(Missouri Independent) – Activists are ramping up the pressure on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to move on his chamber’s version of a voting rights bill, even though there’s no sign there will be enough Republican support to advance it. Alternatively, they’re pressing for an end to the filibuster, though there’s no indication there would […]
Tag: former
Recommendations by Missouri State Auditor not fully implemented by City of Center, after former city clerk misappropriated $300,000
After an audit last year determined the former city clerk of Center misappropriated more than $300,000, State Auditor Nicole Galloway has issued a follow-up report measuring the progress made to implement the audit’s recommendations. While officials in the Ralls County town of 500 have taken some measures to better safeguard public funds, the follow-up report […]
Lawsuit filed by lobbyist accuses MOSERS of violating Missouri Sunshine Law
(Missouri Independent) – A new lawsuit will test whether public agencies can hide how much they are paying attorneys and determine how far they must go in searching for records sought under the Missouri Sunshine Law. The lawsuit, filed Sept. 10 in Jefferson City by lobbyist John Gaskin of Flotron McIntosh, accuses the Missouri State Employees […]
Struggle over tax break for inherited farmland churns below surface in reconciliation bill
(Missouri Independent) – Agricultural groups and farm-state lawmakers notched a significant win when U.S. House Democrats chose not to touch a big tax break for inherited property, avoiding, for now, a confrontation. But opponents remain wary that the idea could come back at any time as Democrats shape their massive $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, and […]
Missouri lawmakers buck national trend by establishing police “Bill of Rights”
(Missouri Independent) – On the final day of the 2021 legislative session in May, Missouri lawmakers passed a “law enforcement bill of rights” that gives officers special legal protections and closes files to police misconduct. When Gov. Mike Parson signed it into law in July, the bill of rights portion was largely overshadowed in press […]
Chillicothe Board of Adjustments to consider two requests
The Chillicothe Board of Adjustments will consider variance applications for a pylon sign and enlarge a garage. The public hearings will be at the Chillicothe City Hall on October 4th at 5:30 in the evening. One variance application is from the Midwest Sign Company to install a new pylon sign with an overall height of […]
Latest judge announced for Missouri Days Marching Festival
William Stevenson graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Master of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising and Textiles, with a special emphasis in ballet costume design. William is a founding member of Eklipse Winter Guard (2001 WGI finalist), and a featured performer with Ubiquity Winter Guard 2004. During graduate school, he spent time as […]
Former paraprofessional at Missouri high school sentenced to 22 years in prison for producing child pornography
A former paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School was sentenced in federal court for producing and distributing child pornography. Steven B. Allen, 46, of Independence, Missouri, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 22 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Allen to spend the rest of his life on […]
Revised voting rights bill rolled out in U.S. Senate, with Manchin on board
(Missouri Independent) – Senate Democrats on Tuesday unveiled a revamped voting rights bill that would expand voter registration as well as create nonpartisan redistricting committees, but the measure is still likely to face an uphill battle in an evenly divided Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will bring the legislation to the floor […]
Two groups from Trenton to travel to Jefferson City for rally at Capitol protesting mandates
Travel and assembly plans have been announced for those planning to attend a rally on Wednesday at the state Capitol, protesting mandates. A spokesman provided information on two departure times from Trenton, with the first group meeting at 5:30 am Wednesday at the former Penney’s parking lot in Trenton. The second group meets at 6 […]
Former Chillicothe resident sentenced to 20 years in prison on child pornography charges
Sentencing has been held for an Independence man on two counts of possession of child pornography in 2018. 33-year-old Zachary Ryan Kerns was sentenced in Daviess County Circuit Court to serve 20 years with the Missouri Department of Corrections. The sentence was listed as 10 years on each count with the terms served consecutively. Circuit […]
Edinburg Baptist Church to celebrate 150th anniversary
The Edinburg Baptist Church will celebrate its 150th anniversary starting next week. A free fish fry will begin at the church on September 18th at 6 o’clock in the evening. Sunday School will be on September 19th at 10 o’clock in the morning. Former Edinburg Baptist Church pastors Rusty Abbott, Stan Rushton, and David Robertson […]
Former Trenton police officer receives probation on statutory rape charge after judge suspends prison sentence
A Trenton man was placed on probation after receiving a prison sentence when he pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree statutory rape of a girl that authorities said was 15 years old at the time of the offense last year. Michael Wilson, who was 25 years old at the time of his arrest in […]
Audio: Stage performances announced at Chautauqua in the Park in Chillicothe
Performers of various genres will provide stage entertainment at Chautauqua in the Park at Simpson Park in Chillicothe this weekend. Chillicothe Area Arts Council Administrator Mary Lou VanDeventer says the first thing to be on the stage in the center of the park on September 11th will be a 20th-anniversary tribute of the September 11th terror […]
Democrats demand LGBTQ exhibit return to Missouri Capitol or other exhibits be removed
(Missouri Independent) – If an LGBTQ history exhibit was removed from the Missouri Capitol because it didn’t get pre-approval from a specific board, then every exhibit on display that didn’t get approved must also be removed, House Minority Leader Crystal Quade argued in a letter to state officials on Wednesday. That would mean, she said, that […]
Missouri will become the last state to enforce federal mental health parity act
(Missouri Independent) – Under a new state law that went into effect late last month, Missouri will become the final state to enforce a federal law designed to ensure mental health care is covered by insurance providers the same as treatments for physical ailments. The provisions were included in House Bill 604, an omnibus insurance bill […]
Roadblocks facing Kevin Strickland’s innocence claim is nothing new for Missouri
(Missouri Independent) – Kevin Strickland was hopeful Thursday was going to be his first step towards freedom after 40 years in prison. A new law that went into effect on Aug. 28 gave Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker a legal avenue to free Strickland, who she says is innocent and wrongly incarcerated. But opposition […]
Former Missouri contractor pleads guilty to seven felony counts of deceptive business practices
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that Christopher Meagher, proprietor of “Metro Restoration,” has pled guilty to seven counts of felony deceptive business practices in Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties. Through Metro Restoration, Meagher transacted with numerous consumers in the Kansas City area to provide home repair and renovation services. Upon taking consumers’ upfront payments, […]