(Missouri Independent) – The Supreme Court is weighing potentially sweeping changes to the right to an abortion, after two hours of arguments Wednesday morning on a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court’s conservatives, who hold a 6-3 majority, appeared through their questions to be sympathetic to Mississippi’s arguments […]
Tag: case
Advocates say Build Back Better Act could improve health outcomes for Missouri children
Health advocates are pressing the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act after it passed the House last month. The bill would improve Medicaid and CHIP, the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program, by offering 12 months of continuous coverage to children who qualify and making federal CHIP funding permanent. Casey Hanson, director of outreach and […]
Missouri man sentenced to 17 years in prison without parole for child pornography
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for soliciting images and videos of child pornography from several child victims and others online. Charles Ray Sheppard, 33, Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 17 years and six months in federal prison without parole. On July 8, 2021, Sheppard pleaded […]
Five area health departments report on COVID-19 cases
The Livingston County Health Center reports an additional COVID-19-related death, bringing the deaths to 79 total. Eighteen cases were also added since November 29th’s update, making that total 2,435. There are 36 active cases. The Sullivan County Health Department confirms five additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 1,302. There are 13 active cases.As of […]
Missouri State Auditor hands Harrison County a rating of “Good”
State Auditor Nicole Galloway released today her regularly scheduled audit of Harrison County, located in northwest Missouri. The report, which rated county operations as “good,” is the first audit of the county since a November 2015 audit, which resulted in a rating of “fair.” The audit found that the procedures for complying with the Sunshine Law […]
Federal vaccine mandate for health care workers in 10 states blocked by judge
(Missouri Independent) – Enforcement of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for millions of health care workers was blocked in 10 states on Monday, after a ruling by a federal judge in Missouri. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp affects the states involved in the lawsuit, including Missouri. The others are Iowa, Kansas, New […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in prison without parole for carjacking and illegal firearm in two separate cases
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court in two separate cases, including carjacking and using the victim’s debit card to withdraw $500 from his bank account in one case and illegally possessing a firearm in another case. Abdul M. Williams, 21, Kansas City,, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 15 years […]
Judge Daniel Green: Local health orders tied To COVID-19 are illegal
(AP) — A Missouri judge ruled that local health orders imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state are illegal and should be lifted. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled that orders such as quarantines and business closures violate the Missouri Constitution’s separation of powers clause affecting the executive, legislative and judicial […]
Mercer County reports COVID-19 related death; three health departments report on new COVID-19 cases
A COVID-19-related death has been added for Mercer County. An update from the health department reports the total number of deaths as 12. The number of cases has also increased, with two more confirmed cases and one more probable case. There are 245 confirmed cases and 273 probable cases. Seven cases are active. COVID-19 cases […]
Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court news for Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Preliminary hearings were waived on Tuesday by three defendants who appeared in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. Each had their cases bound over to the December 9th session of Division One, Circuit Court. Zachary Lee Wilson faces charges of exhibiting and unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, and first-degree property […]
Former Missouri middle school teacher sentenced to 20 years in prison for illicit sex with her student
A former Missouri, middle school teacher was sentenced in federal court for charges related to enticing one of her students to engage in illicit sex. Amanda Ruth Schweitzer, 42, of Joplin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Schweitzer to 15 years of […]
Two area health departments report on new COVID-19 cases
Fourteen COVID-19 cases have been added in Linn County since November 16th. The health department November 23rd reported a total of 1,950. Sixteen cases were active, and there were no current COVID-19-related hospitalizations. The Sullivan County Health Department on November 23rd confirmed three additional COVID-19 cases, raising the total to 1,291. There were eight active […]
Judge sets aside conviction: After 43-years in prison, Kevin Strickland is a free man
After spending 43-years in prison, a Kansas City man convicted of a triple murder is a free man. Judge James Welsh concluded that prosecutors met the burden of providing convincing evidence that undermines Strickland’s conviction in the 1978 murder of three people. The judge also pointed out that there was no physical evidence […]
Trenton Building Inspector reports on inspections and permit applications
Trenton Building Inspector Wes Barone has submitted a report of inspections, permit applications, and other matters from October 20th through November 10th. During that time, there were 32 inspections. The category with the most inspections was new construction with 10. Others involved eight rental, eight right of way, five pre-permit, and one dangerous building issue. […]
Trenton Police Department reports on nuisance calls
The Trenton Police Department reports 104 total nuisance incidents had been filed for the year so far as of November 22nd. The greatest number of complaints involved grass and weeds with 48. There were 42 involving trash and debris. There were also 13 involving unregistered vehicles and one involving the open storage of a disabled […]
Trenton Building and Nuisance Board learns two properties of concern are in the process of being sold
Trenton’s Building and Nuisance Board learned Monday evening that two properties of concern are in the process of being sold. The Walden Apartments at 1010 Avalon Street have Connie Lasher as the general manager representing Action Management and Consulting Services LLC. In an e-mail to the city, she wrote Walden Apartments is being purchased by […]
Nearly half of abortions in Kansas are for Missourians. A vote next year could change that
(Missouri Independent) – Patients who arrive at an abortion clinic in Overland Park, Kansas, have often traveled long distances. Many began their journeys in Missouri, sometimes driving hours to their appointment. “We’ve heard these stories from Missourians and other people in our region for years,” said Emily Wales, interim president of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. “They […]
Man sentenced to 11 years in prison for armed robbery of a pharmacy
A man was sentenced in federal court for his role in the armed robbery of a Walgreens pharmacy in Jefferson City, Missouri. Daijahn Antwan Reed, 22, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole. On Aug. 17, 2021, Reed pleaded guilty […]
Audio: Trafficking investigation of Philippines-based church indicates there could be victims in Missouri
The investigation into alleged sex and labor trafficking by a Philippines-based church indicates there could be victims in Missouri. Administrators at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ are accused of coercing girls and women to have sex with their church leader under threats of “eternal damnation.” The federal indictment alleges they brought church members […]
Four area health departments report on new cases of COVID-19
Five COVID-19 cases have been added for Harrison County. The county’s COVID-19 dashboard shows that, as of November 18th, there were 1,342 cases total, and 34 were active. There had been 1,074 confirmed cases and 268 probable cases. The Livingston County Health Center reports 10 COVID-19 cases have been added since November 12th, raising the […]