Associated Press

A Columbia grocer convicted of violating federal sanctions against Iraq by sending money overseas is preparing to start a three-year prison sentence later this month.

State officials say exports by Missouri businesses rose by 6 percent in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2011.

The Missouri Department of Conservation has been working to rid its lands around the state of feral hogs.

Donors have stepped forward to make sure a rally to support Muslims in Joplin will be held.

The Neighbors — Joplin Mosque Rally will be held Saturday at Landreth Park.

Organizer Ashley Carter said several people contributed about $2,500 this week to fund the rally, which will feature speakers and entertainment.

The event was planned after a suspicious fire destroyed the Islamic Society of Joplin's mosque on Aug. 6. A reward totaling $25,000 has been offered for information on the fire. The FBI is investigating.

Electric bills are on the way down for some residents of western Missouri, thanks to a decline in fuel prices.

The Missouri Public Service Commission has reduced the fuel adjustment charge for Kansas City Power & Light's Greater Missouri Operations. Fuel adjustment clauses allow power companies to adjust rates for changes in the price of natural gas.

The reduction takes effect Sept. 1.

A state House member from southwest Missouri says he'll seek a recount after a narrow loss in his Republican primary election.

Election results certified in Greene County this week show incumbent Thomas Long losing to challenger Jeff Messenger by 28 votes in the Aug. 7 primary. Long told the Springfield News-Leader on Wednesday he'll ask to have the ballots in the 130th House District counted again.

Missouri law allows candidates to request recounts if they lose by less than 1 percent of the total vote.

A University of Missouri veterinary professor says farmers need to be careful when feeding drought-damaged corn to their livestock.

Two University of Missouri heart researchers are accused of plagiarism after a medical journal retracted an article they co-wrote.

The Columbia Missourian reports that the American Journal of the Medical Sciences pulled the February 2012 article after determining that the authors "plagiarized significant aspects" of a 2006 article in the journal Heart.

A new report says Missouri's unemployment rate edged higher last month while the number of nonfarm jobs declined.

The Department of Economic Development says the jobless rate rose one-tenth of a point in July to 7.2 percent. That compares with a national rate of 8.3 percent.

The Missouri agency also reported Tuesday that nonfarm payroll employment decreased in July by 7,700 jobs.

Officials said record heat and severe drought affected outdoor jobs in such areas as construction, landscaping, lawn care and recreation.

The head of the Missouri State Highway Patrol says drivers need to be careful now that the state has granted drought-related waivers that will result in more farm machinery on the roads.

The Missouri Department of Transportation granted the waivers because the drought is forcing some farmers to travel longer distances to obtain hay, silage and grain.

Patrol Superintendent Ron Replogle encouraged farmers to review regulations related to farm vehicles and the transportation of goods.