The Missouri Supreme Court is changing trial court proceedings to include safe distancing and more allowances for COVID-19 health concerns. The order issued this week says “The resumption of jury proceedings too early would not only risk the health of the participants, but it could also undermine public confidence in the courts and damage the integrity of […]
Tag: justice
Missouri Congressman introduces legislation intended to prevent police brutality
Missouri Congressman Lacy Clay and a chorus of other lawmakers have introduced sweeping legislation designed to crack down on police brutality problems. Clay, along with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional Black Caucus, want to reign in on police using deadly force and want to require an independent prosecutor for all police killings. Clay, […]
Governor Parson has activated the Missouri National Guard to support local authorities
Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 2011 to declare that a State of Emergency exists in Missouri due to civil unrest. The Missouri National Guard and the Missouri Highway Patrol stand ready to support local authorities. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of George Floyd. We are also saddened by the acts of […]
North Central Missouri College recognizes Outstanding Honor Graduates
The Vicki Wheeler Honors Brunch is held each year to recognize North Central Missouri College Outstanding Honor Graduates for their accomplishments. The NCMC Outstanding Student Award is given to only one student in each degree program annually. Faculty select students based on academic merits, campus involvement, and leadership in the classroom. NCMC was unable to […]
Federal judge throws out workers lawsuit against Smithfield in Milan
A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed on behalf of workers at the Smithfield Foods meatpacking plant in Milan. In a 24-page order Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Greg Kays declined to hear the case, which had alleged that working conditions at the plant have left its workers dangerously exposed to the COVID-19. The […]
Missouri Supreme Court hears arguments on overtime pay case for corrections officers
The Missouri Supreme Court heard remote oral arguments on Wednesday in a high-profile case involving the Cole County circuit court’s 2018 decision to award more than $113 million in overtime pay for Missouri corrections officers. It’s a case that’s been working its way through the court system for eight years, and it’s a case that could […]
Grants available to help local public safety agencies address COVID-19
Public safety agencies in the Western District of Missouri are eligible for more than $3.2 million in Department of Justice grants announced today to aid their response to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19. The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation, will allow eligible state and local and […]
U.S. Attorney urges the public to report suspected COVID-19 fraud
U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison urges the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the coronavirus) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline (1-866-720-5721) or writing to the NCDF email address at [email protected]. The Department of Justice is committed to preventing, pursuing, prosecuting, and punishing individuals and businesses that take advantage of […]
Former Trenton police officer Jennifer Plummer begins work as Livingston County Deputy
Former Trenton Police officer Jennifer Plummer has been announced as the newest deputy sheriff in Livingston County. After graduating from Craig High School in 1998, she graduated at the Law Enforcement Academy at Missouri Western State University in n December 2006 and began working for the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office in February 2007. In 2011, […]
Coordinating Board for Higher Education votes to expand Fast Track eligible programs
Missouri’s Coordinating Board for Higher Education voted to expand the number of eligible programs for the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant during its March 4 meeting. Fifteen new eligible program areas will be added to the Fast Track list for students enrolled beginning fall 2020. Fast Track addresses workforce needs by providing grants to adult […]
Drag queens and supporters rally against proposed drag queen story hour ban
State Representative Ben Baker, R-Neosho, wants to ban drag queen storytime at public libraries. About 300 people, including queens dressed in full drag and LGBT supporters, rallied Saturday at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City against Baker’s bill. Missouri Capitol Police provided security and crowd control. The event included many holding signs like “Knowledge is […]
Third Batch of untested sexual assault kits delivered to lab from St. Joseph Police Department
The third batch of untested sexual assault kits identified by Missouri Attorney General Schmitt’s SAFE Kits Initiative inventory have been delivered to a private lab for testing. The kits were gathered at the St. Joseph Police Department as a “host agency” and sent directly to the private lab to preserve the chain of custody and […]
Audio: Former prison guard at the Chillicothe women’s prison accused of sexual assault for the 5th time
A former prison guard at the Chillicothe women’s prison has been accused once again of sexual assault. The accused worked as a guard between 2008 to 2018, at the 1,600 person facility and is accused for the fifth time of assaulting an inmate, according to Kansas City station KCTV. The Department of Corrections has not […]
Bethany native promoted to commanding officer of Missouri Highway Patrol, Troop H, in St. Joseph
Lieutenant Clark N. Stratton, Troop A, is being promoted to the rank of Captain and designated commanding officer of Troop H, St. Joseph, MO. Stratton was appointed to the Patrol on January 1, 1992, as a member of the 64th Recruit Class. Upon graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy in Jefferson City, he was […]
Lake Viking Polar Plunge raises $11,000 for Special Olympics Missouri
Eleven thousand dollars was raised, and 44 individuals participated in the Lake Viking Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Missouri hosted by the Chillicothe Correctional Center. North Area Development Director Melody Prawitz reports the highest fundraising individuals were Mike Lowe with 25 hundred dollars, Mark Parkhurst $1,050, and Catherine Jackson at $900. The highest fundraising teams […]
Northwest Missouri State University – Kansas City “Call to Action Coalition Summit” set for February 26, 2020
Northwest Missouri State University-Kansas City is working with the Kansas City region and its communities this month to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking. Northwest-Kansas City, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26, 2020will host higher education professionals from the Kansas City area and hear from experts and survivors of […]
Judge Tom Alley presides over Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court
Among cases on Thursday in Division One of the Grundy County Circuit Court, A Chicago, Illinois man, George Ernie Almond, received a prison sentence and then was placed on probation after he pleaded guilty to fraudulently attempting to obtain a controlled substance from a Trenton business on January 28th. Judge Tom Alley ordered a sentence […]
Governor Parson appoints Laclede resident to Missouri Gaming Commission
Governor Mike Parson has appointed a Laclede resident to the Missouri Gaming Commission. David Hane retired from the Brookfield Police Department, where he served as police chief for 31 years. He also previously served as the Brookfield city manager, a past member and chairman of the North Missouri Drug Task Force, and past member and […]
Statute of limitations upheld in case involving Hedrick Medical Center and wrongful death lawsuits
The Missouri Supreme Court has upheld rulings by the Livingston County Circuit Court and Western Missouri Court of Appeals involving defendants Saint Luke’s Health System, Hedrick Medical Center, and Community Health Group. Five plaintiffs had appealed to the Supreme Court on September 12th of 2018. Attorneys for both sides made oral arguments April 9th before […]
Missouri woman indicted for Social Security fraud, identity theft
A Mountain View, Missouri, woman who is currently a fugitive from justice has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a Social Security fraud scheme that utilized the stolen identity information of another person. Laura A. Oglesby, 46, was charged in an eight-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, […]