By DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon now says a special legislative session will not be necessary to pay for the public safety response to protests in the St. Louis area.
Nixon's decision Monday came after legislative leaders suggested he could use existing budget authority to pay National Guard and Missouri State Highway Patrol officers who have been on duty.
The governor said Friday night that he planned to call a special session because costs appeared on track to exceed what was allowed in the budget.
The governor activated the National Guard because of protests over a grand jury's decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, who is white, for the Aug. 9 fatal shooting of black 18-year-old Michael Brown. Protesters set fires and looted stores after the decision was announced.