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 […]

Rape news graphic

Cameron man facing charges of rape and child molestation

A Cameron man faces two felony charges in Caldwell County after he allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl last week. Twenty-two-year-old Ja’Quawn Jones has been charged with first-degree rape or attempted rape and fourth-degree child molestation involving a child less than 17 years of age and an offender greater than four years older.  Bond is $500,000 […]

Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

Audio: Hatfield expects decision in Missouri Medicaid expansion lawsuit case in a few business days

Missouri’s Solicitor General says the state Department of Social Services needs two months to implement voter-approved Medicaid expansion. D. John Sauer made his comments Friday to Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem, saying DSS needs more employees and computer upgrades for implementation. Attorney Chuck Hatfield, who represents the three low-income women suing Missouri, disagrees.   […]

2021 City of Chillicothe website 2021

Chillicothe City Council to meet on August 9

The Chillicothe City Council will hold a public hearing to consider an ordinance setting the property tax rates for the city. The hearing will be during the council’s meeting at the Chillicothe Municipal Utilities meeting room on August 9, 2021, at 5:30 pm. The proposed tax levy for all property real, personal, and mixed is […]

Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

Audio: Cole County judge expected to issue final order on Missouri Medicaid expansion today

We’ll learn new details Friday in Jefferson City about how Missouri will proceed with voter-approved Medicaid expansion.     The Missouri Supreme Court’s 14-page ruling includes a conclusion, which requires Friday’s hearing in Cole County Circuit Court. “For the reasons set forth above, the circuit court’s judgment is affirmed only insofar as it overruled the […]

Brandon Gentile

Chillicothe teenager charged in connection with auto theft and stolen firearm

An 18-year-old has been charged following an investigation by the Chillicothe Police Department involving reports of a stolen vehicle and a firearm on August 3. Brandon Gage Gentile of Chillicothe faces felony charges of first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle; second-degree burglary; stealing a firearm, explosive weapon, or ammonium nitrate; attempted second-degree burglary; armed criminal […]

Lawsuit news Graphic

Missouri AG files suit against Kansas City over mask mandate; obtains restraining order, halts St. Louis County mandate

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt today filed a lawsuit to halt the recently imposed mask mandate in Kansas City. The suit, which was filed this afternoon in Jackson County, argues that the mask mandate imposed is unreasonable, unconstitutional, and arbitrary, and capricious. The suit names Mayor Quinton Lucas, the Kansas City, Missouri Health Department, and […]