Lawmakers address pet cremation standards

The action comes amid fraud allegations against an area funeral director.

State lawmakers want to prevent a repeat of the recent scandal that saw a funeral director accused of charging for pet cremations but dumping the animals in landfills instead.

A bipartisan caucus is pushing a bill that would ramp up industry standards for animal cremation and lay down stiffer penalties for those who violate those standards.

The push comes after Patrick Vereb, 70, of Hazelwood was charged last month by the sta...