Spire Natural Gas Company Van

Critics say Spire Missouri’s warning of natural gas outages a “manufactured crisis”

(Missouri Independent) – As federal energy regulators prepare to decide the fate of a St. Louis natural gas pipeline, Spire Missouri is warning customers their gas service could fail this winter.  Business industry groups and the utility maintain their responsibility to keep customers informed. But environmental groups and some local elected officials — who note federal regulators seem […]

Division One of Circuit Court News Graphic

Court news for Thursday, November 4, 2021 in Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court

Prison sentences were issued on four defendants Thursday in Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court. At a probation violation hearing, evidence was presented and the court found that Juan Gallegos of Spickard had violated conditions of probation. Gallegos was sentenced to eight years with the Missouri Department of Corrections on each of two counts […]

Tractor pulling Nitrogen tank

Uncertain nitrogen prices and supplies may affect application timing

Rising nitrogen prices, uncertain spring supplies, and unseasonably high temperatures may push farmers to apply nitrogen outside of their normal application windows, says University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist John Lory. “We may be in unprecedented times with respect to nitrogen management decisions for the 2022 growing season,” says Lory. “Nitrogen pressures for 2022 […]

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt

Missouri Attorney General joins 17-state effort to protect parents from Biden administration’s “intimidation tactics”

Attorney General Eric Schmitt, on Tuesday, joined a 17-state effort to deter the Biden administration from threatening parents who express their views to school officials on issues regarding their children’s education. “The Biden Department of Justice is weaponizing its resources to go after parents who dare to advocate for their children at school board meetings. […]

COVID-19 or Coronaviru testing

Missouri students can now ‘test to stay’ to remain in classroom after COVID exposure

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri students and teachers identified as being exposed to a coronavirus case in school may now be permitted to remain in class if they continue to test negative for the virus and properly wear a mask. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) updated its school reopening guidance Friday to include the new […]

Garland Joey Nelson Booking Photo

Braymer man charged with murder of Diemel brothers pleads “Not Guilty” to stealing in Caldwell County court

The Braymer man charged with two counts of first-degree murder in Johnson County for the death of two Wisconsin men pleaded not guilty October 12 to a felony stealing charge in Division One of Caldwell County Circuit Court. Twenty-seven-year-old Garland Joseph Nelson waived formal arraignment. The case was continued to November 9th for a plea or […]

Former President Donald Trump (Photo credit Library of Congress)

Trump rails against Democrats, repeats election fraud conspiracies during Iowa rally

(Missouri Independent) – Former President Donald Trump ruminated on election fraud and Democratic wrongdoing during a rally on Saturday while teasing a potential 2024 run. Trump gave a warm greeting to Iowans and touted his win in Iowa in 2020 and his latest Des Moines Register/Iowa Poll numbers. “As disastrous as the Biden administration has been, no […]

Federal Bureau of Investigation

FBI to investigate threats made against school board members, teachers

(Missouri Independent) – The Department of Justice has directed the FBI to meet with local governments and law enforcement to discuss strategies for dealing with increasing threats to teachers and school board members spurred by a conservative backlash against discussions of race in public schools. “Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to […]

Earnest Johnson scheduled to be executed by the State of Missouri today (October 5, 2021)

Missouri executes Ernest Johnson by lethal injection

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri carried out the death sentence of Ernest Johnson Tuesday evening, ending his life with an injection of pentobarbital at the state prison in Bonne Terre. Johnson’s case drew national attention in recent weeks, with a range of public figures — from former Gov. Bob Holden to Pope Francis — urging Missouri Gov. […]

Josh Hawley Courtesy of Missourinet

New bill by Hawley to allow parents to sue big tech, like social media, for harm to children

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced new legislation to make social media companies liable for bodily or mental harm their products cause to children. Senator Hawley’s bill would close the Section 230 loophole protecting these companies and allow parents to sue and obtain damages from social media companies wholly or partly responsible for harm to users under […]