The Highway Patrol reports the arrest of a Des Moines, Iowa man in Harrison County Wednesday, August 11 on multiple allegations. Twenty-six-year-old Bennie Curtis was accused of felony possession of marijuana of more than 35 grams with the intent to distribute, having drug paraphernalia, and speeding. He was taken to the Harrison County Law Enforcement […]
Tag: intent
Las Vegas man indicted in Missouri for carrying eight pounds of meth aboard bus
A Las Vegas, Nevada, man was indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing more than eight pounds of methamphetamine in his duffel bag aboard a bus passing through Kansas City, Missouri. Reginald S. Thomas Sr., 52, was charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in an indictment returned by a federal grand […]
Missouri man sentenced to 10 years in prison for meth trafficking and illegal firearm
A Missouri man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing methamphetamine and a firearm. Charles D. Kessler, 41, of Ava, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on July 29, 2021, to 10 years in federal prison without parole. On July 2, 2020, Kessler pleaded guilty to one count of possessing […]
Two St. Joseph men indicted for heroin trafficking and illegal firearms
Two St. Joseph, Missouri, men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and for illegally possessing firearms. Roderick A. Hughes, 48, and Franklin T. Hicks Jr., also known as “Frankie,” 40, were charged in a seven-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury […]
Trenton City Council defeats proposed electric rate increase; rejects designation of downtown historic district
The Trenton City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to reject the designation of the downtown historic district as currently written, which would have created a new section in the city code. On a split vote, the city council defeated a proposed increase in the electric system base rate. Narrow approval was given on another […]
Missouri Supreme Court rules voter-approved Medicaid expansion is constitutional
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri must expand Medicaid to 275,000 eligible people who were expecting coverage under a constitutional amendment that took effect July 1, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Thursday. In a unanimous opinion, the court overturned a trial court ruling that the amendment, passed in August 2020 was unconstitutional because it may increase the state’s cost for […]
Missouri Attorney General joins coalition of 26 states in defending second amendment and right to self-defense in SCOTUS
Missouri Attorney General joins a coalition of 26 states to protect Americans’ right to self-defense at the United States Supreme Court. The states filed an amicus brief in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, urging the justices to declare New York’s subjective-issue, or “may issue,” firearm license regime unconstitutional and reverse the […]
Fate of Missouri Medicaid expansion in the hands of the state Supreme Court
(Missouri Independent) – After an eight-year fight over Medicaid expansion, the arguments are over. The question of whether 275,000 people will receive state-paid health care coverage is in the hands of the Missouri Supreme Court. Oral arguments took place Tuesday in an expedited appeal. The seven judges must decide whether Medicaid eligibility will expand, as directed by the […]
Grundy County authorities report the arrest of 3 over the weekend
Four counts have been filed against a man from central Missouri arrested Friday night in Grundy County during a highway patrol traffic stop. Twenty-eight-year-old Bradley Nathan Teal Lybarger appears Tuesday for arraignment in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. Lybarger has been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, listed as heroin. […]
Mexican national sentenced to 6-years in federal prison for $10 million marijuana growing operation in Daviess County
A Mexican national who has been deported seven times after illegally entering the United States was sentenced in federal court for his role in a Daviess County, Missouri, marijuana-growing operation where law enforcement officers seized nearly $10 million worth of plants. Sergio Medina-Perez, 47, of El Monte, California, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg […]
Trenton man already in custody faces new charge
A Trenton man already in custody in Grundy County was arrested on a new felony drug-related charge on July 1st. The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports 48-year-old Patrick Shaun Michael has been charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is $10,000 cash only, and he is scheduled for the Associate Division of Circuit […]
Three Missouri residents indicted for drug trafficking and illegal firearms
Three Missouri residents were indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine after law enforcement officers seized 28 firearms from a residence during the investigation. James Jacob Johnson, 23, Amber Marie Lawson, 36, and Eric Ryan Janes, 36, all of Sedalia, were charged in a five-count indictment returned […]
Missouri Supreme Court: State can’t charge attorney fees for Sunshine Law requests
(Missouri Independent) – In a win for transparency advocates, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that government agencies cannot charge for time attorneys spend reviewing public records that are requested under the state’s Sunshine Law. In a 6-0 decision, the judges ruled that a lower court erred by siding with Gov. Mike Parson in a lawsuit […]
Second District State Representative J. (John) Eggleston plans run for Missouri Senate
Second District State Representative J. Eggleston of Maysville has announced his intention to run for the State Senate in 2022. Other media outlets report Republican Eggleston is seeking the seat currently held by 12th District State Senator Dan Hegeman of Cosby, who is also a Republican. Hegeman cannot run again due to term limits. Senate […]
Relief payments to black farmers on hold amid lawsuits backed by former Trump aides
(Missouri Independent) – Former Trump administration officials and conservative and libertarian nonprofits have launched lawsuits to block federal relief funds aimed at Black and minority farmers—a development that House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott of Georgia calls “an evil system at work here.” Suits have been filed in Florida, Wisconsin, and Texas that says it’s […]
Coalition of lawmakers sound alarm on Biden administration’s plan to redefine “Waters of the United States” or WOTUS
Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO), Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, joined Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC) and other top Republican leaders in outlining their concerns regarding the Biden administration’s intention to undo the Trump administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule. The Biden administration’s recent announcement signaled its intent […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in prison, without parole, for illegal firearms and drug trafficking
A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms that were linked to several shootings. Marck E. Fristoe, 28, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 9, 2020, Fristoe pleaded guilty to one count of […]
Missouri Attorney General opposes reinstatement of overreaching WOTUS rule in Letter to EPA and Army Corps of Engineers
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, opposing their recent move to reconsider the more limited Navigable Waters Protection Rule, a President Trump-era rule that reversed the 2015 Obama-era Waters of the United States rule. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and the […]
As massive livestock operations move in, fighting them gets harder for rural neighbors
(Missouri Independent) – Jeff Jones has lived on his family’s land east of Columbia, Missouri, his entire life. Some of the family’s farms are more than 150 years old. And Jones, who raises cattle and grows row crops, has no intentions of going anywhere. But after years of fighting, his community is home to a […]
Authorities report the arrest of two individuals, another remanded to custody of Grundy County Sheriff
The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of two individuals on June 10 and another individual being remanded to the custody of the sheriff. Twenty-six-year-old Samantha Katherine Persell of Kirksville has been charged with the felonies of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, amphetamine or methamphetamine, and misdemeanor driving while […]