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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - A man convicted of killing a sports editor in Columbia in 2001 is asking Gov. Jay Nixon for a pardon.

Ryan Ferguson is serving a 40-year prison sentence for murder and robbery in the November 2001 death of Kent Heitholt, a sports editor for the Columbia Daily Tribune.

Ferguson has always maintained his innocence and is also seeking a new trial. Co-defendant Charles Erickson is serving a 25-year prison sentence.

Ferguson's attorney, Kathleen Zellner, says her client is innocent and she is gathering new evidence against another possible suspect.

Nixon's spokesman, Scott Holste, says the governor has never granted a criminal pardon.

The Daily Tribune reports Missouri's Board of Probation and Parole will investigate the case and submit a report to Nixon.

ASHLAND, Mo. (AP) — One lane of a heavily traveled highway between Jefferson City and Columbia is closed by a rock slide, and officials predict occasional delays for several weeks.

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The Missouri Department of Transportation announced the closing of one northbound lane of U.S. 63 on Friday afternoon.

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The slide was reported late Thursday along a rock bluff south of Ashland, near the Boone-Callaway county line. MoDOT plans to solicit bids Monday on a contract to stabilize the bluff, with work possibly starting Tuesday.

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The northbound lane is expected to remain closed for about 10 days. MoDOT says U.S. 63 will be closed periodically throughout the project, which is expected to be finished in early May.