Prison Sentence News Graphic

Former Missouri middle school teacher sentenced to 20 years in prison for illicit sex with her student

A former Missouri, middle school teacher was sentenced in federal court for charges related to enticing one of her students to engage in illicit sex. Amanda Ruth Schweitzer, 42, of Joplin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Schweitzer to 15 years of […]

Fire Safety News Graphic

Thanksgiving begins a period of higher fire risk as friends and relatives gather to celebrate the holidays

More Missourians are expected to travel and gather together this year for larger Thanksgiving and holiday celebrations after a quieter holiday season in 2020 because of COVID-19. State Fire Marshal Tim Bean is advising folks to reduce the risk of fires as we enter the five-week period of elevated fire hazards. “Thanksgiving begins a five-week […]

Audio: Trafficking investigation of Philippines-based church indicates there could be victims in Missouri

The investigation into alleged sex and labor trafficking by a Philippines-based church indicates there could be victims in Missouri.     Administrators at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ are accused of coercing girls and women to have sex with their church leader under threats of “eternal damnation.” The federal indictment alleges they brought church members […]

DIY repair or home rehabilitation

USDA invests more than $350,000 to repair or rehabilitate homes in rural Missouri

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $358,270 to improve equitable access to safe housing for rural Missouri homeowners. USDA Rural Development has long partnered with various organizations, together making a larger impact in rural Missouri, Thomas said. The Housing Preservation Grant Program is […]

Hy-Vee or HyVee pharmacy website

Hy-Vee now offering free COVID-19 booster vaccines to all individuals aged 18 and older

Hy-Vee, Inc. announces today that free Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen COVID-19 vaccine booster doses are now available to all individuals ages 18 and older at Hy-Vee Pharmacy locations across its eight-state region. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a booster dose for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine recipients […]

Immigration

Immigrants make last-ditch plea for deportation protections, work permits in “Build Back Better”

(Missouri Independent) – Undocumented workers and immigration advocates are pushing for Democrats to keep work permits and protections from deportations in the final version of the $1.85 trillion social spending and climate package that the U.S. House is set to vote on as soon as Thursday night. Those immigration provisions face elimination when the bill […]

USDA Logo

USDA invests $222 million in rural community infrastructure

 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small announced that USDA is investing $222 million to build and improve critical community facilities (PDF, 729 KB) in 44 states, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico. This community infrastructure funding will benefit nearly 2.5 million people in rural communities. It also […]

Securities Fraud

Kansas City area advisor & firm consent to $40,000 payment to settle allegations of securities violations

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Securities Division issued a consent order against investment advisor representative, Douglas W. Coe, and his firm, Moody Reid Financial Advisors, L.P. for violations of the Missouri Securities Act stemming from the respondents’ failure to comply with reporting requirements to the Missouri Securities Division. During a routine examination of Moody Reid […]

NEW COVID Dashboard for Missouri

Breakthrough infection data added to Missouri’s COVID-19 dashboard

A new addition to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services statewide COVID-19 dashboard finds that vaccination remains a strong defense against the virus, and that older age and health co-morbidities are strongly correlated with “breakthrough infections.”  The new data identifies COVID-19 breakthrough infections among the fully vaccinated. The analysis is the result of a partnership […]