Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) joined House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) in filing a Supreme Court amicus brief in the case Donald J. Trump v. Norma Anderson, et al. In addition to Graves, Leader Scalise, and Sen. Cruz, the brief was signed by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), 134 other House […]
Category: National News
FBI addresses online threats to children, warns parents of sextortion
The FBI is warning parents, educators, caregivers, and children about the dangers of online activity that may lead to the solicitation and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual acts. Sextortion involves an offender coercing a minor to create and send sexually explicit images or videos. An adult offender gets sexually explicit material from […]
Texas road construction workers face highest fatality rate in the nation
In Texas, road construction workers face a higher fatality rate than in any other state, raising concerns about contractor accountability for accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 143 deaths occurred at Texas road construction sites over seven years ending in 2020. Investigative reporter Josephine Lee of the Texas Observer delved into […]
USDA awarding $19 million in grants for biofuels in 22 states
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA is awarding $19 million in grants to U.S. business owners. This funding aims to increase the availability of domestic biofuels in 22 states, offering Americans cleaner, more affordable fuel options at gas stations as part of President Biden’s agenda to lower costs and […]
Biden announces plan to cancel some student loan balances under $12,000
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden announced Friday that some federal student loan borrowers will have their loans canceled under the Department of Education’s new repayment plan. Starting next month, people who took out under $12,000 in federal student loans and have been repaying those loans for 10 years will get their remaining student loan […]
With partial government shutdown a week away, Johnson says he’ll stick to spending deal
(Missouri Independent) – U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson committed Friday to following the topline spending agreement he struck with Democrats less than a week ago, following a day of speculation that he was preparing to walk away from the deal. “Our top line agreement remains,” Johnson said in a statement to reporters just off the […]
Video: Hawley’s hearing calls for AI accountability
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, recently co-chaired a hearing emphasizing the need for Congress to safeguard American creators’ rights against exploitation by major AI firms. Senator Hawley focused on ensuring fair compensation for the creative work of everyday Americans, including journalists, bloggers, […]
US Marshals arrest over 73,000 fugitives in 2023
In fiscal year (FY) 2023, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) successfully apprehended 73,362 fugitives, comprising 28,065 federal and 45,297 state and local warrant cases. This averages to 293 arrests per day over 250 operational days. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to reducing violent crime through targeted efforts against major […]
Quaker Oats recalls granola bars over Salmonella risk
The Quaker Oats Company today announced the recall of specific granola bars and granola cereals listed below because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals infected with Salmonella often […]
US Supreme Court to decide fate of medication abortion access nationwide
(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Supreme Court announced Wednesday it will hear oral arguments and decide whether broad access to the abortion pill can remain legal across the United States. The justices’ decision to hear the case this term will put abortion access and the politics that comes with it back in front of the nation’s highest […]
U.S. House Democrats and advocates push for additional federal child care funding
(Missouri Independent) – U.S. House Democratic leaders called on Congress to pass President Joe Biden’s $16 billion supplemental childcare funding request. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts gathered with childcare activists and other House Democrats at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol. Childcare providers with the […]
CNN to host GOP presidential debates ahead of Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire primary
(Missouri Independent) – Republicans hoping to become their party’s presidential nominee will have two more chances to debate next month, following an announcement Thursday that CNN will host one debate in Iowa and another in New Hampshire. The first debate is scheduled for Jan. 10 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and the second […]
Doctor sentenced to 7 years in prison for $1.2M pill mill scheme
A Texas doctor has been sentenced to seven years in prison for operating a pill mill clinic that unlawfully prescribed over 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash. A federal jury convicted Dr. Oscar Lightner, 73, of Laredo, on April 11 of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances and conspiracy. According to court documents and […]
60 charged in major drug trafficking case involving heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl
Eight indictments were unsealed in the District of Columbia, Southern District of California, Central District of California, and Northern District of Illinois charging 60 Mexican and foreign nationals with international heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana trafficking. The unsealing of the indictments comes at the same time that the Department of the Treasury’s Office of […]
Congress is haggling over border security: Where does it stand?
(Missouri Independent) – As Congress negotiates the White House’s $106 billion supplemental aid request for Israel, Ukraine and U.S. border security, fights over immigration policy have tied up the request. The White House sent its proposal that includes nearly $14 billion in supplemental border security funding to Congress in late October, but it will likely look different after going […]
Wisconsin man pleads guilty to Madison office firebombing
A Wisconsin man pleaded guilty to the May 2022 firebombing of a Madison office building. According to court documents, Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury, 29, of Madison, pleaded guilty to attempting to cause damage by means of fire or an explosive. On Sunday, May 8, 2022, at approximately 6:06 a.m., law enforcement responded to an active fire […]
Iowa woman convicted for voter fraud scheme
A federal jury in Sioux City, Iowa, convicted an Iowa woman for a voter fraud scheme during the Iowa 2020 primary and general elections. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Kim Phuong Taylor, 49, of Sioux City, perpetrated a scheme to fraudulently generate votes for her husband in the primary election for […]
HMC Farms voluntarily recalls whole peaches, plums and nectarines, sold nationwide, because of possible health risk
The HMC Group Marketing, Inc., which does business as HMC Farms, is voluntarily recalling peaches, plums, and nectarines sold in retail stores between May 1 and November 15, 2022, and between May 1 and November 15, 2023. The fruit is being recalled because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism […]
Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing to pay more than $23 million for Clean Air Act violations and environmental harm related to its Kansas refinery
The Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing LLC and its affiliated companies (CRRM) for violations of the Clean Air Act and a previous consent decree related to the operation of its petroleum refinery in Coffeyville, Kansas. These violations resulted in illegal emissions of various pollutants […]
Global measles threat continues to grow as another year passes with millions of children unvaccinated
Following years of declines in measles vaccination coverage, measles cases in 2022 have increased by 18%, and deaths have increased by 43% globally (compared to 2021). This takes the estimated number of measles cases to 9 million and deaths to 136,000 – mostly among children – according to a new report from the World Health Organization […]