Chillicothe Fire Department

Chillicothe Fire Department responds to house fire on Bryan Street and to rural address for fire threatening a residence

A structure in Chillicothe was described as fully engulfed on Tuesday afternoon prompting the Chillicothe Fire Department to respond to the scene. The alarm came in at 2 pm and sent firefighters to 1555 Bryan Street. The owners were listed as Steven and Gloria Drechsel. A spokesman reported heavy fire and smoke coming from two […]

Medical Marijuana and Veterans

Audio: Bill would add oversight on money flow from medical pot program to Veterans Commission

The House Veterans Committee heard from bill sponsor Jason Chipman, a Republican from Steelville in southeastern Missouri.  He wants to ask voters to add extra reporting on the tax revenue that comes from legal medical cannabis after the cannabis program pays its bills. The rest of the tax revenue is supposed to go to the […]

Emily Hartley photo courtesy Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council

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 […]

Hedrick Medical Center

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 […]

Forfeiture news graphic (Image via Adobe Stock Images)

Missouri State Auditor releases 2021 law enforcement federal forfeiture reports

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released her office’s compilation of 2021 federal forfeiture reports. Law enforcement agencies that participate in the federal asset forfeiture system must file information regarding federal seizures and proceeds with the State Auditor’s Office. Law enforcement agencies can seize money and property from individuals and organizations involved in illegal activities. […]

Audit Graphic

Missouri State Auditor gives Clay County Commission’s office rating of “Poor”; details how commissioners obstructed audit process

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today issued her office’s audit of the Clay County Commission, which was initiated by a citizen petition in 2018. The report follows repeated but ultimately unsuccessful efforts by former county commissioners to impede the completion of the audit. The report, which gave a rating of “poor” – the lowest possible […]

Eleven women senators write children's book titled You Can Too

Children’s book by Missouri’s 11 women senators aims to promote literacy

The 11 women in the Missouri Senate have written a new book called “You Can, Too!” to promote literacy across the state and encourage more young people to get civically engaged. It was not until 1972 a woman was first elected to the Missouri Senate, and in the state’s 200-year history, while there have been more […]

Corey Hines photo via Missouri Department of Corrections

Trenton man arrested on parole violation

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest of a Trenton resident on February 25 on an absconder parole violation on an original charge of stealing. Thirty-five-year-old Corey Hines’s alleged violation involved residency by failing to report changes in residency, employment by failing to maintain employment, and reporting and directives by failing to report as […]

Donald Kauerauf, the director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, speaks during a press conference at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on July 21, 2021

Before ouster, Missouri health director drafted a letter to senators that was never sent

(Missouri Independent) – On the Friday before a drawn-out confirmation battle ended with his ouster from office, Missouri state Health Director Donald Kauerauf wrote an impassioned letter meant to convince conservative legislators who were on the fence about his appointment.  The message: While he believed in vaccines and data and science, he didn’t believe in vaccine […]

American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall spoke at the organization’s 2022 annual convention in Atlanta, Georgia (photo provided by American Farm Bureau Federation)

American Farm Bureau Federation claims it’s the ‘voice of agriculture,’ Others beg to differ

(Missouri Independent) – This story was originally published as a collaboration between Investigate Midwest and Watchdog Writers Group. The American Farm Bureau Federation calls itself the “voice of agriculture,” a slogan it trademarked in 2007. But as the divide between agribusiness and small farmers has grown in recent decades, a unified voice of agriculture has become harder to […]

Feral Hogs (Photo courtesy MDC)

Missouri feral hog elimination partnership removes more than 9,800 feral hogs

The Missouri Feral Hog Elimination Partnership (the Partnership) removed 9,857 feral hogs from the landscape in 2021, making the total number of feral hogs eliminated more than 54,000 since 2016. The Partnership is made up of 13 federal and state agencies along with numerous agriculture and conservations organizations. “I’m really proud of the progress that […]

Trenton Missouri Police Department (TPD)

Trenton man arrested on probation violation

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Trenton man on February 2, 2022, on a technical probation violation. Thirty-seven-year-old Cody Burchett’s alleged violation involved employment by reportedly failing to obtain employment, drugs by testing positive for methamphetamine, and reporting and directives for failing to report December 14th and failing to attend substance […]

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Audio: FBI in eastern Missouri focusing on safety of souvenir military explosives

The FBI in eastern Missouri has launched its first-ever project to recover military ordnance, explosive devices that are stored at home where owners may be unaware of the potential danger. Interim Special agent in Charge Spencer Evans of the St. Louis Division.     These explosives could seem harmless, says Agent Evans, including civil war […]