Missouri is launching an apprenticeship program to expand talent pipelines for Direct Support Professionals, who work with people with developmental disabilities. The Show-Me State, like many others, is facing a serious direct-care workforce shortage. To answer the need, the program Missouri Talent Pathways was recently approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. Duane Shumate, the state coordinator […]
Tag: practices
Missouri Attorney General obtains judgment and full restitution for victims in “Lantern Fest” lawsuit
Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced the entry of a consent judgment against Happy Fun Events, LLC, Owen Spencer Hunn, and Martha Hunn. The Hunns owned Happy Fun Events, a Utah-based company, that put on “Lantern Fest” events around the country. Happy Fun Events had scheduled an event in Jefferson County for November 2018 that it […]
Former pain management clinic owner sentenced to over 16 years in prison for unlawful opioid distribution
A Florida man was sentenced today in the Southern District of Florida to 200 months in prison for illegally distributing opioids at his pain management clinic in Miami, Florida. According to court documents, Habib Geagea Palacios, 40, of Miami, owned General Care Center Inc., a cash-only pain management clinic in Miami. At General Care, Palacios […]
Mendy Loja named Wright Memorial Hospital 2021 Employee of the Year
Wright Memorial Hospital recently announced its 2021 Employee of the Year. Mendy Loja, a medical laboratory scientist coordinator at Wright Memorial Hospital, was presented with the award at a ceremony held in her honor on March 31. The other finalists for the award were 2021 Employee of the Quarter recipients Maryke Willis, Kari Smith, and […]
USDA offers CLEAR30 option for producers to enroll land with expiring conservation contracts
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is announcing the signup period for its Clean Lakes, Estuaries, And Rivers initiative (CLEAR30) — a nationwide opportunity for certain landowners and agricultural producers currently implementing water quality practices through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to enroll in 30-year contracts, extending the lifespan and strengthening the benefits of important water quality […]
Former Greenville, Missouri city clerk sentenced to 10 years in prison, ordered to pay $168,957 in restitution
The former city clerk of Greenville, Pam Birmingham, was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison and ordered to repay $168,957 to the city after being convicted on a charge of receiving stolen property. A 2018 audit by State Auditor Nicole Galloway found improperly cashed checks, missing cash, and improper payroll and other payments during […]
Bomb threat the cause of Trenton students evacuating building on Wednesday
Details have been released regarding a reported incident at the Trenton High School/Middle School campus on March 30th. The Trenton R-9 School District reports it received information concerning the sighting of a suspicious package at or near THS in the afternoon. The Trenton Police Department reports the communication center received a call about the suspicious […]
Trenton High School and Trenton Middle School student campus evacuated to Rock Barn due to “incident”
The Trenton R-9 School District announced on Wednesday afternoon that, due to an incident at the Trenton High School/Middle School campus, students were evacuated to the Rock Barn out of caution. High school and middle school car riders could be picked up at the Rock Barn by a parent, guardian, or documented emergency contact. Bus […]
Supreme Court to hear case against Proposition 12 by National Pork Producers Council and American Farm Bureau Federation
The U.S. Supreme Court at its Mar. 25 conference agreed to hear a case brought by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation against California’s Proposition 12, which bans the sale of pork from hogs born to sows that weren’t raised according to the state’s “arbitrary” production standards. “We are extremely […]
Senate winds up grueling Supreme Court hearings on Ketanji Brown Jackson nomination
(Missouri Independent) – Representatives of the American Bar Association reiterated their finding that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is well qualified to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, and law enforcement groups rebutted GOP accusations Jackson is soft on child pornographers during the final day of Jackson’s confirmation hearings Thursday. Republicans, however, called in witnesses to […]
Jackson County contractor arrested for fraud and financial exploitation of the elderly
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that charges brought by his office resulted in the arrest of Jerry Thompson, Jr., of Blue Springs, Missouri. The arrest warrant asserts eight counts of deceptive business practices and three counts of financial exploitation of an elderly person. “My Office will hold accountable anyone who preys on our society’s […]
Emily Hartley appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Advisory Committee for Missouri
Emily Hartley, Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council Deputy Director, was appointed to the Missouri Advisory Committee by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, effective Feb. 18, 2022. Advisory Committees have recently examined water affordability, school discipline disparities, policing practices, mental health and the criminal justice system, legal financial obligations, fair housing, hate crimes, voting rights, maternal […]
U.S. Senate hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson to start today
(Missouri Independent) – After more than two weeks of private meetings with nearly half the U.S. Senate, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden’s pick for the U.S. Supreme Court, will field questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee in highly anticipated public hearings that begin today (Monday). Members of the panel will question Jackson for […]
Missouri Attorney General obtains judgement against city of Moscow Mills for ticket quotas and other violations
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office has obtained a consent judgment in his lawsuit against the City of Moscow Mills for violations of Senate Bill 5 and accompanying reforms. The lawsuit was filed in November 2021, after information came to light about alleged ticket quotas and other violations of SB5. “Since taking […]
Hedrick Medical Center Recognized as a Missouri AIM Star facility
Hedrick Medical Center has been recognized as a Missouri AIM Star by the Missouri Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health. The recognition signifies the hospital’s completion of the organization’s Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy Collaborative. Hypertension, known as high blood pressure, can have a devastating effect on a mother and baby. Pre-eclampsia, a condition signaled by high blood […]
St. Louis jail inmates file class action lawsuit alleging guards torture them with mace
(Missouri Independent) – Inmates at St. Louis’ primary jail filed a federal class-action lawsuit Tuesday accusing guards of torture with mace and depriving them of water for days. The inmates are represented by a team of attorneys from the MacArthur Justice Center, ArchCity Defenders, the SLU Law Legal Clinics, and Rights Behind Bars. “They spray chemical agents […]
Missouri Attorney General announces top 10 consumer complaints for 2021
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office received 126,100 total consumer complaints in 2021, submitted in writing or via phone call. The Consumer Complaint Unit received 86,856 complaints and inquiries and the No-Call Unit received 39,244 complaints. The Attorney General’s Office has advocates who take complaints and work actively to mediate those complaints between consumers and businesses […]
Missouri Attorney General charges car salesman with consumer fraud
Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office has charged Marcus James Hill of Lebanon, Missouri, with thirteen violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act in relating to his two car dealerships, Variety Auto Sales and Hilltop Auto Sales. Charged in Laclede County, Hill faces thirteen felony counts of deceptive business practices. The charges allege […]
Audit of city of Cross Timbers finds more than $44,000 misappropriated by former city clerk; city finances in poor condition
Auditor Galloway released her findings from an audit of the city of Cross Timbers in Hickory County. Residents of Cross Timbers, a small town of fewer than 120 residents in west-central Missouri, initiated the audit through the petition process. The audit released, which gives a rating of “poor” – the lowest possible rating – found […]
U.S. Dermatology Partners opening new office in Chillicothe
U. S. Dermatology Partners has announced the opening of a new Chillicothe office as part of the U. S. Dermatology Partners Outreach Program. The new program will open 30 new locations in eight states. The office at 871 Fairway Drive in Chillicothe will offer access to dermatology and skin cancer treatments beginning March 25th. It […]