Wild Turkeys In A Field

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports spring turkey season ended with 34,593 birds harvested

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that turkey hunters checked 31,798 birds during Missouri’s 2021 regular spring turkey season, April 19 through May 9. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 710 birds telechecked, Texas with 666, and Callaway with 639. Young turkey hunters also harvested 2,795 birds over the youth weekend, April […]

Protesters with stop discrimination signs and protect vote

Missourians join call to pass John Lewis Voting Rights Act

 Missouri voting-rights advocates joined a national call to action Saturday to promote the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act. The Lewis Act would require states with a history of voter discrimination to get approval from the Justice Department before making legal changes to voting rules. Julie Steiger, co-president of the League of […]

Rollover Crash news graphic

Kirksville man hospitalized after crashing on Highway 6

The Highway Patrol reports a Kirksville man sustained serious injuries when the car he drove overturned two miles west of Novinger on Friday morning, May 7. An ambulance transported 32-year-old Agbewonou Sossouvi to the Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville. The car traveled west on Highway 6 before running off the right side of the […]

Preston McMullen Facebook Photo

Former Tina-Avalon physical education teacher pleads “Not Guilty” to rape, sodomy and sexual contact

A former Tina-Avalon R-2 physical education teacher accused of having sexual contact with a student entered a plea of not guilty in the Associate Division of Carroll County Circuit Court Wednesday. Twenty-five-year-old Preston McMullen of Smithton was continued to June 16th. McMullen has been charged with the felonies of sodomy or attempted sodomy—first degree, statutory […]

Missouri Department of Social Services

Furious lawmakers demand answers from Missouri DSS for undercount of abuse reports

(Missouri Independent) – Lawmakers slammed the Department of Social Services on Thursday for underreporting the number of substantiated cases of abuse and neglect at youth residential facilities during a previous legislative hearing. For nearly an hour-and-a-half on Thursday, the House Special Committee on Government Oversight pressed DSS officials on why the number of findings of […]

Missouri WIC or Women Infant Children Logo

Missouri WIC to see temporary benefit increase

Missouri WIC is temporarily increasing the Cash Value Benefit for Fruit and Vegetable Purchases (CVB) to $35 per month for eligible women and children. WIC is the Department of Health and Senior Services Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The American Rescue Plan Act gave USDA authority to temporarily increase the CVB […]

Graduation caps

Seven area schools to hold graduation on Friday evening

Several area schools are scheduled to hold graduation ceremonies on May 7th. Sixth eighth-graders will graduate from Pleasant View R-6 in the school gym at 6 o’clock in the evening. Former teacher Cassie Cordray will speak. Thirty-three seniors will graduate from Gallatin R-5 at the stadium at 6:30. Former teacher Ryan Beenken will speak. Eight […]

MoDOT Webpage

Public comment period opens on Statewide Transportation Improvement Program

A draft 2022-2026 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program that focuses on taking care of the state’s existing transportation system was presented today to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. A 30-day public review and comment period began on Wednesday, May 5) Missouri Department of Transportation Planning Director Eric Curtit told commissioners the draft STIP includes 1,417 […]

Desks in School Room

Groups say slate of school bills would undermine public education

Advocates for public schools are urging the Missouri Legislature to bolster funding for public education rather than shift resources towards charter schools and school voucher programs. A bill pending in the House would provide tax credits for paying for private school tuition.  Another would change school funding formulas to give more resources to charter schools, specifically […]

Child Porn

Former paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School pleads guilty to producing child pornography

A former paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School pleaded guilty in federal court to producing and distributing child pornography. Steven B. Allen, 45, of Independence, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to two counts of producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography over the internet. Allen, who has been […]