SUMMARY: A ride operator at the Shepherd of the Hills Copperhead Mountain Coaster in Branson may have been under the influence of marijuana when two women fell, sustaining life-threatening injuries. The women, Kinda Renfro and Debra Rhodes, have filed a $50 million lawsuit after suffering severe injuries, including broken necks and brain bleeds, during the incident on November 1, 2024. Investigators found that the 26-year-old operator, unfamiliar with the ride due to a last-minute staff switch, did not properly check seatbelts. The ride has since been approved to resume with mandated safety modifications, including the installation of cameras and enhanced operator training.

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The post Branson ride operator may have been high when riders fell and broke their necks | KOLR appeared first on www.ozarksfirst.com

SUMMARY: Missouri school districts are facing multiple snow days, potentially leading to a week without in-person learning. State law mandates public schools to provide at least 1,044 instructional hours annually, with schools required to plan for 36 “make-up” weather hours, which allows for flexibility in scheduling. After missing these 36 hours, schools must only make up half of any additional hours lost up to 60, and may request a waiver for excess closures. Schools are increasingly utilizing Virtual Learning Days, or AMI days, which count toward instructional hours, to mitigate disruptions caused by inclement weather.

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SUMMARY: Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is co-sponsoring legislation to abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), citing its overreach and infringement on Second Amendment rights. Boebert, joined by Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., argues the ATF harms communities rather than protecting them. The bill, originally proposed in 2023 by Rep. Matt Gaetz, has gained renewed momentum with Republican support, including Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. Critics point to the ATF’s history of overreach, such as in the Waco and Ruby Ridge incidents. ATF supporters warn that abolishing the agency could lead to increased danger and loss of safety.

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