow them to charge customers for the cost of an early site permit from federal regulators. Utilities currently cannot charge for the costs of new power plants before they start producing electricity.
Supporters say the bill is needed to keep the expansion of nuclear power as an option in Missouri. Critics have raised concerns about protections for electric customers.
