Drug distributors Johnson and Johnson reach settlement in opioid case with state of Missouri

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt today announced that his office has received a term sheet from Johnson and Johnson and multiple distributors (McKesson, Amerisource Bergen, and Cardinal Health), setting the stage for the largest victim-centric settlements the State of Missouri has ever seen and tentatively securing roughly just over half a billion dollars of funding […]

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Southern Missouri man charged with bank robbery

A Missouri, man who was identified when his photo was broadcast by local TV stations was charged in federal court today with bank robbery. Charles Edgar King Jr., 56, of Springfield, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday, July 20. His initial court appearance was […]

Quail standing on a log

Blunt sponsors bipartisan senate effort to protect wildlife

U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Martin Heinrich (N.M.) introduced the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) of 2021 to invest in proactive, on-the-ground conservation work led by states, territories, and Tribal nations to support the long-term health of fish and wildlife habitat all across America. “Missouri is home to some of the best hunting, […]

Wanted by the FBI: John Doe

FBI seeking assistance in identifying unknown male who may have information regarding a child victim

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking the public’s assistance with obtaining identifying information regarding an unknown male who may have critical information pertaining to the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation. Photographs and an informational poster depicting the unknown individual, known only as John Doe 44, are being disseminated […]

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USDA announces dates for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands signups

Agricultural producers and landowners can apply for the Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands signup from today until August 20. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated signup options to provide greater incentives for producers and increase the program’s conservation and climate benefits, including setting a minimum rental rate and identifying two national priority zones. […]

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Missouri State Auditor releases audit of Henry County

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit of Henry County, located in western Missouri. The audit received an overall rating of “good”, an improvement since a 2015 audit that found several reoccurring issues throughout county government. The audit made recommendations to improve financial oversight in the Prosecuting Attorney’s office. The audit also recommended […]

Fiber Optic Internet Access

University of Missouri Broadband Initiative outlines community-driven process for local expansion

Adoption of broadband has the potential to boost a community’s economic growth and quality of life. But in much of Missouri, especially rural areas, the high-bandwidth wirelines to connect households and businesses don’t exist. Helping more Missouri communities become digitally connected was the topic of a recent webinar by the University of Missouri System Broadband […]

Labadie Energy Center on Missouri RIver in Franklin County Missouri

Endangered fish, leaching ash ponds: Environmental groups oppose Missouri coal plant permit

(Missouri Independent) – For years, Lisa Zerbe said she biked, rode horses, and ran near Ameren Missouri’s largest coal-fired power plant in Franklin County because she “naively believed” state environmental regulators were protecting citizens from pollution.  Now, she won’t.  “It is truly a disheartening feeling of betrayal from an agency in my younger years I […]

Deadly Plane Crash

Two killed in small plane crash near Lamoni, Iowa

The Associated Press reports an Omaha, Nebraska businessman was one of two people killed in a small plane crash near the Lamoni, Iowa Municipal Airport on July 1st, according to the man’s brother. Kevin Paladino told the Omaha World-Herald that 54-year old Dave Paladino was flying the single-engine Cirrus SR-22 that crashed, killing him and […]

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USDA, FCC, and NTIA announce interagency agreement to coordinate broadband funding deployment

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced an interagency agreement to share information about and coordinate the distribution of broadband deployment federal funds. In accordance with the Broadband Interagency Coordination Act, the respective Cabinet and agency leaders announced that their agencies will […]

Nursing Shortage

University of Missouri study says 97 of 114 Missouri counties have nursing shortage areas

While the United States faces a nationwide nursing shortage, a recent study at the University of Missouri found rural Missouri counties experience nursing shortages at a greater rate than the state’s metropolitan counties. In addition, the study found rural Missouri counties have a higher percentage of older nurses nearing retirement, which could have a severe impact on […]

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Lawmakers introduce Bill to improve housing services for survivors of human trafficking

U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Dick Durbin (Ill.), as well as U.S. Representatives Joyce Beatty (Ohio) and Ann Wagner (Mo.), introduced legislation that would commission a study reviewing current homelessness and housing services for survivors of trafficking. “We can […]

Coronavirus News Graphic

Multiple health departments notified of COVID positive individuals who attended Ashes to Beauty Conference

The Mercer County, Grundy County, and Tri-County health departments have been notified of COVID-19 positive individuals who attended the Ashes to Beauty Conference in Roach, Missouri on June 4 through 6. The staff members of the health departments are working together to identify, isolate, and quarantine individuals who may have been exposed. It is recommended […]

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Missouri Department of Agriculture announces 2021 Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced that the Missouri Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is up and running for the summer. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services, the SFMNP assists low-income seniors in obtaining fresh, Missouri Grown produce and generates more than $200,000 for the farmers’ market community. Through the […]