Trespassers suspected in Majestic Hotel fire Hot Springs' fire chief says the fire that destroyed the Majestic Hotel was likely set by trespassers — but that the cause may never be determined because it wasn't safe to send investigators inside the building before it was torn down. Fire Chief Ed Davis says investigators believe the Feb. 27 fire was likely set by either "urban explorers" or homeless people who were inside the ...

House panel endorses gun nullification bill Federal agents would be sent to jail for enforcing some federal gun control laws under legislation endorsed by a Missouri House panel. The House General Laws Committee advanced the measure Thursday. It passed the Missouri Senate last month. The bill would declare federal laws that the state considers infringements on gun rights to be null and void. Federal agents enforcing those laws could face civil penalties and ...

Missouri Senate panel backs college meningitis vaccine Students living on college campuses could be required to get vaccinated against bacterial meningitis under legislation endorsed by a Missouri Senate committee. The legislation would require all students in on-campus housing to have the meningococcal vaccine starting in July 2015, unless they seek a religious or medical exemption. Meningococcal disease can cause an inflammation of the brain lining known as meningitis. It can spread among people in ...

Fire destroys barn near Fordland Crews from three fire departments fought a losing battle against a fire in a barn on Bobcat Road near Fordland Friday morning. The Logan-Rogersville department got the call at about 4 am and found a fully involved fire. Crews from Battlefield and Marshfield pitched in, but the barn was a total loss. The Logan-Rogersville fire chief says his crews got a slow start in the fight ...

Kansas City won't allow drunk people to carry guns Intoxicated people still can't legally carry guns in Kansas City. The Kansas City Council voted Thursday against a measure that would have made city law conform with the state's law on intoxicated people carrying a gun. The Kansas City Star reports (http://bit.ly/O16vk4 ) the city currently says intoxicated people can't carry firearms. That conflicts with Missouri state law, which allows intoxicated people to carry guns unless the ...

One in custody after a fatal shooting in Phelps County Authorities in Phelps County say they have one person in custody after a fatal shooting Wednesday night. A news release from the Rolla Police Department says officers from Rolla, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to a 911 call of a shooting just outside the Rolla city limits at about 5:20 pm. Police say the shooter ran into the woods, ...

Ukraine oligarchs get key posts in bid for unity
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — In a surprising move after Russia flexed its military might in the Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine's new leadership has reached out to oligarchs for help — appointing them as governors in eastern regions where loyalties to Moscow are strong.

U.S. job growth accelerates, weather cuts into hours worked
By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. job growth rose more than expected in February, which could ease fears of an abrupt slowdown in economic growth and keep the Federal Reserve on track in reducing its monetary stimulus. Employers added 175,000 jobs to their payrolls last month after creating 129,000 new positions in January, the Labor Department said on Friday. The unemployment rate, however, rose to 6.7 percent from a five-year low of 6.6 percent. Economists polled by Reuters had expected nonfarm payrolls to rise 149,000 and the unemployment rate to hold steady at 6.6 percent.

US trade deficit rose to $39.1 billion in January
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. trade deficit widened slightly in January as a rise in imports of oil and other foreign goods offset a solid increase in exports.

US employers add 175K jobs despite harsh weather
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. hiring improved in February from the previous two months despite a blast of wintry weather, likely renewing hopes that growth will accelerate this year.

Guard: Pistorius told me 'everything is fine'
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — A security guard working in Oscar Pistorius' gated community says the athlete told him everything was "fine" when he called to investigate neighbors' reports of gunshots on the night Reeva Steenkamp was killed.