(Missouri Independent) – A bill that would decriminalize needle exchange programs that aim to reduce the spread of infectious diseases was voted out of the Senate General Laws Committee Tuesday. Needle exchange programs allow drug users to swap out used syringes with clean, new ones in an effort to decrease the chances of contracting or […]
Tag: Chris
Kansas National Guard soldier pleads guilty in Missouri court to sexual exploitation of a child
A man serving with the Army National Guard pleaded guilty in federal court to sexually exploiting an 11-year-old southwest Missouri victim to produce child pornography. Christian Sinclair, 21, of Chanute, Kansas, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of the sexual exploitation of a child. By pleading guilty, Sinclair […]
Missouri man sentenced to 13 years in prison without parole for meth conspiracy
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court after law enforcement officers seized more than two kilograms of methamphetamine from his residence. Walter M. Terrell, 37, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 13 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 1, 2021, Terrell pleaded guilty to one count […]
Push for expanded Missouri gambling puts casinos, video operators in opposing camps
(Missouri Independent) – Approving video lottery would produce more than 10 times the new state revenue of sports wagering and drive cash-prize video games of debated legality out of Missouri, a newly updated report contends. The report, prepared by Morowitz Gaming Advisors LLC and Global Gaming & Hospitality Capital Advisors LLC and paid for by companies that […]
Disability advocates say to focus on accessibility in voting reforms
Experts say Missouri ranks low among states when it comes to steps it has taken to improve accessibility in voting. Denise Lieberman, director and general counsel of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, which has a disability-rights committee, said people with disabilities face barriers at all stages of the voting process, from registering to vote to […]
Misinformation fuels false belief that Missouri COVID death figures are being inflated
(Missouri Independent) – On a recent Tuesday evening in southeastern Missouri, John Freeze stood in front of yet another angry group of constituents. Some here believe the number of COVID-19 deaths are being purposefully inflated for financial gain. Among the culprits, in their mistaken view: Hospitals seeking Medicare reimbursements; The federal government, led by Dr. Anthony […]
Two Carrollton teenagers injured in crash on rural county road
The Highway Patrol reports two Carrollton residents sustained serious injuries when a pickup truck struck a ditch in Carroll County Thursday night, February 17th. Passengers 18-year-old Triniti Gibson and 18-year-old Chrissy Wheeler were taken to the Carroll County Memorial Hospital. No injuries were reported for the driver, 21-year-old Chance Wadley of Sandia, Texas. The truck […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole for $4 million meth conspiracy and illegal firearms
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a $4 million drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed more than 520 kilograms of methamphetamine over three years. Christapher Dean Parton, also known as “Big Baby,” 32, of St. Joseph, was sentenced by United States District Judge Greg Kays to 15 years in federal prison […]
American Farm Bureau Federation claims it’s the ‘voice of agriculture,’ Others beg to differ
(Missouri Independent) – This story was originally published as a collaboration between Investigate Midwest and Watchdog Writers Group. The American Farm Bureau Federation calls itself the “voice of agriculture,” a slogan it trademarked in 2007. But as the divide between agribusiness and small farmers has grown in recent decades, a unified voice of agriculture has become harder to […]
Missouri lawmaker admits illegally selling prescription drugs, says it was unintentional
(Missouri Independent) – A Missouri lawmaker facing a 23-count federal indictment for allegedly selling fake stem-cell treatments and fraudulently using federal pandemic relief funds has settled with the state health department, resulting in three-year probation of her narcotics license while admitting to illegally purchasing and prescribing pharmaceutical drugs. The administrative settlement, signed Jan. 28 with the […]
Power pole catches fire causing electrical outage in Milan
A representative from the North Central Missouri Electric Cooperative in Milan reports electricity was out in Milan on Friday morning, February 11 when the top of a power pole caught fire. The pole was located at Infirmary Road and Highway 5 near the Milan Christian Church. Electricity went out at approximately 7 am, and the […]
Trenton Board of Education hears presentation from Trenton Teachers Association on 4-day school week
Joel Hultman with the Trenton Teachers Association presented preliminary research regarding a four-day school week during the Trenton R-9 Board of Education meeting on February 8th. The board took no action on the matter. Hultman reported a survey of teachers showed many wanted more information on a four-day school week. None of the questions specifically […]
Missouri bills would offer incentives for grocery stores, urban farms to eliminate food deserts
(Missouri Independent) – The closure of Save A Lot in Pagedale left a hole in northern St. Louis County. Beyond Housing, a community-building group that serves about two dozen cities in the area had worked through the Great Recession to bring a grocery store closer to low-income residents in a part of the St. Louis area dotted with […]
Governor Parson makes four judicial appointments
Governor Mike Parson announced four judicial appointments to the 3rd, 11th, and 20th Judicial Circuits. Anthony Horvath, of Linn, was appointed as Associate Circuit Judge for Putnam County in the 3rd Judicial Circuit. Mr. Horvath currently serves as the Deputy Judge Advocate General for the Missouri National Guard. He earned a Bachelor of Science in justice systems from […]
Governor Parson appoints temporary acting director of Department of Health and Senior Services
Governor Mike Parson accepted the resignation of Department of Health and Senior Services Director Don Kauerauf. Governor Parson has temporarily appointed Richard Moore to lead the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) as Acting Director. Richard serves as General Counsel for DHSS. The Governor will further evaluate the state’s options in the coming days. Governor Parson released the […]
Missouri Department of Agriculture announces grants for Missouri specialty crop production
The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals for anticipated funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Interested individuals, community organizations, and research institutions working to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Missouri should submit their applications by March 8, 2022. “Specialty crop production plays a big role in Missouri agriculture and […]
Cooperative Response Center to expand to Kirksville, investing more than $1 million and creating 87 new jobs
Cooperative Response Center, a nationwide contact and alarm monitoring center, announced it will open a new facility in Kirksville, investing more than $1 million and creating more than 87 new jobs. The new facility will be CRC’s first Missouri location and allow the company to meet the increasing demand for its services. “This company’s new […]
Members chosen to serve on the Grundy County Industrial Development boards
Members were chosen to serve on the Grundy County Industrial Development Corporation and Grundy County Industrial Development Authority boards on January 31st. Reelected to three-year terms on the Industrial Development Corporation Board were Chris Hoffman, Tim Michael, Brent Wyant, and Scott Weldon. Newly elected to a three-year term was Amy Lewis. Officers elected for the […]
Mobile food pantry visit to Lucerne postponed
A postponement in Lucerne has been announced for this weeks’ mobile food pantry visit because of the expected winter weather conditions this Thursday. The new date for the mobile food pantry from Columbia to stop at the Lucerne Christian Church is Thursday, February 10, 2022. The food pantry stop in Lucerne is usually the first […]
North Central Missouri College Homecoming and Alumni Appreciation Day King and Queen candidates announced
The candidates for the 2022 North Central Missouri College Homecoming and Alumni Appreciation Day have been announced. Festivities will be held on Saturday, January 29th. Women’s basketball takes on North Platte Community College at 3:00 pm and men’s basketball tangles with Ellsworth Community College at 5:00 pm. Nominees for king and queen had to be […]