Oliver Vandevender booking photo

Trenton man charged with possession of methamphetamine

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest of 48-year-old Oliver Eugene Vandevender of Trenton. Charges were filed in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. From Friday, February 25, Vandevender is accused of felony possession of methamphetamine and felony unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia described as a glass smoking pipe. He’s also charged […]

Corey Hines photo via Missouri Department of Corrections

Trenton man arrested on parole violation

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest of a Trenton resident on February 25 on an absconder parole violation on an original charge of stealing. Thirty-five-year-old Corey Hines’s alleged violation involved residency by failing to report changes in residency, employment by failing to maintain employment, and reporting and directives by failing to report as […]

Gallery View of Missouri Senate

Missouri Senate passes $4.6B spending bill with pay raises, federal school funds

(Missouri Independent) – With a deadline looming that could cost Missouri almost $2 billion in federal education aid, the bill to distribute the money passed the state Senate on Wednesday after Democrats slammed a zero-dollar funding line as a partisan attack on Planned Parenthood. The $4.6 billion spending bill approved on a 25-7 vote is the first legislation requiring […]

North Central Missouri College Website V1 (NCMC)

North Central Missouri College scholarship recipients recognized at reception

The 2021-2022 North Central Missouri College Scholarship Reception was held on Wednesday, February 16th, in the Jeanette Hoffman Robison Auditorium at the Ketcham Community Center. Over 260 students were recognized for receiving an NCMC Foundation, Athletic, SSS, or other institutional scholarships. The North Central Missouri College Foundation hosts this annual event. Phyllis Jackson, NCMC Foundation […]

Photo of cattle (cows) by Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash

Beef processing facility near KC in violation of Missouri regulations for polluting waters

(Missouri Independent) – A beef processing facility 40 miles southeast of downtown Kansas City polluted at least a mile of nearby streams and allowed septic tanks of sewage and entrails to overflow, state regulators found this month.  The facility, the former site of a beef operation that neighbors felt threatened a nearby botanical garden, was referred […]

Sex Trafficking

Man convicted of sex trafficking adult and minor victims, faces 20-years to life in prison

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea of the Western District of Wisconsin announced the conviction of Cory Hereford, 50, of Beloit, Wisconsin, on charges of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, maintaining a property to distribute and use controlled substances, and of having committed sex trafficking of a minor […]

Planned Parenthood

Missouri state health agency seeks control of Title X funds that go to Planned Parenthood

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri’s state health department has applied to oversee federal family planning funds, a move reproductive health advocates fear would give the state power to cut off funding for providers who refer patients for abortion services. During his confirmation hearing late last month, former Department of Health and Senior Services Director Donald Kauerauf’s […]

Patricia “Tricia” Ashton Derges former State Representative

Missouri lawmaker admits illegally selling prescription drugs, says it was unintentional

(Missouri Independent) – A Missouri lawmaker facing a 23-count federal indictment for allegedly selling fake stem-cell treatments and fraudulently using federal pandemic relief funds has settled with the state health department, resulting in three-year probation of her narcotics license while admitting to illegally purchasing and prescribing pharmaceutical drugs. The administrative settlement, signed Jan. 28 with the […]

Medical Marijuana Dispensary

Missouri Supreme Court: Medical marijuana application info must be disclosed in appeals

(Missouri Independent) – In a unanimous decision Tuesday, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that a lower court was justified in ordering the state health department to disclose medical marijuana application info that it had argued was confidential. The Department of Health and Senior Services refused to provide applications of businesses that were awarded licenses to […]

Josh Hawley Courtesy of Missourinet

Senator Josh Hawley: Ukraine’s prospective NATO membership hurts U.S. interests, we must focus on China

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken to seek clarity on the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine’s prospective NATO membership and to express concern that it would threaten U.S. interests by drawing attention away from the China threat. “Today, an increasingly powerful China seeks hegemony in the Indo-Pacific. If China succeeds, it […]