U.n. Monitors In Syria Visit Scene Of Deadly Blast

Mo. unemployment bill prompted by federal rules Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 3:34 pm, Wednesday, May 22, 2013 (AP) — Proposed changes for the unemployment compensation program awaiting action by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon are designed to avoid a several hundred million dollar price tag, and they could make it harder for workers to receive jobless benefits if they are released from their positions after having unapproved absences or violating company rules. Tracy King, vice president of governmental affairs for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said expanding what constitutes misconduct would help protect the integrity of the unemployment system. Misconduct would apply when workers knowingly disregard their employers' interests, violate no-call and no-show policies or break a company rule unless it can be demonstrated the rule is unlawful or that the employee could not reasonably have known about the rule. Officials said Missouri businesses could lose $859 million in federal tax credits and that state government could lose federal funds for programs such as the administration of the unemployment system and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The final piece of the federal unemployment measure would prohibit removal of charges from an employer's account if a payment was made erroneously and it is determined the business failed to respond timely or adequately and has a pattern of doing that.

Philly police release shooting video, seek info PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Police are releasing video from a shooting at a men's club earlier this month and asking the public for any information about two suspects. The video posted online Wednesday (http://bit.ly/14Scx9P ) shows one man shooting an AK-47 in the parking lot of the Purple Orchid Gentlemen's Club in the Elmwood neighborhood, then going into the club and firing more shots.

JC Penney secures bigger-than-expected $2.25B loan NEW YORK (AP) — J.C. Penney says it has secured a $2.25 billion loan, $500 million more than it had expected. The Plano, Texas-based retailer has been burning through cash and struggling to win back customers. The company last month fired its CEO, Ron Johnson after his ambitious turnaround plan backfired and caused sales to plummet. J.C. Penney brought back Johnson's predecessor Mike Ullman to take over the top spot. Proceeds from loan will be used to fund the company's operations and pay off some of its debt, J.C. Penney said Wednesday.

Utah, Nev., Calif. get water conservation grants SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The U.S. Interior Department has awarded more than $20 million in grants for water conservation projects in 11 Western states, including several in Utah, Nevada and California. The WaterSMART grants announced Wednesday will fund a total of 44 projects, including a plan to convert earthen irrigation canals in Utah by lining them or converting them to pipelines and the Southern Nevada Water Authority's landscape rebate program that provides homeowners incentives to convert their grass lawns to water-efficient landscaping more suitable to the desert. "Throughout the West, we're seeing that drought, growing populations, energy demands and basic environmental needs are stressing our finite water and energy supplies," Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in announcing the grants California's biggest grants were $1.5 million for the Patterson Irrigation District to install three new pump stations and 3.7 miles of new pipeline in the San Joaquin Valley, and more than $1.4 million for the North Yuba Water District's $3.2 million plan to pipe the entire length of the 10-mile Upper Forbestown Canal in Northern California.

5 dead in Ill. van crash part of Christian group Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 3:35 pm, Wednesday, May 22, 2013 BALTIMORE (AP) — Five Baltimore men killed when a van careened off a southern Illinois freeway were members of an evangelical Christian church returning from a weeklong international conference in California, officials said Wednesday. The church, Victory Outreach International of San Dimas, Calif., works largely in inner cities and provides residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation in many locations, said Philip LaCrue, the church's overseer for Christian recovery. The driver, who survived, was ticketed for improper lane usage and driving with a suspended license, police said.