Second Amendment Preservation Act Graphic

Department of Justice asks court to block Missouri’s ‘Second Amendment Preservation Act’

(Missouri Independent)  – A Missouri law prohibiting state and local police from enforcing certain federal gun laws has already undermined drug and weapons investigations, the U.S. Department of Justice argued in documents filed Wednesday in Cole County Circuit Court.  As part of an ongoing lawsuit set for a hearing Thursday afternoon, the Justice Department is asking Cole […]

Medicaid

Lawmakers say special session likely unneeded to fund Missouri Medicaid expansion

(Missouri Independent) – Legislative leaders of both parties said Tuesday that a special session is likely not needed to appropriate additional funds following a court order to begin covering Missourians who are eligible under voter-approved Medicaid expansion. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence, and Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis and […]

Cole County Judge Jon Beetem (Screenshot courtesy KRCG-TV)

Judge orders state to immediately allow Missourians to enroll in expanded Medicaid

(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri Department of Social Services must allow newly eligible residents that qualify for benefits under voter-approved Medicaid expansion to enroll and cannot impose greater restrictions on them, a Cole County judge ruled Tuesday. Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem sided with the plaintiffs who urged him to allow Medicaid expansion to take […]

Desks in classroom of school or education or student

Missouri agency begins implementation of new law to regulate unlicensed boarding schools

(Missouri Independent) – Unlicensed youth residential facilities across Missouri are expected to submit materials notifying the state of their existence by mid-October, but background checks for facility staff required under a new law likely won’t be completed by that time. That’s because the Department of Social Services (DSS) is still working to make hires in […]

Students walking at school

Motorists are reminded to watch for students as school starts in just a few weeks

Students across Missouri are preparing to begin their 2021-2022 school year. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds drivers to be vigilant always, but especially near school zones, playgrounds, bicycle paths, and crosswalks when schools are in session. Expect pedestrian and bicycle traffic to increase near schools on days where the weather is good. When schools […]

Accident-Crash graphic

Two injured in crash north of Winigan

The Highway Patrol reports two individuals sustained minor injuries when one pickup truck struck another two miles north of Winigan the morning of July 30th. A juvenile from Green City was treated at the scene, and 75-year-old Damon Christ of Winigan was to seek his own treatment. The truck the juvenile drove traveled north on […]