A federal grand jury has returned a 147-count superseding indictment against 40 defendants across South Carolina in the largest federal racketeering conspiracy in South Carolina history. The indictment alleges a sprawling criminal enterprise whereby inmates with the South Carolina Department of Corrections, often through the use of contraband cell phones, orchestrated murder, kidnapping, firearms distribution, […]
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Audio: Northeast Missouri health departments begging for cooperation for contact tracing for COVID
Health departments in rural northeast Missouri are begging for cooperation and honesty when it comes to contact tracing. Knox County health officials say they’re getting incomplete information. WGEM’s Frank Healy reports from Edina. Health officials say they keep getting incomplete information. Knox County health administrator Lori Moots-Clair tells Quincy affiliate WGEM that being […]
House passes legislation to improve flood protection, inland waterways & other water resources infrastructure
After negotiations between the House and Senate were completed, the final Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (S. 1811) was approved by the House of Representatives. S. 1811 represents an agreement between House and Senate committees on final WRDA language, based in part on H.R. 7575, which passed the House by voice vote in July […]
Unionville man charged with three counts of sodomy against children bound over to Division One of Putnam County court
A preliminary hearing was held on Monday for a Unionville man, Ralph Saavedra, who faces three felony counts of statutory sodomy or attempt involving alleged deviate sexual intercourse. He also faces four felony counts of child molestation in the second degree. A probable cause statement from Unionville’s Police Chief says the two victims are girls […]
Missouri’s new Cold Case Unit has filed its first charges in 1986 murder case
The new cold case unit in Missouri has already charged its first murder case. The Missouri Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit will take a fresh look at cold cases across the state and work to investigate and charge those cases. “Since entering office, I’ve made it one of my missions to prosecute the state’s […]
Audio: Two high-profile prosecutors heading Missouri’s new cold case unit
Two high-profile prosecutors are heading Missouri’s new cold case unit. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has announced the creation of a new unit that will tackle cold case murders across the state. The unit is led by former U-S Attorney Tom Dittmeier and former state prosecutor Dean Hoag. Dittmeier is best-known for prosecuting […]
19 Missouri residents indicted by grand jury for $1.2 million insurance fraud conspiracy
Nineteen defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $1.2 million insurance fraud conspiracy that involved false claims of injuries suffered in car accidents. Lawrence Courtney Lawhorn, 32, and Latoya Marie Brown, 35, who resided in Columbia and in the Kansas City area; Lauren Courtney Luque, 34, Michael Jadon […]
Record number of deer taken during second weekend of youth firearms season
The second weekend for youth firearms deer season took place Saturday and Sunday with Missouri noting a record number of deer taken for those specific dates. Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows young hunters ages 6 through 15 harvested 39-hundred deer during Missouri’s late youth portion of 2020 deer hunting. That was […]
Missouri Highway Patrol reports traffic fatalities increase over Thanksgiving holiday weekend compared to 2019
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 10 people died in traffic crashes during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday counting period–from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 25, 2020, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 29, 2020. During the Thanksgiving holiday counting period, troopers report the following traffic statistics for 2020: Crashes ─ 321 Injuries ─ 72 Fatalities ─ 9 DWI ─ 100 Drug Arrests ─ […]
Five members of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang charged with murder
Five members of the violent Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) international street gang are set to appear in court following charges of conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, 24; Jimmy Villalobos-Gomez, 23; Angel […]
November firearms deer harvest ends with 176,604, down almost 3400 from 2019
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows deer hunters in Missouri harvested 167,604 deer during the November portion of the firearms deer season from November 14th through November 24th. Of the deer harvested, 95,654 were antlered bucks, 16,045 were button bucks, and 64,905 were does. Top harvest counties in the state were Howell […]
With no statewide mandate in Missouri, more local governments are requiring masks
(Missouri Independent) – In early July, the Columbia City Council passed an ordinance requiring everyone over 10 years old to wear a face mask when in close contact with someone from outside their household. Since that vote, a requirement for face masks has been in every health order issued for the city of 123,000 by the Columbia-Boone […]
Two injured in Thursday night crash on I-35
Two Kansas City residents received minor injuries when the sports utility vehicle struck an animal on southbound Interstate 35 in Harrison county two miles south of Eagleville. Taken by emergency medical services to Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany were the driver, 51-year-old Barbara Selvy, and passenger, 52-year-old Frank Montes. Both occupants were wearing seat […]
EPA awards $2.5 million to the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs for farmworker pesticide training
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs to receive up to $500,000 annually to conduct pesticide safety training across the country over the next five years. With EPA funding, AFOP will administer this grant to provide occupational health and safety training to migrant and seasonal farmworkers in more than […]
Audio: Missouri among top “unsafe” places to spend Thanksgiving.
Missouri ranks among the most unsafe states to spend Thanksgiving this year, according to a recent study. The personal finance website WalletHub.com released its report on Wednesday on the Safest States to Spend Thanksgiving. Missouri ranked 47. WalletHub said it looked at all 50 states in terms of positive COVID-19 tests and deaths […]
Audio: Governor Parson reiterates opposition to statewide mask mandate; promotes “Show Me You Care” campaign
Missouri’s governor has been using stops this week to tout a program called the “Show Me You Care” campaign, which emphasizes the need for you to wear a mask, practice good hygiene, and to social distance. Governor Mike Parson says everyone must step up to stop the spread of COVID. The state Department of Health […]
Audio: What are your chances of hitting an animal in Missouri?
November is the peak month for vehicle accidents involving deer. According to State Farm, Missouri drivers have a 1 in 78 chance of hitting an animal, mostly deer. Those odds rank the state 15th most risky according to a press release from the insurance giant. Drivers are encouraged to eliminate distractions, use extra […]
Missouri’s Hawley praises bipartisan movement on duck boat legislation
After being stuck in committee on Capitol Hill for 19 months, bipartisan duck boat legislation from U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) is expected to be voted on Wednesday morning by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It’s the first bill the committee is scheduled to take up Wednesday, and it comes a little more […]
Missouri hunters take less deer on opening weekend than in 2019, weather a huge factor over the weekend
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 80,525 deer during the opening weekend of the November portion of the fall firearms deer season. That’s eight thousand fewer deer than the corresponding first weekend of 2019 which came in at a total of 88,760. Of the deer harvested […]
Audio: Missouri construction sector seeking military veterans to fill jobs
Missouri’s construction industry is busy, and getting busier, but companies don’t have enough skilled employees. Contractors and the state are now reaching out to veterans to join their ranks. Len Toenjes represents hundreds of contractors with Missouri AGC. Toenjes says salaries in construction are well above the median in Missouri. A new grant of […]