(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee reopened partisan disagreements Monday as members scheduled a vote for April 4 on Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Republicans’ criticisms of Jackson’s record and responses were either untrue or disingenuous. Meanwhile, ranking Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa again raised […]
Tag: House
Hawley to introduce bill to toughen sentences for child porn offenders
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced that he will introduce new legislation to toughen the sentences for child pornography offenders. Senator Hawley said, “This week I will introduce new legislation to get tough on child porn offenders. Dems, the White House & Judge Jackson spent last week saying sentences for child porn offenders are too […]
Trenton City Council addresses employee raises, animal welfare committee and more at Monday meeting
A variety of topics came to the Trenton City Council Monday night for a meeting that had to be moved due to lack of electricity at city hall while TMU spent much of Monday replacing a power pole at the parking lot and getting electricity back on. The council, as the Building and Nuisance Board […]
Planned power outage underway to replace power pole in the downtown Trenton area
Power will be off at City Hall and Green Hills Regional Planning beginning about 8:30 am and will be off most of the day. The Building Board and City Council meeting scheduled tonight will still be held at the regular times. The outage is required to replace a burned pole in the parking lot. Customers […]
Missouri man sentenced to 20 years in prison without parole for meth conspiracy
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine in Howell, Greene, and Texas counties. Luis Ortiz Rodriguez, 39, of West Plains, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 20 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. On Sept. […]
Missouri Fast Track program helps adults get credentials in high-need industries
A workforce development program in Missouri is set to expire in August, but the state Senate passed a bill to make it permanent. The bill is now in the state House. The Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant Program provides full-tuition scholarships to adults 25 and older who want to get a short-term credential or a degree in an […]
New process for asylum cases at the border unveiled by Biden administration
(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration announced Thursday steps to expedite asylum cases at the U.S.-Mexico border in an attempt to resolve a years-long backlog, but policy advocates worry the streamlined process could prevent asylum seekers from obtaining legal representation if their cases are denied. “If somebody is not approved in the first instance, they’re […]
Audio: Missouri Congressman says Biden administration’s sanctions on Russia have come up short
Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says it appears financial sanctions imposed by the United States and the rest of the West are beginning to have an impact on Russia. But Graves says President Biden should have imposed the sanctions long before Russia invaded Ukraine. Graves, a Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, says […]
U.S. to accept 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, levy more sanctions on Russia
(Missouri Independent) – The White House announced a wave of new sanctions against Russia on Thursday while pledging to send more humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and welcome up to 100,000 refugees. The new economic restrictions on Russia and billions more in aid for Ukrainians were detailed as President Joe Biden huddled with the North Atlantic […]
Wallace State Park to host Easter egg hunt on April 9
An Easter egg hunt and an afternoon of fun in the park will be held Saturday, April 9 at Wallace State Park near Cameron. The enclosed shelter house will have nature displays and drawings for prizes from 1 to 3 p.m. At 1 p.m., visitors of all ages can participate in an egg-hunting adventure to […]
Audio: Missouri House gives initial approval to eminent domain legislation for utility purposes
The Missouri House of Representatives has given initial approval to eminent domain legislation for utility purposes. Lawmakers have been working for years to pass a plan like this due to a high-voltage power transmission line project planned across eight northern Missouri counties. Under the bill, in eminent domain proceedings, just compensation for agriculture or horticulture […]
Missouri House approves bill to legalize sports wagering
(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri House gave first-round approval Wednesday to a bill that would allow betting on major college and professional sports. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Dan Houx, R-Warrensburg, is the proposal preferred by the casinos and major sports teams, who would all get a piece of the action. A major part of the […]
Juvenile who stole car and went joyriding with friends in the report from Livingston County Sheriff
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office has released information on incidents so far this month. Sheriff Steve Cox reports the juvenile office is handling a matter involving a juvenile too young to be driving and allegedly stealing a relative’s vehicle. The sheriff says Sergeant Dustin Woelfle traveled on Bryan Street on March 2nd when a vehicle […]
Audio: Bill would add oversight on money flow from medical pot program to Veterans Commission
The House Veterans Committee heard from bill sponsor Jason Chipman, a Republican from Steelville in southeastern Missouri. He wants to ask voters to add extra reporting on the tax revenue that comes from legal medical cannabis after the cannabis program pays its bills. The rest of the tax revenue is supposed to go to the […]
Audio: Missouri House committee removes controversial provisions from abortion bill
The Missouri House Committee on Government Oversight has voted in favor of legislation that would criminalize the importing, distributing, or administering of abortion-inducing drugs. Committee chair, state Representative Jered Taylor of Nixa, explains two key provisions were removed from the bill. A fetus cannot survive an ectopic pregnancy and it can put the […]
New Eric Greitens abuse allegations reignite GOP fears of losing Missouri Senate seat
(Missouri Independent) – The prospect of Eric Greitens capturing the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in Missouri was already terrifying to his party’s leaders. He had been forced out of the governor’s office in 2018, resigning to settle felony charges and avoid impeachment by a Republican legislative supermajority. Yet despite all that, he’s consistently led […]
Republicans push work requirements for coverage under Missouri Medicaid expansion
(Missouri Independent) – When the Good Samaritan Care Clinic opened in 2006 in Mountain View, only about 5% of the free clinic’s clients were eligible for Medicaid. When it closed late last year, that number had risen to 70%, Dr. John Roberts, one of the clinic’s founders, told the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. Medicaid […]
Three file for newly-created 2nd Missouri House District
Three candidates have filed for the newly-created 2nd Missouri House District seat, subject to Primary and general elections this year. The latest filing was March 15, when Lois Pontius of Ridgeway filed for the Democratic party nomination and is the only name listed. Filing on opening day in the Republican party for 2nd Missouri House […]
Trenton Fire Department responds to fire on Merrill Street
The Trenton Fire Department reports yard waste was being burned at 1436 Merrill Street but got out of control, due to windy and dry conditions on Sunday. A report from firefighter Wayne Brown said the fire extended to the side of the backyard. There was some damage to the siding on the owner’s house due […]
Audio: Missouri bill would create grant program to incentivize K-12 learning based on mastery of skills
Missouri’s current K-12 education system goes by chronological age and time in class. State Representative Doug Richey, a Republican from western Missouri’s Excelsior Springs, wants to award grants to eligible school districts to provide competency-based learning. This type of learning is based on students showing that they have learned the knowledge they are expected to […]