A man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm. Roderick E. Hebert, 54, Springfield, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Hebert was sentenced as an armed career criminal due to his prior felony convictions. On Feb. 10, 2022, Hebert pleaded […]
Category: State News
Missouri man sentenced to 20 years in prison for meth trafficking and illegal firearms
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for possessing methamphetamine to distribute and illegally possessing five firearms along with several high-capacity magazines. James Dixon, 49, Greene County, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 20 years in federal prison without parole. On March 9, 2022, Dixon pleaded guilty to possessing […]
Missouri man sentenced to 20 years for meth conspiracy
A Missouri man who crashed his vehicle and resisted arrest was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a methamphetamine conspiracy in Newton and Greene counties. Douglas S. Ward, 34, Lebanon, Mo was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 20 years in federal prison without parole. On March 3, 2022, […]
Commercial Vehicle Officer Supervisor II, Gerald W. Johnson, to retire after 29 years with the Missouri State Highway Patrol
Captain Clark N. Stratton, commanding officer, Troop H, St. Joseph, announces that on November 1, 2022, Commercial Vehicle Officer Supervisor II Gerald W. Johnson will retire after serving over 29 years with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Johnson joined the Patrol on October 1, 1993, as a commercial vehicle inspector and was assigned to Post […]
Audio: Missouri woman indicted after allegedly using names of prisoners on covid unemployment claims
A St. Joseph woman has been charged with defrauding the federal government out of nearly $80,000 in coronavirus relief aid. Brent Martin reports. A federal grand jury empaneled in Kansas City handed down a four-count indictment against 38-year-old Brooke Stewart. The federal indictment accuses Stewart of filing false unemployment claims by using the […]
Audio: Medicare open enrollment period is October 15 through December 7
Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7. Alisa Nelson has more. The state Department of Commerce and Insurance encourages eligible Missourians to review their plan options and costs during the open enrollment period. If you need help choosing a plan that best meets your needs, the department’s CLAIM program offers […]
Audio: Nearly $7 million needed for Missouri to expunge marijuana convictions
If Missouri voters add recreational marijuana to the State Constitution, the state will have to pay the cost of getting rid of past marijuana convictions. Marshall Griffin reports: A key provision within Amendment 3 would expunge past marijuana-related convictions from criminal records. But doing so won’t be free. In the event it passes, […]
Audio: Study says Springfield is the 4th most dangerous college town in the US
Springfield, Missouri is the fourth-most dangerous college town in the United States, according to a report published by the Safewise website. Details show Springfield has a violent crime rate of 15-point-one per one-thousand, while the property crime rate is 69-and-a-half per one-thousand. Kareanna Arnoldus-Ray is a student at Missouri State University. She told News-Nation she’s […]
Audio: Voters to decide if Missouri needs a new State Constitution
Does Missouri need a new State Constitution? Voters will answer that question in November as one of five ballot questions to be decided. If it passes, Missouri would be required to call together a constitutional convention and decide on whether to leave it as-is, make a few changes, or completely rewrite it. Secretary of State […]
Putting Missouri teens and young adults on the right path to academic success
Understanding future success is closely linked to educational outcomes, organizations in Missouri are helping teens and young adults meet their academic and career goals. The latest Kids Count data showed about 92% of Missouri high schoolers graduate on time, although the percentage is lower in some areas. Robin Hammond, executive director of the St. Joseph Youth Alliance, which […]
Missouri state employee accused of stealing $140,000 in unemployment insurance funds
A Missouri state employee has been indicted on three federal felony charges and accused of using her position to send about $140,500 in unearned unemployment benefits to friends, relatives, and others. According to the indictment, Vicky Hefner, 63, of Jefferson County, Missouri, began work with Missouri’s Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Employment […]
Missouri school districts face ongoing teacher shortage
School districts nationwide are struggling to meet student needs with a teacher shortage made worse by COVID. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reports the number of vacant positions or those held by unqualified personnel is more than 3,500. Economists point to the teacher wage gap where teacher pay is calculated against similarly educated, […]
Missouri Attorney General secures 320 year prison sentence for Missouri man convicted of shooting two police officers
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office has secured a sentence of 320 years of imprisonment for James Cummings, who was convicted of shooting two police officers. Judge Coleman, of Jefferson County, sentenced Cummings to four life sentences for four counts of Assault in the First Degree on a Law Enforcement Officer and […]
Missouri Department of Conservation offers new online hunter education ”game” for certification
Missouri hunters in need of hunter education certification now have a new interactive online offering in addition to existing hunter education courses. The Missouri Department of Conservation has expanded its partnership with the hunter safety course provider Kalkomey Enterprises, LLC, to offer new fun and engaging, game-style learning options through the online site “I Learn […]
329,000 Missourians registered for annual statewide ‘ShakeOut’ earthquake drill on Oct. 20
A week before Missouri’s annual statewide earthquake drill, more than 329,000 people are already registered to participate in the Great Central U. S. “ShakeOut” on October 20. A total of nearly 2 million people are registered in the 14 central U.S. states that could be impacted by a New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquake. The New […]
Special Olympics Missouri to host 2022 Leadership Summit at Training for Life Campus
Special Olympics Missouri will honor several of its most outstanding athletes, coaches, volunteers, and donors at its 2022 Leadership Summit on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, at the Training for Life Campus. The annual event will begin at noon and is expected to conclude around 2 p.m. SOMO athletes Anna McDaniel and Allen Tobin will emcee […]
Missouri woman indicted in $78,858 federal pandemic unemployment compensation scheme
A St. Joseph woman has been charged in a 4-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury today with theft of government funds. The federal indictment charges Stewart filed false claims for unemployment benefits, using the names and personal identifying information of incarcerated individuals in the state of Missouri and elsewhere. On March 27, 2020, […]
Eric Schmitt deletes Kanye West tweet after backlash over anti-semitic comments
(Missouri Independent) – Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Eric Schmitt tweeted Tuesday night in praising Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, then quickly deleted it as criticism rolled in over the rapper’s recent anti-semitic comments. “America needs a @kanyewest @KidRock tour,” Schmitt, Missouri’s attorney general, wrote Tuesday night. “Let’s go!” The tweet drew backlash since it […]
Missouri judge hears lawsuit challenging Biden student debt relief plan
(Missouri Independent) – Whether student debtors will get the loan relief promised by President Joe Biden is now in the hands of a Missouri federal judge. For nearly two hours Wednesday, attorneys for the six states challenging the plan to forgive almost $500 billion in student debt argued with Department of Justice lawyers over which laws should […]
Graves, Cleaver demand answers for USPS problems in Kansas City
Congressmen Sam Graves (MO-06) and Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) authored a letter demanding answers from United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on the Postal Service’s failure to reliably deliver mail six days a week in the Greater Kansas City Area, as required by law. “Missourians from all walks of life depend on the United States Postal […]