The trial of Derek Chauvin enters a new phase today, as opening statements are scheduled in the case of the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd. Those demanding diversity among juries sees this trial as a step in the right direction. The 12 jurors and 3 alternates seated over the past couple of […]
State Senator Greg Razer says minds are shifting about changing the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act. The Kansas City Democrat has filed legislation that would ban discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identity for things like housing, financial help, employment, or the use of public restrooms. Razer, who is openly gay, says he has talked to […]
Chillicothe Assistant Police Chief Rick Sampsel reports the department received a call on Saturday afternoon from a person reporting an attempted scam. The call involved a telephone call claiming arrest warrants and a need to buy gift cards to take care of them. Sampsel emphasized the public should not provide information to such callers, and […]
A federal grand jury has indicted a Shawnee, Kansas, woman for smuggling heroin to an inmate at the Western Missouri Correctional Center in Cameron, Missouri. Juliane L. Colby, 43, was charged in a four-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on March 16, 2021. That indictment was unsealed […]
In 2019, the Missouri Supreme Court began restricting when judges can require bail. Currently, judges can only charge bail fees for safety reasons or to help ensure defendants appear in court. The Missouri House has given preliminary approval to Lake St. Louis State Representative Justin Hill’s bill that would undo the high court’s bail rules. […]
Bond was modified in the Associate Division of Linn County Circuit Court on March 24th for a Brookfield man accused of having sexual contact in 2014 with his minor sister. The court modified the bond to be $20,000 cash, surety, or 10% for 23-year-old Cody Lee Munsterman. Bond was previously set at $50,000 cash only. […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt officially jumped into the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, making him the second major Republican hopeful seeking to replace Roy Blunt. Schmitt’s decision comes after former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens jumped into the race earlier this week. Both made their announcements on Fox News. “Washington, D.C., needs more […]
A Brookfield man has been charged with felony first-degree property damage after a police officer responded to a call about lights being on on a vehicle. Fifty-three-year-old Todd Aaron Boh has also been charged with felony escape or attempted escape from custody while under arrest for a felony and misdemeanor assault—fourth degree. Boh pleaded not […]
Officers with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday responded to a call in Jacksonville to a male with a knife who was attempting to break into residences. The deputy arrived on the scene and located the suspect, who approached the deputy with a knife in a threatening manner. The deputy responded by drawing their […]
Missouri Western State University and North Central Missouri College have signed an articulation partnership to help students transfer smoothly from NCMC to Missouri Western. “We enjoy a strong partnership with North Central Missouri College, and this agreement makes that partnership even stronger,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, president of Missouri Western. “Our collaboration creates a seamless […]
A former Missouri governor who resigned three years ago announced Monday on national television that he’s running for the U.S. Senate in 2022. Current U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R) will not seek re-election next year, which will leave the seat open for the 2022 election cycle. Republican Eric Greitens was elected as Missouri’s governor in […]
A Brookfield man accused of having sexual contact in 2014 with his minor sister has been charged in Linn County. Twenty-three-year-old Cody Lee Munsterman has been charged with the felonies of first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy with a victim less than 12 years of age and sexual misconduct or attempt involving a child under 15—first […]
A Missouri man whose lost cell phone containing child pornography was found at a truck stop was sentenced in federal court. Christopher Lee Caven, 40, of Belton, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Caven to 12 years of supervised release […]
(Missouri Independent) – Legislation creating a path to citizenship for undocumented people brought to the U.S. as children face a new border crisis and old partisan objections, diminishing the chances it will become law despite full Democratic control of Congress and the White House. On Thursday, the U.S. House is poised to pass the American […]
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and 16 of his colleagues reintroduced the Protect and Serve Act, legislation that would create federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence. In 2020, more than 300 officers were shot in the line of duty and 47 officers were shot and killed, including […]
Webmasters note: This article is a commentary by Tim Gibbons of the Missouri Independent. Tim Gibbons is communications director for the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, a statewide farm and rural organization dedicated to preserving family farms and promoting stewardship of the land and environmental integrity. The comments in the article are those of the author, […]
The Missouri House has given initial approval to a bill that would ban judges from changing ballot language written by the Legislature. The proposal follows two Missouri courts rewriting language for a controversial legislative redistricting measure passed by voters last fall. Bill sponsor John Wiemann, a Republican from O’Fallon, and Hillsdale Democrat Kevin Windham debated […]
Two Chillicothe residents face multiple charges following a well-being check in February on a female juvenile who law enforcement reports sent text messages to her grandmother that she did not feel safe. Thirty-eight-year-old Eric Wayne Suddith has been charged with the felonies of sodomy or first degree attempted sodomy and enticement or attempted enticement of […]
Two men sustained injuries, in a two-vehicle accident, two miles west of Hamilton on March 11th. An ambulance transported the driver of a sports utility vehicle, 37-year-old Jared Shuman of Hamilton, to Liberty Hospital with moderate injuries. The driver of a pickup truck, 47-year-old Gary Nease of Brookfield, reportedly refused medical treatment at the scene […]
An Osborn man charged with second-degree murder in relation to a motor vehicle accident that caused DeKalb County Sheriff Andy Clark’s death had his case bound over to Division One of DeKalb County Circuit Court on Thursday. An arraignment is scheduled for 35-year-old Gary Wayne Downs on April 9th. Downs was also charged with the […]
