A Missouri, physician pleaded guilty in federal court to making a false statement to Medicare to obtain insurance coverage for a fentanyl prescription and to conspiring with others to use his DEA registration number to issue Schedule II controlled substances to patients in his absence. Randall Halley, 65, Nixa, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate […]
Tag: government
Controversial bill would have aided Orscheln Products LLC, under scrutiny for contamination
(Missouri Independent) – Two years ago, a company led by an influential Republican businessman faced off with the state’s environmental regulators over whether it needed to do additional testing for a chemical that health officials worried could pose a cancer risk to the company’s workers. The Moberly manufacturing facility, Orscheln Products LLC, is owned by […]
Governor Parson recommends wage increase for all state employees
Governor Mike Parson announced that he will recommend a 5.5 percent Cost of Living Adjustment and $15.00 per hour minimum base pay standard for all state employees across state government. “With many positions across state government facing turnover rates anywhere from 10-100 percent and vacancy rates from 30-100 percent, it is past time for us […]
Two defendants indicted in Missouri during nationwide ‘Money Mule Initiative’
Defendants involved in a romance fraud scheme that victimized a Taney County, Missouri, woman and an email hacking scheme that targeted a program at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., were indicted in federal court in the Western District of Missouri as part of the Department of Justice’s fourth annual Money Mule Initiative. The Money Mule Initiative […]
Governor Mike Parson grants 15 pardons
On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, Governor Mike Parson granted 15 pardons according to Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and are being sent to the individuals. Governor Parson has instructed his legal team to continue reviewing clemency files and […]
U.S. Supreme Court considers new limits on abortions in Mississippi case
(Missouri Independent) – The Supreme Court is weighing potentially sweeping changes to the right to an abortion, after two hours of arguments Wednesday morning on a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court’s conservatives, who hold a 6-3 majority, appeared through their questions to be sympathetic to Mississippi’s arguments […]
Governor Parson makes appointments to various boards; Cameron man appointed to Missouri State Fair Commission
Governor Mike Parson announced five appointments to various boards and commissions and filled two-county office vacancies. Robert Connell, of Troy, was appointed to the Amber Alert System Oversight Committee. Mr. Connell has been with the City of St. John Police Department since 2002 and has continuously advanced through the ranks to his current position as Police Chief. […]
Hawley demands Health and Human Services reinstate religious liberty protections, answers on secret rollback
Following the Department of Health and Human Services November 24 decision to rescind the HHS Office of Civil Rights’ authority to affirmatively protect Americans’ conscience rights pursuant to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Senator Hawley penned a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra demanding he reinstate the protections and provides answers on why the policy was rolled back. […]
Missouri State Auditor gives Wayne County “fair” rating, identifies several concerns in county government
An audit of Wayne County released by State Auditor Nicole Galloway has identified several concerns with county government operations and has given a rating of “fair.” Wayne County is located in southeast Missouri. “Government officials are responsible for safeguarding taxpayer dollars. In Wayne County, our audit found several instances where safeguards were not in place, […]
NCMC hosts legislative forum with four state representatives, one senator, two representatives for federal legislators and president of MCCA
Four state representatives, one state senator, two representatives for federal legislators, and the president of the Missouri Community College Association spoke at a forum in Trenton November 29th. The legislative forum was in Cross Hall on the campus of North Central Missouri College. The speakers were asked to answer one question: What is your perspective […]
USDA accepting applications for loans and Grants to assist those in rural areas in obtaining high-speed internet access
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Department has begun accepting applications for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to help people in rural areas get access to high-speed internet. This announcement comes on the heels of the recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides another nearly $2 billion in additional […]
Judge Daniel Green: Local health orders tied To COVID-19 are illegal
(AP) — A Missouri judge ruled that local health orders imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state are illegal and should be lifted. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled that orders such as quarantines and business closures violate the Missouri Constitution’s separation of powers clause affecting the executive, legislative and judicial […]
Greene County taxpayers footed a $25,000 legal bill in connection with 2017 ballot measure ethics probe
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released the audit of the Greene County Commission that included the involvement of a former Greene County commissioner in a 2017 sales tax ballot measure campaign. Among its findings, the audit found that taxpayers paid more than $25,000 in legal invoices sent to the personal address of now-former Presiding Commissioner […]
Missouri Attorney General files letter with USDA opposing change in proposed fake meat labeling standards
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt earlier this month filed a comment letter during the comment period of a proposed USDA rule change that would affect the labeling of “fake meat” products. The Missouri Attorney General’s Office has been successful in defending a Missouri state statute that prohibits the labeling of “fake meat” products as meat. […]
Immigrants make last-ditch plea for deportation protections, work permits in “Build Back Better”
(Missouri Independent) – Undocumented workers and immigration advocates are pushing for Democrats to keep work permits and protections from deportations in the final version of the $1.85 trillion social spending and climate package that the U.S. House is set to vote on as soon as Thursday night. Those immigration provisions face elimination when the bill […]
Smithfield Foods settlement with feds can’t be used in COVID lawsuits
(Missouri Independent) – Smithfield Foods agreed this week to pay the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration $13,494 to settle a citation for failing to protect its meatpacking employees in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from exposure to the coronavirus last year, but the company didn’t admit it did anything wrong. As such, the settlement can’t […]
Jury convicts two Mexican nationals, living in Kansas City, of distributing 220 pounds of meth
Two Mexican nationals have been convicted by a federal trial jury for their roles in a $2.1 million conspiracy to distribute over 100 kilograms (220 lbs) of methamphetamine in the Kansas City metropolitan area and in northwest Missouri. Juan Guzman, also known as “Flaco,” 40, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Maria De La Cruz Nava, […]
Gallatin Board of Aldermen hold discussion on employee retirement system; police department to organize “Toys for Tots” program
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen on November 8, 2021, discussed the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System. The various retirement options with the program were discussed. Administrator Lance Rains provided a report with the annual costs for the LAGERS program for the City of Albany for the last 10 years. Alderman Carl McBee moved to join […]
Trenton R-9 Board of Education sets filing dates for Board of Education positions in 2022
Teachers of the first quarter were announced at November 9th’s Trenton R-9 Board of Education meeting. They are Rissler Elementary School First Grade Teacher Abby Gott, Trenton Middle School Art Teacher Sheridan Mounce, and Trenton High School American Government Teacher Derek Bloom. Superintendent Mike Stegman noted the board will choose a teacher of the year […]
Missourians encouraged to assist in returning unclaimed military medals
Ahead of Veterans Day, Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is asking Missourians to help return unclaimed military medals and insignia held by the Treasurer’s Office. The Treasurer’s Office currently holds 251 military medals and insignia including five purple hearts, four bronze stars, and more than 100 other service medals. “As we honor and remember America’s military […]