United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel sentenced Nicholas M. Ray to a term of 15 years in federal prison. Ray previously pleaded guilty to attempting to persuade or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity and distribution of child pornography in a court appearance held in October 2021. In 2014, Ray was convicted […]
(Missouri Independent) – A bipartisan group of senators is exploring legislation to overhaul how Congress counts Electoral College votes, but backers of stalled voting rights legislation are lukewarm on the effort as a substitute. The Electoral Count Act is an obscure law that has come under recent scrutiny, a year after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. […]
(Missouri Independent) – Gov. Mike Parson proposed massive new spending on infrastructure and college buildings, and still found money to set aside for pensions and future revenue shortfalls, in the budget submitted Wednesday to lawmakers. Missouri will enter the new fiscal year with nearly $3 billion in surplus general revenue, an anticipation of record future tax collections, […]
A ballot initiative in Missouri is seeking to change the way statewide elections are run. Currently, in the Show-Me State, there are party primaries in August, and voters choose between the winners of the primaries in November. The Better Elections initiative seeks to move to what’s known as ranked-choice voting. Rosetta Okohson, a Democratic consultant and co-leader of the […]
(Missouri Independent) – Kansas and Missouri logged their warmest average December temperatures on record last month, according to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Average temperatures over the last half of 2021 were higher than they’ve ever been in either state — and across the country. Meanwhile, despite a devastating cold snap that forced […]
The Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education approved personnel actions on January 12th. Mic Halferty was approved as a substitute and hired to fill the upcoming maintenance position in school year 2022-2023. Samantha Miller was hired to coach elementary basketball. The board approved transferring $50,000 from the General Fund to the Capital Projects Fund. Superintendent Doctor […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced loan interest rates for January 2022, which are effective Jan. 3. USDA’s Farm Service Agency loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment, and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs. Operating, Ownership, and Emergency Loans FSA offers farm […]
The Highway Patrol made arrests on Sunday, January 9, 2022, in Caldwell, Putnam, and Nodaway counties. According to an online report, 39-year-old Keyla James of Hamilton has been accused of felony driving while her license was suspended, speeding, careless and imprudent driving, and having no seat belt. James was taken Sunday afternoon on a 24-hour […]
The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office has added a Spickard woman to its Most Wanted list. The office reports 30-year-old Avery Elizabeth Mock is aware of the recently issued warrant against her for three counts of felony endangering the welfare of a child and refuses to surrender to authorities. Online court information shows Mock’s bond is […]
A Saint Paul, Minnesota man has been charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, stemming from a vehicle accident in Chillicothe on December 14th. Online court information shows 36-year-old Isse Mohamed Hassan’s bond was set at $2,500 cash only, no surety. Hassan has been added to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office’s Most Wanted list. He is described […]
(Missouri Independent) – If school districts want to take advantage of a lower interest rate on bonds, Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is requiring them to certify compliance with a recent court ruling targeting local health orders before his office will approve of the deal. Fitzpatrick detailed the decision he described as “unprecedented” in an interview Wednesday […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education on December 14th heard about the implementation of the SafeDefend system for the district. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported employee training for the system was December 6th. Law enforcement and fire and rescue members were also invited to participate. On-site employees were fingerprinted into the system, and it is now […]
A Missouri, man who was involved in the illegal sale of 15 firearms (four of which were stolen) to a confidential source working with federal agents, has been convicted by a trial jury of illegally possessing and selling firearms and robbery. Mickael N. Oliver, 27, Kansas City, was found guilty on Friday, Dec. 10, of […]
The Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education approved changes to the COVID-19 policy on December 13th. The changes specifically involved shorter quarantine periods. The board also reapproved the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan. The 2020-2021 audit was approved. Superintendent Doctor Lucas McKinnis reports there were no findings or recommendations, and the […]
(Missouri Independent) – Jackson and St. Louis Counties requested Monday that they be permitted to intervene and appeal a recent court ruling that they argue has “upended the longstanding public health framework” in Missouri. In a filing submitted Monday afternoon and obtained by The Independent, the two counties asked Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel […]
Two candidates have filed for the Trenton R-9 Board of Education for the April 5th election. Incumbent Dorothy Taul and Jeffrey Spencer have filed for the three-year term positions. There are three open positions with two having three-year terms, and the other is a one-year term. Candidate filing at the Trenton R-9 District Office will […]
Chillicothe police report an investigation led to one person being taken to jail early Sunday morning after officers observed someone inside a closed business in the 1100 block of Walnut Street. While awaiting additional officers to arrive at the scene, police said the individual got into the vehicle parked outside of the business and proceeded […]
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 […]
After admitting to illegally having several thousands of rounds of ammunition in Missouri, among other crimes, a member of the Proud Boys extremist group is set to serve 87 months (7.25 years) in prison. Jonathan Cuney of New York state said he bought the ammunition at a Columbia, Missouri firearms store through a […]
Unionville’s Winterfest will be held Saturday, December 4, 2021, around the town square. The festival kicks off at 2 p.m. with a Local Author Reception in the Putnam County Library. The two-hour reception features authors Doris Bland, Carl Schnelle, Melissa Hedrick, Linda Couchman, Enfys McMurry, Julie Brundage, and the Varner family. They will be answering […]
