Typical pen style CAFO ( Photo by Darrell Hoemann - Investigate Midwest)

Audio: Coronavirus hits Missouri hog farm in Audrain County

Thirteen hog farm employees in Audrain County have tested positive for the coronavirus. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams says the cases impact the overall food chain. Some Missouri meat processing plants have closed or reduced their output due to coronavirus outbreaks, including in Moniteau and Saline Counties.     “We […]

Walter Barton Executed

Walter Barton executed for 1991 murder of southwest Missouri woman; pronounced dead at 6:10 pm

At 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, convicted murderer Walter Barton, 64, was pronounced dead at the state prison in southeast Missouri’s Bonne Terre. Barton was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1991 brutal stabbing death of 81-year-old Gladys Kuehler of southwest Missouri’s Ozark. His death makes Missouri the first state in the nation […]

Walter Barton Mugshot

Missouri Governor Mike Parson: Execution of Walter Barton “will move forward as scheduled”

The governor says the execution of a convicted southwest Missouri killer will move forward, clearing the way for Tuesday evening’s scheduled execution in Bonne Terre. Governor Mike Parson told Capitol reporters on Monday in Jefferson City that he hasn’t seen any reason to intervene in Walter Barton’s scheduled execution, saying “that will move forward as […]

Medical Marijuana

Audio: Missouri Legislature adopts medical marijuana changes

The Missouri Legislature has passed changes to the state’s new medical marijuana industry. The FBI informed the state health department, which licenses and regulates the medical marijuana industry, that the department will not have access to its national fingerprint background check database. Representative Lane Roberts, R-Joplin, says his legislation would clear up that problem. “Because […]

Budget Graphic

Missouri House approves $34.9 billion budget, following heated debate on Medicaid expansion

The Missouri House voted Wednesday afternoon to give final approval to a $34.9 billion state operating budget. GOP leaders say it’s a budget that’s about $146 million less than the current budget. Most House members wore masks during the debate, which got heated during a discussion about Medicaid expansion. Due to COVID-19 concerns, there were just three […]