The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office reports charges have been filed against the victim of a gunshot in an incident on August 30, 2021. David Walton has been charged with the felonies of second-degree kidnapping, armed criminal action, third-degree domestic assault, and unlawful use of a weapon. He also faces misdemeanor fourth-degree domestic assault. The sheriff’s […]
Tag: relations
Audio: Judge upholds Governor Parson’s decision to terminate pandemic-related unemployment benefits
The Cole County Circuit Court sided with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in our defense of the Governor’s termination of federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits. “As Missouri’s economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are still struggling to hire workers for a large number of open, available jobs. Too often, businesses can’t compete with […]
Lawsuit filed over $1.4 billion contract for Missouri prison healthcare
(Missouri Independent) – The dispute over the $1.4 billion contract to provide prisoner health care in Missouri is moving into the courts. Corizon Health, which has held the Department of Corrections contract since 1992, filed a lawsuit Monday in Cole County alleging that unfair treatment and improper scoring gave the contract to Centurion Health, a Virginia subsidiary of […]
Department of Justice asks court to block Missouri’s ‘Second Amendment Preservation Act’
(Missouri Independent) – A Missouri law prohibiting state and local police from enforcing certain federal gun laws has already undermined drug and weapons investigations, the U.S. Department of Justice argued in documents filed Wednesday in Cole County Circuit Court. As part of an ongoing lawsuit set for a hearing Thursday afternoon, the Justice Department is asking Cole […]
North Central Missouri College partners with Central Methodist University to offer counseling services
North Central Missouri College (NCMC) and Central Methodist University (CMU) have partnered to provide North Central Missouri College students and employees additional mental health resources. This fall, CMU will offer free virtual counseling and webinars through their Master of Science in Clinical Counseling program. “The health and wellness of our students remain a priority for […]
Missouri Secretary of State to visit area libraries
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft will visit area libraries on August 5. Ashcroft’s schedule includes the Brookfield Public Library at 10 a.m., the Livingston County Library of Chillicothe at 11:15, followed by the Lillian DesMarias Youth Library of Chillicothe, and the Carrollton Public Library at 1:15 in the afternoon. Missouri Secretary of State’s Office Communications […]
Missouri man sentenced to 14 years in prison without parole for sexual exploitation of a child
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for enticing a 15-year-old victim through social media to engage in illicit sexual activity. Clinton Anthony Yeats, 29, of Joplin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 14 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Yeats to 15 years of supervised […]
Missouri notifying individuals of possible waiver of recovery from federal unemployment overpayments
The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has implemented a process for claimants to apply to the Division of Employment Security for potential waiver of the recovery of non-fraud federal pandemic program unemployment benefit overpayments. Notices to eligible claimants began mailing out last week and are available in the “Correspondence” tab of UInteract, Missouri’s […]
Consolidated Machine and Welding expands in Hannibal, creating 30 new jobs
Consolidated Machine and Welding announced it will expand its facility in Hannibal, investing $4.3 million and creating 30 new jobs in the area. “We’re excited to see Consolidated Machine and Welding grow in Hannibal,” Governor Mike Parson said. “This new facility brings good-paying jobs and opportunities for our citizens in Northeast Missouri. Businesses often find […]
Missouri Supreme Court rules voter-approved Medicaid expansion is constitutional
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri must expand Medicaid to 275,000 eligible people who were expecting coverage under a constitutional amendment that took effect July 1, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Thursday. In a unanimous opinion, the court overturned a trial court ruling that the amendment, passed in August 2020 was unconstitutional because it may increase the state’s cost for […]
Coalition of lawmakers urge Biden administration to drop proposed tax hike on farm families
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), along with the entire Senate Republican caucus, sent a letter to President Biden urging him to abandon his effort to impose a capital gains tax increase on family-owned businesses, farms, and ranches. Repealing this part of the tax code would have a devastating effect on multi-generation operations, which could lead […]
Kingston man faces five counts of assault after hitting four-wheelers participating in benefit ride
A Kingston man faces five counts of felony first degree assault or attempt after allegedly hitting four wheelers participating in a benefit ride in May and hitting a family member with a wooden handle. Online court information shows 38 year old James Paul McKinzie Junior has also been charged with two counts of felony first […]
State auditor issues second report detailing unemployment benefits received in Missouri through federal COVID-19 response funding
State Auditor Nicole Galloway released her second report on unemployment benefits received by Missourians through COVID-19 response funding from the federal government. The report shows that, through April 2021, more than 600,000 Missouri citizens received more than $4.9 billion in benefits made available under several programs. Several federal laws enacted and executive actions taken in […]
North Mercer Board of Education approve bid for milk; set date for tax rate hearing
The North Mercer R-3 Board of Education appointed staff members to positions July 12th. Those staff members included Terry Bomgardner as homeless liaison and migrant education director, Lauren Guilkey as foster care point of contact, and Greg Frost as English Language Learners coordinator. Board of education goals were approved. One goal was added that involved […]
Bob Griffin, longest-serving Missouri House speaker, has died at age 85
(Missouri Independent) – Bob F. Griffin, who served as speaker of the Missouri House for 15 years until he was forced to resign in the face of a federal criminal investigation, died Wednesday in Columbia. He was 85. Griffin was the longest-serving speaker in the state’s history. During his tenure as speaker from 1981 to 1996, the […]
Audio: Missouri labor officials will review Federal unemployment overpayments for possible waiver
Missouri Labor officials have announced that they’re starting a process for Missourians who received unemployment overpayments to apply for a potential waiver. The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations emphasizes that this involves non-fraud FEDERAL unemployment overpayments. St. Louis Democratic State Representative Peter Merideth has been urging DOLIR to waive the federal portion: […]
Woman alleges in lawsuit that former Harrison County sheriff stole drugs, sexually assaulted plaintiff
The Associated Press reports a woman has alleged in a civil rights lawsuit that former Harrison County Sheriff Joshua Eckerson gave her drugs and sexually assaulted her. Eckerson killed himself last year after a special prosecutor charged him with misdemeanor counts of misuse of official information by a public servant, trespassing, and domestic assault. The […]
Carroll County Memorial Hospital announces Dr. Nicholas Shuler joins Outpatient Specialty Clinic
Carroll County Memorial Hospital welcomes Dr. Nicholas Shuler, DO to the Outpatient Specialty Clinic team. Dr. Shuler will provide CCMH patients with Oncology and Hematology services. “We are excited to add Dr. Shuler to our team of specialty care providers,” said Tim Braun, Chief Operations Officer. “Dr. Shuler has specialized training for various cancers including […]
Niagara Bottling announces new manufacturing facility in Kansas City, creating nearly 100 jobs
Niagara Bottling, LLC, a family-owned beverage manufacturer headquartered in Diamond Bar, California, announced it will invest approximately $156 million in a new production facility in Kansas City, Missouri. This new facility will initially create nearly 100 jobs. “Niagara Bottling is excited to establish a second manufacturing facility in Kansas City, Missouri,” said Brian Hess, Executive […]