The Missouri Department of Resources has awarded $1.36 million in financial assistance to the City of Meadville for upgrades to its wastewater collection and treatment system. The total project cost is estimated at $1.86 million and is expected to be complete by April 2022. Missouri DNR has also awarded $4.18 million to the City of […]
Tag: April 20
Florida man lies to obtain $3.9 million in federal loans; spends money on Lamborghini
A Florida man pleaded guilty for fraudulently obtaining approximately $3.9 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans and using those funds, in part, to purchase a $318,000 Lamborghini sports car for himself. Federal investigators linked the sports car to Hines after he was involved in a hit and run on July 11, the Miami Herald reported. […]
Audio: Missouri House Speaker is asking state lawmaker under federal indictment to resign
The Missouri House Speaker is asking a fellow GOP House member to resign her seat after she was indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield for an alleged stem cell fraud scheme. The indictment was unsealed and made public on Monday. House Speaker Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, announced Wednesday that he’s removed State Rep. Tricia Derges, […]
Missouri State Lawmaker indicted for stem cell fraud scheme, illegally distributing prescription drugs
An elected Missouri State Representative has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a fraud scheme in which she made false claims about a supposed stem cell treatment marketed through her clinics in southern Missouri, and for illegally providing prescription drugs to clients of those clinics. Derges, a Republican, represents Christian County (District 140) […]
Man charged with $1.9 million COVID-relief fraud after seeking forgivable loans
A Nevada man was charged in an indictment Wednesday for his alleged participation in a scheme to defraud multiple financial institutions by filing bank loan applications that fraudulently sought more than $1.9 million dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Nicholas L. […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol announces promotion of Richard Stewart to sergeant
Captain Benjamin C. Jones, director of the Recruiting and Community Outreach Division, announces the following promotion effective February 1, 2021. Corporal Richard A. Stewart, Recruiting and Community Outreach Division, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO, is being promoted to sergeant and will remain in his current position as a full-time recruiter for the Troop A, Lee’s Summit, […]
Man pleads guilty to obtaining over $700,000 in COVID-19 relief using fraud scheme
A Washington man pleaded guilty today to perpetrating a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Nicholas L. McQuaid, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s […]
Increase in labor force sends unemployment higher in Missouri during December, 2020
Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased again in December 2020, but a large increase in the civilian labor force sent unemployment higher. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 10,400 jobs over the month, and over-the-year job losses from COVID-19 shutdowns fell below 100,000. However, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by 1.3 percentage points from November […]
Office of Workforce Development schedules 10 Virtual Job Fairs for 2021
The Missouri Office of Workforce Development is continuing its series of Return Strong Virtual Job Fairs this year, starting with a fair for job seekers in the health care industry on Tuesday, Jan. 26. The Return Strong Virtual Job Fairs are part of the state’s efforts to help Missourians skill up and get back […]
Audio: Milan Superintendent Ben Yocum expects gym project to be finished by early February
Milan C-2 Superintendent Ben Yocom says the school district’s building project is behind but “going well” with “all things considered.” He expects the gym to be finished by the beginning of February. It will not be done by the start of the Milan basketball tournament on January 11th. He notes the weather and […]
Missouri Farm Bureau Chief Administrative Officer retires after 24-years of service
Chief Administrative Officer Dan Cassidy has retired after serving the organization for 24 years. Cassidy made the announcement after the organization’s annual meeting on December 6. Cassidy has served as CAO since April 2003. From 1996 to 2002 he was the organization’s director of National Legislative Programs. Prior to his career at Missouri Farm Bureau, […]
Missouri monthly jobs report for November, 2020
The Missouri labor market showed further improvement in November 2020. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 17,400 jobs over the month. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points from October 2020 to November 2020, and the civilian labor force increased more than 23,000. However, the labor market still showed substantial losses from […]
Humphreys man charged with two felony counts of child molestation
A Humphreys man arrested by the Highway Patrol Tuesday afternoon, December 8th in Sullivan County has been charged with two felony counts of child molestation in the first degree. Forty-eight-year-old Joseph Hemenway’s bond is $50,000 cash only. A probable cause statement from Sullivan County Sheriff Roger Smiley says a 19-year-old girl reported she had been […]
Arkansas project manager sentenced to two years in prison in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud
A project manager employed by a major retailer was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for fraudulently seeking more than $8 million in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. […]
Sergeant Eric Brown, of Troop B in Macon, promoted to Lieutenant
The Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the following promotion effective December 1, 2020. Sergeant Eric F. Brown, public information and education officer assigned to Troop B, Macon, MO, is being promoted to lieutenant and designated assistant director of the Public Information and Education Division, General Headquarters, Jefferson City. Brown was appointed to the Patrol on […]
Missouri’s unemployment rate in October up slightly compared to 2019
The Missouri labor market showed mixed results in October 2020. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 6,400 jobs over the month, but over-the-year job losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic remained stubbornly high. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points from September 2020 to October 2020, but the civilian labor force decreased […]
Seven charged in connection with COVID-relief fraud scheme involving at least 80 fraudulent loan applications
Seven individuals across two states were charged in an indictment unsealed for their alleged participation in a scheme to obtain approximately $16 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Amir Aqeel, 52, and Pardeep Basra, 51, both of […]
Trenton Chamber of Commerce and license office announces closure to move into new location
The Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce and license office will be closed from November 23rd to 27th to move the offices to their new location and observe Thanksgiving. The offices will reopen at 1846 East Ninth Street in the Eastgate Shopping Center on the morning of November 30th at 8 o’clock. Chamber President Debbie Carman […]
Police chokeholds, no-knock warrants spark debate in Missouri House committee
(Missouri Independent) – As state lawmakers mull the idea of restricting police use of chokeholds or no-knock warrants, they are facing pushback from law enforcement organizations who contend decisions should be made at the local level. The House Special Committee on Criminal Justice met for three hours on Monday to explore the possibility of passing […]
Chillicothe City Council approves recommendation of Josh Fosdick as Third Ward Councilman
The Chillicothe City Council on Monday evening, October 26th approved a recommendation for the appointment of a Third Ward Councilman. Josh Fosdick will be sworn into office on the evening of November 9th at 6:30. Chillicothe City Clerk Roze Frampton reports Fosdick will take the place of Michael Smith, who resigned as the Third Ward […]