A Kansas City, Missouri man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to commit a series of armed robberies at area businesses. Aaron Fisher, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Wednesday, Nov. 4, to 20 years in federal prison without parole. On June 16, 2020, Fisher […]
A BTC Bank non-profit organization, BTC Area Youth Benefit Corporation, has announced the launch of the Funding Futures fundraising campaign. The pandemic has limited the corporation’s ability to host its typical fundraising events this year. The corporation hopes to raise $20,000 during Funding Futures, so it can continue to fulfill the financial needs of youth […]
Residents of Canton and Lee’s Summit were arrested while driving Tuesday afternoon in Caldwell and Daviess counties. Sixty-three-year-old Joseph Walker of Canton was stopped in Caldwell County. He was accused of driving while intoxicated for drugs, possession of marijuana ten grams or less, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding 88 miles an hour in the […]
A Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed at least 12 pounds of methamphetamine in the Joplin area, as well as to illegally possessing numerous firearms. Mark E. Burdge, 50, of Joplin, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of […]
(Missouri Independent) – Republican Mike Parson has secured a full four-year term as Missouri’s governor, scoring victory Tuesday night over his Democratic challenger Nicole Galloway. Parson, 65, led Galloway, 38, by more than 442,000 votes with over 95 percent of the state’s precincts reporting shortly after midnight, according to the Secretary of State’s unofficial results. The […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri Democrats had another disappointing night in legislative elections Tuesday, losing in two state Senate districts crucial to their hopes of cracking the Republican supermajority in the upper chamber. Republicans held a key Senate seat by re-electing Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden of Columbia in the 19th District in central Missouri. As […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri voters on Tuesday repealed a constitutional amendment they enacted in 2018 that would have required legislative districts be drawn to ensure partisan fairness. They replaced it with one that critics contend could forgo the use of total population to draw districts and instead exclude all non-voters, specifically children and non-citizens — tilting the political […]
A Braymer man charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of two brothers from Wisconsin now faces a charge of stealing a motor vehicle after a semi-tractor was allegedly stolen from a residence in Braymer in September. Twenty-six-year-old Garland Joseph Nelson is being held on no bond on the recent charge, and […]
A rollover accident Monday night in Ray County resulted in injuries for three passengers and the driver being arrested. Twenty-four-year-old Curtis Williams of Richmond was driving a pickup northbound when it crossed the center of North Garner Road, struck an embankment, and overturned. Three passengers were taken to area hospitals, including 19-year-old Henry Hilliard of […]
A Missouri, man who led law enforcement officers in a pursuit in Taney County, Mo., pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing approximately six pounds of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Andrew R. Trammell, 47, of St. Joseph, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of possessing 500 grams […]
Of the 20 residences checked by Trenton Police on Halloween night, Chief Rex Ross reports four violations were identified in regards to the Halloween restrictions for sexual offenders as outlined by city ordinance and a state statute. Chief Ross said incident reports are being prepared on these violations and will be forwarded to the prosecutor. […]
(Missouri Independent) – Across Missouri, local election officials have received 628,395 mail-in and absentee ballots, according to the Secretary of State’s Oct. 27 report. Already, that’s more than twice the total absentee ballots counted in the November 2016 election. While many Missourians have already voted by mail or in-person absentee, many more will head out […]
(Missouri Independent) – A Missouri family that was denied a license to grow medical marijuana alleged in court this week that outside groups and individuals had undue access to top state officials — and that access led to an opaque process and contributed to the decision to cap the number of licenses granted. To buttress […]
The Trenton Police Department advises that they will be conducting compliance checks for registered sexual offenders in regards to Halloween restrictions defined by City Ordinance 215.1550 and State Statute 589.426. Sexual Offenders must follow these restrictions on Halloween: Avoid all Halloween-related contact with children; Remain inside his or her residence between the hours of 5:00 […]
(Missouri Independent) – State governments are unique political bodies that allow for experimentation in how rules and laws affect political outputs. As Justice Louis Brandies pointed out – states are laboratories of democracy. State governments have broad jurisdiction to “tweak” institutional rules and laws. Through this system of government, we can observe the aftermath of […]
The two main gubernatorial candidates are focusing on rural Missouri again Friday and during the final days of the campaign. Governor Mike Parson (R) brings his “Mike works bus tour” to four rural western Missouri towns: his hometown of Bolivar, as well as Clinton, Belton, and El Dorado Springs. He’ll finish Friday evening in Springfield. […]
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says he expects about a 70% voter turnout for the general election. In 2016, Missouri had about a 67% voter turnout. Local election authorities project their jurisdiction’s voter turnout and then Ashcroft’s office compiles a statewide estimate. And this year, at best, it’s going to be a guess because […]
A Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm following a shootout at an Independence, Mo., motel. Randy K. McGaugh, 54, of Wellington, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuana M. Counts to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. By pleading guilty, McGaugh admitted that he […]
A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for video recording his sexual abuse of a 15-year-old victim. Daren Watts, 28, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Watts will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison […]
A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy that distributed more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine in southern Missouri. Eric Eugene Akins, 54, of Monett, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 12 years in federal prison without parole. On Jan. 21, 2020, Akins pleaded guilty […]
