Stop (Child) (Sexual) abuse

Kids reported abuse at schools where Missouri has no oversight. Lawmakers want to change that

(Missouri Independent) – Despite dozens of students coming forward sharing allegations of abuse they suffered at Christian reform schools across Missouri, the state Department of Social Services said Monday that they have no oversight over such facilities. That’s because they’re unlicensed — and allowed to be under a Missouri law that exempts facilities operated by religious organizations. […]

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Missouri’s health director to outline vaccine plan and testify about increasing COVID numbers

Missouri health officials say there have been about 21,000 new COVID cases in the past week, an average of 3,105 per day. State Department of Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Randall Williams will testify Tuesday morning before the Missouri House Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention. Committee chairman Dr. Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, […]

Amazon website

Amazon expands to Republic, Missouri; more than 500 jobs to be created

Seattle-based Amazon has announced that it will open its first fulfillment center in one of the fastest-growing towns in southwest Missouri. Governor Mike Parson made the announcement Thursday afternoon while briefing Capitol reporters in Jefferson City. The governor says the facility will be located in Republic. “The new fulfillment center, which is expected to launch […]

Missouri State Capitol courtesy of WikiMedia

Missouri Republicans maintain supermajorities in House and Senate

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri Democrats had another disappointing night in legislative elections Tuesday, losing in two state Senate districts crucial to their hopes of cracking the Republican supermajority in the upper chamber. Republicans held a key Senate seat by re-electing Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden of Columbia in the 19th District in central Missouri. As […]

Amendment 3: Missouri with checkmark graphic

Voters repeal Clean Missouri redistricting plan they enacted in 2018

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri voters on Tuesday repealed a constitutional amendment they enacted in 2018 that would have required legislative districts be drawn to ensure partisan fairness. They replaced it with one that critics contend could forgo the use of total population to draw districts and instead exclude all non-voters, specifically children and non-citizens — tilting the political […]

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Election Preview: Candidates running unopposed in many northern Missouri counties; other seats hotly contested

While five Green Hills counties do not have any head to head races in the general election today, there are contests to be decided in four area counties, plus for an area state representative seats and one for state senate. Candidates are unopposed for county-wide offices in Grundy, Mercer, Harrison, Putnam, and Sullivan counties. Also […]

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt

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 […]

Audio: U.S. Senate confirms Barrett to Supreme Court; Hawley praises her; Missouri Democratic Party Chair criticizes vote

Missouri’s junior senator is praising the newest U.S. Supreme Court Justice, who was sworn-in Monday after being confirmed by the Senate on a 52-48 vote. GOP Senator Josh Hawley, who serves on the Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, was impressed with Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s testimony at hearings.     Senator Hawley describes Barrett as […]

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Republican candidate for Livingston County Coroner enters “Not Guilty” plea in Livingston County court

The Republican candidate for Livingston County Coroner entered a plea of not guilty in the Associate Division of Livingston County Circuit Court Thursday, October 22nd to misdemeanor committing class four election offenses. Online court information shows 37-year-old Joshua Michael Dennis of Chillicothe appeared in person and by an attorney, and he waived formal arraignment. On […]