Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

Senate committee approves bill that could overturn Missouri Medicaid expansion

(Missouri Independent) – A constitutional amendment asking Missourians to let lawmakers decide year-to-year whether the state will offer Medicaid to working-age adults moved closer to passage on Wednesday. By an 8-5 vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee sent the House-passed proposal to the full Senate for debate. Only Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, voted with Democrats to oppose the measure, which […]

Prison Sentence News Graphic

Missouri man sentenced to 13 years in prison, without parole, for drug trafficking meth, illegal firearms and carjacking

A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for distributing methamphetamine, carjacking, and illegally possessing firearms after leading officers on three high-speed vehicle pursuits. Charles V. Bai, 29, of Independence,  was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 13 years in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 13, 2021, Bai pleaded guilty to […]

Indictment graphic with gavel and file folder

Three separate indictments handed down in Harrison County involving murder, assault and sex crimes involving a child

Grand jury indictments were filed in Harrison County this week on three men. Forty-one-year-old Travis William Gilliland of Ridgeway has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Bail was set at $250,000 for all counts. A probable cause affidavit accused Gilliland of shooting and killing Lynn Trammell in March. Fifty-eight-year-old Stephen Marshall of […]

Guilty Plea news graphic

Woman pleads guilty to racketeering conspiracy involving the forced labor of Mexican agricultural workers

A woman in Florida pleaded guilty to a federal racketeering conspiracy that victimized Mexican agricultural workers admitted into the United States under the H-2A temporary visa program. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement. According […]

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 […]

Figure of Justice holding the scales of justice (Photo licensed via Envato Elements)

Missouri company ordered to pay restitution and civil penalties after misleading investor

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s securities division issued a final cease and desist order awarding civil penalties, restitution, and costs against a St. Louis start-up company, Fango, LLC, and its founder Imani Butler. Missouri Securities Commissioner David Minnick issued the order following a contested hearing in October 2021. The commissioner found that between August 2015 […]

COVID-19 or Coronavirus Update

Five health departments report on new COVID-19 cases

The Livingston County Health Center reports two additional COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the total to 86. Forty cases have been added since February 1st, making that total 3,254. There are 231 active cases. The Grundy County Health Department reports an additional COVID-19-related death, raising the total to 64. Twenty-eight cases have been added since February 1st, […]

Justin Stephenson Booking Photo via Vinelink

Trenton man arrested on warrants for failure to appear

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Trenton resident on January 19th on two capias warrants for failure to appear. Thirty-six-year-old Justin Wayne Stephenson was arrested in Wyandotte County, Kansas, and picked up from there. His original charges were the felonies of stealing all other property, stealing involving a fourth or subsequent […]

Jobs Report

Missouri monthly job report shows unemployment rate at 3.5 percent

Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from October 2021 to November 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 7,600 jobs over the month, with job gains in both the goods-producing and service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November […]

Jobs Report or unemployment

Missouri’s unemployment rate drops two-tenths of a percentage point in November to 3.5%

Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from October 2021 to November 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 7,600 jobs over the month, with job gains in both the goods-producing and service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November […]