Missouri Department of Social Services

Furious lawmakers demand answers from Missouri DSS for undercount of abuse reports

(Missouri Independent) – Lawmakers slammed the Department of Social Services on Thursday for underreporting the number of substantiated cases of abuse and neglect at youth residential facilities during a previous legislative hearing. For nearly an hour-and-a-half on Thursday, the House Special Committee on Government Oversight pressed DSS officials on why the number of findings of […]

Child Porn

Former paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School pleads guilty to producing child pornography

A former paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School pleaded guilty in federal court to producing and distributing child pornography. Steven B. Allen, 45, of Independence, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to two counts of producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography over the internet. Allen, who has been […]

USDA Sign

USDA awards MDC two partnership projects to enhance cropland acres, restore and protect sand prairies

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will continue initiatives to integrate conservation with agriculture practices and help restore and manage sand prairies after being awarded two partnership projects through the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Through RCPP, conservation partners work in collaboration with NRCS to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners throughout […]

Domestic Assault (Domestic Violence) graphic

Audio: Missouri Legislature passes bill allowing domestic violence victims to get lifetime order of protection for themselves and their pets

Domestic violence victims could get long-term orders of protection against their alleged abusers without returning to court annually. The Missouri Legislature has passed a bill that would allow protection orders to be renewed for up to the lifetime of the attackers. The proposal is sponsored by Senator Elaine Gannon of southeast Missouri’s De Soto.   […]

Meet Missouri’s national spelling bee participants

In 39 days, eight Missouri students will begin competing in the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. This year’s contest will include 209 spellers all vying for the treasured championship trophy. According to the bee, spellers will begin participating virtually in the first of three rounds on June 12. The semifinals are scheduled for June 27. […]

Brookfield FFA Top Chapter 2021

Brookfield FFA chapter receives Top Chapter Award

The Missouri FFA Association awarded Brookfield FFA Chapter a Gold Emblem, a Top Chapter Award. Brookfield placed 3rd out of 351 chapters. Only 10 percent of state chapters receive a top chapter designation each year. The Brookfield FFA advisor is Jessica Dobrzenski. The top chapters compete for the National FFA Chapter Award. Winners will be […]

Senator Roy Blunt

Blunt opens application process for Missourians seeking to attend service academies

Senator Roy Blunt announced that he is accepting applications from Missourians interested in attending service academies. Nominations to the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy are available for qualified applicants. “Service academies play a critical role in educating and inspiring the next generation of servicemen and […]

Student from Bucklin places 4th in Extemporaneous Public Speaking at Missouri FFA Convention

Jacob Byers of the Bucklin FFA Chapter placed fourth in the extemporaneous public speaking leadership development event at the 93rd Missouri FFA Convention. Sixteen students from six districts were selected to compete at the state level. Byers’ advisor is Valerie Montgomery. MFA Inc. sponsors the competition, which requires contestants to deliver a speech based on […]