KidsFirst

Community programs aim to stop child abuse

Red Wagon Kids started in response to city's being named one of the 100 best communities.  Full story at News-Leader.com

Gov. Blunt Statement on Missouri Supreme Court Sex Offender Ruling

Gov. Matt Blunt issues statements on the Missouri Supreme Court’s ruling to allow some dangerous sex offenders to live near Missouri’s schools and child care facilities if they were living there prior to 2006.  Full story on Missouri Governor Matt Blunt's Press Release

Judge keeps St. Louis man committed as sexually violent predator after Nixon opposes his release

A judge in St. Louis City has determined that Larry Coffman of St. Louis, previously found to be a sexually violent predator (SVP), must remain committed at the state treatment center in Farmington. Attorney General Jay Nixon opposed Coffman’s release from confinement, and Circuit Judge David L. Dowd signed the commitment order in Nixon’s favor on Wednesday (Feb. 13).  Full story on Attorney General’s website

Parents of Allegedly Murder Child Speak Out

The mother and father of a mid-Missouri baby apparently shaken to death say they don't know who or what to believe. Full story at KMIZ, KRCG

Brumley woman arrested for toddler's murder

For the third time in less than a year, Miller County authorities are calling the death of a toddler, murder.  Full story at KRCG, KMIZ

Internet Harassment Seen as Tough to Tackle

Missouri hopes to crack down on Internet harassment, but drafting legislation to fit the problem might be much tougher than first thought.  Full Story at Missourinet

MySpace agrees to new protections for teens

Missouri, Illinois and other states announced today that MySpace has agreed to new measures to keep sexual predators from contacting children.  Full Story at STLtoday

Southwest Missouri Mayor Charged in Internet Child Sex Sting

A small-town mayor was in jail in Newton County on Monday on four counts of soliciting sex over the Internet from a police detective posing as a 13-year-old girl.  Full story at STLtoday

Deacon pleads guilty to child molestation

An O'Fallon, Missouri, man pleads guilty to child molestation and is expected to be sentenced Jan. 25 to 10 years in prison under a plea agreement reached by prosecutors and his attorney.  Full Story at STLtoday

Springfield police: robbery, burglary, child abuse prevention need more resources

The quarterly crime report, comparing October through December of 2006 with the same months for 2007, shows crime is up significantly in home and business burglaries, property damage and child abuse. And those crimes are happening all over the city.  Read More