(Missouri Independent) – Inmates at St. Louis’ primary jail filed a federal class-action lawsuit Tuesday accusing guards of torture with mace and depriving them of water for days. The inmates are represented by a team of attorneys from the MacArthur Justice Center, ArchCity Defenders, the SLU Law Legal Clinics, and Rights Behind Bars. “They spray chemical agents […]
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Federal correctional officer charged, former prison nurse pleads guilty in bribery and contraband smuggling schemes
A former nurse at Leavenworth Detention Center has pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle contraband into the prison, and a federal grand jury in the District of Kansas has returned an indictment charging a former correctional officer with a similar scheme. According to court documents, Jeane Arnette, 61, of Leavenworth, Kansas, previously worked at […]
Trenton Park Board approves deficit budget
The Trenton Park Board approved a deficit budget for 2022-2023 on March 9th. The budget was approved with an amendment to the petroleum products cost. The cost of petroleum products was originally budgeted for the same price as the current year at $6,500, but it was increased by 50% to $9,750 due to the recently […]
Upcoming winter storm prompts Winter Storm Warning in northern Missouri
A Winter Storm is set to track through northern Missouri tonight (Wednesday) through Friday Morning. Accumulating Snowfall is expected tonight through early Friday morning with the greatest Snowfall into west and northwest Missouri. Periods of moderate to heavy bands of snowfall are possible. Depending on the track of the storm, residents may find their Thursday […]
Trenton Board of Education approves 2022-2023 salary schedule which sets base pay at $36,000
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education on March 8th approved, on a vote of five to one, salary schedules for the 2022-2023 school year. Approval was given after hearing a proposal from Charley Crimi with the Salary and Welfare Committee and a recommendation from Superintendent Mike Stegman. The certified salary schedule for next school year […]
Here’s what you will hear Biden talk about in his debut State of the Union address
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address is set to focus significantly on the economy, with the former member of the U.S. Senate calling on Congress to pass much of the agenda stalled in the so-called Build Back Better bill. During the Tuesday night speech, which begins at 9 p.m. […]
Farmers who plant cover crops will be eligible for crop insurance premium subsidies
Farmers who plant cover crops will be eligible for crop insurance premium subsidies worth $5 an acre for the second year in a row. To qualify for the payments from USDA, farmers must report their cover crop acreage to the Farm Service Agency by March 15. Last year, USDA made payments totaling $59.5 million for 12.2 million acres of cover […]
Coalition of 13 attorneys general call for resignation of Alejandro Mayorkas’ at Department of Homeland Security
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, along with 13 other attorneys general are calling for U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ resignation. In a letter, citing the continued failure to enforce federal law and secure the southwest border, the coalition of 14 state attorneys general is demanding that Secretary Mayorkas leave office as his […]
Free workshop and birding hike to be offered at Wallace State Park near Cameron
A free workshop and birding hike will be offered by the Missouri Department of Conservation from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Monday, March 14, at Wallace State Park near Cameron. Participants can learn birding tips and skills on how to enjoy the wide variety of songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl in the state’s outdoors. Adam Brandsgaard, […]
Missouri man indicted for child pornography on workplace computer
A Missouri man was indicted by a federal grand jury after child pornography was found on his workplace computer. Shane Tyler Barton, 55, of Carthage, was charged with receiving and distributing child pornography in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Barton […]
Misinformation fuels false belief that Missouri COVID death figures are being inflated
(Missouri Independent) – On a recent Tuesday evening in southeastern Missouri, John Freeze stood in front of yet another angry group of constituents. Some here believe the number of COVID-19 deaths are being purposefully inflated for financial gain. Among the culprits, in their mistaken view: Hospitals seeking Medicare reimbursements; The federal government, led by Dr. Anthony […]
Two women, former federal correctional officers, plead guilty to bribery and contraband smuggling scheme
Two former correctional officers pleaded guilty to engaging in bribery and smuggling contraband into Leavenworth Detention Center. According to court documents, Jacqueline Sifuentes, 26, of Laredo, Texas, and Cheyonte Harris, 29, of Raytown, Missouri, previously worked as correctional officers at Leavenworth Detention Center, a privately-run maximum-security federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. Sifuentes used her position […]
Corrections officer in Missouri pleads guilty to violating the civil rights of a prisoner
United States District Court Judge Matthew T. Schelp accepted a plea of guilty from Demeria Thomas, age 38, for deprivation of rights under color of law related to her knowingly allowing inmates to assault another inmate while in his cell at the St. Louis City Justice Center. A grand jury in the Eastern District of […]
Check out these safety tips for the upcoming winter storm
The American Red Cross of Missouri is offering safety tips ahead of the upcoming snow, ice, and frigid temperatures expected over the next few days. In addition, the Red Cross is coordinating with local emergency management officials and partners in the preparation for potential local community needs. Heavy snowfall is predicted in portions of Missouri […]
Audio: Missing child found in Missouri wearing dog collar, man accused of rape and other crimes
A Chesterfield, Missouri man is facing a slew of child rape charges after a 15-year-child was found with a dog collar strapped around her neck that the prosecutor says 38-year-old John Low put on her. The 15-year-old girl was reported missing from Manhattan, Kansas. The St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says the man […]
Missouri man sentenced to 10 years in prison without parole for illegal firearms and marijuana grow operation
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for growing marijuana and illegally possessing dozens of firearms. Darrin Dale Smithee, 56, of Auxvasse, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 10 years in federal prison without parole. On Aug. 31, 2021, Smithee pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing marijuana and one […]
Gallatin Board of Education accepts resignations
The Gallatin R-5 Board of Education accepted two resignations after a closed session on January 19th. The resignations were from Superintendent Secretary Lesli Lin and Special Education Teacher Vickie France. They will be effective at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. During the regular meeting, the board approved entering into a one-year contract to […]