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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - An Illinois prison-monitoring group says Menard Correctional Center inmates reported concern about "aggressive cellmates" during a visit shortly before a string of three inmate murders since January.

The John Howard Association visited the prison in far southern Illinois in December. Its report, released late yesterday, said several older inmates were worried about cellmates. And the independent watchdog said housing inmates with long sentences with those facing shorter stretches "can be problematic."

Authorities have charged three Menard inmates with murdering cellmates since January. In one, a 40-year-old murderer is accused of beating and strangling a 25-year-old cellmate. In another, a 23-year-old inmate is charged with fatally beating a 64-year-old cellmate.

Corrections officials responded in the report that they review inmates before housing them together.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri senators have endorsed legislation creating a funding formula for public colleges and universities.

The bill would tie 10 percent of each school's state funding to meeting performance goals, and 10 percent to career placement.

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education would work with schools to develop their performance measures. The Department of Higher Education would develop rules for career placement rates of graduates.

The Senate gave the measure first-round approval Wednesday. It needs another affirmative vote to move to the House.

A state law requires development of a funding formula for higher education. Missouri's current approach allots money based largely on how much each school received previously and what is available for the future.

A Lincoln County man has admitted to hitting a three year-old-girl girl while he was coming down from a heroin high, but denied allegations that he sexually assaulted her.

Daniel Kittle said he was irritated with his girlfriend's daughter and punched her twice in the head. KSDK reports that medical personnel examined the girl and found injuries to the girl's genitals in addition to bruising to the girl's face. Kittle denied having sexual contact with the girl.

He has been charged with both assault and molestation and is held on a $200,000 bond.