President Joe Biden Photo Courtesy of the White House

Biden calls on U.S. Senate to act on background checks after Colorado mass shooting

(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged the U.S. Senate to immediately pass legislation to close loopholes on background checks for guns and to ban assault weapons, following a mass shooting that killed 10 at a Colorado supermarket. “This should not be a partisan issue,” Biden said. “This is an American issue.” Biden’s […]

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Audio: Missouri U.S. House of Representatives respond to stimulus package passed on Saturday

A one-point-nine-trillion-dollar pandemic relief package heads to the U-S Senate after approval by the Democratic-controlled U.S. House.     The plan featuring $1,400 stimulus checks passed early Saturday with no Republican support. Missouri GOP Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler says it’s “serving as an excuse to spend our tax money on unnecessary things completely unrelated to the […]

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Audio: Bipartisan support in Missouri legislature involving federal stimulus checks and taxation

There is bipartisan support for legislation ensuring that Missourians cannot be taxed on their federal stimulus checks. Missouri House Budget Committee chairman Cody Smith of Carthage presented his bill Wednesday in Jefferson City,     Smith tells lawmakers it’s important to act, noting that under Missouri’s tax code, federal stimulus checks related to COVID are […]

Gallatin City Hall

Gallatin Board of Aldermen approve motion regarding electric rates; update provided regarding freezing water meters

The Gallatin Board of Aldermen approved a motion regarding electric rates on Monday evening, February 22nd. The motion was to clarify that any business outside of a commercially zoned area that is required to possess a valid business license will be required to pay a commercial electric rate for the property that is used for […]

Little girl (child) sitting on dental chair and having dental treatment

Audio: Dentists say “Keep a regular schedule of care during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent future dental issues”

During Children’s Dental Health Month, dentists are urging folks to keep up a regular schedule of care to prevent future dental issues, unless they live in an area with uncontrolled or high community spread of COVID-19.  By age five, nearly half of all children have at least one cavity – but in the last year, […]

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Audio: House Budget Committee Chairman says Missourians should NOT be taxed on COVID stimulus checks

The House Budget Committee chairman says Missourians shouldn’t be taxed on federal stimulus checks. Brian Hauswirth spoke with Committee Chairman Cody Smith.     House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith of southwest Missouri’s Carthage says under the state’s tax code, federal stimulus checks related to COVID are subject to personal income tax. Smith says Missourians […]

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Woman first in the nation charged with misappropriating monies designed for COVID medical provider relief

A Michigan woman was indicted on allegations that she intentionally misappropriated government funds that were designed to aid medical providers in the treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19 and used them for her own personal expenses. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin of […]

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Trenton woman waives preliminary hearing; Humphreys resident pleads guilty to passing bad check

A Trenton woman has waived a preliminary hearing in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. Stefanie Garma has been charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia as of February 1st. She was also accused of three misdemeanors including resisting or interfering with an arrest, detention, or stop; private peace disturbance, and another count […]