Marijuana Trafficking News Graphic

Missouri man who was arrested after an armed standoff with police pleads guilty to marijuana trafficking

A Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm following a brief armed standoff with police officers. Jamahl D. Jones, 35, Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to one count of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in relation […]

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt

Missouri Attorney General joins multistate action to end CDC’s mask mandate on public transportation

The Missouri Attorney General joined 20 other states in a multistate action against President Biden’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s continued use of the unlawful mask mandate on public transportation. The attorneys general argue that the mandate exceeds the authority of the CDC. The Biden administration continues to use a failed interpretation of a […]

FY 2022 Supplemental Budget Signing by Governor Parson

Governor Parson highlights successes of trade mission to United Kingdom and Ireland

Governor Mike  Parson concluded his latest international Trade Mission, which included visits with key officials, businesses, and organizations in the United Kingdom and Ireland. During the Trade Mission, Governor Parson participated in several meetings to build international relationships while promoting Missouri as an ideal business location and trade partner. “It’s always exciting to highlight Missouri’s […]

Stanley Depee Found

Chillicothe police cancel Silver Advisory after missing 81-year-old man is found

An 81-year old man reported missing was found safe in a field southwest of Chillicothe early Saturday afternoon. Stanley Depee had last been seen at 1414 Clay Street in Chillicothe on Friday evening. Chillicothe police issued an Endangered Silver Advisory after authorities said he left his home to drive to a house about one block […]

Walsworth Website

Walsworth celebrates their 85th anniversary

Walsworth CEO Don O. Walsworth and President Don Walsworth announced that their family-owned company would be spending the rest of this year celebrating its 85th anniversary. Walsworth, one of the top book, magazine, and catalog printing companies in the U.S., unveiled plans for a series of events commemorating the company’s history, celebrating employees, and looking […]

Mask Mandate News Graphic

Republicans in Congress file suit to end mask mandate for air travel

(Missouri Independent) – Seventeen Republican members of Congress have sued the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seeking an end to the federal rule requiring passengers on commercial flights and in airports to wear masks. The mandate illegally restricts the lawmakers’ freedom and is not backed by legal authority, they said in the suit filed Monday. […]

NCMC Distinguished Alumni 2022

North Central Missouri College Foundation announces honorees for the Distinguished Alumni Class of 2021

North Central Missouri College Foundation announces the Distinguished Alumni Class for 2021, John Hunolt, Janet (Boyd) Lake and Nick Sottler.  Honorees will be recognized during the Pirates Ball on March 26, 2022, at the Ketcham Community Center on the campus of North Central Missouri College.  The Pirates Ball is to honor distinguished alumni, Voyage Fund […]

Governor Mike Parson (Photo by (Rudi Keller - Missouri Independent)

Parson digs in against evidence absolving reporter he accused of being a ‘hacker’

(Missouri Independent) – Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday once again refused to accept the conclusions of an investigation by the highway patrol and Cole County prosecutor surrounding a reporter who uncovered a security flaw in a state website.  Speaking to a gathering of reporters and editors in the governor’s mansion for Missouri Press Association Day, […]

Gavel and Law book news graphic

State judges across the U.S. face growing GOP pushback against rulings in election cases

Missouri Independent) – In mid-December, Texas’ highest criminal court revoked the state attorney general’s ability to use his office to prosecute election-related cases without the request of a district or county attorney. In an 8-1 opinion, the all-Republican court weakened Attorney General Ken Paxton’s power to independently go after perpetrators of voter fraud, a problem he says […]

Fentanyl Graphic

Missouri man pleads guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl

United States District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk accepted a plea of guilty from Jarvis L. Fields for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.  A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri previously indicted Fields in December 2020.  Judge Pitlyk set sentencing for May 3, 2022.  According to the plea agreement, on April 10, […]

Screenshot of Team PAC Advertisement V2

Video: Pro-Greitens PAC hits Schmitt on China in ad airing during Olympics opening ceremony

(Missouri Independent) – Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s record on China is once again coming under fire, with a political action committee supporting one of his rivals in the GOP Senate primary launching an attack ad during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics Team PAC, which was formed to support the U.S. Senate candidacy of former […]

State of Emergency

Governor Parson declares a State of Emergency, activating Missouri National Guard, in preparation for severe winter storm

Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 22-02 declaring a State of Emergency in Missouri and activating the Missouri National Guard in preparation for the severe winter storm forecasted to affect most of the state over the next two days, including significant accumulations of snow, sleet, and ice.  “Severe winter weather isn’t something we are strangers to here in the […]

Prison Sentence

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 […]

Sam Graves Sam Graves official photo

Graves, Huffman introduce “Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act”

Congressman Sam Graves and Congressman Jared Huffman introduced the bipartisan Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act to rescue rural hospitals on the brink of bankruptcy and help put these critical care providers back on solid ground. “This isn’t a new problem. Our rural hospitals have been struggling to keep their doors open to patients for years,” said […]

Meth with police banner

Missouri woman pleads guilty to meth trafficking after high-speed chase

A Missouri, woman who led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase at night with no headlights pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking methamphetamine. Gina N. Nunez, 43, of Nixa, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. By pleading guilty, Nunez […]

Prison Sentence News Graphic

Sinaloa Cartel drug trafficker and money launderer sentenced to 15 years in prison

A drug trafficker and money launderer for the Sinaloa Cartel was sentenced yesterday to 188 months in prison for supervising the smuggling of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin from Mexico into the United States and the smuggling of drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico.   Roberto Gallegos-Lechuga, 39, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was […]

Guilty Plea

Missouri man pleads guilty after crashing into federal deputy marshals while attempting to flee in stolen truck

A Missouri, man who injured two United States deputy marshals by crashing into them while attempting to flee in a stolen truck pleaded guilty in federal court to forcibly resisting federal law enforcement officers. Ray E. Clevenger, 46, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to two counts of forcibly […]