Prison Sentence

Former Missouri corrections officer sentenced to prison for smuggling contraband into jail

A former corrections officer at the Jackson County Detention Center was sentenced in federal court for taking bribes to smuggle illegal drugs to inmates of the facility. Daniel Coach, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to one year and two months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Coach […]

Meth with police banner

Missouri man sentenced to 13 years in prison, without parole, for meth conspiracy

A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Darrell Lynn Ferguson, 57, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 13 years and one month in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 6, 2021, Ferguson pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy […]

North Mercer School District Website V1

North Mercer Board of Education reorganizes after election, offers contracts to staff

The North Mercer R-3 Board of Education offered contracts for a principal, a Communication Arts teacher, and non-certified staff members April 11th. Wade Hall was offered the contract for the district’s preschool through 12th grade principal. He is currently the Jamesport High School/Middle School principal. Cassie Moore was offered the contract for seventh through 12th […]

Mosaic Life Care Foundation Website

Mosaic Life Care Foundation awards CollaborACTION grant to Second Harvest Food Bank and St. Joseph Youth Alliance

Mosaic Life Care Foundation is awarding a CollaborACTION Grant worth $50,000 to a collaborative project between the Second Harvest Community Food Bank and St. Joseph Youth Alliance. The grant will assist the two organizations in creating and implementing the First Course Culinary Academy. The academy will offer a culinary training program for opportunity youth, ages […]

Audio: Missouri could have a registry for convicted murderers on probation or parole

Missouri could have a registry for convicted murderers on probation or parole. The state House has given initial approval to a bill sponsored by State Representative Lane Roberts of southwest Missouri’s Joplin. Under his bill, they would be removed from the registry after completing parole or probation.     The Democrat from St. Louis, questions […]

Photo of handgun and ammunition (Photo by Thomas Def on Unsplash)

Department of Justice rule cracks down untraceable firearms known as ‘ghost guns’

(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden Monday unveiled the Department of Justice’s plan to regulate untraceable firearms known as ghost guns, as well as announced his nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Department of Justice’s final rule bans the business of manufacturing ghost guns, such as “buy build shoot” kits […]

John Boyd photo courtesy of John Boyd Junior

Democrats file suit to keep two-time Republican candidate off ballot for Missouri House seat

(Missouri Independent) – Democrats want to kick a candidate off the ballot in the race for a Kansas City-area Missouri House seat, claiming the Grandview man who filed in the 36th District contest is actually “a longtime Republican and vocal opponent of the Democratic Party.” John D. Boyd Jr. filed for the seat on Feb. […]

Leadership Northwest Missouri

Leadership Northwest Missouri to once again hold “music jam” as fundraiser

Leadership Northwest Missouri again plans on holding a “music jam” as the event will be raising funds for the organization. This is the program in which community leaders have training and networking opportunities to promote regional growth. Participants are selected from 19 counties. To date, more than 440 persons have taken part in the series […]

Count Basie Orchestra

Count Basie Orchestra to play at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre on April 24

The legendary Count Basie Orchestra comes to the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre for a show on Sunday, April 24, 2022. Featuring members personally chosen by him, more than 30 years after his passing. Pianist and bandleader William James “Count” Basie was and still is an American institution that personifies the grandeur and excellence of jazz. […]

Audio: Missouri bill would let convicted felons run for elected office

Convicted felons are not allowed to run for elected office in Missouri, but a state representative wants to change that. Republican Michael Davis, of Kansas City, is proposing to let convicted felons start running seven years after being released from prison and when their parole and probation time is complete. State Representative Kevin Windham of […]

Missouri Supreme Court

Supreme Court refuses to hear Kim Gardner appeal in Eric Greitens records case

(Missouri Independent) – It will be up to a St. Louis judge to decide how long Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner has to produce records sought by a journalist considered an ally of former Gov. Eric Greitens. The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a last-ditch appeal by Gardner of an order giving her […]

Road Work graphic

MoDOT planned road work in North Missouri for the week of April 11, 2022

The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in North Missouri for the week of April 11 – 17 All road closures and planned roadwork may be viewed on the Traveler Information Map.  Inclement weather may cause schedule changes in some of the planned […]

Prison Sentence News Graphic

Missouri man sentenced to 13 years in prison, without parole, for drug trafficking meth, illegal firearms and carjacking

A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for distributing methamphetamine, carjacking, and illegally possessing firearms after leading officers on three high-speed vehicle pursuits. Charles V. Bai, 29, of Independence,  was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 13 years in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 13, 2021, Bai pleaded guilty to […]

Fentanyl Graphic

Four Missouri men indicted for a fentanyl conspiracy that resulted in overdose death

Four Missouri-area men have been indicted for their role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in an overdose death. Dmitry Cattell, 22, Joseph Burgess, 21, and Jordon Simmer, 20, all of Kansas City, Mo., and Kelton Hill, 22, of Parkville, Mo., were charged in a nine-count indictment returned under seal by a federal […]

Sales Tax

Grundy County sales tax collections for the year increase almost $11,000 across the board

Grundy County sales tax collections for the year through April are up more than $10,900 for general revenue, ambulance, and law enforcement when compared to the same period last year. Collections for 2022 through this April are more than $170,200 for each category. Collections for this month are up more than $10,000 each from what […]

Indictment graphic with gavel and file folder

Three separate indictments handed down in Harrison County involving murder, assault and sex crimes involving a child

Grand jury indictments were filed in Harrison County this week on three men. Forty-one-year-old Travis William Gilliland of Ridgeway has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Bail was set at $250,000 for all counts. A probable cause affidavit accused Gilliland of shooting and killing Lynn Trammell in March. Fifty-eight-year-old Stephen Marshall of […]