A Springfield, Mo., man involved in at least two local shootings was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm. Danyon Marquise Noble, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to four years and nine months in federal prison without parole. On Feb. 13, 2023, Noble pleaded guilty to being a […]
A Joplin, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for receiving and distributing child pornography over the internet. Mark Comer, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 18 years in federal prison without parole. Comer will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and […]
(Missouri Independent) – Karina Hernandez’s ideal work environment is surrounded by plants, with her hands in the dirt. Although she already has a biology degree, she recently decided to go back to school to take classes in horticulture at St. Louis Community College at Meramec, the state’s largest horticulture program. And she was surprised to […]
Today is National Voter Registration Day, and Missourians have many locations where they can register to vote – from community colleges and universities to public libraries and even online. Missouri’s population has topped six million, but as of 2022, the Secretary of State’s office reported just 4.3 million had registered to vote. Paula Bowman, co-president of […]
The Health Resources & Services Administration announced that the Washington County Mobile Integrated Healthcare Network in Potosi, Mo., was awarded the top prize of $150,000 in the nationwide program, “Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge.” This is not only a win for the Washington County MIH Network and other networks in […]
U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Monday sentenced a woman from St. Peters, Missouri to eight months in prison for defrauding a small business assistance program out of $204,095 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trashunda M. Harrison, 38, was also ordered to repay the money. Harrison pleaded guilty on June 6 to three counts of […]
A Richmond, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for distributing child pornography. Zachary Ryan Taylor, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Friday, Sept. 15, to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Taylor to pay $25,215 in restitution to the child victims depicted in […]
Two Kansas City, Mo., men who led 246, a violent street gang, were sentenced in federal court for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy and other violent criminal behavior that included illegal firearms and a drive-by shooting outside a daycare center where children were present. Ladele D. Smith, also known as “Dellio” and “Dog,” 36, […]
Governor Mike Parson and Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe announced that nearly 350,000 visitors attended the annual State Fair in Sedalia, which was held Aug. 10-20, 2023. The figure reflects an approximate two-and-a-half percent increase from last year. “Like many Missourians, the Missouri State Fair is a longstanding tradition for our family,” Governor Parson […]
Greg Kester, a social studies teacher at Potosi High School in the Potosi R-III School District, was selected by a committee of his peers and education partners across the state as the 2024 Missouri Teacher of the Year. He became the 55th Missouri Teacher of the Year since the program’s inception in 1957. Kester sees […]
(Missouri Independent) – James Rainbolt typically can tackle most problems at his rural water plant with some extra time or money. But he can’t fix this. “I just can’t make it rain,” he said. Like others across Southeast Kansas, Rainbolt remains helpless as he watches a persistent drought dry up the local water supply. He […]
Students in Missouri’s 6th Congressional District are reminded that applications for service academy nominations are due soon. Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) is currently accepting applications from North Missouri students interested in attending the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, or U.S. Naval Academy. The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on […]
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statement after securing a commitment from Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King to help Missouri farmers and protect jobs for Missourians. Senator Hawley introduced the Strengthening Antitrust Enforcement for Meatpacking Act, new legislation that would empower antitrust enforcers to break up giant meatpacking and poultry monopolies and place power […]
Governor Mike Parson announced five appointments to various boards and commissions. Phyllis Chase, of Kansas City, was appointed to the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors. Dr. Chase currently serves as a professor and PK-12 doctoral program coordinator at Baker University. She was previously a consultant for Western Governors University and Superintendent of Columbia Public Schools. […]
Following approval from the Food and Drug Administration and a meeting among the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter. Updated COVID-19 vaccines from […]
The owner of a pawn shop in Missouri was sentenced in federal court for engaging in a $744,000 scheme to fence more than 14,500 stolen items and sell them on eBay. Dennis G. Russell, 66, Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 20 months in federal prison without parole. The […]
The State Senate district map in Missouri is constitutional despite its divisions in St. Louis County and northwest Missouri, according to Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem. He rejected a challenge to the districts, which were drawn last year by a panel of appeals court judges. In his 21-page ruling, Judge Beetem stated that the […]
A boating accident on Table Rock Lake has left one man with serious injuries, according to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The incident occurred five miles east of Blue Eye. CPL R.R. Wilkins of the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that a 2023 Harris Pontoon, driven by Ricky L. Daugherity, 65, of […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri lawmakers greeted a proposed $300 million increase to the formula that funds the state’s public schools with questions Wednesday, with some believing the figure seemed appropriate and others wondering if a change to the state’s accountability system drove estimates too high. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education unveiled its proposed […]
(Missouri Independent) – A disability-rights advocate pleaded with Missouri mental health officials Thursday not to implement a policy change that could freeze pay rates for at-home caregivers relied upon by more than 3,000 individuals around the state. At issue is a decision by the Missouri Department of Mental Health to change how it calculates rates […]
