One year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, people have stepped up to address the emotional needs of families reeling from the coronavirus and 2020’s record-breaking disasters. For nearly 80 years, U.S. presidents have proclaimed March as Red Cross Month to recognize people giving back through its lifesaving mission — which is […]
Tag: Kansas
Audio: Missouri House Committee to hear testimony this week on transgender athlete legislation
A Missouri House committee will meet Monday to discuss whether they’ll hear remote testimony this week on legislation involving transgender high school athletes. Rocheport GOP State Representative Chuck Basye is sponsoring the House joint resolution and says this is an important issue. Basye’s legislation would require that students who participate in sex-separated athletic […]
Two charged with stealing pickup in Gallatin
Two Kansas City residents face stealing charges in Daviess County after a Ram truck was reported as stolen from Gallatin last week. Thirty-one-year-old Mallory June Shomaker and 27-year-old Clint Edward Vinzant have been charged with felony stealing—motor vehicle/watercraft/aircraft and misdemeanor stealing. Their bonds have been denied. Probable cause statements from Riley Christensen with the Daviess […]
Audio: Overdoses among teens and young adults causing concern in Kansas City
Kansas City police are issuing a warning after seeing a recent uptick in accidental overdose deaths in teenagers. Television partner KMBC tv is reporting that police say the deaths are linked to pills laced with fentanyl. The overdoses and deaths among teens and young adults are because they are taking what they believe […]
Audio: Next phase of COVID-19 plan, beginning March 15, includes teachers, faculty and staff in Missouri schools
The next tier of Missouri’s coronavirus vaccination plan will be activated on March 15. That means all teachers, faculty, and staff in public, private, and nonprofit pre-K-12 will become eligible. So will state-licensed childcare center workers, some food production employees, as well as grocery and convenience stores workers. Missouri is currently vaccinating residents in Phase […]
Governor Parson announces timeline for activation of Phase 1B -Tier 3 of COVID-19 vaccine plan
Governor Mike Parson announced that Phase 1B – Tier 3 of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Plan will be activated on Monday, March 15, 2021. “Missouri has had a vaccine plan since October, and this has not changed. We have been very disciplined in following our plan,” Governor Parson said. “With vaccine supply steadily increasing, we […]
Governor Mike Parson proclaims National FFA Week in Missouri for nearly 26,000 agriculture students
Governor Mike Parson proclaimed February 20-27, 2021, as National FFA Week in Missouri on behalf of nearly 26,000 members of Missouri FFA. Missouri FFA President Justin Eddy of Columbia received the proclamation on behalf of the 2020-2021 Missouri FFA State Officer team. “Missouri agriculture has a bright future, and you can see that in action […]
Missouri woman indicted for two armed bank robberies following high-speed police pursuit
A Missouri, woman who led police officers on a high-speed chase down Grand Avenue was indicted by a federal grand jury for two armed bank robberies. Sarah Theresa Watkins, 41, of Kansas City, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment replaces a federal criminal […]
Patrol reports arrest of woman in Daviess County
The Highway Patrol reports the arrest of a Kansas woman in Daviess County on February 24th. Forty-year-old Sara Savage of Stilwell, Kansas was accused of felony possession of a controlled substance, driving while intoxicated, exceeding the posted speed limit, failing to drive on the right half of the road, and not having insurance. She was […]
Audio: Missouri’s House votes to ban the use of eminent domain to build the Grain Belt Express power line
The House moved to ban the use of eminent domain for a large wind-energy power line planned to span from Kansas to Indiana. In a voice vote on Tuesday, lawmakers approved legislation that would prevent the use of private land for the Grain Belt Express power line without property owners’ permission. The high-voltage […]
Missouri cities, counties in line for millions from federal COVID relief bill
(Missouri Independent) – The plan for distributing money directly to Missouri counties in the current version of the $1.9 trillion federal coronavirus relief bill is pretty simple – each gets $195.44 per person. But for cities, instead of a formula based on population, Congress divvies up the money using the method for determining Community Development Block Grant allocations. […]
Audio: Missouri Senate puts off vote on giant K-12 education package
After about twelve hours of debate, the Missouri Senate refrained from voting overnight on a contentious K-12 public education package. There was some confusion towards the end that appeared to ultimately lead to the plan getting shelved – at least for now. Several changes were made over the course of the day and night. As […]
Bill increasing penalties for protesters wins initial approval in Missouri Senate
(Missouri Independent) – Republican state Senators advanced sweeping legislation early Tuesday morning aimed at penalizing protestors who block streets, while also providing further protections for law enforcement under investigation for misconduct or excessive force. The bill also aims to prevent municipalities from decreasing the budgets for law enforcement agencies in Missouri by more than 12 percent over […]
Missouri in line for $4.5 billion from federal stimulus bill
(Missouri Independent) – Last spring, as Missouri businesses shed hundreds of thousands of jobs, Gov. Mike Parson warned that the state was headed for the worst financial crunch since the 2008 recession. Ten months later, Parson presented a budget plan that anticipates a $1.1 billion surplus on July 1, the biggest in state history. And if the $1.9 trillion pandemic […]
Obituary: Joe Brinser
Joseph Brinser, a 56-year-old Trenton resident, passed away Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at his residence. Brinser is to be cremated under the direction of Slater Neal Funeral Home with memorial services pending at a later date. Memorial donations are suggested to either the Grundy County Rural Fire Department or Maple Grove Cemetery. William Joseph Brinser […]
Audio: Missouri’s COVID activity declines for fifth straight week; Governor receives first COVID injection
Missouri’s governor says he and First Lady Teresa Parson have received their first COVID vaccination shot. Governor Parson tells Capitol reporters the shots were administered in Jefferson City. The governor praised the dedication of Cole County health employees, saying they are doing an outstanding job. He says he’s had a sore arm, but […]
Mexican national sentenced to 8-years in prison for illegal firearm used in drive-by shooting
A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing the firearm he used in a drive-by shooting. Javier Guerrero-Garcia, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to eight years and six months in federal prison without parole. On June 29, 2020, Guerrero-Garcia pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession […]
Audio: Missouri Senator says students “leaving in droves” to attend college out-of-state
State Senator Greg Razer says Missouri students are “leaving in droves” to attend colleges and universities in Kansas, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. Razer, a Democrat from Kansas City, says some of these states are offering large discounts. State funding also impacts the ability of Missouri colleges and universities to recruit faculty and […]
Audio: Missouri Senator wants additional higher education funding to make college affordable for all students
The Missouri House Budget Committee is scheduled to hear today Governor Parson’s state budget proposal for higher education. Kansas City State Senator Greg Razer says state funding provided to Missouri’s colleges and universities is almost identical to what the state gave to them in 1999. Razer says in 1999, 70% of the University of Missouri-Columbia’s […]