Missouri is launching an apprenticeship program to expand talent pipelines for Direct Support Professionals, who work with people with developmental disabilities. The Show-Me State, like many others, is facing a serious direct-care workforce shortage. To answer the need, the program Missouri Talent Pathways was recently approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. Duane Shumate, the state coordinator […]
Tag: approach
Missouri man who was arrested after an armed standoff with police pleads guilty to marijuana trafficking
A Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm following a brief armed standoff with police officers. Jamahl D. Jones, 35, Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to one count of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in relation […]
Missouri library named finalist for National Medal for Museum and Library Service
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is pleased to announce 30 finalists for the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities. Since 1996, the award has honored 176 institutions that demonstrated extraordinary […]
Mendy Loja named Wright Memorial Hospital 2021 Employee of the Year
Wright Memorial Hospital recently announced its 2021 Employee of the Year. Mendy Loja, a medical laboratory scientist coordinator at Wright Memorial Hospital, was presented with the award at a ceremony held in her honor on March 31. The other finalists for the award were 2021 Employee of the Quarter recipients Maryke Willis, Kari Smith, and […]
U.S. House votes to decriminalize marijuana in federal law
(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. House passed legislation Friday to legalize marijuana nationally, but its future is much less clear in the Senate. The House voted 220-204 to approve the measure, which would fix the split between federal law and 19 states where recreational marijuana is legal. Three Republicans joined all but two Democrats in approving the measure. […]
Audio: Art’s Alive organization to take over operation of “Fine Arts” area at North Central Missouri Fair
Art’s Alive will take over the operation of the fine arts area at the North Central Missouri Fair in Trenton this summer. The fine arts area can be accessed from the courtyard of the fairgrounds. Art’s Alive President Dan Maxey says the fair board approached Art’s Alive to see if the organization had an interest […]
Audio: Candidates for Trenton R-9 School Board answer questions from the public during forum on Wednesday
Three candidates for the Trenton R-9 Board of Education participated in a forum in the Rissler Elementary School Library on March 30th. Incumbent Dorothy Taul, Toby Havens, and Jeff Spencer are running for two three-year terms. The forum was relocated after the evacuation of Trenton High School, where the event was originally to be held. […]
Governor Parson announces end to COVID-19 crisis in Missouri
Governor Mike Parson announced an end to the COVID-19 crisis in Missouri and that the state will be shifting to an endemic phase of the pandemic on Friday, April 1, 2022. A whole-of-government COVID-19 emergency response was taken for more than two years, an effort that responded to the needs of all Missourians during the […]
Missouri House bill would cut down on poisonous lead in school drinking water
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri children would be better protected from lead poisoning under a state legislative bill to require schools to nearly rid their drinking water of the dangerous toxin. The bill, heard Monday by the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, would require schools to test drinking water, remove old coolers and filter water where […]
Senate winds up grueling Supreme Court hearings on Ketanji Brown Jackson nomination
(Missouri Independent) – Representatives of the American Bar Association reiterated their finding that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is well qualified to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, and law enforcement groups rebutted GOP accusations Jackson is soft on child pornographers during the final day of Jackson’s confirmation hearings Thursday. Republicans, however, called in witnesses to […]
GOP senators attack and interrupt Judge Jackson in final day of questioning U.S. Supreme Court nominee
(Missouri Independent) – In the third day of hearings Wednesday on the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, several Republicans on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee interrogated her about sentences she handed down for child pornography offenses, disagreeing vehemently with her judicial decisions. Republicans grilled her with questions she had already answered […]
Irondale, Missouri man sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by convicted felon
The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Eli B. Rawlins, age 35, of Irondale, Missouri, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for the offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Rawlins appeared for his plea and sentencing hearing today before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. at the federal courthouse […]
Medicaid enrollment backlog persists as advocates say Missouri could be doing more
(Missouri Independent) – Applying for health insurance through Medicaid expansion took Raven Cole just 10 minutes. But the wait to see if she’s approved has dragged on for months. The 23-year-old legal assistant applied for coverage, “well over two to three months ago.” “And I haven’t heard anything back,” Cole said. Cole is one of […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in prison without parole for armed robbery conspiracy
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a series of armed business robberies in Kansas City and Independence, Mo. Henry Simmons, 22, Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 1, 2021, Simmons pleaded guilty to one count […]
U.S. Senate Republicans attack Biden on energy costs, regulations after new inflation report
(Missouri Independent) – Nebraska’s Deb Fischer and fellow U.S. Senate Republicans slammed President Joe Biden on Thursday for the sharp rise in consumer prices, calling for policy shifts to increase U.S. energy supply, roll back regulations and curb spending. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday the consumer price index rose nearly 8% in February over the […]
Missouri man sentenced to 13 years in prison for shooting female Z-Trip driver 26 times during robbery
A Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court for the armed robbery of a female Z-Trip driver whom he shot approximately 26 times with a rifle from the back seat. Derron D. Nevels, 21, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs on Wednesday, March 9, to 13 years in […]
Missouri man sentenced to 17 years in prison for trafficking crack cocaine
A Missouri, man who twice fled from police officers was sentenced in federal court for possessing crack cocaine to distribute. Eldon M. Cox, 38, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 17 years in federal prison without parole. Cox was sentenced as a career offender due to his prior felony […]
Missouri man sentenced to seven years in prison for robbing family at gunpoint
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for robbing a family at gunpoint in their home. Cameron E. Scott, 20, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to seven years and three months in federal prison without parole. On June 2, 2021, Scott pleaded guilty to one count of robbery […]
Public comments sought on Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge headquarters and visitor facility relocation
A draft Environmental Assessment for Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Sumner, Missouri is available for public review on March 4, 2022. The comment period will extend until April 4, 2022. The Environmental Assessment provides an environmental analysis and cumulative impacts of alternatives for the new headquarters office at Swan Lake NWR. During the floods […]
Missouri man sentenced to eight years in federal prison for his role in carjacking plot
United States District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk sentenced Antwan Jones to eight years in federal prison for his role in a carjacking, weapons charges, and assaulting a federal officer. Jones had previously pleaded guilty in November 2021. According to the plea agreement, Jones and his co-defendant stopped their SUV next to the victim on […]