(Missouri Independent) – Seven U.S. Senate Democrats urged the chamber’s ethics panel last week to investigate Sen. Josh Hawley’s role in the pro-Trump assault on the Capitol. Now Hawley is calling for an ethics probe of the Democrats. In a Monday letter, Hawley argued that the Democrats filed an improper complaint last week against him and Sen. […]
Tag: acts
Audio: Four members of Gangster Disciples from Missouri arrested along with three from Kentucky and Illinois
Seven alleged members of the violent Gangster Disciples gang, including top national and state leaders, are in custody after multiple arrests this morning for their alleged participation in a years-long interstate racketeering conspiracy involving multiple murders, drug trafficking, and other crimes. The case was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District […]
Former Veterans Affairs doctor sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexual abuse of veterans
A former doctor of osteopathic medicine who previously worked at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Beckley, West Virginia, was sentenced for depriving veterans of their civil rights under color of law by sexually abusing them. U.S. District Judge Frank W. Volk sentenced Jonathan Yates, 52, of Bluefield, Virginia, to 300 months in prison and […]
Audio: Trump pardons ex-U.S. Congressman who lived in northeast Missouri
Former President Donald Trump has granted a partial pardon to a former U.S. Congressman from the state of California who lived in Missouri for many years. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, a Republican from the Shelbina and Columbia areas, served in Congress for 14 years until 2005. He resigned after pleading guilty to receiving $2 million in […]
Statement from U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison on potential violent demonstrations
Federal law enforcement authorities have publicly expressed concern about the potential for violent demonstrations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia leading up to Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. My concern, as the chief representative of the U.S. Department of Justice in the Western District of Missouri, is not with peaceful rallies or […]
Public interest groups sue EPA for re-approving controversial herbicide dicamba
Public-interest groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency over the agency’s re-approval of products containing dicamba, a herbicide controversial for its tendency to drift into neighboring fields and damage farmers’ crops and homeowners’ gardens. Last fall, the EPA green-lighted dicamba use for five years, the third time the agency registered dicamba products. George Kimbrell, legal director at […]
Two off-duty Virginia police officers charged in Federal Court following events at the U.S. Capitol
Two off-duty Rocky Mount, Virginia police officers, were charged in federal court in the District of Columbia in connection with the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Jacob Fracker and Thomas Robertson were charged by complaint with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without […]
EPA takes action to investigate PFAS contamination
As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) extensive efforts to address PFAS, the agency is making new information available about EPA testing that shows PFAS contamination from fluorinated containers. Through a coordinated effort with both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a pesticide manufacturer, the agency has determined that fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers that are used to […]
PETA seeks criminal probe after revealing steers shot in head at Warner Locker near Maysville
PETA has obtained a U.S. Department of Agriculture report revealing a recent violation of law at Warner Locker outside Maysville, Missouri. In response, the group sent a letter this morning calling on DeKalb County Prosecuting Attorney Erik Tate to review the matter and, as appropriate, file criminal cruelty-to-animals charges against the facility and its manager […]
Grundy County R-5 Board of Education approves extension of COVID Response Act; approves purchase of new math curriculum
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education approved an extension of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act on Wednesday evening, January 13th. The act provides employees 80 hours of paid sick leave if the employee is quarantined with COVID-19. The board approved the purchase of a new curriculum for the elementary school. Math Expressions will […]
Final Jackson County audit report highlights concerns with assessment procedures, other areas of county government
Jackson County needs to improve controls and procedures in its assessment department to ensure effective and efficient future reassessments, an audit released today by State Auditor Nicole Galloway says. Those were some of the recommendations in the final report of the Auditor’s independent review of Jackson County government finances. The county received a rating of “fair.” […]
NCRS releases final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for East Locust Creek Watershed Plan
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Missouri released a final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) recently for the East Locust Creek Watershed Plan. The plan involves the construction of a proposed multiple-purpose reservoir in Sullivan County. The supplement addresses changes since NRCS prepared the East Locust Creek Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement in 2006. […]
Thirteen charged in Federal Court following riot at the United States Capitol
Thirteen individuals have been charged so far in federal court in the District of Columbia related to crimes committed at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C, on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. In addition to those who have been charged, additional complaints have been submitted and investigations are ongoing. “The lawless destruction of the U.S. Capitol […]
Richard Barnett, man who entered Nancy Pelosi’s office, facing multiple charges
Richard Barnett, 60, of Gravette, Arkansas was arrested today in Bentonville, Arkansas on multiple criminal charges related to his alleged unlawful activities earlier this week at the U.S. Capitol Building where he was photographed with his feet up on a desk in the Speaker of the House of Representatives’ office. Barnett is scheduled to make his […]
Missouri State Auditor says Public Corruption and Fraud Division has produced results for taxpayers
Auditor Galloway outlined the successes of her Public Corruption and Fraud Division, which has contributed significantly to her office’s fight against public corruption. Auditor Galloway launched the division and announced efforts to direct increased resources towards investigations of fraud and abuse at the start of 2019. “I am proud of the work of my team and […]
Audio: Missouri Senate majority leader reacts to violence at U.S. Capitol
Violence has erupted today in Washington. Rioters have stormed into the Capitol. A woman has reportedly been shot in the neck in a stairwell of the Capitol. They are there as Congress was prepared to work on the election certification process. At the Missouri Capitol today in Jefferson City, Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden responded […]
Five-day virtual workshop on industrial hemp begins January 11, 2021
The University of Missouri Extension offers a virtual workshop about industrial hemp from 12:30-2:00 p.m. January 11 through the 15th. Topics include a legislative summary and regulatory update, agronomic practices, and pests, uses for hemp, crop enterprise budgets, and processing and contracts. Presenters include MU Extension specialists, CBD-hemp growers, and processors, processors from the Tiger […]
Grundy County reports seven new cases of COVID-19, Sullivan County five
Monday morning’s report from the Grundy County Health Department shows an increase of seven cases of COVID-19 from the New Year’s weekend, raising the total since testing began to 890. There are 79 active cases of COVID-19 which is six less than the previous report provided on Thursday by the Grundy County Health Department. The […]