If the Food and Drug Administration approves Pfizer’s request for emergency use of the company’s COVID-19 drug, Missouri could get the first shipment of the vaccine later this month. The first batch is expected to include 51,000 doses, followed by 64,000 the next week. The first phase of the state’s immunization plans will allow healthcare […]
Tag: reason
Law enforcement takes action against approximately 2,300 money mules in crackdown on money laundering
The U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and six other federal law enforcement agencies announced the completion of the third annual Money Mule Initiative, a coordinated operation to disrupt the networks through which transnational fraudsters move the proceeds of their crimes. Money mules are individuals who assist fraudsters by receiving […]
Missouri lawmaker: State employees and teachers should receive pay raises, not elected officials
A veteran state lawmaker from southeast Missouri will file a resolution this week, aimed at blocking proposed pay increases for state lawmakers and for statewide elected officials. State Rep. Andrew McDaniel, R-Deering, was first elected to the Missouri House in 2014 and will be a senior member in January during his final House term in […]
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 […]
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 […]
Trenton City Council approves wage increase for police department; approves preparing ordinance calling for “Use Tax” vote
The Trenton City Council Monday night voted to have an ordinance prepared to call for a public vote on a proposed local use tax within the city of Trenton. The council also approved recommended wage increases for the Trenton Police Department in an effort to attract candidates for police officer. Both topics had gone to […]
December 11th is the deadline for dairy producers to enroll in the 2021 Safety-Net program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds dairy producers that the deadline to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for the calendar year 2021 is Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened DMC signup in October to help producers manage economic risk brought on by milk price and feed cost disparities. “2020 has been […]
Judgement issued in wrongful death suit involving fatality accident on Highway 6
A judgment has been issued in Grundy County regarding a wrongful death suit stemming from a fatality accident on eastbound Highway 6 in June 2019. The Highway Patrol reported 38-year-old Eric Virtue of Jamesport was pronounced dead at the scene three miles west of Trenton when a pickup truck driven by Russel Louderback of Trenton […]
Seven charged in connection with COVID-relief fraud scheme involving at least 80 fraudulent loan applications
Seven individuals across two states were charged in an indictment unsealed for their alleged participation in a scheme to obtain approximately $16 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Amir Aqeel, 52, and Pardeep Basra, 51, both of […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol to have extra troopers out over Thanksgiving holiday weekend
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds everyone there may be an increase in traffic over the Thanksgiving holiday. If so, drivers should remain alert to changes along their normal route. Regardless of traffic patterns, safety should remain a priority. “No matter how many vehicles are sharing the road, it’s important to be a courteous and […]
Missouri House gives initial approval to $1.2 billion supplemental budget
The Missouri House voted Tuesday to give preliminary approval to a proposed $1.27 billion supplemental budget, a supplemental that is the reason for the special session. The supplemental budget includes funding for school nutrition programs, job training grants, $1 million for witness protection funding, and money for child support payments. Governor Mike Parson (R) called […]
Trenton Board of Education review policies for inclement winter weather; board presented updates on COVID-19
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education Tuesday evening, November 10th approved a policy involving searches of students and hard surface bus routes in case of inclement weather. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported the policy involving searches of students was actually split in two, and part was adopted at the last board meeting. He explained he discussed […]
Missouri Election Day FAQ: What you need to know to make sure your vote counts
(Missouri Independent) – Across Missouri, local election officials have received 628,395 mail-in and absentee ballots, according to the Secretary of State’s Oct. 27 report. Already, that’s more than twice the total absentee ballots counted in the November 2016 election. While many Missourians have already voted by mail or in-person absentee, many more will head out […]
Missouri medical marijuana trial focuses on alleged role of insiders on license rules
(Missouri Independent) – A Missouri family that was denied a license to grow medical marijuana alleged in court this week that outside groups and individuals had undue access to top state officials — and that access led to an opaque process and contributed to the decision to cap the number of licenses granted. To buttress […]
Bri Brewer selected as NCMC’s Outstanding Student
Brianne “Bri” Brewer from Trenton, MO, has been selected as North Central Missouri College’s Outstanding Student for October. Bri, a nursing ADN student, plans to graduate from NCMC with her RN degree in the spring of 2021 and then begin work on her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in the field of rehab and psychology […]
Missouri Attorney General’s office denies allegations it broke law in medical marijuana lawsuit
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office dismissed accusations that his office and the state department of health illegally concealed records and violated the Sunshine Law during the course of a medical marijuana lawsuit, calling the charges “frivolous” and “baseless.” The accusation arose last week in a motion seeking sanctions against Schmitt’s office and […]
Gallatin teenager charged with sex crimes against six-year-old girl
A Gallatin teen has been charged in Daviess County with the felonies of statutory sodomy or attempted sodomy, deviate sexual intercourse, with a person less than 12 years of age, and child molestation, second degree. Online court information shows 17-year-old Joshua Reuben Schmidt’s bond is $5,000 cash only with supervision by Supervision Services. He is […]
Missouri Board of Education talks about ongoing challenges schools are facing during pandemic
The Missouri Board of Education discussed Tuesday the obstacles and additional workload that teachers and other school workers are dealing with this year. Member Don Claycomb said he expects a much greater number of teachers to leave the profession due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Apparently some feel pushed to the wall,” he said. Missouri already […]
Twenty-four defendants, including alleged Aryan Circle gang members and associates indicted in Missouri and nearby states
Five indictments in three different states were unsealed indicting a total of twenty-four defendants, including alleged Aryan Circle (AC) gang members and associates, on charges of racketeering conspiracy, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, drug conspiracy, and unlawful firearms trafficking. The indictments were announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice […]
Missouri Supreme Court: There is no constitutional right to absentee or mail-in voting
The Missouri Supreme Court rejected the arguments of voting rights groups that voters who are afraid of contracting COVID-19 at the polls should not have to get a notary public to sign their mail-in ballots. The Missouri Conference of the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, and two citizens appealed that “The trial court erroneously […]