Gary Downs

Osborn man charged with murder in relation to Sheriff Andy Clark’s death, bound over to Division One of DeKalb County Circuit Court

An Osborn man charged with second-degree murder in relation to a motor vehicle accident that caused DeKalb County Sheriff Andy Clark’s death had his case bound over to Division One of DeKalb County Circuit Court on Thursday.  An arraignment is scheduled for 35-year-old Gary Wayne Downs on April 9th. Downs was also charged with the […]

Governor Mike Parson

Governor Parson announces special funding to help Missouri’s youth

Governor Mike Parson announced a special cycle of the Department of Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) and Youth Opportunities Program (YOP), making $21.8 million available to assist nonprofit organizations and other entities providing services to at-risk youth. “Missouri nonprofits have been a lifeline for many Missourians throughout the COVID-19 crisis, providing critical services during […]

Students testing at computers taking MAP tests

Audio: Missouri has one of lowest number of K-12 students learning remotely: Online substitute training yields big results

All but 25 of Missouri’s more than 550 public school districts and charter schools are learning at least partially in-person. During a board meeting this week, State Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven says the American Enterprise for Institutes ranks Missouri as having one of the lowest numbers of K-12 students learning remotely.     Of the […]

Drug Cartels

Senator Hawley along with lawmakers from Arkansas, Tennessee and Nebraska introduce bill imposing sanctions on drug cartels

U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) introduced the Significant Transnational Criminal Organization Designation Act, legislation that would subject certain foreign criminal organizations like drug cartels to sanctions, including immigration, financial, and criminal penalties. The process would be similar to the system used for designating entities as […]

Laredo R-7 School

Laredo Board of Education accepts health insurance bid, approves field trips and renews teaching contracts

The Laredo R-7 Board of Education accepted health insurance through the Ozark Schools Benefits Association on March 8th. The district will pay $530 for 2021-2022 plus vision and life insurance. The board approved field trips. They included the eighth grade to Kansas City, kindergarten through second grade to Shatto Dairy, and third through eighth grades […]

Trenton R-9 School District

Trenton Board of Education tackles huge agenda including approval of salary schedule for next school year

The Trenton R-9 Board of Education March 9th approved salary schedules for the 2021-2022 school year. One thousand dollars will be added to the base for the certified salary schedule, making the base salary $34,000. This was estimated to cost the district $119,591. Superintendent Mike Stegman noted the base salary for certified staff was “pretty […]

Teacher in front of class or educator or education or school

Audio: Missouri has been reviewing whether it can give teachers a retention bonus, there’s good news and bad news.

The Missouri K-12 Education Department has been reviewing whether federal coronavirus aid can be used to give teachers a bonus next school year if they stick around. The state already has a persistent teacher shortage and COVID-19 has made the problem even worse. During a Missouri Board of Education meeting, Deputy Finance Commissioner Kari Monsees […]

Trenton Missouri Police Department (TPD)

Trenton man arrested on probation violation

A Trenton resident was arrested on March 8th on an alleged technical probation violation. \ The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports 36-year-old Cory Burchett’s violation involved special conditions by being terminated from the Third Circuit Supervisory Program. Birchett posted bond of $5,000 – 10% allowed, and he is scheduled for Division One of Circuit Court […]