Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (Photo Courtesy Missouri AG Office)

Missouri’s largest counties seek to appeal ruling overturning local health orders

(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 […]

Crime and Courts

Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court news for Thursday, December 9, 2021

Several defendants received prison sentences or probation on Thursday in Grundy County Circuit Court. Mercer County Associate Judge Matthew Krohn was appointed to preside during the proceedings in Division One of Circuit Court. Princeton resident James LeRoy Houk saw his probation revoked on two drug-related counts and was sentenced to four years with the Missouri […]

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt

Missouri Attorney General issues statement on St. Louis County rescinding their “Illegal mask mandate”

Counsel for County Executive, Sam Page, and St. Louis County announced at a court hearing that the defendants are “rescinding” their illegal mask mandate in St. Louis County. “My Office has been on the forefront of fighting mask mandates across the state, and we have vigorously litigated against St. Louis County’s illegal mask mandates. Attorneys […]

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt

Missouri Attorney General asks parents for help in identifying school districts continuing to violate Cole County court order

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is asking parents for help in identifying school districts that are continuing to violate a recent Cole County Circuit Court order. Parents are urged to reach out directly to the Attorney General’s Office if their school district is continuing to enforce mask mandates, quarantines, and other similar COVID-19 public health […]

Guilty Plea news graphic

Missouri doctor pleads guilty to making false statements to obtain insurance coverage for fentanyl prescription

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 […]

Missouri Attorney General Seal and Gavel

Missouri AG issues letters to health authorities and school districts following recent Cole County ruling relating to health orders

Following the Cole County Circuit Court’s decision in Robinson v. Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt this morning sent a letter to local public health agencies and school districts informing them of the decision and requiring them to stop enforcing any mask mandates, quarantine orders, or any other public […]

Prison Sentence news graphic

Missouri man sentenced to nine years in prison for illegal firearm following high-speed police chase

A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm after leading police officers on a high-speed chase through oncoming traffic and crashing into several police vehicles. Kyle K. Kessler, 35, Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to nine years in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 15, […]

Prison Sentence News Graphic

Former Missouri middle school teacher sentenced to 20 years in prison for illicit sex with her student

A former Missouri, middle school teacher was sentenced in federal court for charges related to enticing one of her students to engage in illicit sex. Amanda Ruth Schweitzer, 42, of Joplin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Schweitzer to 15 years of […]

Prison Sentence

Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in prison for meth trafficking and illegal firearm following high-speed chase

A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing methamphetamine and a firearm. Michael Allen Dicks, Jr., 32, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Dicks pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2021, to one count of possessing methamphetamine to distribute […]