Randolph News

The Storms Prediction Center issued a Tornado Watch until 8 a.m. for Chariton, Cooper, Howard, Macon, Pettis, Randolph, and Saline Counties. via KOMU-TV Columbia

Kansas City police have identified the man killed in a Clay County forklift mishap last weekend. via Southeast Missourian

Emergency crews are on the scene of a fatal accident involving an overturned forklift inside a commercial cave complex in the Randolph community of Clay County.

Fire, ambulance and police units were called about 12:45 p.m. today to the caves at 8300 N.E. Underground Dr. A Kansas City Fire Department spokesman said the victim was reported dead on arrival, but no other details were immediately available. Read more

A Clay County jury today convicted a 32-year-old security guard of misdemeanor assault for using a Taser on a man after an altercation at a bar on New Year's Eve in 2005.

Edward W. Truitt of Kansas City, North, was charged with third-degree assault in connection with the incident that occurred at a bar called The Groove, 316 N.E. 72nd St., Gladstone, according to court records.

Truitt is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 26 and faces up to one year in the county jail and/or pay a fine up to $1,000, said Clay County Prosecutor Daniel White. Read more

Most employees are finding that companies in general are cutting benefits as bad economic news continues to mount. But employers are becoming more generous in one area: Thanksgiving.

Nearly eight of 10 U.S. businesses will give employees two paid days off Thursday and Friday, according to a recent survey by BNA.

That 78 percent mark is up from 74 percent last year and 69 percent in 2005. BNA said it was the highest percentage of firms giving a four-day Thanksgiving weekend since it began conducting the survey in 1980. Read more

A man awaiting trial for first-degree murder in the death of a Randolph convenience store clerk was found dead Wednesday in the Clay County Detention Center.

Authorities said they discovered Kenneth D. Smith, 34, about 3:45 p.m. hanging from a bed sheet thrown over the door to his cell.

Detectives will investigate the matter as a potential crime, but officials said Wednesday that their preliminary investigation indicates that Smith committed suicide.

Smith, of Independence, was charged with first-degree murder in the June 27 shooting death of night clerk Tony Barnett Jr., 27, of Liberty. He also faced charges of first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action. Read more

“We're trying to get as many Malibus out there as we can”

The General Motors Corp.'s Fairfax plant returned to an overtime schedule this week in the midst of the launch of the redesigned Chevrolet Malibu.

Hourly workers on both shifts this week are working 9.5 hours a day, said John Melton, bargaining chairman of United Auto Workers Local 31.

Production of the new Malibu began Oct. 15, but the production-line speed will not reach its peak until the middle of this month, said Linda Heater, a GM spokeswoman at the Fairfax plant.

Dealers initially will receive two Malibus each until full production begins, according to Melton. Read more