4 • May 15-16, 2020 STATE COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House on Wednesday advanced a proposal to ensure voters can cast absentee ballots this year if they’re worried about in-person voting during the coronavirus pandemic. House lawmakers on Wednesday approved an amendment to another election-related bill that would allow voters to request to have ballots mailed to them so they could avoid Election Day crowds. Voters would need to get their absentee ballots notarized. Missouri currently requires Kim Rohde Publisher (417) 872-2951 lkimrohde@yahoo.com Brenda Meadows Editor & Staff Writer (417) 231-7601 info@BransonGlobe.com David Stoltz News Correspondent (228) 355-2900 itcdls@gmail.com Gary Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull Opinion Writer Rob Doherty Account Representative & Distribution Manager (504) 583-8907 robd@bransonglobe.com Karen Halfpop Digital/Production Director production@ BransonGlobe.com Missouri State University. (File photo) Submit a letter to the editor: Letters to the editor that are sent via e-mail and are fewer than 400 words are given preference. Published or unpublished letters become the property of the newspaper and will not be returned. All letters must include name, address, and verifiable phone number. voters to give an excuse to vote absentee. One excuse is illness, but the law is unclear on whether that covers people who are not sick with coronavirus but are worried about catching it. House lawmakers in response are trying to make it clear that any voter this year can request an absentee ballot. “There will be no gray area in the law,” Republican Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch said. “If they are afraid to go vote, this year only, because of COVID, they can request an absentee ballot.” Senate approval is needed to pass the bill by lawmakers’ Friday deadline. The proposal also would need to be approved by Republican Gov. Mike Parson. The policy won bipartisan approval in the House. Still, Democratic Rep. Deb Lavender questioned the point of absentee voting if ballots still need to be notarized. “If I’m worried about going to the polls because I might get COVID, why would I not be worried about going to get it notarized?” she said. Missouri State graduate gives millions to school, foundation SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A graduate of Missouri State University plans to donate up to $12 million to be divided between the school and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. The gift from the estate of Linda Hale will provide scholarships for Missouri State students from Barton and Vernon counties. The two organizations announced Monday they had each received the first part of the gift, about $2.25 million each. The organizations are expected to each receive about $6 million by the time the estate is settled. Linda Hale and her late husband, Larry, were graduates of Missouri State. The Hales were in real estate for over 40 years, and also farmed and raised cattle all of their lives. The gift to Missouri State will fund agriculture scholarships. The CFO gift if also designated for Missouri State students from Barton and Vernon counties. House members also on Wednesday approved bransonglobe.com Lawmakers move to expand Missouri absentee voting amid virus legislation that would make Missouri the final state to create a database to track prescription opioids and other potentially addictive medications. Supporters of such programs argue they can help battle the opioid epidemic by alerting doctors of possible prescription drug misuse by patients. Primarily Republican critics for years have pushed back against prescription drug monitoring programs over concerns about patient privacy and disbelief that such a program will do much to help stop and prevent addiction. The measure passed the House on Wednesday with support from Democrats, who earlier this week deserted the bill after it was paired with an increase in criminal penalties for getting caught with the deadly opioid fentanyl. That provision has been stripped from the bill, which needs another vote of approval from the notoriously skeptical Senate. University of Missouri to pay $175,000 in open records case ST. LOUIS (AP) — The University of Missouri has agreed to pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by an animal rights group over a public records request. Four year ago, the Beagle Freedom Project sought public records pertaining to cats and dogs used for research at the university. University officials tried to charge the group $82,222 to fulfill the request. The Beagle Freedom Project sued, arguing the university’s charge was so high it essentially prevented the release of the records. The California-based nonprofit won in court in November, when Boone County Judge Jeff Harris ruled the university had knowingly violated the Sunshine Law. BransonGlobe Your source for local news and entertainment info@BransonGlobe.com • Phone: (417) 334-9100 • Fax: (417) 334-3767 • 1447 US Hwy. 248, Suite EE, Branson, MO 65616 BransonGlobe.com On Monday, the case ended when the judge approved a final settlement. At one point during the negotiations, Dan Kolde, an attorney for the Beagle Freedom Project, had publicly offered to settle the dispute for $1 and policy changes at the university, St. Louis Public Radio reported. A University of Missouri spokesman said the school officials continue to believe the university did not violate the open records law but is pleased to have reached the settlement. The Missouri Sunshine Law allows a maximum fine of $1,000 for violations but also allows lawyers to recoup fees as an incentive to take on such cases, Kolde said. @BransonGlobe BransonGlobe @BransonGlobe #Branson Globe
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