(Missouri Independent) – Nursing homes will be required to ensure their staffers are vaccinated against COVID-19, or risk losing federal Medicare and Medicaid dollars, the Biden administration announced Wednesday in a major move on vaccinations as the Delta variant sweeps many states. Under the new nursing home policy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human […]
Tag: lead
Several from Florida charged and convicted of operating sexually exploitive “child modeling” websites
A series of charges and convictions were announced today in connection with an international enterprise based in Florida that operated subscription-based sexually exploitive “child modeling” websites. According to court documents, Kenneth Power (deceased at 58, of Weston), was a principal member of the Newstar Enterprise – an internet-based business aimed at the for-profit sexual exploitation […]
Man pleads guilty in Missouri to armed robbery of a pharmacy
A man has pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in the armed robbery of a Walgreens pharmacy in Jefferson City, Missouri. Daijahn Antwan Reed, 22, of Indianapolis, Indiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps Jr. on Tuesday, Aug. 17, to one count of armed robbery and one count of brandishing […]
Afghan evacuees to arrive in the U.S. through Virginia and Wisconsin military bases
(Missouri Independent) – The first U.S. stop for the nearly 2,000 Afghan interpreters and other refugees evacuated so far amid the collapse of the Afghan government has been central Virginia’s Fort Lee military base. Tapped for its East Coast location and its ability to quickly ramp up to serve as a temporary host installation, the Army […]
U.S. House Democrats unveil new voting rights bill named for John Lewis
(Missouri Independent) – At the base of the bridge in Selma, Ala., where the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia almost died while marching for civil rights, congressional Democrats announced Tuesday the introduction of legislation that aims to protect voting rights across the country. Rep. Terri Sewell, an Alabama Democrat, unveiled what will be […]
AARP calls for vaccine mandates as COVID re-enters Missouri nursing homes
(Missouri Indepentent) – With cases on the rise among both residents and staff, the nation’s leading advocacy group for retirees is calling on nursing homes to mandate COVID-19 vaccines. The number of COVID-19 cases reported each week in Kansas and Missouri nursing homes is rising again for the first time in months. Missouri, where weekly […]
Missouri Attorney General scores massive win in “Remain in Mexico” lawsuit
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office, along with the Texas Attorney General’s Office have prevailed in their lawsuit against the Biden Administration over President Biden’s cancellation of the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), or “Remain in Mexico” policy. A federal court in northern Texas, where the case was filed, issued a nationwide permanent […]
St. Joseph woman sentenced to 15-years in prison without parole for meth trafficking and illegal firearms
A Missouri, woman was sentenced in federal court for her role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms. Caci R. Clizer, 32, of St. Joseph, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 16, 2020, Clizer pleaded guilty to one […]
Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court news for Thursday, August 12, 2021
In Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court, Trenton resident Patrick Shaun Michael pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia as of June 30th. Michael was sentenced by Judge Thomas Alley to four years with the Department of Corrections. Execution of the prison term was suspended, and Michael was placed on five years supervised […]
Biden-Harris Administration announces $500 million in rural health care funds under the American Rescue Plan
The Biden-Harris Administration announced that the United States Department of Agriculture is making up to $500 million available in grants to help rural health care facilities, tribes, and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services, and nutrition assistance. President Biden’s comprehensive plan to recover the economy and deliver relief to the American people […]
Missouri State Auditor reports city of Bel-Ridge makes progress on recommendations made in 2020
The city of Bel-Ridge has made progress on the recommendations of a state audit that found several concerns with its financial condition and gave the lowest possible rating, “poor.” A follow-up report issued today by State Auditor Nicole Galloway detailed progress made by the city, which is located in north St. Louis County. “Bel-Ridge residents concerned about […]
Kansas City, Kansas man pleads guilty in Missouri to heroin trafficking
A man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a conspiracy to distribute more than three kilograms of heroin intercepted by law enforcement officers when it was shipped from California to Kansas City, Missouri. Solomon B. Hawthorne, 31, of Kansas City, Kansas, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to participating […]
Missouri man sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing 98 kilos of meth, illegally possessing 23 firearms
A Missouri, man who was responsible for distributing nearly 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, has been sentenced in federal court after law enforcement officers seized nearly two dozen firearms and illegal drugs from his residence. Daniel Dewayne Gregg, 58, of Bates City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Wednesday, Aug. 11, to […]
Former manager at Fort Leonard Wood facility pleads guilty to Theft
The former general manager of the hospital dining facility at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing more than $69,000 from the cash registers. Gregory Arthur Norton, 53, of Springfield, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of theft of public money. Norton was […]
Smithfield’s natural gas project implements manure-to-energy technology across northern Missouri’s hog farms
Monarch Bioenergy, a joint venture between Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Roeslein Alternative Energy, has finished installing manure-to-energy technology on nearly all of Smithfield’s Northern Missouri hog finishing farms. The new technology captures methane emissions and converts them into carbon-negative renewable natural gas to power homes, vehicles and businesses. “We are delighted to reach this exciting milestone, which is a significant step toward […]
Leadership Northwest Music Jam, with Sunny Sweeney and Salem Croy, set for September 25 at Black Silo Winery
Country music star Sunny Sweeney will be headlining the first Leadership Northwest Music Jam presented by Wright Memorial Hospital and Hedrick Medical Center. The show will be hosted at Black Silo Winery in Trenton on Saturday, September 25, 2021. Ticket proceeds benefit Leadership Northwest Missouri and are on sale now. Trenton local, Salem Croy, will […]
Missouri to accept Medicaid expansion applications; DSS to begin processing applications on October 1
(Missouri Independent) – Missourians who qualify for benefits under Medicaid expansion can begin enrolling. Still, it may take up to two months until they will find out if their eligibility has been verified and their application has been approved. In a news release Wednesday, Gov. Mike Parson announced that in response to a Cole County […]
Missouri man sentenced to 13-years in prison without parole for child pornography
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court today for receiving child pornography over the internet. Dana Paul Cline, 54, of Jefferson City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 13-years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Cline to pay a total of $31,000 in restitution to several of his […]
Lawmakers say special session likely unneeded to fund Missouri Medicaid expansion
(Missouri Independent) – Legislative leaders of both parties said Tuesday that a special session is likely not needed to appropriate additional funds following a court order to begin covering Missourians who are eligible under voter-approved Medicaid expansion. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence, and Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis and […]
Judge orders state to immediately allow Missourians to enroll in expanded Medicaid
(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri Department of Social Services must allow newly eligible residents that qualify for benefits under voter-approved Medicaid expansion to enroll and cannot impose greater restrictions on them, a Cole County judge ruled Tuesday. Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem sided with the plaintiffs who urged him to allow Medicaid expansion to take […]