A Missouri woman pleaded guilty in federal court to her role in the sex trafficking of a child. Danna Marie Rodriguez, 36, of Springfield, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of the sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of the sex trafficking of a minor. By […]
(Missouri Independent) – Despite increasing legal access to medical and recreational cannabis in states across the U.S., veterans face unfair treatment and stigmatization because the U.S. refuses to recognize marijuana as a viable treatment option. While the VA has embraced the federally illegal status of the drug, agency policy does not allow discrimination against veterans […]
(Missouri Independent) – Kevin Strickland was hopeful Thursday was going to be his first step towards freedom after 40 years in prison. A new law that went into effect on Aug. 28 gave Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker a legal avenue to free Strickland, who she says is innocent and wrongly incarcerated. But opposition […]
President Joe Biden stepped into the abortion battle in Texas Thursday, tasking federal agencies to see what steps can be taken to, in his words, “ensure that women in Texas have access to safe and legal abortions.” The law, which took effect Wednesday, bans most abortions after six weeks before most women know they are […]
The Putnam County Health Department reports it has been notified of two female residents dying from complications of COVID-19. That brings the total number of deaths to 16. There have been 589 total cases, and five are active. Forty-three COVID-19-related hospitalizations have been reported for Putnam County. The Grundy County Health Department reports it received […]
The Salvation Army was the topic of a program presented to the Trenton Rotary Club at its meeting on Thursday, Sept. 2, at the BTC Bank. Lynda Snuffer, social service director and Pathway of Hope case manager with the Salvation Army, discussed changes within the organization. She noted the office at Chillicothe has been reorganized […]
While litigation over the mask mandates continues, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sent a letter to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Jackson County Executive Frank White noting the exceptions to the City and County’s mask mandates and providing “legal direction” to the public on these important exceptions, specifically for those with disabilities or those […]
Two Missouri residents have pleaded guilty in federal court to methamphetamine trafficking after they received a large package of methamphetamine shipped from California to distribute locally. Bryan Patton Tullous, 39, of Columbia, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Co-defendant Cassiopeia Marie Blaise, 36, […]
The Grundy County Health Department will hold a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine clinic on September 7th. Anyone at least 18 years old can receive the free vaccine from 2 to 4 o’clock that afternoon. The health department reminds residents the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend vaccination even if someone has already had COVID-19. Schedule […]
The Chillicothe City Council took action on personnel matters during an executive session on August 30th. Chillicothe City Clerk Rozanne Frampton reports the council approved increasing the number of paid-by-call firefighters by one and hiring Hollie Anderson as that additional firefighter/medic. The hiring will be contingent upon a physical. Casey McCollum and Carrie Algozzini were […]
(Missouri Independent) – Clay LaRue, superintendent of the Van Buren R-1 School District, made a tough decision Sunday. With COVID-19 cases spiking in Carter County in southeast Missouri, and many of those infections among very young children, LaRue shut down the district’s pre-kindergarten program for two weeks. He had previously directed faculty, staff, and students […]
(Missouri Independent) – Calls from tenants seeking emergency rental assistance are escalating in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that blocked a national eviction moratorium. The Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) has 60 application processors working to distribute hundreds of millions in federal aid and has been fielding about 500 calls and responding to […]
Bothwell Regional Health Center is the site of a COVID-19 treatment called Monoclonal Antibody Infusion, a proven way to ease the virus and its symptoms. Yet, there are cases of people trying drugs meant for animals instead of these treatments. Center CEO Lori Wightman explained how this is a dangerous choice. Wightman says […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that Christopher Meagher, proprietor of “Metro Restoration,” has pled guilty to seven counts of felony deceptive business practices in Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties. Through Metro Restoration, Meagher transacted with numerous consumers in the Kansas City area to provide home repair and renovation services. Upon taking consumers’ upfront payments, […]
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm. Maxwell L. Fleming, 25, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On April 7, 2021, Fleming pleaded guilty to one count […]
Saint Luke’s Health System Critical Access Region Chief Executive Officer Steve Schieber answered questions during a conference call on September 1st regarding the COVID-19 vaccination mandate announced by Saint Luke’s on August 30th. The health system will require all employees to be fully vaccinated by October 30th. Wright Memorial Hospital of Trenton and Hedrick Medical […]
COVID-19 cases increased in Mercer County September 1st: one more confirmed and three more probable. The health department reported 211 confirmed cases and 225 probable cases. Thirty cases were active. There were three current COVID-19-related hospitalizations for Mercer County. The Livingston County Health Center reported September 1st three COVID-19 cases had been added since August […]
The Grundy County Health Department reports it has received confirmation of two additional COVID-19-related deaths. That brings the total to 46. Twenty-eight new COVID-19 cases were added since the health department’s last update a week ago on August 24th. The office notes it was “a quiet weekend” with no new cases reported. There are 1,549 […]
The Cole County Circuit Court sided with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in our defense of the Governor’s termination of federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits. “As Missouri’s economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are still struggling to hire workers for a large number of open, available jobs. Too often, businesses can’t compete with […]
A Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court to growing marijuana and illegally possessing dozens of firearms. Darrin Dale Smithee, 55, of Auxvasse, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps Jr. to one count of manufacturing marijuana and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On Sept. 21, 2018, […]
