Accident-Crash graphic

Excelsior Springs man injured in crash near Cameron

The patrol reports an Excelsior Springs resident was seriously injured when the pickup truck he was driving was hit from behind by another pickup truck near Cameron. Fifty-seven-year-old John Swoboda of Excelsior Springs was taken to Liberty Hospital. The driver of the other pickup, 20-year old Collin Switlik of Cameron, was not reported hurt. The […]

Trenton Fire Department

Storage shed destroyed by fire in Trenton

A storage shed is considered a total loss after a fire in Trenton on Friday afternoon. Trenton Fire Lieutenant Doug Franklin reports, upon arrival, firefighters found the shed behind the residence at 202 West 28th Street fully involved. The fire department lists the owner as Holly Jones. Crews deployed a one and three-quarter-inch attack line […]

Melissa Fike

Missouri math teacher presented national Milken Educator Award

Oakland Middle School eighth grade math teacher Melissa Fike was presented the national Milken Educator Award today by Milken Educator Awards Senior Program Director Greg Gallagher and Missouri Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Dr. Margie Vandeven. The recognition comes with an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize for winners. Only one teacher from each participating state […]

Gavel and Law book news graphic

Jury convicts Cuban national of Drug Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

A Raytown, Missouri, man was convicted by a federal jury of drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms. Victor Rodriguez Kessel, 63, a Cuban national, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, attempting to manufacture crack cocaine, possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute, possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, […]

18-Wheel truck big rig

Big rig strikes pickup from behind injuring Chula woman

A Chula resident received serious injuries when the pickup truck she was driving was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer unit. Twenty-two-year-old Courtney Wescott was taken to Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe. The truck driver, 41-year old Cliffon Brown of Forney, Texas was not reported hurt. The crash happened Saturday afternoon on Highway 36 four […]

Corn in the field

Grain crop review for November 2019

Driving down the road in Missouri, you can see most of the fields have been combined and some farmers have applied anhydrous, unlike last year. Everyone still remembers last fall with the muddy conditions and having to push off anhydrous application until the spring, causing a shortage this past year. A notable shortage in some […]

Drug Trafficking

Additional charges filed against former Kansas City Chiefs player, more defendants in drug-trafficking conspiracy

Additional charges have been filed against a former Kansas City Chiefs football player and eight co-defendants for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy that operated primarily in Eastern Jackson County. Saousoalii P. Siavii Jr., also known as “Junior,” 41, of Independence, Missouri, was charged in a nine-count superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal […]

Indictment news graphic

Missouri man indicted for meth, illegal firearms after high-speed chase that ended in crash

 A Columbia, Missouri, man who crashed his vehicle in a high-speed chase has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally possessing methamphetamine and firearms. Kenneth C. Fredenburg, 33, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Missouri, on Tuesday, November 5. The indictment replaces a federal criminal […]

Soybean strip trial

Missouri soybean harvest hits 54%

Missouri corn harvested reached 70% as of Sunday with soybean harvest at 54 percent. The corn harvest is 21 percentage points behind last year with soybeans not as far behind. Cotton harvest improved just a little over the week before at 60 percent complete, way behind last year. Winter wheat planted reached 55 percent with […]

Child Waiting in Doctor's Office

Report finds Missouri declining in children’s health coverage

Missouri is among states experiencing a serious erosion in children’s health coverage, according to a new report. The findings, released by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, indicated there were 12,000 more uninsured Missouri kids in 2018 than in 2016, a 17% increase. Traci Gleason, vice president for internal affairs at the Missouri Budget Project, […]