Tagged: springfield

Activists have submitted a petition that seeks to decriminalize marijuana in Springfield.

The Springfield News-Leader reported that petitions with more than 2,500 signatures were submitted Friday to the Springfield city clerk.

Assistant City Clerk Anita Cotter says about 2,100 valid signatures are needed to move the petition forward to City Council, which could pass the petition or submit it to a vote.

Show-Me Cannabis Regulation board member Maranda Reynolds says the group continues collecting signatures in case some of the ones it submitted aren't useable.

Sen. Claire McCaskill has extra security in place following a comment at a Tea Party rally last week.

Regional news coverage from the KBIA News room, including:

• The state of the state budget.
• McCaskill's security precautions.
• A Springfield mayor's resignation.

 Springfield Mayor Jim O'Neal is leaving the job, effective immediately.

O'Neal announced his resignation Monday after a city council meeting. He said business and family pressures had prevented him from concentrating on his duties as mayor. O'Neal owns O & S Trucking.

O'Neal was elected in 2009 and re-elected in April 2011.

Mayor Pro Tem Bob Stephens is taking over.

The council also will begin the process of electing a new mayor pro tem and appointing someone to fill the rest of Stephens' term as council member.

The MU School of Medicine announced a partnership today with two hospitals.