A registered sex offender in Raytown, Missouri, was sentenced in federal court for receiving child pornography over the internet. Joseph L. Smith, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Smith to spend the rest of his life on supervised release […]
Category: State News
Missouri Attorney General: Not enough evidence for murder charges in Tory Sanders case
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has announced his office’s findings after reviewing all available existing evidence and any available new evidence in the Tory Sanders case. Consistent with the findings of then-Attorney General Josh Hawley and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who also consulted with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the Attorney General’s […]
Hawley announces legislation to require $15 minimum wage for billion-dollar corporations
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced a plan to require companies with revenues of $1 billion or more to pay their employees $15 per hour. Senator Hawley’s plan would result in an immediate wage increase for millions of workers while avoiding a one-size-fits-all increase that would disadvantage small businesses. Small business employees earning less than […]
Missouri Department of Conservation offers hunter education in schools despite COVID-19 challenges
COVID-19 presented considerable challenges to Missouri schools, staff, and students in 2020, including closures, cancellations, remote learning, and more. The pandemic also presented challenges to schools and instructors teaching the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) hunter education courses. “Many schools were closed for much of the year, which reduced the number of kids who could […]
Audio: After years of attempts, Missouri House passes private schooling tax credit bill
After years of attempts, the state House has voted to pass a bill that would let donors provide scholarships for students to attend a private Missouri K-12 school. In return, they would get state tax credits. Under the bill, students with special needs and those who qualify for free and reduce price school meals would […]
Audio: Overdoses among teens and young adults causing concern in Kansas City
Kansas City police are issuing a warning after seeing a recent uptick in accidental overdose deaths in teenagers. Television partner KMBC tv is reporting that police say the deaths are linked to pills laced with fentanyl. The overdoses and deaths among teens and young adults are because they are taking what they believe […]
Lawmakers reintroduce Kelsey Smith Act to assist law enforcement with locating kidnap victims
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) joined U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Deb Fischer (Neb.) in introducing the Kelsey Smith Act. The bill, named for 18-year-old Kelsey Smith who was abducted and murdered in 2007, would strengthen law enforcement’s ability to lawfully and quickly access cell phone location information, or ping information when a person […]
Governor Parson grants 15 pardons, commutes two sentences
Governor Mike Parson granted 15 pardons and two commutations pursuant to Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official pardon documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and are being sent to the individuals. In the interest of privacy, the Governor’s Office will not immediately release the individuals’ […]
Missouri Republicans look to reinstate voter ID requirement
(Missouri Independent) – About 137,700 registered voters in Missouri did not have a state-issued identification in 2017, according to an analysis from the Secretary of State’s Office. Another 140,000 voters had expired IDs, and 2,000 more voters had forfeited their driver’s licenses. Under a bill passed Wednesday in the Missouri House, those registered voters would either have to […]
Audio: Next phase of COVID-19 plan, beginning March 15, includes teachers, faculty and staff in Missouri schools
The next tier of Missouri’s coronavirus vaccination plan will be activated on March 15. That means all teachers, faculty, and staff in public, private, and nonprofit pre-K-12 will become eligible. So will state-licensed childcare center workers, some food production employees, as well as grocery and convenience stores workers. Missouri is currently vaccinating residents in Phase […]
Audio: Honduran facing deportation under Trump, leaves sanctuary church in St. Louis without fear under Biden
A man who has lived near St. Louis in a Maplewood church to avoid deportation has been able to finally leave the church. Alex Garcia returned home on Wednesday after being protected by the church for more than 3 years. The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports the Honduran immigrant and father of five […]
Audio: Missouri House Committee approves legislation involving concealed firearms in churches
Legislation that would allow Missourians to carry a concealed gun inside churches and other places of worship without the minister’s consent has been approved by a Missouri House committee. House General Laws Committee chairman Curtis Trent announced Thursday afternoon’s close vote. The bill is sponsored by GOP State Representatives Ben Baker of Neosho […]
Governor Parson announces timeline for activation of Phase 1B -Tier 3 of COVID-19 vaccine plan
Governor Mike Parson announced that Phase 1B – Tier 3 of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Plan will be activated on Monday, March 15, 2021. “Missouri has had a vaccine plan since October, and this has not changed. We have been very disciplined in following our plan,” Governor Parson said. “With vaccine supply steadily increasing, we […]
Governor Mike Parson proclaims National FFA Week in Missouri for nearly 26,000 agriculture students
Governor Mike Parson proclaimed February 20-27, 2021, as National FFA Week in Missouri on behalf of nearly 26,000 members of Missouri FFA. Missouri FFA President Justin Eddy of Columbia received the proclamation on behalf of the 2020-2021 Missouri FFA State Officer team. “Missouri agriculture has a bright future, and you can see that in action […]
Statewide Severe Weather Tornado Drill set for Tuesday, March 2, 2021
On Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at 10:00 AM, State Emergency Management and the National Weather Service will conduct a Statewide Severe Weather Tornado Drill. Every school, citizen, and business are encouraged to participate in the drill. The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill will issue a test tornado warning as part of the drill. Local warning […]
Missouri House committee approves bills to regulate religious boarding schools
A state House committee has voted unanimously today to pass two bills that aim to keep tabs on unregulated faith-based boarding schools in Missouri. Former students from across the country attended a recent hearing and talked about getting beaten, being starved, restrained, forced to eat their own vomit, and put in isolation for days or […]
Audio: What you need to know about saving for the future
Saving money for private school tuition or higher education can be a daunting task. During this “America Saves Week”, State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick says to start saving as soon as you can. He suggests opening a 529 Education Savings Account through his office – a tax-advantaged investment account for K-12 and higher education expenses. […]
Audio: Bipartisan support in Missouri legislature involving federal stimulus checks and taxation
There is bipartisan support for legislation ensuring that Missourians cannot be taxed on their federal stimulus checks. Missouri House Budget Committee chairman Cody Smith of Carthage presented his bill Wednesday in Jefferson City, Smith tells lawmakers it’s important to act, noting that under Missouri’s tax code, federal stimulus checks related to COVID are […]
Missouri woman indicted for two armed bank robberies following high-speed police pursuit
A Missouri, woman who led police officers on a high-speed chase down Grand Avenue was indicted by a federal grand jury for two armed bank robberies. Sarah Theresa Watkins, 41, of Kansas City, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment replaces a federal criminal […]
Missouri couple indicted for for sexual exploitation of a child
A Missouri, couple has been indicted by a federal grand jury for producing child pornography. Mark John Millman, 36, a citizen of Great Britain and a legal alien resident, and his wife, Tara Sau Millman, 41, were charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday, Feb. 23. […]