RANDOLPH COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – A 21-year-old former firefighter is facing arson charges for a fire that police say he set.

Jerrod Graves, 21, of Winchester, was arrested in Randolph County and faces charges of arson, a Class B felony, and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, a Class C felony.

Randolph County Sheriff’s Department officials say on May 31, Graves called 911 to report a vacant house on fire. The fire was at 1319 West Randolph County Road 500 South. They later determined he was the one who set it. At least one firefighter who responded to the fire was treated for smoke inhalation.

Graves told police he has about three years experience as a firefighter in Delaware and Randolph counties. H

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Two bills have been proposed in the Missouri House recently that would make it a felony to assault transit workers and health care personnel, according to the Associated Press.

It’s already a felony in Missouri to assault police officers, other emergency personnel and highway workers in a construction zone.

Read about a recent robbery involving a transit worker in Cape Girardeau here http://www.semissourian.com/story/171431….

According to the AP report, bill supporters have said that attacks on transit workers put other passengers at risk.

A few Republicans, however, say transit systems should put their own safety measures in place by putting protective cages around drivers.

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WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned a massive sex discrimination lawsuit on behalf of at least 500,000 women claiming that Wal-Mart favors men over women in pay and promotions.

The justices suggested that they are troubled by lower court decisions allowing the class-action lawsuit to proceed against the world’s largest retailer.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, often a key vote on the high court, said he is unsure “what the unlawful policy is” that Wal-Mart engaged in to deprive women of pay increases and promotions comparable to men.

Billions of dollars are at stake in the case.

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The Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a Dekalb County judge’s order Tuesday, freeing Dale Helmig, who was convicted of killing his mother in 1993, according to an Associated Press report.

The court agreed with Judge Warren McElwain’s ruling that Dale Helmig’s right to a fair trial was prejudiced.

McElwain made his ruling in November last year, stating that prosecutor Kenny Hulshof and the Osage County Sheriff misled the court and jurors when they suggested Helmig had thrown hot coffee in his mother’s face shortly before she disappeared. The court found out later she had actually fought with her husband, who was ordered to stay away from his wife.

Jurors weren’t told about the warning at trial.

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