Jobs Report

Missouri jobs report shows unemployment drops to 3.7% in February

Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from January 2022 to February 2022, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 9,200 jobs over the month, with job gains in both goods-producing and service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in February 2022, […]

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson photo courtesy Wikipedia

Ketanji Brown Jackson vows to decide U.S. Supreme Court cases from a ‘neutral posture’

(Missouri Independent) – Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson began her four-day confirmation process to become the nation’s first Black female associate justice on Monday, listening to hours of opening statements from Senate Judiciary Committee members before giving her own. In her first public remarks since President Joe Biden nominated her last month, Jackson, who grew […]

Smithfield Food Logo

Smithfield Foods contributes $2 million to Ukraine crisis relief efforts

Smithfield Foods, Inc. today announced cash and in-kind donations totaling $2 million to crisis relief efforts aiding the citizens of Ukraine and those seeking refuge in surrounding areas. In response to escalating violence in Ukraine, Smithfield will expand ongoing refugee relocation and aid assistance underway through its operations in Central Europe with $250,000 donations to […]

Illegal Firearms and firearm theft

Irondale, Missouri man sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by convicted felon

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Eli B. Rawlins, age 35, of Irondale, Missouri, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for the offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Rawlins appeared for his plea and sentencing hearing today before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. at the federal courthouse […]

Demonstrators stand outside of the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City (Photo by Tessa Weinberg - Missouri Independent).

Medicaid enrollment backlog persists as advocates say Missouri could be doing more

(Missouri Independent) – Applying for health insurance through Medicaid expansion took Raven Cole just 10 minutes. But the wait to see if she’s approved has dragged on for months. The 23-year-old legal assistant applied for coverage, “well over two to three months ago.” “And I haven’t heard anything back,” Cole said. Cole is one of […]

Coronavirus or COVID-19 Death

Three health departments report on new COVID-19 cases; two COVID-19 related deaths reported by Caldwell County

A report from the Grundy County Health Department released Tuesday night shows a dozen cases of COVID-19 in the past seven days. The report indicated 11 cases were active. In the past two years, Grundy County has experienced 2718 COVID-19 cases. 68 deaths have been attributed to COVID for Grundy County. Two COVID-19-related deaths have […]

Class Action Lawsuit Graphic

St. Louis jail inmates file class action lawsuit alleging guards torture them with mace

(Missouri Independent) – Inmates at St. Louis’ primary jail filed a federal class-action lawsuit Tuesday accusing guards of torture with mace and depriving them of water for days. The inmates are represented by a team of attorneys from the MacArthur Justice Center, ArchCity Defenders, the SLU Law Legal Clinics, and Rights Behind Bars.  “They spray chemical agents […]

White House in Washington DC (Photo by Edoardo Cuoghi on UnSplash)

U.S. Senate Republicans attack Biden on energy costs, regulations after new inflation report

(Missouri Independent) – Nebraska’s Deb Fischer and fellow U.S. Senate Republicans slammed President Joe Biden on Thursday for the sharp rise in consumer prices, calling for policy shifts to increase U.S. energy supply, roll back regulations and curb spending. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday the consumer price index rose nearly 8% in February over the […]

Murder For Hire News Graphic

Grand jury indicts former Missouri school principal and co-conspirator in murder for hire plot

A federal grand jury indicted Cornelius M. Green and Phillip J. Cutler on March 9, 2022, for conspiracy to commit murder for hire and murder for hire that resulted in the death of Jocelyn Peters and her unborn child in 2016.     The indictment alleges that Green and Cutler had a longstanding and close friendship […]

Prison Sentence

Missouri man sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for producing child pornography

United States District Court Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced Scott Reinhardt II, age 36, to 25 years in federal prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release for the production of child pornography.  Reinhardt previously pleaded guilty in December 2021.  According to the plea agreement, between the dates of February 1, 2020, and […]

Green Hills Women's Shelter Website 2022

Details released regarding closure of Green Hill’s Women’s Shelter

More information has been released about the Trenton Green Hills Women’s Shelter’s restructuring. Executive Director Lisa Dicks reports one reason for restructuring is because when the shelter moved from the “typical-style residential home” into the new structure, the service delivery model stayed the same. She says that as time passed, needs have changed. Other things […]

Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick (photo by Tim Bommel - Missouri House Communications)

Schools left ‘scrambling’ after Missouri treasurer tied bond deals to Attorney General’s COVID demands

(Missouri Independent) – It was just after 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10, when the forms arrived from the state treasurer’s office. Without warning, and with little explanation, school superintendents discovered they were now required to certify their district had complied with Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s demands to drop all COVID-19 mitigation measures, such as […]

Sergeant Christopher L. Cerroni header

Missouri State Highway Patrol announces retirement of Sergeant Christopher Cerroni

Captain Erik A. Gottman, commanding officer of Troop B, Macon, announces that effective April 1, 2022, Sergeant Christopher L. Cerroni will retire with over 29 years of dedicated service. Cerroni was appointed to the Patrol on January 1, 1993, as a member of the 65th Recruit Class. After graduating from the Patrol Academy, he was […]

Run For Office news graphic for elections

Another candidate files for position of Livingston County Clerk

Another candidate has filed for the position of Livingston County Clerk in the August 2nd Primary Election. Jay A. Shirley filed on March 4th for the position. Incumbent Sherry Parks filed on the first day of the filing period, February 22nd. Other candidates who previously filed for Livingston County offices include incumbents Amy Hobbs Baker […]

Delaney Embree and Jordan Jenkins participate in Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum

Delaney Embree and Jordan Jenkins participate in Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum

Delaney Embree and Jordan Jenkins were two of 60 collegiate students nominated to represent North Central Missouri College during the 37th Annual Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values held February 25-27, 2022, in Jefferson City, Missouri. The forum challenges students’ character development by encouraging them to reflect on their decision-making skills, values, […]

Gallatin City Hall

Gallatin Board of Aldermen pursue contract with organization for Daviess County Central 911 and sheriff’s department

The Gallatin Board of Aldermen February 28th approved pursuing a Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System contract with Daviess County Central 911 and the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office. The vote was taken after it was announced City Administrator Lance Rains and Police Chief Mark Richards attended the 911 Board meeting to discuss running MULES in Gallatin […]