Two Kansas City residents face stealing charges in Daviess County after a Ram truck was reported as stolen from Gallatin last week. Thirty-one-year-old Mallory June Shomaker and 27-year-old Clint Edward Vinzant have been charged with felony stealing—motor vehicle/watercraft/aircraft and misdemeanor stealing. Their bonds have been denied. Probable cause statements from Riley Christensen with the Daviess […]
Tag: Rio
Maggie Fernandez is Putnam County Career and Technical Student of the Month
The Putnam County R-1 School District recently recognized Maggie Fernandez as the Career and Technical Education Student of the Month for February 2021. Student winners are chosen by the vocational faculty based on a set of criteria that includes: attendance, grades, cooperation with fellow students and teachers, enthusiasm for subject(s), attitude both in the classroom […]
Suspect attempts to flee from deputy, discarding bag of meth in the process
A driver allegedly threw away a baggy containing methamphetamine during a traffic stop, after initially attempting to flee from a deputy Wednesday morning, February 24th. That according to Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox, who says the deputy attempted to stop the vehicle in Chillicothe for a traffic offense, then discovered the driver had a revoked […]
Audio: After years of attempts, Missouri House passes private schooling tax credit bill
After years of attempts, the state House has voted to pass a bill that would let donors provide scholarships for students to attend a private Missouri K-12 school. In return, they would get state tax credits. Under the bill, students with special needs and those who qualify for free and reduce price school meals would […]
Corn and wheat export sales hit marketing year lows
The USDA says export sales numbers for most major commodities declined during the week ending February 18th. Corn and wheat were driven to new marketing year lows following cancellations by unknown destinations, possibly China, while soybean sales dropped also following cancellations by an unknown destination. China also canceled on U.S. beef and while it was […]
Audio: Next phase of COVID-19 plan, beginning March 15, includes teachers, faculty and staff in Missouri schools
The next tier of Missouri’s coronavirus vaccination plan will be activated on March 15. That means all teachers, faculty, and staff in public, private, and nonprofit pre-K-12 will become eligible. So will state-licensed childcare center workers, some food production employees, as well as grocery and convenience stores workers. Missouri is currently vaccinating residents in Phase […]
Joshlin and Addie Yoder receive Missouri Leopold Conservation Award
Joshlin and Addie Yoder of Leonard, Missouri, located in Shelby County have been selected as the recipients of the 2020 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award®. The award, named for renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, recognizes farmers, ranchers, and foresters who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private land. In Missouri, the $10,000 award […]
Driver of box truck seriously injured in crash on Highway 169 near Gentry
The Highway Patrol reports a Blue Springs man sustained serious injuries when an International box truck overturned two miles north of Gentry on Thursday, February 25th. Emergency medical services transported 47-year-old George Robinson to Mosaic Life Care in Albany. The truck traveled south on Highway 169 before running off the west side of the road, […]
Defendant sentenced to 36-years in prison on multiple counts of sex and drug trafficking
Prince Bixler, 41, of Lexington, Kentucky, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Wier to 36 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $333,100 in restitution to three sex trafficking victims. In September 2020, a federal jury convicted Bixler of 15 federal felonies related to his […]
Missouri woman indicted for two armed bank robberies following high-speed police pursuit
A Missouri, woman who led police officers on a high-speed chase down Grand Avenue was indicted by a federal grand jury for two armed bank robberies. Sarah Theresa Watkins, 41, of Kansas City, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment replaces a federal criminal […]
Missouri State Auditor begins citizen requested audit of Marshall School District
State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced that her office has begun audits of two school districts in western Missouri. The Marshall School District and the Smithville R-II School District’s reviews were requested through petitions submitted by residents of those districts. “The petition audit process allows citizens to demonstrate that they want to be engaged in ensuring […]
Safer Streets Initiative leads to over 500 charges in first two years
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that, to date, his Safer Streets Initiative, which was launched in early 2019, has resulted in 516 charges against 289 defendants across the state. Additionally, 356 firearms have been taken off the streets as a result of the initiative. “Since taking office, prosecuting violent crime in Missouri’s major […]
Major Richard Star Act would allow combat-injured veterans to receive both disability and retirement pay
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) helped introduce the Major Richard Star Act, bipartisan legislation to provide combat-injured veterans with less than 20 years of military service their full benefits. “It’s long overdue that these heroes – who could no longer continue serving due to injuries they sustained in combat – get the benefits they earned,” said […]
Audio: Senator Hawley questions Attorney General nominee on “defund the police”
On Capitol Hill this week, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned U.S. Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland. Garland said that getting to the bottom of the January 6th attack on Congress was a priority.
Audio: Missouri Senate puts off vote on giant K-12 education package
After about twelve hours of debate, the Missouri Senate refrained from voting overnight on a contentious K-12 public education package. There was some confusion towards the end that appeared to ultimately lead to the plan getting shelved – at least for now. Several changes were made over the course of the day and night. As […]
North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees address personnel matters at Tuesday meeting
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees approved multiple personnel matters on Tuesday evening, February 23rd. One personnel matter involved the resignation of the Director of Admissions and Marketing Kristie Cross. Her last day on campus will be March 19th. She will then take vacation time, and her official last day will be May […]
One of the nation’s largest chicken producers pleads guilty to price fixing and is sentenced to $107 million criminal fine
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a major broiler chicken producer based in Greeley, Colorado, has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to pay approximately $107 million in criminal fines for its participation in a conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products, the Department of Justice announced today. According to the plea agreement entered […]
Bill increasing penalties for protesters wins initial approval in Missouri Senate
(Missouri Independent) – Republican state Senators advanced sweeping legislation early Tuesday morning aimed at penalizing protestors who block streets, while also providing further protections for law enforcement under investigation for misconduct or excessive force. The bill also aims to prevent municipalities from decreasing the budgets for law enforcement agencies in Missouri by more than 12 percent over […]
Missouri in line for $4.5 billion from federal stimulus bill
(Missouri Independent) – Last spring, as Missouri businesses shed hundreds of thousands of jobs, Gov. Mike Parson warned that the state was headed for the worst financial crunch since the 2008 recession. Ten months later, Parson presented a budget plan that anticipates a $1.1 billion surplus on July 1, the biggest in state history. And if the $1.9 trillion pandemic […]
Brutal weather leads to early pothole season on Missouri roads
Missouri Department of Transportation crews are focusing on pothole repair through April. When you see a MoDOT crew making repairs, motorists should slow down and move over a lane to give them room to work. Crews started working to address the pesky potholes as soon as there was a break in the weather last week. […]