United States Supreme Court (Phot credit Laura Olson - States Newsroom)

U.S. Supreme Court considers new limits on abortions in Mississippi case

(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 […]

Prison Sentence News Graphic

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 […]

Child Sex Abuse graphic

Marceline man facing four sex-related felony charges involving girl younger than 14

A Marceline man faces four sex-related felony charges after four alleged separate incidents in May and June 2018 involving a girl younger than 14 years of age. Forty-three-year-old James Thurston has been charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy involving deviate sexual intercourse. In […]

Marijuana

Audio: Northwest Missouri State University launches online cannabis course available to anyone

As the state’s medical marijuana industry continues to grow, Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville has launched an online cannabis education program that is available to anyone – not just students enrolled at the school. The school is teaming up with Green Flower, a cannabis education platform, to offer non-credit certifications. Daniel Kalef, with Green […]

Captain Christopher Jolly

Captain Christopher Jolly transfers to the Missouri Information Analysis Center

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol announces the following transfer. Captain Christopher S. Jolly, director of the Criminal Justice Information Services Division, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, transferred to the Missouri Information Analysis Center, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, as director effective November 1, 2021. Capt. Jolly was appointed to the Patrol […]

Holiday Parade

Chillicothe Area Chamber Holiday Parade theme for 2021 is “Recipe for a Merry Christmas.”

The Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present the 75th annual Chillicothe Area Chamber Holiday Parade with a theme of “Recipe for a Merry Christmas.” The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and includes floats, bands, vehicles, animals, favorite characters, and, of course, Santa. The parade is organized by the Chillicothe Area Chamber […]

Photo of Kansas City, Missouri Metro area (Photo Courtesy of Pixabay)

Feds seize property of Kansas City area companies accused of COVID relief fraud

(Missouri Independent) – The federal government has seized two vehicles and is threatening to seize a lake house, allegedly purchased illegally with COVID-19 relief money by a Kansas City-area businessman. The property was seized from several real estate companies incorporated in Kansas by Joseph Campbell, with most operating under a version of the name Titan […]

Higher Education (college)

Free online learning now available to Missourians

The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development and the Office of Workforce Development are expanding their partnership with the online learning platform Coursera, to offer free, online education opportunities to Missourians. Coursera partners with more than 200 of the world’s leading university and industry educators to offer courses teaching job-relevant skills in fields […]