Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority website or MSASBDA

Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority announces funding of projects

The Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority announced it has invested more than $2 million in projects that increase the distribution and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel in the State of Missouri. Expenses incurred during the construction, installation, upgrade, or retrofit of fuel dispensers/pumps, storage tanks, and other infrastructure located in Missouri […]

Hospital Bed (Photo by Frederic Köberl on Unsplash)

Legislators weigh blocking COVID visitor restrictions at Missouri hospitals, nursing homes

(Missouri Independent) – State Rep. Ed Lewis had just hours to say goodbye. In March 2020, his 89-year-old mother had to go to the hospital after suffering from a fall. Lewis’ sister was their mother’s primary caregiver, but in the pandemic’s first days as hospitals restricted visitors, family members weren’t allowed to stay with her. Lewis […]

Judge gavel and money on brown wooden table. Many hundred dollar bills under judge malice on court desk. Judgement and bribe

Missouri Attorney General obtains judgment and full restitution for victims in “Lantern Fest” lawsuit

Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced the entry of a consent judgment against Happy Fun Events, LLC, Owen Spencer Hunn, and Martha Hunn. The Hunns owned Happy Fun Events, a Utah-based company, that put on “Lantern Fest” events around the country. Happy Fun Events had scheduled an event in Jefferson County for November 2018 that it […]

Budget Graphic

Record Missouri surplus likely to grow under $46.5B House budget plan

(Missouri Independent) – The biggest state budget in Missouri history could also leave the biggest surplus in state history when the next fiscal year ends. The Missouri House on Thursday sent 15 appropriation bills to the state Senate, one supplemental spending bill for the current fiscal year, and 14 spending $46.5 billion in the coming year. The […]

Buddy Hannaford Final

Obituary: Buddy “Edward Gaines” Hannaford

Buddy “Edward Gaines” Hannaford, age 78, died peacefully after a brief illness April 5, 2022, in The Living Center in Marshall, Missouri. A Celebration of Buddy’s Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 14, 2022, at First Christian Church, 130 N. Jefferson Ave., Marshall, MO  65340.  Rev. Randal DeMasters will officiate.  Burial will […]

Crystal Bupp New City Administrator Milan 2022 final

Crystal Bupp named as new City Administrator in Milan

The Milan City Council voted on Monday, April 4, 2022, to authorize an employment agreement with Crystal Bupp as the city’s next city administrator, effective April 6, 2022. “The City of Milan welcomes Crystal as our next city administrator,” said Mayor Andy Herington. “Crystal’s institutional knowledge of our community, experience, and diverse skill set will […]

Coronavirus or COVID-19 Testing news graphic

Missouri Supreme Court declines to immediately hear appeal of COVID ruling

(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a request by five counties and health departments to quickly hear arguments and review a case that they say “upended the longstanding public health framework” in Missouri. The decision means an appeal of a Cole County judge’s November ruling will have to first go through […]

Bull Elk

Missouri Department of Conservation sets 2022 elk and bear seasons with permit applications in May

The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer five permits to hunt bull elk in Missouri this fall with at least one permit designated for qualifying area landowners and the remaining permits for the general public. MDC will also offer 400 permits for the taking of a maximum of 40 black bears during the second Missouri […]

Grundy Electric Youth Leadership Program (GEC)

Grundy Electric announces the 2022 Youth Tour and CYCLE winners

Grundy Electric Cooperative announces area youth selected from local school districts to attend a summer leadership conference. Students submitted applications describing their community involvement, school activities, achievements, references, and a brief essay. Each finalist was interviewed by a panel of judges from the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives and North Central Electric Cooperative of Milan. […]

Prison Sentence

Judge sentences Missouri woman to 9-1/2 years in federal prison on drug and gun charges

Kietra R. Studdard, age 44, of Fenton, Missouri appeared before United States District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk and pleaded guilty. Studdard was sentenced to 115 months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  […]

Armed Robbery Graphic

Missouri man and woman indicted for armed robbery of banks and businesses

A Missouri, man and woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to commit armed robbery at four businesses and two banks in six different cities. Drake Adam Stockton-Kenney, 30, of Columbia, and Mary Catherine Sumpter, 28, of Moberly, were charged in an eight-count indictment returned under seal […]

State Representative Rusty Black

State Representative Rusty Black on this session in the House of Representatives, maps and re-election

The Missouri General Assembly has been on spring break this week and will reconvene March 21st. State Representative Rusty Black of Chillicothe says he thinks the House of Representatives did good work in the first part of the session.     Black is in his sixth year as a State Representative. He enjoys being involved […]

Demonstrators stand outside of the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City (Photo by Tessa Weinberg - Missouri Independent).

Medicaid enrollment backlog persists as advocates say Missouri could be doing more

(Missouri Independent) – Applying for health insurance through Medicaid expansion took Raven Cole just 10 minutes. But the wait to see if she’s approved has dragged on for months. The 23-year-old legal assistant applied for coverage, “well over two to three months ago.” “And I haven’t heard anything back,” Cole said. Cole is one of […]

Grundy County Commission Sign

Grundy County Commission fills unexpired term on Jefferson Township Board

The Grundy County Commission on March 15th made an appointment for a one-year unexpired term on the Jefferson Township Board. Rocita Hutson will fill the position previously held by her husband Eugene Hutson, who died in January. Commissioner Don Sager notes Rocita Hutson’s term will go until April 2023. Shelbi Becker with the state auditor’s […]

Fraud

Missouri Attorney General charges car salesman with consumer fraud

Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office has charged Marcus James Hill of Lebanon, Missouri, with thirteen violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act in relating to his two car dealerships, Variety Auto Sales and Hilltop Auto Sales. Charged in Laclede County, Hill faces thirteen felony counts of deceptive business practices. The charges allege […]

Prison Sentence

Missouri man sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for producing child pornography

United States District Court Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced Scott Reinhardt II, age 36, to 25 years in federal prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release for the production of child pornography.  Reinhardt previously pleaded guilty in December 2021.  According to the plea agreement, between the dates of February 1, 2020, and […]