(Missouri Independent) – The dispute over the $1.4 billion contract to provide prisoner health care in Missouri is moving into the courts. Corizon Health, which has held the Department of Corrections contract since 1992, filed a lawsuit Monday in Cole County alleging that unfair treatment and improper scoring gave the contract to Centurion Health, a Virginia subsidiary of […]
The highway patrol reports a Paola, Kansas resident was arrested Saturday evening in Daviess County. Thirty-eight-year-old Patrick Vanlerberg was accused of possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a firearm, speeding, failure to display valid plates on a motor vehicle, no proof of insurance, and no motorcycle endorsement. There also was a Buchanan County warrant relating […]
(Missouri Independent) -The U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of the Biden administration’s last-ditch effort to extend a federal ban on evictions has put hundreds of thousands of American renters at risk of losing their housing — and is increasing pressure on states and localities to get rental assistance dollars distributed faster. In an eight-page majority opinion […]
A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court today for illegally selling more than a dozen firearms and a large amount of methamphetamine and heroin to undercover federal agents. Heladio Lezama-Palma, 36, a citizen of Mexico who was residing in Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 15 years […]
(Missouri Independent) – The schools in Gov. Mike Parson’s hometown will continue to require students, teachers, and staff to wear masks indoors despite a lawsuit filed by the Missouri attorney general challenging public school mask mandates across the state. The Bolivar R-1 Board of Education in Polk County voted in a special meeting this month to […]
The owner of dozens of Mexican restaurants in several states, along with the company’s president, CFO, controller, and sales manager are among 19 defendants charged in a federal racketeering conspiracy to hire undocumented workers. Also among those charged are eight current or former managers of restaurants located in Butler, Springfield, Lebanon, West Plains, Willow Springs, […]
An Albany man faces several felonies in Gentry County after he allegedly held a gun to a woman’s head and fired a shot into the ceiling on August 20. Online court information shows 33-year-old Tanner Henry has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon involving exhibiting, third-degree domestic assault, and first-degree endangering the welfare […]
Three defendants waived preliminary hearings on Tuesday in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. Each case was bound over to the September 9 docket in Division One of circuit court in Trenton. Clifford Eric Dean Neff of Spickard is charged with three counts of delivery of a controlled substance or synthetic cannabinoid on three […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt today filed a class-action lawsuit against school districts forcing a mask mandate on schoolchildren and teachers. The lawsuit, which is a reverse class action that was filed earlier this morning, names Columbia Public Schools, the Board of Education for the School District of Columbia and their board members, and the […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt joined a 20-state coalition led by West Virginia and Arizona in arguing against the Biden administration’s proposed regulation of firearm parts. In addition to joining the coalition’s comment letter, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office filed a separate, but similar, comment letter. The coalition’s comment letter can be found at this […]
A Missouri, man has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing the firearm he used when he was shot in a rolling gun battle. Odell J. Jackson, 31, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner on Thursday, Aug. 19, to one count of being a felon in possession of […]
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports a Montezuma, Iowa resident was arrested Saturday night in Clinton County. Thirty-nine-year-old Ryan Major was accused of felony unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest for a felony and misdemeanor counts of unlawful use of a weapon, fourth-degree assault, driving while intoxicated, and operating a vehicle without a valid […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that he has filed suit against Jackson County for enforcing an unlawful, arbitrary, and capricious mask mandate. The suit names Jackson County Executive Frank White, the Jackson County Health Department, and other defendants. “Jackson County’s mask mandate is yet another attempt by government officials to obtain, aggregate, and maintain […]
(Missouri Independent) – A Missouri law prohibiting state and local police from enforcing certain federal gun laws has already undermined drug and weapons investigations, the U.S. Department of Justice argued in documents filed Wednesday in Cole County Circuit Court. As part of an ongoing lawsuit set for a hearing Thursday afternoon, the Justice Department is asking Cole […]
The abbreviated descriptions below are intended to make the public aware of some of the new legislation enacted by the Missouri General Assembly, which is related to crime and motor vehicles. The listed legislation has been signed into law. Unless otherwise noted, these laws will go into effect on August 28, 2021. SB 26 PROVISIONS […]
Two Independence men face charges in Daviess County after an alleged burglary the morning of August 14. Thirty-nine-year-old David Alan Grant has been charged with the felonies of possession of a controlled substance, attempted second-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools, first-degree property damage, and driving while revoked or suspended. He also faces misdemeanor charges of […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that John L. Cazzell, 72, was sentenced last month for felony charges of defrauding customers in connection with his business, Four Seasons Lawn & Landscape. Cazzell promised extensive landscaping services in exchange for large advance payments. After taking money from several consumers, including elderly Missourians, Cazzell never followed through […]
The highway patrol reports an Independence man was arrested Saturday evening in Daviess County. Forty-two-year-old Kevin Horn was accused of felony counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine, burglary, possession of burglary tools, resisting arrest, and unlawful use of a weapon. Horn also was accused of misdemeanor counts of stealing and possession […]
The Highway Patrol reports the arrest of a Kansas City resident in Livingston County on August 13 on multiple allegations. Nineteen-year-old Kyla Polo was accused of felony possession of synthetic cannabis, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana. She was also accused of excessive speed of 96 miles […]
Three Brookfield residents face multiple charges after spray paint was found on a Linn County Sheriff’s Department patrol car and other places in Brookfield in the last week. Online court information shows 19-year-old Bobby Ray Waddle Junior, 19-year-old Charles Emery Slater, and 18-year-old Jazmine Nichole Camlen have each been charged with the felonies of accessory […]
