(Missouri Independent) – Missouri voters on Tuesday repealed a constitutional amendment they enacted in 2018 that would have required legislative districts be drawn to ensure partisan fairness. They replaced it with one that critics contend could forgo the use of total population to draw districts and instead exclude all non-voters, specifically children and non-citizens — tilting the political […]
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees approved multiple personnel-related items on Tuesday evening, October 27th. Hirings included Shiann Campbell of Edgerton as full-time Campus Store Associate—Retail at $11.01 per hour. She began the position on October 19th. Zane Robinson of Trenton was hired as a full-time IT Helpdesk Specialist at $14.65 per hour. […]
(Missouri Independent) – For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the Department of Health and Senior Services made some — but not all — of its data on the coronavirus outbreak available to download this week. In a new tab on its website, DHSS now includes accessible data breaking down tests, cases, and […]
A three-day jury trial has been scheduled in Harrison County for a Columbia woman charged with three felonies after a shooting in Unionville in December. Online court information shows the trial for 23-year-old Victoria Hope Larsen is set to start March 30th. A pre-trial conference is set in Putnam County on February 17th. Larsen is […]
The Missouri labor market’s recovery resumed in September 2020. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 13,000 jobs over the month, and over-the-year job losses from COVID-19 shutdowns dropped below 125,000. Missouri’s smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate went down by 2.1 percentage points in September 2020, decreasing to 4.9 percent from an August 2020 rate of 7.0 […]
About 96% of people incarcerated in Missouri eventually return home to our communities. More than 15,000 Missourians are released from state prisons each year. To help boost their chances of success, the Missouri Department of Corrections partners with fellow state agencies and community nonprofit organizations to build a network of support in areas such as […]
Attorney General Schmitt announced an update to a global settlement framework agreement between state attorneys general, local subdivisions, and the opioid manufacturer Mallinckrodt (MNK), its subsidiaries, and certain other affiliates. Under the new settlement, MNK will pay $1.6 billion into a trust as described below. MNK is currently the largest generic opioid manufacturer in the […]
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) says more than 1,400 individuals have already enrolled in a training program to become a K-12 substitute teacher. DESE spokesperson Mallory McGowin tells Missourinet about 200 of the candidates have completed all other necessary requirements to be certified – an application and a background check. On September 3, […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, along with a coalition of state attorneys general, today announced a $39.5 million multistate settlement with Anthem stemming from the massive 2014 data breach that involved the personal information of 78.8 million Americans. Through the settlement, Anthem has reached a resolution with the 43-state multistate coalition. Missouri will receive $1,841,839.64 […]
The Green Hills Recreation Association board of directors recently met to discuss the upcoming 2021 basketball season. After a lengthy discussion, the board reports it will not be feasible to host the recreation league play of basketball in January and February of 2021. Board president, Taya Ray, cites the lack of access to facilities due […]
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released an audit of Jackson County government that found a lack of transparency in how the county spent millions of taxpayer dollars on legal, lobbying, and other professional services. The audit identified $2.7 million in contracts that were not competitively bid and another $1.3 million in contracts that went years […]
A Polo woman was arrested Thursday, September 10th on felony charges of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia—amphetamine or methamphetamine and driving while revoked or suspended. The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports bond for 37-year-old Julie Mae Ledford is $7,000 cash only, and she is scheduled for the Associate Divison of Grundy County Circuit Court September […]
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office mailed items regarding jury duty to 590 residents Wednesday, September 9th. That included 140 notices for jury duty and 450 notice of potential jury service. Sheriff Steve Cox reports those who receive a notice for jury duty should read and follow the directions as given by the court. There will […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education the evening of Tuesday, September 8th discussed various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the school district. Some of the discussions focused on employee status during the pandemic as related to classification as essential employees. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported the federal government lists teachers as essential, and he believes […]
Two Missourians are on the first season of the CBS television show Tough As Nails. U.S. Marine Corps veteran Kelly Murphy of west-central Missouri’s Warrensburg and St. Louis roofer Lee Marshall are on the show that has allowed them to earn cash by using their bare hands. The show, centering around blue-collar challenges, is an […]
An amended motion for a change of judge and venue was granted in Division One of Putnam County Circuit Court Wednesday, August 25th for a Columbia man accused of shooting and seriously injuring a man in Unionville in December. Online court information shows the Supreme Court was requested to assign a judge and venue for […]
Captain Matthew C. Walz, director of the Water Patrol Division, will retire on September 1, 2020, after over 30 years of service. Walz was appointed to the Missouri State Water Patrol on April 30, 1990, as a communications operator. He entered the Water Patrol Academy on January 2, 1994. After graduating, Walz was assigned to […]
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is testing for new troopers and is encouraging qualified individuals of all backgrounds to apply, and will offer testing at nine different locations in Missouri. Those who successfully complete testing will be eligible to continue in the selection process for the 111th Recruit Class, scheduled to begin training on February […]
The Missouri labor market continued to recover in July 2020, following major job losses due to COVID-19 shutdowns earlier in the year. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 52,200 jobs over the month. Over-the year job losses, though still substantial, have diminished as the economy has gradually reopened. Missouri’s smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to […]
The Missouri Board of Education has voted 6-2 today in favor of temporarily giving substitute teacher candidates an alternative to get certified. The proposal was offered to help reduce an expected shortage of substitutes during the COVID-19 outbreak. Under the plan, candidates can go through 20 hours of state-approved online training or complete the traditional […]
