(Missouri Independent) – U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland made history on Monday when she became the first Native American to ever be confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold a position in a president’s Cabinet. In a narrow 51-40 vote, senators confirmed Haaland, a New Mexico Democrat, to serve as secretary of the interior, where she […]
Tag: gains
States question whether new federal stimulus law rules out tax cuts
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden’s massive pandemic stimulus law pumps a welcome infusion of federal aid into state and local government coffers — but one brief section is raising questions about whether states are barred from cutting their own taxes if they accept the federal help. The Senate added language to the COVID-19 relief package […]
Osborn man charged with murder in relation to Sheriff Andy Clark’s death, bound over to Division One of DeKalb County Circuit Court
An Osborn man charged with second-degree murder in relation to a motor vehicle accident that caused DeKalb County Sheriff Andy Clark’s death had his case bound over to Division One of DeKalb County Circuit Court on Thursday. An arraignment is scheduled for 35-year-old Gary Wayne Downs on April 9th. Downs was also charged with the […]
Owners of Christian reform school in Missouri charged with more than 100 counts of abusing girls
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced in a press conference that his office has filed a total of 102 criminal charges against Boyd and Stephanie Householder, who were the owners and operators of the now-defunct Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding School. Boyd and Stephanie Householder have been arrested and are in custody. […]
Roy Blunt is out. So who’s in? A list of possible Missouri GOP senate candidates
(Missouri Independent) – Roy Blunt’s decision not to seek a third term in the U.S. Senate will have cascading effects across Missouri’s political universe. The state has no shortage of ambitious Republican officials, each of whom can make a legitimate claim at being the strongest candidate. So will the 2022 GOP primary turn into a […]
Senator Hawley along with lawmakers from Arkansas, Tennessee and Nebraska introduce bill imposing sanctions on drug cartels
U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) introduced the Significant Transnational Criminal Organization Designation Act, legislation that would subject certain foreign criminal organizations like drug cartels to sanctions, including immigration, financial, and criminal penalties. The process would be similar to the system used for designating entities as […]
Audio: Statewide MAP testing period extended for Missouri K-12 public schools
Missouri K-12 public school students and teachers are gearing up for statewide tests this year. During today’s Missouri Board of Education meeting, state education Assistant Commissioner Blaine Henningsen says the spring testing period has been extended to June 15. Missouri could offer a fall MAP testing period if districts cannot meet the state’s […]
CDC says fully-vaccinated people can gather without masks, offers other precautions
According to the CDC, if you’ve been fully vaccinated, you can gather indoors with fully-vaccinated people without wearing a mask. The CDC website says: For the purposes of this guidance, people are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 ≥2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or ≥2 weeks after […]
Missouri leads 12 state coalition in filing suit against the Biden administration over massive expansion of federal regulations
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt led a coalition of 12 states in filing suit against President Joe Biden’s administration over a massive expansion of federal regulations through executive order, potentially impacting nearly every aspect of the economy and Missouri household. “Manufacturing, agriculture, and energy production are essential to Missouri’s economy and employ thousands of hard-working […]
Video Interview: Senator Hawley wants separate minimum wage hike and immediate tax credit for blue-collar workers works
Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley voted Friday against adding a minimum wage hike to the current COVID-19 relief bill in the Senate but is calling for a higher minimum wage — and a tax credit for some blue-collar workers. Hawley, in a stand-alone bill, would require companies that make more than $1 billion annually to […]
Every Republican, including Senator Blunt, voted no on $2 trillion budget bill
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement today after voting against Democrats’ nearly $2 trillion budget reconciliation bill. The far-reaching legislation includes $1,400 stimulus checks, $300-per-week jobless benefits through the summer, a child allowance of up to $3,600 for one year, $350 billion for state aid, $34 billion to expand the Affordable Care Act subsidies, and $14 billion for vaccine distribution. […]
Bucklin man charged with sex crimes against 13-year-old girl
A Bucklin man has been charged with two counts of felony statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy, deviate sexual intercourse, with a person less than 14 years of age. Twenty-five-year-old Jaren Tyler Hooten was charged following an investigation by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office and a forensic interview at the North Central Children’s Advocacy Center. […]
Audio: Missouri proposal aims to limit who transgender high school athletes can compete against
A Missouri proposal aims to limit who transgender high school athletes can compete against. Rocheport Republican Chuck Basye wants to let voters decide in 2022 whether the students should be restricted to play in sex-separated sports based upon their biological sex. During a House committee hearing, a few opponents said the Missouri State […]
Missouri man indicted for threatening two members of U.S. House of Representatives
A federal grand jury has indicted a Missouri man for threatening two members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Kenneth R. Hubert, 63, of Marionville, was charged in a three-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Feb. 23, 2021. That indictment was unsealed and made public upon Hubert’s […]
Missouri Attorney General files suit against Jefferson County contractor
Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office has filed a civil lawsuit against Jason Soetebier and Soetebier Contracting LLC of Jefferson County, Missouri. The suit alleges that Soetebier agreed to complete interior and exterior construction projects for various customers in exchange for full or partial upfront payments. In each instance, Soetebier failed to start […]
Audio: Missouri Nurses Association says “It’s more dangerous to be a nurse than a police or corrections officer”
Legislation aimed at protecting Missouri health care employees against a growing number of assaults is backed by the 110-thousand member Missouri Nurses Association. State director Heidi Lucas testifies incidents are happening all the time. Lucas also testifies that her brother, who works in the health care field, has already suffered three concussions this […]