Missouri Governor Mike Parson delivers State address in Missouri House January 19, 2022 (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel - Missouri House Communications)

Governor Mike Parson touts Missouri’s COVID-19 response in annual State of State address

(Missouri Independent) – Gov. Mike Parson praised his administration’s handling of the still-unfolding COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday, telling a joint session of the Missouri General Assembly that the state has emerged ready to make long-term investments in its future.  “The bottom line is Missouri’s economy is strong,” Parson said in his annual State of the State […]

Task force recommends ways to help Missouri small businesses with workforce, supply chain and other problems

A statewide task force is recommending a variety of ways intended to help small businesses in Missouri with a workforce, supply chain, funding, and broadband problems.      The suggestions include improving childcare access and affordability, expanding hospitality industry apprenticeships, updating the Fast Track workforce grant program, and enhancing help for women and minority-owned businesses. […]

A partially melted tire hangs on a tree near Paradise, Kansas. The surrounding land was scorched by a wildfire in December 2021

December 2021 was the warmest on record in Missouri and Kansas – by a long shot

(Missouri Independent) – Kansas and Missouri logged their warmest average December temperatures on record last month, according to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Average temperatures over the last half of 2021 were higher than they’ve ever been in either state — and across the country. Meanwhile, despite a devastating cold snap that forced […]

Avery Mock Booking Photo Final

Spickard woman charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child turns herself in to authorities

A Spickard woman added to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office’s Most Wanted last week turned herself into the authorities on January 10th. The sheriff’s office reports 30-year-old Avery Elizabeth Mock has been charged with three felony counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk.  Bond was set at $25,000 cash only, […]

United States Supreme Court (Phot credit Laura Olson - States Newsroom)

Supreme Court appears wary of Biden vaccine-or-test employer mandate

(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared unconvinced Friday of the Biden administration’s authority to impose a vaccine-or-test mandate on private businesses, casting doubt on a key piece of the White House COVID-19 response. The justices seemed potentially more comfortable with another Biden administration rule to fight the virus that requires certain […]

Shaun Pickens photo courtesy Missouri Department of Corrections

Missouri State Highway Patrol arrests Kingston man; charged with driving while intoxicated as a persistent offender

A Kingston man arrested by the Highway Patrol in Caldwell County on Thursday morning, December 16, 2021, has been charged in Caldwell County. Thirty-seven-year-old Shaun Allen Pickens has been charged with felony driving while intoxicated as a persistent offender and misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner involving an accident. Bond was […]

School buses wait Tuesday outside Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School in Columbia (Photo Credit Rudi Keller Missouri Independent

Confusion around COVID ruling swirls as two Missouri school districts end semester early

(Missouri Independent) – As a growing number of Missouri school districts drop COVID mitigation measures under threat from Attorney General Eric Schmitt, at least two closed the doors on their fall semester early due to large numbers of staff and students out sick. Meanwhile, local public health departments said Tuesday they still have not heard […]

Mask Mandate News Graphic

Audio: Missouri counties challenging judge’s ruling that mask mandates are unconstitutional

St. Louis and County and Jackson County are returning legal fire after Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sued to have the mask mandates effectively outlawed.     A Missouri judge last month invalidated many orders, including mask mandates, from the state Department of Health and Senior Services. The counties are appealing the ruling. If an […]

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (Photo Courtesy Missouri AG Office)

Missouri’s largest counties seek to appeal ruling overturning local health orders

(Missouri Independent) – Jackson and St. Louis Counties requested Monday that they be permitted to intervene and appeal a recent court ruling that they argue has “upended the longstanding public health framework” in Missouri. In a filing submitted Monday afternoon and obtained by The Independent, the two counties asked Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel […]

Abigail Ann Caselman booking photo courtesy Clinton County Jail

Cameron woman facing charges after entering residence and threatening man with a knife

A Cameron woman faces two felonies in Clinton County after she allegedly entered a Cameron residence and threatened a man inside with a knife on December 6, 2021. Thirty-six-year-old Abigail Ann Caselman has been charged with first-degree burglary and second-degree domestic assault. Caselman was initially to be held without bond; however, the court amended bond […]