Meet Missouri’s national spelling bee participants

In 39 days, eight Missouri students will begin competing in the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. This year’s contest will include 209 spellers all vying for the treasured championship trophy. According to the bee, spellers will begin participating virtually in the first of three rounds on June 12. The semifinals are scheduled for June 27. […]

Illegal Firearms and firearm theft

Missouri man pleads guilty to multiple counts of possessing illegal firearms, drug trafficking; faces at least 20 years in prison

A Missouri man has pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple charges of illegally possessing firearms, including stolen firearms, and drug trafficking. Brandon L. Hill, 33, of Independence, Missouri, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Thursday, April 29, to three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, two counts […]

Child Abuse Graphic

Unionville man facing felony child abuse charges after dropping 3-month old daughter on her head three times

A Unionville man has been charged in Putnam County after allegedly dropping his three-month-old daughter on her head three times. Twenty-seven-year-old Tyler James Hurt faces felony abuse or neglect of a child—serious emotional or physical injury—no sexual contact. Bond was set at $25,000 cash only, and an initial appearance in court is scheduled for May […]

Girls Team a Huddle sports

LGBTQ advocates oppose bills seen as harmful to trans youth

The Missouri House of Representatives advanced a bill aimed to ban transgender kids from participating in girl’s sports, which advocates said is the latest in a growing list of legislative attacks on trans youth across the country. More than 250 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in 2021 alone, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Shira Berkowitz, communications […]

UTV or Utility Terrain Vehicle Crash

Two hospitalized after UTV crashes north of Greencastle

Two people were hurt late Saturday afternoon when a UTV overturned north of Greencastle. The driver, 27-year old Curry Payne of Prairie Village, Kansas, and a passenger, 20-year old Anna Marie White of Grandview, were taken to Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville with moderate injuries. The accident happened five miles north of Greencastle on […]

Transgender Students Graphic

Bill banning trans students from sports teams by gender wins support of Missouri House

(Missouri Independent) – After hours of fierce debate that spanned the course of two days, the Missouri House on Wednesday signed off on a prohibition on transgender students participating on the sports teams that match their gender identity. The provision, offered as an amendment by Rep. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, to House Bill 1141 was adopted by a vote […]