(Missouri Independent) – Attorneys who successfully sued to force Missouri to enact voter-approved Medicaid expansion argued in a letter to state officials Thursday that delays in implementation violate not only the court order but also federal law. The plaintiffs’ attorneys, Chuck Hatfield and Lowell Pearson joined with Joel Ferber, director of advocacy for Legal Services […]
Charges have been filed regarding a homicide investigation involving the death of a Northwest Missouri State University graduate student and her daughter. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office reports 45-year old J. T. McLean, the long-term boyfriend of 43-year-old Allison Abitz, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the murder of Allison and […]
(Missouri Independent) – The schools in Gov. Mike Parson’s hometown will continue to require students, teachers, and staff to wear masks indoors despite a lawsuit filed by the Missouri attorney general challenging public school mask mandates across the state. The Bolivar R-1 Board of Education in Polk County voted in a special meeting this month to […]
Governor Mike Parson announced the winners of the first drawing of the MO VIP. At the time of the August 13 drawing, a total of 495,296 MO VIP entries were received. The MO VIP incentivizes vaccination for those who have not yet been vaccinated, as well as provides an opportunity for rewards for the more […]
The owner of dozens of Mexican restaurants in several states, along with the company’s president, CFO, controller, and sales manager are among 19 defendants charged in a federal racketeering conspiracy to hire undocumented workers. Also among those charged are eight current or former managers of restaurants located in Butler, Springfield, Lebanon, West Plains, Willow Springs, […]
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen approved matters on August 23 regarding repairs at Dockery Park. The park board recommended the action. Jones Power Washing Services, LLC was hired to complete power washing and painting on the grandstand and the deck behind the shelter house for $3,100. Matthew Barlow was hired for concrete flatwork at the grandstand […]
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees heard reports on housing and other matters on August 24. Resident Life Director Donnie Hillerman reported one new residence hall is open, and he hopes the other new residence hall will open September 1st. There are some displaced students currently staying in Selby Hall in the wing […]
A fugitive investigation in Wheeling resulted in the arrest of a Wheeling man on August 22 on warrants for alleged traffic offenses. Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox reports 33-year-old Tye Joseph Evans was found hiding inside a tote inside an outbuilding in the southeast part of the community in which he allegedly barricaded himself inside. […]
A Trenton man has been charged in Daviess County with felony second-degree terrorist threat after he allegedly said he was a fugitive and would shoot any cops who tried to arrest him. The alleged incident involving 30-year-old Todd McDowell at the Southside Tavern of Gallatin happened on August 22. Online court information indicates McDowell has […]
The new Missouri National Guard Hall of Fame was formed by a group of Missouri Veterans in 2020. The new Hall of Fame will be physically located in Kirksville, MO. Missouri National Guard Hall of FamChairman John J. Sastry, Esq., CFP® announces a list of 10 Finalists for the Hall of Fame inaugural class. From […]
Entries will be accepted through Oct. 10 for the next Missouri Steer Feedout, with weigh-in on November 2, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole. An entry consists of five or more head of steers born after January 1, 2021. At delivery, they should be weaned at least 45 days, weigh over 500 […]
One city in Missouri has crossed the threshold of having half its population fully vaccinated. The city of Joplin is the only place in Missouri with more than 50% of the population fully vaccinated. Nine jurisdictions in the state are at least 40% fully vaccinated: Boone, St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, Atchison, Jackson, […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt joined a 20-state coalition led by West Virginia and Arizona in arguing against the Biden administration’s proposed regulation of firearm parts. In addition to joining the coalition’s comment letter, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office filed a separate, but similar, comment letter. The coalition’s comment letter can be found at this […]
The Trenton City Council Monday night reviewed a preliminary report on proposed improvements to the aging water treatment plant, including an initial discussion on how to pay for an anticipated loan to finance the projects. The council also endorsed a developer’s application seeking funding for senior citizen housing, the creation of a social district for […]
The U.S. has its first fully approved vaccine against COVID-19, with federal health officials announcing Monday the approval of Pfizer-BioNTech’s two-dose vaccine. The green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to move Pfizer’s vaccine from emergency use to full approval is a milestone in the national pandemic response, and one that comes as the […]
An Iowa woman was sentenced on two hate crimes charges for attempting to kill two minor victims because of their race and national origin. Nicole Poole Franklin, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephanie M. Rose to 304 months in federal prison on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently to each other […]
A six-year-old Excelsior Springs girl was killed, and four other people received serious injuries when a car went off a road in Excelsior Springs, hit a parked truck, and eventually came to rest in a brush pile. The six-year girl was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car, 24-year old Brandon Holder […]
The state Public Defender System is on track to have its largest staffing increase since 1989. The Missouri Legislature passed a state budget this year that includes hiring a total of 53 new public defenders statewide. The Missouri Public Defender System has already filled 32 of those positions. The System has been understaffed […]
The Department of Health and Senior Services has published its second annual report of the Missouri Medical Marijuana Regulatory Program. DHSS is required to annually submit a report to the Governor regarding the efficient discharge of its responsibilities under Article XIV Section 1 of the Missouri Constitution. Reported activities are based on the program year […]
More than a dozen northwest Missouri counties are experiencing slight drought conditions, according to the drought monitor map released Thursday, August 18, 2021. The map is developed based on soil conditions as of Tuesday. Each of the counties mentioned is in the category called abnormally dry. The only county within the Green Hills Region that […]
