Governor Mike Parson has appointed the Honorable Robin Ransom as the next Judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri. She will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Laura Denvir Stith in early March. “Appointing a judge to the Supreme Court of Missouri is an important duty that I do not take […]
The Trenton City Council took action Monday night on several topics including the adoption of three ordinances as recommended by the Trenton Utility Committee from last week. Toward the end of the council meeting, the discussion focused on what the city can do, if anything, to enforce the cleanup of property at 601 Jefferson Street. […]
A man who was a leader of a $56 million criminal enterprise was sentenced in federal court for his role in the conspiracy that distributed more than 2,600 kilograms (5,732 pounds) of cocaine in the metropolitan area. Jose Luis Armendariz-Rascon, Kansas City, Kansas, also known as “Uncle” or “Rambo,” 40, was sentenced by U.S. Chief […]
An Independence man has been charged in Livingston County with four counts of felony possession of child pornography. Online court information shows no bond is allowed for 33-year-old Zachary Ryan Kerns. A probable cause statement says a search of cloud service URLs on a computer belonging to Kerns using the program Axiom located more than […]
Iowa farmers have been busy with the spring planting season. As operations hire workers for the summer, a nonprofit connects them with aspiring ‘ag’ professionals who could represent the industry’s future labor force. For nearly a decade, the group Practical Farmers of Iowa has carried out its Labor-4-Learning initiative, where participating farms provide on-site training for […]
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio) introduced bipartisan legislation to require states to report data on all child abuse-related deaths and develop recommendations to prevent child abuse deaths from occurring in the first place. The senators’ bill would provide policymakers and public health officials with a clearer picture of the number of […]
In response to catastrophic aquaculture losses due to major winter storms that hit states along the U.S. Gulf Coast in February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced a policy change that makes food fish, and other aquatic species eligible for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised […]
The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Trenton resident on May 19. Forty-six-year-old Tracie Leigh Todd was arrested on a probation violation. Bond was set at $5,000 cash only. She is scheduled for Division One of Circuit Court on June 10. Todd’s original charge was third-degree felony assault. (Photo courtesy Grundy […]
(Missouri Independent) – Republicans in the Missouri Senate should move to shut off debate if a filibuster blocks anti-abortion lawmakers from putting their stamp on provider taxes that fund Medicaid, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said in an interview with The Independent this week. The advice was not, however, well received by the Senate’s Republican or […]
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, announced that they have reintroduced the Safe Home Act to protect adopted children from unregulated custody transfers. This legislation would add UCTs to the federal definition of child abuse and neglect under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. […]
A Fair Grove, Missouri, man who is a member of the Southwest Honkys violent prison gang was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy in which investigators intercepted a shipment of nearly 9.5 kilograms of methamphetamine. William F. Jones, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to […]
A Hamilton man has been charged with two felonies after he allegedly threatened family members with a knife on May 18th. Thirty-year-old Grant Austin Smith faces domestic assault—third degree and unlawful use of a weapon—exhibiting. He has also been charged with misdemeanor property damage—second degree. Bond was set at $25,000 cash only with special conditions […]
Two persons were arrested last night in Harrison County on multiple allegations, including possession of drugs. Thirty-four-year-old Anthony Marshall of Kansas City and 31-year-old Michelle Brown of Belton were taken on 24-hour hold to the Harrison County Law Enforcement Center in Bethany. Marshall has been accused of felony possession of cocaine and marijuana, plus unlawful […]
A Gower man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his 5-month-old son. Dillon Livingston also is charged with child abuse or neglect of a child in the February death. After a court appearance, Livingston is now on house arrest. Reporter Jeremy Shields from Cameron affiliate KMRN has this update. […]
A Coffey man faces two felony charges after he allegedly got into physical altercations with a one-year-old. Twenty-two-year-old Jared Read has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk—first degree—first offense, and abuse or neglect of a child. Bond is $10,000 cash, Supervision Services, and no contact with any minor. Read […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation is set to launch a new canine unit through its Protection Branch this summer. The new unit, consisting of five dogs and their conservation agent-handlers, will be stationed around the state and used as necessary to work throughout Missouri. According to MDC, the capabilities of canines are extensive in conservation-related […]
Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the following promotions. Sergeant Scott A. Ballard, Troop F, will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant and transfer to Field Operations Bureau, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO, effective June 1, 2021. Ballard was appointed to the Patrol on June 29, 2003, as […]
Grundy County’s unemployment rate has dropped from what it was in February. The March jobless rate for Grundy County is 3.4% which is one-half of a percentage point less than February. That’s the same difference in the rate when compared to March of 2020. The most recent rate is based on 148 unemployed out of […]
Eleven public high schools in Missouri are being recognized for helping students plan financially for higher education. In an effort to promote completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid among high school seniors, the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development launched the Show-Me FAFSA Challenge in October 2020. The competition ended […]
(Missouri Independent) – The pathway to renewing provider taxes essential to funding Medicaid before Missouri lawmakers adjourn for the year became much narrower when issues raised by abortion opponents forced removal of the taxes from a health care bill. When a conference committee met to work out differences between the House and Senate on the bill, […]
