Cocaine News Graphic

Missouri man sentenced to 30 years in prison for crack cocaine trafficking and an illegal Firearm

A Missouri man with an extensive history of violent crime was sentenced in federal court for trafficking crack cocaine and illegally possessing a firearm. Mitchell B. Byrd, 43, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 30 years in federal prison without parole. This sentence is an upward variance from the […]

Indictment graphic with gavel and file folder

Three separate indictments handed down in Harrison County involving murder, assault and sex crimes involving a child

Grand jury indictments were filed in Harrison County this week on three men. Forty-one-year-old Travis William Gilliland of Ridgeway has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Bail was set at $250,000 for all counts. A probable cause affidavit accused Gilliland of shooting and killing Lynn Trammell in March. Fifty-eight-year-old Stephen Marshall of […]

Fentanyl Graphic

DEA warns of increase in mass-overdose events involving deadly fentanyl

The Drug Enforcement Administration sent a letter to federal, state, and local law enforcement partners warning of a nationwide spike in fentanyl-related mass-overdose events. Administrator Anne Milgram outlined the current threat and offered DEA support to law enforcement officers responding to these tragic incidents. “Fentanyl is killing Americans at an unprecedented rate,” said DEA Administrator […]

WIC or Women Infant Children Logo

Temporary benefit increase extended through September for Missouri WIC participants

Missouri WIC is extending the temporary increase of the Cash Value Benefit for Fruit and Vegetable Purchases (CVB) through September 2022. The increase will continue to be $24 per month for child participants, $43 per month for pregnant and postpartum women participants, and $47 per month for breastfeeding women participants. Standard CVB values range from […]

Audit Graphic

Missouri State Auditor announces Grundy County audit is underway

State Auditor Nicole Galloway has begun a regularly scheduled audit of Grundy County, in northern Missouri.  The county received a rating of “fair” from the most recent state audit, issued in September 2015. “My office will review Grundy County operations to ensure taxpayer resources have been used effectively and appropriately, and make recommendations with any […]

Methamphetamine news graphic

Missouri woman pleads guilty to methamphetamine conspiracy, faces 10 years in prison

A Missouri woman pleaded guilty in federal court to her role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine after she sold more than three kilograms of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer. Megan M. Massie, 32, Kansas City,, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine […]

THS Alumni Association

Trenton High School Alumni Association annual mass mailing meeting slated for Sunday

The annual mass mailing meeting of the Trenton High School Alumni Association is Sunday afternoon, March 6, 2022, at 1 pm in the THS Commons. After several cancellations, the meeting will take place with nearly 6,000 letters to be assembled for mailing. Classes with special letters that are to be inserted are asked to be there […]

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News for the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court on Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Among cases in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court, Kyle Ray Graves of Trenton waived a preliminary hearing on three felony counts and was bound over to the March 10th docket for Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court. Graves is charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia on both March 17th and […]

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 […]

Kyle Ray Graves Booking Photo

Trenton man arrested on three drug-related charges

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest on Friday of a Trenton man on three drug-related counts from 2021. Thirty-eight-year-old Kyle Ray Graves has been charged with possession of a controlled substance listed as methamphetamine and two counts of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use. The meth possession charge and one […]

Great seal of Missouri and US Flag with money

Audio: Missouri is the only known state not yet distributing federal COVID-19 funds to K-12 schools

The School Superintendents Association says Missouri is the only known state in the nation that has not authorized the distribution of federal coronavirus funds designated for schools. Sasha Pudelski, director of Advocacy for the national organization, says the Missouri Legislature has not yet allowed the state Department of Education to dole out the nearly two-billion […]

Bankruptcy news graphic

Bankruptcy of failed Moberly factory project nears end after 10 years in court

(Missouri Independent) – Unsecured creditors will get less than a nickel on the dollar for debts left by a Moberly economic development project that went bust in 2011 as Missouri lawmakers worked on a plan to finance air freight shipments from China. A final report pending before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Dow describes how $2.1 million […]

Medicaid Fraud

Missouri Attorney General obtains $500,000 settlement in Medicaid fraud case

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced today that on December 21, 2021, Piney Ridge Center, a residential treatment facility for children suffering from sexual behavior disorders and mental health illnesses, entered into a civil settlement agreement with his office for billing MO HealthNet, the Missouri Medicaid program, for therapy services that it did not provide […]

Justin Stephenson Booking Photo via Vinelink

Trenton man arrested on warrants for failure to appear

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Trenton resident on January 19th on two capias warrants for failure to appear. Thirty-six-year-old Justin Wayne Stephenson was arrested in Wyandotte County, Kansas, and picked up from there. His original charges were the felonies of stealing all other property, stealing involving a fourth or subsequent […]

Audit Graphic

Missouri State Auditor begins audit of Worth County

State Auditor Nicole Galloway today announced that her office has begun a regularly scheduled audit of Worth County, located in northwest Missouri. The most recent audit of Worth County was completed in September 2018, with the county receiving an overall performance rating of “good.” “My office will conduct an independent review of county operations to ensure the effective […]