Stop the Human Trafficking

17 illicit massage businesses in Missouri shut down for alleged sex and human trafficking

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced an update to his office’s efforts to evict illicit massage businesses through the Hope Initiative. Since launching the initiative, 10 additional illicit massage businesses have either been evicted, are in the process of being evicted, or their eviction is likely.  “Human trafficking is a global scourge that affects millions […]

Laredo R-7 School

Laredo Board of Education approves insurance renewal

The Laredo R-7 Board of Education approved Missouri United School Insurance Council renewal on the evening of December 14th. Secretary Robin Griswold reports the annual assessment amount due is $13,005. The insurance includes property, general liability, buses, and worker’s compensation. The board approved the 2019-2020 school audit, Wagner taking school pictures, and a curriculum update […]

Black Bear Photo Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation

Missouri Conservation Commission approves Missouri Department of Conservation bear hunting framework

The Missouri Conservation Commission recently gave final approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation for the state’s first black bear hunting season framework. The Commission finalized the hunting season framework and related regulations at its December 11 open meeting in Jefferson City. The approved framework limits any future bear hunting to areas of southern Missouri […]

Cooper Stanley Putnam County High School senior as the Career and Technical Education Student of the Month

Putnam County R-1 School District recognizes Cooper Stanley as Career and Technical Education Student of the Month

The Putnam County R-1 School District recognized Cooper Stanley as the Career and Technical Education Student of the Month for December 2020. Student winners are chosen by the vocational faculty based on a set of criteria that includes: attendance, grades, cooperation with fellow students and teachers, enthusiasm for subject(s), attitude both in the classroom and […]

Crime and Courts

Grundy County, Division One, court news for Thursday, December 10, 2020

Several defendants received a sentence with others receiving probation following appearances Thursday in Division One of the Grundy County Circuit Court. Trenton resident Christopher James Warren pleaded guilty to felony drug possession/synthetic cannabinoid as of November 20th. Warren was sentenced to five years with the department of corrections. Another charge was dismissed. Polo resident Julie […]

Facebook

Missouri Attorney joins multistate lawsuit seeking to end Facebook’s illegal monopoly

Attorney General Eric Schmitt joined a bipartisan coalition of 48 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against Facebook Inc., alleging that the company illegally stifles competition to protect its monopoly power. The filing can be found here. The lawsuit alleges that, over the last decade, the social networking giant illegally acquired competitors in a predatory manner […]

School Bus Picking up kids (children)

Audio: Northern Missouri Senator proposes to limit pay for Missouri’s K-12 public school superintendents

State Senator Cindy O’Laughlin of northern Missouri’s Shelbina wants to limit pay for Missouri’s K-12 public school superintendents. Under a bill she has pre-filed, total compensation could not exceed 3.5 times the average total compensation provided to all certified, full-time teachers employed by the district. Missouri has about 551 public and charter schools. The Missouri […]

Prison Sentence News Graphic

Arkansas project manager sentenced to two years in prison in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud

A project manager employed by a major retailer was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for fraudulently seeking more than $8 million in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. […]

Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana subpoena may have been connected to Independence, Missouri FBI probe

(Missouri Independent) – The head of Missouri’s medical marijuana program testified under oath that a grand jury subpoena his agency received late last year was likely connected to an FBI investigation in Independence.  The revelation by Lyndall Fraker, director of medical marijuana regulation at the Missouri Department of Health and Seniors Services, is the first […]

School Funding

Audio: $76 Million in to be deployed to Missouri’s K-12 schools, once Governor signs supplemental budget

About $76 million in federal money will be heading to Missouri’s k-12 schools, once Governor Mike Parson signs the supplemental budget bill. House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, says the $1.27 billion supplemental budget includes $75.6 million for school nutrition services.     “i.e., paying for meals in k-12 education,” Smith says. “So this […]

Missouri State Highway Patrol Website New 2021 (MSHP)

Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the arrest of five area residents

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports a Kansas City resident was arrested Saturday night in Daviess County and accused of felony counts of possessing marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, felony unlawful possession of a firearm, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding, and expired vehicle registration.  Nineteen-year-old Blayne Pace was taken to the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail. Galt […]