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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Republican senators are making another push to alter the wages paid by government entities for public works projects.

One proposal considered by a Missouri Senate committee Tuesday would eliminate the "prevailing wage" altogether.

Missouri calculates the prevailing wage for various construction trades in each county based on surveys of wages already paid on jobs.

The measure's sponsor, Sen. Dan Brown, of Rolla, told the panel the current wage calculation does not adequately reflect construction wage rates in rural Missouri, thus driving up a project's cost.

Another bill would keep the prevailing wage intact, but would use a federal database to set the guidelines for projects in rural counties.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri lawmakers have endorsed separate measures focused on the open meetings and records law, commonly called the Sunshine Law.

The Senate and House each gave first-round approval Tuesday to their versions of a bill to renew security exemptions that expired at the end of 2012. One had covered security systems and structural plans and the other dealt with plans for responding to terrorism incidents.

The Senate legislation also would require officials give more notice before meetings and disclose general topics of closed sessions. Plus, it would put the burden on the governmental body to demonstrate something can be closed.

The House measure states that logs and records from elected officials' flights are an open record.

Both versions of the legislation require another vote before moving to the other chamber.

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (AP) - A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press a charred body has been found in the burned cabin where a fugitive ex-cop is believed to have been in a standoff with sheriff's deputies.

The official speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing says the body was found at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

Authorities said earlier they believed the man in the cabin was Christopher Dorner. He has been on the run since they say he launched a campaign to exact revenge against the Los Angeles Police Department for his firing.

Officials will be looking for identifying marks such as tattoos before confirming the identity.

Police say Dorner killed four people, including a deputy on Tuesday.