Governor Mike Parson announced that Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly known as Facebook, Inc., will locate a nearly one-million-square-foot data center in Kansas City, investing more than $800 million and supporting up to 100 jobs. The data center, a first of its kind in Missouri, is expected to be operational in 2024. “We’re proud to welcome Meta […]
Tag: Kansas City
Missouri House approves bill to legalize sports wagering
(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri House gave first-round approval Wednesday to a bill that would allow betting on major college and professional sports. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Dan Houx, R-Warrensburg, is the proposal preferred by the casinos and major sports teams, who would all get a piece of the action. A major part of the […]
Former federal contract employee charged with child pornography
A former Kansas City, Missouri, man has been charged in federal court after child pornography was found on the cell phone he carried into a secure area at the U.S. Department of Energy national security campus in Kansas City, Mo. Shaun Walker, 39, currently a resident of Springfield, Mo., was charged in a criminal complaint […]
Audio: Missouri unemployment benefits could be on the chopping block
The Missouri Senate debated a bill Monday night that could cut unemployment benefits from 20 to 8 weeks if Missouri’s average jobless rate is at or below 3.5-percent. State Senator Mike Bernskoetter, a Republican from Jefferson City, says his bill aims to put more people back to work while so many jobs are open. State […]
Dates announced for Veterans Service Officer events in Trenton
Four dates in April have been announced for the Veterans Service Officer to be available at VFW Post 919 in Trenton. Officer Wayne Kleinschmidt can meet with veterans on April 1st, 4th, 8th, and 15th, with Each opportunity is from 9 am until 2 pm. The officer can help with VA paperwork and answer questions. […]
Missouri Celebrates National Agriculture Week
This week, the Missouri Department of Agriculture celebrates the state’s position nationally in agriculture production. Missouri is home to 95,000 farms, employs nearly 460,000 people in agriculture, forestry, and related industries, and has an estimated economic impact of $93.7 billion. Agriculture remains the state’s number one economic driver, supporting both rural and urban communities from […]
2022 Missouri Agribusiness Academy participants announced
The Missouri Department of Agriculture has selected 30 high school sophomores to participate in the 2022 Missouri Agribusiness Academy. Selected students will spend a week in June in Kansas City exploring careers in agriculture, building leadership skills, and learning more about farming, ranching, and food production. “Investing in the future generation of agriculture is important […]
Man traveling through Missouri charged with fentanyl trafficking after authorities find 9 pounds of counterfeit pills
A California man was charged in federal court with smuggling more than four kilograms of counterfeit pills that contain fentanyl aboard a bus traveling through Kansas City, Missouri, from Los Angeles, Calif. Matthew John Gomez, 27, was charged with one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute in a criminal complaint filed in […]
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 […]
Missouri woman pleads guilty to methamphetamine conspiracy, faces 10 years in prison
A Missouri woman pleaded guilty in federal court to her role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine after she sold more than three kilograms of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer. Megan M. Massie, 32, Kansas City,, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine […]
With COVID-19 infection rates declining, Wright Memorial and Hedrick Medical Center relax visitor guidelines
With the decline in COVID-19 infection rates, Saint Luke’s Health System, including Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe and Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton, is relaxing some visitor guidelines across the health system. These guidelines are consistent with CDC and OSHA guidelines. Beginning Wednesday, March 16, Saint Luke’s will transition to Level 2 protocols, which include […]
Audio: Missouri lawmaker seeks to criminalize aborting of nonviable pregnancies
A state representative wants to make it a felony in Missouri for providing abortions to women who could die of pregnancy complications. A state House committee is considering the bill sponsored by Branson Republican Brian Seitz, which would criminalize those who provide an abortion to women with what is called an ectopic pregnancy, or when […]
Audio: Man from Polo is 19th Missourian charged in January 6th Capitol riot
Another Missouri resident is facing charges in connection with the January sixth U.S. Capitol riot last year. The Kansas City Star reports that 39-year-old Lloyd Cruz Junior from the northwest Missouri town of Polo has been arrested and charged with parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building and entering or remaining in […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in prison without parole for armed robbery conspiracy
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a series of armed business robberies in Kansas City and Independence, Mo. Henry Simmons, 22, Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 1, 2021, Simmons pleaded guilty to one count […]
Federal correctional officer charged, former prison nurse pleads guilty in bribery and contraband smuggling schemes
A former nurse at Leavenworth Detention Center has pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle contraband into the prison, and a federal grand jury in the District of Kansas has returned an indictment charging a former correctional officer with a similar scheme. According to court documents, Jeane Arnette, 61, of Leavenworth, Kansas, previously worked at […]
Missouri groups urge federal support for diaper banks
Groups in Missouri are urging Congress to pass a full-year, fully-funded appropriations bill, instead of a parade of stopgap continuing resolutions to fund support programs for low-income and working people across the state. Between 2010 and 2021, many programs serving low-income people nationwide lost ground taking inflation into account, according to the Coalition on Human Needs. Jill […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15 years without parole for meth conspiracy and illegal firearms
A Missouri man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy that, in total, distributed more than 150 kilograms of methamphetamine and more than 10 kilograms of heroin, valued at more than $1.7 million. Matthew John Fabulae, 33, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Friday, […]
Hospitalist Byron Thornton, MD joins staff at Wright Memorial Hospital
Wright Memorial Hospital is pleased to welcome hospitalist Byron Thornton, MD, to the medical team. Hospitalists are physicians and advanced practice providers who specialize in hospital-based care. They coordinate all aspects of care for patients who are in the hospital. The hospitalist, along with the patient’s primary care provider and other specialists involved with treatment, […]
Missouri man charged with producing and distributing child pornography
A Missouri, man has been charged in federal court with producing and distributing child pornography. Andrew J. McCardie, 35, of Farley, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Monday, March 7, with one count of producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography […]