(Missouri Independent) – For years after the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, activists and community leaders have pushed to “re-envision public safety.” Inspired in part by the Ferguson Commission, which recommended that cities focus more resources on the root causes of crime, organizers across the state echoed these calls. But they largely fell on deaf ears. […]
Tag: April 2
Couple who falsely claimed to be farmers sentenced to prison in $1.1 million COVID-relief fraud
A couple was sentenced to prison for their participation in a scheme to file four fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $1.1 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Latoya Stanley, 38, […]
Bill requiring Biden to declassify intelligence related to origin of COVID-19 passes senate
The United States Senate unanimously passed Senator Josh Hawley’s (R-Mo.) bill to require the Biden administration to declassify intelligence related to any potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and the origins of the Covid pandemic. The bill is co-sponsored by Senator Mike Braun. In March 2020, Senator Hawley was the first member […]
Four plead guilty to multi-state dogfighting conspiracy
Four defendants pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting and conspiracy charges for their roles in an interstate dogfighting network across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey. The Honorable John A. Gibney Jr., U.S. District Judge in Richmond, Virginia, accepted the following pleas: On June 1, Odell S. Anderson Sr., 52, of the District […]
Missouri man sentenced to 9 years in federal prison without parole for stolen firearm
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for possessing a stolen firearm. Donte Hardy, 32, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to nine years and four months in federal prison without parole. On April 23, 2021, Hardy pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen firearm. Hardy was arrested on Jan. […]
Missouri man sentenced to 25 years in prison without parole for producing child pornography
A Missouri, man who was identified and arrested on the same day he shared live video and images of his sexual assault of a toddler with an undercover officer was sentenced in federal court for producing child pornography. Gino Alexander Maiorano, 26, of Clinton, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 25 years […]
COVID-19 surge in north Missouri creates worries for summer as vaccinations decline
(Missouri Independent) – In the last week of April, the Linn County Health Department signaled that the COVID-19 pandemic had cooled enough that it could discontinue weekly reports on new cases. With only three active cases on April 21, the urgency for frequent updates seemed to have passed. But the coronavirus came roaring back this […]
Video: Bill requiring Biden to declassify intelligence related to origin of COVID-19 passes Senate unanimously
The United States Senate unanimously passed U.S. Senator Josh Hawley’s (R-Mo.) bill to require the Biden administration to declassify intelligence related to any potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill is co-sponsored by Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.). In March 2020, Senator Hawley was the first […]
Man sentenced to 15 years in a Missouri prison for distributing almost 6,000 pounds of cocaine in KC area
A man who was a leader of a $56 million criminal enterprise was sentenced in federal court for his role in the conspiracy that distributed more than 2,600 kilograms (5,732 pounds) of cocaine in the metropolitan area. Jose Luis Armendariz-Rascon, Kansas City, Kansas, also known as “Uncle” or “Rambo,” 40, was sentenced by U.S. Chief […]
Lawmakers introduce legislation to protect adopted children
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, announced that they have reintroduced the Safe Home Act to protect adopted children from unregulated custody transfers. This legislation would add UCTs to the federal definition of child abuse and neglect under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. […]
Washington man sentenced to 20 years in Missouri prison for sexually assaulting a child
A man was sentenced in federal court for traveling to Missouri to sexually assault a child victim. Timothy Smith, 56, of Renton, Washington, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Smith to spend the rest of his life on supervised release […]
Missouri Jobs Report report for April, 2021, shows slight decline in unemployment rate
Missouri non-farm payroll employment showed little overall change from March 2021 to April 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by a tenth of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 600 jobs over the month. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in April 2021, down from 4.2 percent in […]
Free testing aims to curb STIs that went unchecked as COVID spread in Missouri
(Missouri Independent) – As the case counts of the novel coronavirus began to tick up last March across Missouri, providers who offer tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) found their resources were being pulled in two directions. Swabs were in short supply as they became needed for COVID-19 testing. Contact tracers, who reach out to […]
Braymer man now faces federal indictment in $215,000 fraud scheme
A Braymer, Missouri, man was indicted by a federal grand jury for a $215,000 cattle fraud scheme that he attempted to cover up by murdering two Wisconsin brothers. Garland Joseph Nelson, 27, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment charges Nelson with one count of […]
Lawmakers introduce legislation to improve adoption process for those adopting children from other countries
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Adoption Caucus, announced that they have reintroduced legislation to improve the intercountry adoption process. “There are millions of children around the world without a safe, stable home,” said Blunt. “We can help connect these children with the families they deserve by making […]
City of Trenton to save over $650,000 by refinancing long term debt
The city of Trenton and its municipal utility expect to save money on interest costs with the re-financing of three long-term debts. It was announced the savings amounts to $658,000 over the length of the loans. Two involve 2012 issued bonds and the 2014 issued bonds for Trenton Municipal Utilities projects done at the water […]
Missouri company, Healthy Home & Family, Inc, settles Medicaid fraud case for $300,000
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that on April 27, 2021, Healthy Home & Family, Inc., an in-home health care provider, and its owners, Belinda Bivens and Mary Stockson, have entered into a civil settlement agreement totaling $302,127 in restitution and penalties, with his office for submitting 114 false claims to Missouri Medicaid (MO HealthNet). […]
Wright Memorial Hospital earns five-star rating from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton is the only critical access hospital in the state of Missouri to receive a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The new ratings were released by CMS on April 28. There are 35 critical access hospitals in Missouri. The rating also places Wright Memorial in the […]
Grundy County Health Department reports 3 cases of COVID-19 since April 27
The Grundy County Health Department reports three new COVID-19 cases since its last report on April 27th, which brings the total to 1,070. Four cases are active. It is noted there were nine new COVID-19 cases in April. The health dependent reports 21.4% of Grundy County residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 24.4% have […]