(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri Attorney General’s office will operate in “unyielding pursuit of victory,” Andrew Bailey said Tuesday as he was being sworn into office. Bailey, in a short speech before a crowd of about 150 gathered at the Missouri Supreme Court building, said he’s grateful to Gov. Mike Parson for appointing him. Speaking to […]
Category: State News
Some Missourians could lose Medicaid coverage as eligibility renewals restart April 1
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri’s social services department will resume conducting Medicaid eligibility renewals on April 1 — allowing the state to once again remove people from its rolls after a three-year pause during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Since March 2020, states have been barred from removing enrollees from Medicaid during the federally-declared public health […]
Missouri woman sentenced to two more years in prison for committing pandemic loan fraud after $727,000 embezzlement
U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Wednesday sentenced a woman from Franklin County, Missouri to two more years in prison for fraudulently applying for three Paycheck Protection Program loans after she had pleaded guilty to an unrelated $727,000 embezzlement case. Judge Schelp on Wednesday called Christen Diane Schulte’s conduct “outrageous” and “very aggravating.” Schulte, […]
Man from Colorado sentenced to 19 years in a Missouri prison for heroin trafficking and illegal firearm
An Aurora, Colorado, man was sentenced in federal court for heroin trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm while traveling through Kansas City, Mo., on a bus bound for Virginia. Izeall T. Collins, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 19 years in federal prison without parole. Collins was found guilty at trial […]
Missouri man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking and illegal firearm
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm and methamphetamine to distribute. Clint Alexander Doll, 35, Jefferson City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 10 years in federal prison without parole. On July 28, 2022, Doll pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and […]
Missouri man involved in shoot-out sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for illegal firearm
A Missouri man who was involved in a shoot-out at a local gas station was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm. Tirrell M. Thompson, 31, Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to nine years in federal prison without parole. On May 23, 2022, Thompson pleaded guilty to being […]
Audio: Sam Grave’s legislation to protect Missouri flood victims signed into law
President Joe Biden has signed a bill into law to help protect flood victims. Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves is the sponsor of the bill. The Republican from Tarkio says the law bans the Federal Emergency Management Agency from going after disaster victims when the agency mistakenly awards individual aid. Graves says the […]
Missouri Department of Conservation reports 8,599 deer taken during alternative methods portion of deer season
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 8,599 deer during the alternative methods portion of the firearms deer season, Dec. 24 – Jan. 3. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 200 deer harvested, Harrison with 186, and Macon with 162. The harvest total for last year’s alternative […]
Recreational cannabis is now legal in Missouri. Here’s how to talk to your kids about it
(Missouri Independent) – With the passing of Amendment 3 in November, parents in Missouri now have a new conversation to navigate: Adult cannabis (marijuana) use. As someone who works in alcohol and drug education, I’ve seen firsthand the impacts of substance use disorder in our communities, particularly on young people. Talking about drugs and alcohol […]
Glaucoma Awareness Month brings attention to preventable vision loss
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, and with no symptoms, experts say it’s important for Missourians to get regular eye exams. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. – although it’s treatable when caught early, and vision loss can often be prevented. It’s estimated that more than 3 million Americans have glaucoma, but half […]
Governor Parson grants 21 pardons and commutes two sentences during December 2022
For the month of December 2022, Governor Mike Parson granted 21 pardons and approved two commutations pursuant to Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and have been sent to the individuals. Families have been or are in the process […]
Mother and associate of fugitive, both charged with assisting with escape from Cass County Jail
The mother and an associate of former fugitive Trevor Sparks of Kansas City, Mo., who was apprehended, have been charged in federal court with assisting in his escape from the Cass County Jail earlier this month. Dawn Branstietter, 54, of Blue Springs, Mo., the mother of Sparks, and Nicholas Parris, 38, of Kansas City, Mo., […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol reports two arrests over New Year’s weekend
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the arrest of two over New Year’s weekend. A Columbia resident was arrested Saturday night in Chariton County. Sixty-year-old Thomas Williams was accused of felony driving while intoxicated, a persistent offender. Williams was held by the Chariton County Sheriff’s Department. A Kansas City, Kansas resident was arrested late Friday […]
Cole County judge confirms $2M jury award in sexual harassment case against Missouri Department of Corrections
(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri Department of Corrections must pay $2 million in punitive damages in a sexual harassment case brought by a prison nurse who felt trapped between two corrections officers as one described plans to kidnap, drug, and rape her. Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem on Tuesday confirmed a November jury award […]
Governor Parson signs Executive Order 22-11 extending relief for former Gygr-Gas customers
Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 22-11 to continue allowing registered Missouri liquefied petroleum gas companies to fill containers owned by Gygr-Gas until January 31, 2023. The order waives Section 323.030 RSMo and 2 CSR 90-10.019 for Gygr-Gas owned propane containers only. “Through this Order, we are allowing additional flexibility for Gygr-Gas customers to seek permanent propane service through […]
Missouri State Auditor releases audit of city of Dixon; finds at least $18,910 misappropriated by former city clerk
A report from State Auditor Nicole Galloway found at least $18,910 was misappropriated from the City of Dixon through overpayments made to the former city clerk. The audit, which also found the Dixon Board of Aldermen did not adequately monitor the city’s payroll and employee reimbursement activity, gave a rating of “poor,” the lowest possible. “Audits […]
Missouri man who fired at gas station attendant charged with trafficking crack cocaine and illegal firearm
A Missouri man who fired at a gas station clerk was charged in federal court with illegally possessing a firearm and crack cocaine to distribute. Reginald Lucas, 59, of Kansas City, was charged in a three-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. The complaint charges Lucas with one count […]
Missouri Department of Conservation reminds residents not to place food attractants in CWD counties
Missouri boasts one of the largest deer herds in North America, topping one million in number. Missouri’s deer herd has been affected by Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in several counties. CWD is a prion disease or a disease that affects an animal’s nervous system. CWD affects deer, elk, reindeer, sika deer, and moose. It may […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the arrest of a woman on multiple charges
The Highway Patrol reports the arrest of a Lathrop woman in Gentry County on the afternoon of December 29th on multiple allegations. Sixty-year-old Nancy Westbrook was accused of felony driving while intoxicated, driving while suspended, and careless and imprudent driving resulting in a crash. She also had a Clinton County warrant for alleged driving under […]
Audio: What Missouri provides, and does not provide, to state prisoners transitioning to the opposite sex
(Missourinet) – Missouri could execute the first transgender person in U.S. history next week. Missouri is scheduled to execute a transgender inmate next week for the 2003 kidnapping, raping, and murdering of Beverly Guenther of Earth City in St. Louis County. Scott McLaughlin, who now calls himself Amber, would be the first transgender person […]