Eric Greitens (Photo is screenshot from Eric Greitens YouTube channel)

Eric Greitens’ claims of conspiracy called ‘nonsense’ in new filings in Missouri custody case

(Missouri Independent) – Attorneys for Eric Greitens’ former campaign manager argued in new filings that the ex-Missouri governor is using the court to buttress his claims of conspiracy, harass his political enemies and boost his campaign for U.S. Senate. In a newly public filing in the child custody dispute in Boone County between Eric Greitens […]

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

U.S. Senate panel bickers over Supreme Court nomination but sets vote next week

(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee reopened partisan disagreements Monday as members scheduled a vote for April 4 on Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Republicans’ criticisms of Jackson’s record and responses were either untrue or disingenuous. Meanwhile, ranking Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa again raised […]

(Photo of Zachary Wayne Douglas courtesy Braymer School District website)

Teacher and coach at Braymer School District facing charges after allegedly sending nude photos and videos to students

A teacher and coach for the Braymer C-4 School District is facing charges after allegedly sending nude photos and videos to students. Twenty-nine-year-old Zachary Wayne Douglas of Utica has been charged with one count of felony sexual misconduct involving a child under 15, one count of felony first-degree sexual misconduct, and four counts of misdemeanor […]

Smuggling Scheme News Graphic

Federal correctional officer charged, former prison nurse pleads guilty in bribery and contraband smuggling schemes

A former nurse at Leavenworth Detention Center has pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle contraband into the prison, and a federal grand jury in the District of Kansas has returned an indictment charging a former correctional officer with a similar scheme.   According to court documents, Jeane Arnette, 61, of Leavenworth, Kansas, previously worked at […]

Charges Filed news graphic

Charges filed against two individuals following law enforcement pursuits in Livingston and Caldwell counties

Charges have been filed following separate law enforcement pursuits Sunday in Livingston and Caldwell counties. Thirty-seven-year-old Truitt Matthew Caudill of rural Chillicothe has been charged with resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony and with felony drug possession. No bond was allowed pending his appearance in Livingston county circuit court. Truitt was taken […]

Video Poker Machines from Missouri Independent (Photo by Rudi Keller - Missouri Independent).

Push for expanded Missouri gambling puts casinos, video operators in opposing camps

(Missouri Independent) – Approving video lottery would produce more than 10 times the new state revenue of sports wagering and drive cash-prize video games of debated legality out of Missouri, a newly updated report contends. The report, prepared by Morowitz Gaming Advisors LLC and Global Gaming & Hospitality Capital Advisors LLC and paid for by companies that […]

Gavel and Law book news graphic

State judges across the U.S. face growing GOP pushback against rulings in election cases

Missouri Independent) – In mid-December, Texas’ highest criminal court revoked the state attorney general’s ability to use his office to prosecute election-related cases without the request of a district or county attorney. In an 8-1 opinion, the all-Republican court weakened Attorney General Ken Paxton’s power to independently go after perpetrators of voter fraud, a problem he says […]

Burglary Graphic

Three face felony burglary charges in Harrison County

Three individuals face charges after a burglary investigation by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department. Forty-one-year-old Mark Bottcher of Ridgeway has been charged with nine felony counts of stealing a firearm, explosive weapon, or ammonium nitrate and one felony count of stealing $750 or more. Thirty-eight-year-old Chad Service and 46-year-old Harlon Lee, both of Bethany, have […]

Courts News Graphic

Four waive preliminary hearings and are bound over to Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court

Preliminary hearings were waived by four defendants on Tuesday in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court with each defendant having their cases bound over to Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court for appearances on Thursday. Lynnsey Marie Betz of Trenton is charged with the January 6th possession of a controlled substance/synthetic cannabinoid […]

Sexual Assault

Bethany man facing multiple charges after alleged sexual assault incident

A Bethany man faces two felony counts of first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy after an alleged sexual assault on January 29. Twenty-one-year-old Casey Joe Thurman’s bond was set at $150,000 cash only. A bond appearance hearing is scheduled for February 9th. A probable cause statement says the alleged sexual assault happened in Thurman’s bedroom, and […]

William Long Mo Department of Corrections

Charge of tampering or removing an electronic device filed against Trenton man

A felony charge has been filed in Grundy County accusing 26-year-old William Rex Long of tampering with an electronic monitoring device. Long, whose last known address was in Trenton, was picked up Monday morning on a writ from the Western Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center in St. Joseph. He’s scheduled for an appearance on Tuesday […]

Arson News Graphic

Two charged with arson in connection with fire at Days Inn Motel in Chillicothe

Arson charges have been filed against two suspects in connection with a fire Saturday morning at the Days Inn Motel in the one thousand block of South Washington Street in Chillicothe. Chillicothe firefighters reported damage occurred to an exterior wooden staircase and siding. Occupants of the motel were alerted by smoke detectors and by motel […]

Meth with police banner

Four defendants plead guilty to conspiracy involving 112 pounds of meth near elementary school

Four defendants have pleaded guilty in federal court to their roles in a conspiracy that converted large amounts of liquid methamphetamine into crystal methamphetamine at a rented house within 1,000 feet of George Melcher Elementary School in Kansas City, Missouri. Jose Vieyra-Lopez, 37, a citizen of Mexico; Megan Eubanks, 40, of Kansas City, Mo., and […]