The Missouri House on Wednesday elected the first Speaker in state history from eastern Missouri’s Arnold. House Speaker Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, was elected Speaker on his 44th birthday, with his wife Amanda and their five children in the chamber in Jefferson City. Education was a primary theme during Vescovo’s address to the House. He says he was […]
Wisconsin U.S. Senator Ron Johnson has blocked an effort co-sponsored by Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley that would give 1,200-dollar direct stimulus payments to many Americans. Johnson’s move comes as lawmakers in Washington continue to work on another coronavirus stimulus package. On the Senate floor today, Hawley, a fellow Republican, says what he is proposing […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced an update to his office’s efforts to evict illicit massage businesses through the Hope Initiative. Since launching the initiative, 10 additional illicit massage businesses have either been evicted, are in the process of being evicted, or their eviction is likely. “Human trafficking is a global scourge that affects millions […]
(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 […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced earlier today a new, first of its kind initiative to combat instances of human trafficking by targeting illicit massage businesses across the state. The Hope Initiative targets illicit massage businesses that may be engaging in human trafficking and advertising on illicit websites while posing as a legitimate business. The initiative’s […]
Missouri’s hills might not be alive with the sound of music, but they soon will transition into a kaleidoscope of color. The foliage of trees, shrubs, and vines is about to burst into its full glory. Colors usually peak around the third weekend of October, but Mother Nature is a woman of mystery. “It’s always […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education the evening of Tuesday, September 8th discussed various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the school district. Some of the discussions focused on employee status during the pandemic as related to classification as essential employees. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported the federal government lists teachers as essential, and he believes […]
No injuries were reported when most of the Jamesport Post Office collapsed the morning of Wednesday, August 19th. Ashley Bontrager with Jamesport Fire and Rescue says the back wall of the post office is still standing. A neighboring antique store near the intersection of Broadway Street and Auberry Grove was also damaged. The whole Jamesport […]
The U.S. Justice Department has blocked Thursday’s scheduled prison release of convicted felon Robert Courtney. The Kansas City pharmacist was sent to federal prison for diluting as many as 98,000 prescriptions, including cancer treatment meds, and possibly drugs for AIDS, infertility, and multiple sclerosis. Governor Parson wrote to U.S. Attorney General William Barr asking Barr […]
A Bethany man has been charged in Harrison County with three felonies after an alleged incident on Monday, March 23, 2020. Thirty-nine-year- old Jeremiah Searles has been charged with first-degree kidnapping, facilitating a felony, inflicting injury, terrorizing, first-degree domestic assault, and abuse or neglect of a child—no sexual contact. Arraignment was held on Tuesday, and […]
A retired Roman Catholic priest from southern Missouri is now charged with four sex-related felonies in southeast Missouri’s Stoddard County, involving alleged sexual abuse of minors. Missourinet’s Cape Girardeau television partner KFVS reports 76-year-old Frederick Joseph Lutz was arrested Wednesday morning in Springfield, where he now lives. Stoddard County Prosecutor Russell Oliver has charged Lutz […]
A man Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox called an “extremely violent” and “dangerous felon” was taken into custody Tuesday following a multi-county pursuit of a pickup truck. The man was wanted by Linn County and federal authorities, and several other law enforcement agencies were involved in the pursuit. Information obtained by authorities indicated that the […]
