Scott Riddle and Zacjaru Wilson booking photos

Grundy County Sheriff reports the arrest of three area residents

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest of three area residents on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, on various charges. Thirty-six-year-old Zachary Lee Wilson of Spickard has been charged with the felonies of unlawful use of a weapon involving exhibiting, first-degree property damage, and armed criminal action. He also has been charged with misdemeanor unlawful possession, […]

Spickard Woman Life Flighted after Crash in Mercer County

Spickard woman life-flighted to Truman Medical Center after head-on crash

The Highway Patrol reports a Spickard woman sustained serious injuries when a pickup truck struck a hatchback head-on seven miles southeast of Princeton on Tuesday morning, September 21. A medical helicopter took hatchback driver 74-year-old Diana Miller to Truman Medical Center. No injuries were reported for the pickup driver, 54-year-old Jeffrey Siemer of Princeton. The […]

Farm Scene news graphic

Struggle over tax break for inherited farmland churns below surface in reconciliation bill

(Missouri Independent) – Agricultural groups and farm-state lawmakers notched a significant win when U.S. House Democrats chose not to touch a big tax break for inherited property, avoiding, for now, a confrontation. But opponents remain wary that the idea could come back at any time as Democrats shape their massive $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, and […]

Voter Suppression news graphic

Groups see Missouri proposals as voter-suppression attempts

As lawmakers in Congress work to expand access to voting, members of the Missouri Legislature are proposing laws their critics say would limit people’s ability to vote. State legislative committees on elections convened last week to discuss measures that would impose a stricter voter ID law, require election officials to purge voter rolls more frequently, and others. Luz […]

Missouri Senate Chamber from Visitors Gallery (Photo Courtesy Missouri Senate)

‘Clown show’ vs. ‘tyranny’: Missouri Senate GOP divide on display during veto session

(Missouri Independent) –  On one side were tyrannical oligarchs. On the other, petulant children.  Or at least that was the takeaway from the Missouri Senate’s day-long rules debate Wednesday. Gathered for the legislature’s annual veto session, the demons that have haunted the upper chamber for more than a year didn’t take long to reappear.  The […]

Amtrak Missouri River Runner train#313 pulling into Kirkwood Missouri Amtrak Station

U.S. House Democrats add more mass transit, high-speed rail into infrastructure bill

(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. House transportation panel early Wednesday passed along party lines the panel’s $60 billion slice of Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget plan, adding nearly $20 billion for a new transit program and high-speed rail development in the states. Chairman Peter A. DeFazio of Oregon had considered these and other items underfunded in […]

Bicentennial Inaugrual Parade Graphic

Governor Parson and First Lady to host Bicentennial Inaugural Parade and Ball at the State Capitol

On Saturday, September 18, Governor Parson and First Lady Parson will host the Bicentennial Inaugural Parade and Ball at the State Capitol in Jefferson City.  The Bicentennial Inaugural Parade will take place this Saturday, September 18 at 10 a.m. in Jefferson City. The Bicentennial Inaugural Ball will also be this Saturday, September 18 at 5:00 p.m. in Jefferson City. These events are a […]

Voter ID Law

Missouri Republicans vow to push again for voter ID law

(Missouri Independent) – With several months to go before state lawmakers return for the 2022 legislative session, Republicans are promising to once again push to require photo identification to vote. Committees in the Missouri House and Senate held hearings Tuesday dominated by discussions of requiring a government-issued ID for both in-person and absentee voting. Secretary […]

The Board of Public Buildings, chaired by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, met on Sept. 13, 2021 (Photo courtesy Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent)

LGBTQ history exhibit goes unmentioned by Missouri Board of Public Buildings, governor cited for its removal

(Missouri Independent) – When news broke that an LGBTQ history exhibit was suddenly and without warning removed from the Missouri Capitol, Gov. Mike Parson contended the reason was that it didn’t get pre-approval from a board he chairs, but at that board’s first meeting in more than a year on Monday, neither the exhibit nor the […]