Some lawmakers in Jefferson City are pushing forward bills that would limit citizens’ ability to put constitutional amendments on the ballot. The proposed legislation would double the number of signatures required to get on the ballot and raise the thresholds to pass them from a majority to two-thirds. Benjamin Singer, CEO of the group Show-Me Integrity, noted […]
The Grundy County Commission adopted a deficit budget for 2022 on January 31st. The budget estimates total revenues of $7,218,191 and expenditures of $9,019,582. A balance deficit of $1,801,391 is expected for 2022. The county begins the year with carryover funds of $5,297,100.98. The estimated ending balance is $3,495,709.98. In her budget message, Grundy County […]
Multiple reports were given at the North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees meeting on January 25th. Math, Science, History, and Social Behavioral Sciences Division Chairperson Doctor Lindsay Oram reported the division currently represents 10 faculty members. In the fall, there were 11 faculty members in the division, and they taught 109 course sections and […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri state employees counting on seeing a big raise in their February paychecks may be disappointed, as lawmakers fiddle with a $5.4 billion spending bill pushed by Gov. Mike Parson. When the Republican governor in December proposed a 5.5 percent pay raise for all state workers, he said he wanted it in effect by […]
Trenton Middle School has released the names of those making the honor roll. All students receiving all 3’s with a minimum of two 4’s in core content classes will earn Distinguished Scholar recognition. All students receiving 2.5’s or higher in all classes will earn Honor Roll recognition. Citizenship Honor Roll recognizes students who demonstrate responsibility, […]
A Missouri, man has been convicted by a federal jury of illegally possessing the stolen firearm that he threw out of his car during a police chase. Cecil Jason Robinson, 42, of Columbia, was found guilty on Thursday, Jan. 13, of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Robinson was in possession of a […]
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 […]
A Missouri, man who was arrested with 19 firearms and quantities of illegal drugs in his home pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms. Rusty W. Snow, 28, Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of […]
A Missouri, man who belongs to the Aryan Brotherhood pleaded guilty in federal court to methamphetamine trafficking. Jimmy Jack Pinkley, 44, of Billings, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. By pleading guilty Pinkley admitted that he was in possession of […]
A Missouri, man who was involved in the illegal sale of 15 firearms (four of which were stolen) to a confidential source working with federal agents, has been convicted by a trial jury of illegally possessing and selling firearms and robbery. Mickael N. Oliver, 27, Kansas City, was found guilty on Friday, Dec. 10, of […]
State Auditor Nicole Galloway released the report of her regularly scheduled audit of Lawrence County, located in southwest Missouri. The report, which gives a rating of “fair,” is the first audit of the county since a 2016 audit gave the county a rating of “poor” – the lowest possible – and the subsequent 2017 follow-up report Auditors […]
State Senator Dan Hegeman of Cosby says state worker compensation will be one of the top issues facing legislators when they return to Jefferson City next month. Hegeman, a Republican who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, notes low state pay is costing the state some quality workers. Hegeman says there is room in […]
The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announces the state minimum wage rate for 2022 has been established, according to state law, at $11.15 per hour, effective January 1, 2022. Pursuant to Proposition B, which was approved by Missouri voters on November 6, 2018, the minimum wage will increase by 85 cents per hour […]
Governor Mike Parson announced that he will recommend a 5.5 percent Cost of Living Adjustment and $15.00 per hour minimum base pay standard for all state employees across state government. “With many positions across state government facing turnover rates anywhere from 10-100 percent and vacancy rates from 30-100 percent, it is past time for us […]
The Milan C-2 School District is planning for the 2022-2023 school year and is seeking feedback on the potential of implementing a four-day school week. A survey is available on the school’s website in English, Spanish, and French. The survey in English is available by clicking HERE, The survey in Spanish is available by clicking […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against the City of Moscow Mills for allegedly enforcing a ticket quota on their officers, in violation of Senate Bill 5 and accompanying reforms. “Missourians should not be treated as cash cows to fill municipal coffers. When I was in the State Senate, I led efforts to […]
A Kansas City, Missouri, man who was charged in two separate federal indictments pleaded guilty in federal court to the armed robberies of a local business and a family in their residence. Chase M. Murphy, 20, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to two counts of robbery and one count of using a […]
Two Mexican nationals have been convicted by a federal trial jury for their roles in a $2.1 million conspiracy to distribute over 100 kilograms (220 lbs) of methamphetamine in the Kansas City metropolitan area and in northwest Missouri. Juan Guzman, also known as “Flaco,” 40, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Maria De La Cruz Nava, […]
The Board of Directors of the Gene Kauffman Scholarship Foundation, Inc. has announced that scholarship applications will be available for the Spring, 2022 semester, beginning Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. The Board encourages all who meet the following qualifications to apply for this scholarship. As per the wishes of Kauffman, the scholarship is available to female, […]
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden is meeting with congressional Democrats on Capitol Hill Thursday morning to pitch lawmakers on a new slimmed-down framework for what would be included in a massive social reform package, according to senior administration officials. The $1.75 trillion blueprint that Biden is presenting to Democrats includes a universal pre-K program for 3-and-4 […]
