(Missouri Independent) – With the end of the legislative session only weeks away, and organizers of an initiative petition campaign sounding the alarm about an even more pressing deadline, dueling efforts to legalize marijuana in Missouri face uncertain fates. In the legislature, GOP state Rep. Ron Hicks is sponsoring a bill to legalize possession and use […]
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Missouri launches apprenticeships for direct-support professionals
Missouri is launching an apprenticeship program to expand talent pipelines for Direct Support Professionals, who work with people with developmental disabilities. The Show-Me State, like many others, is facing a serious direct-care workforce shortage. To answer the need, the program Missouri Talent Pathways was recently approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. Duane Shumate, the state coordinator […]
Missouri man who was arrested after an armed standoff with police pleads guilty to marijuana trafficking
A Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm following a brief armed standoff with police officers. Jamahl D. Jones, 35, Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to one count of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in relation […]
Obituary and Services: Robert “Bob” Lee Marriott
Robert (“Bob”) Lee Marriott, 73, of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on April 11, 2022, after a hard-fought battle following his COVID diagnosis in May 2021. In true Bob fashion, he fought until there was no fight left in him. He was tough as nails until the end and is now with his Lord and Savior […]
Missouri Attorney General’s office and Moberly School District reach agreement in Sunshine lawsuit
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that the Attorney General’s Office has reached a favorable resolution in a lawsuit the Office filed against Moberly School District over alleged violations of the Sunshine Law. The Missouri Attorney General’s Office filed suit against the Moberly School District in November 2021 for failing to comply with the Sunshine […]
Flushing of water system continues in Trenton
Another area of Trenton will undergo routine flushing of the water distribution system. As of Monday, April 11, 2022, Trenton Municipal Utilities staff will be flushing the distribution system east of Highway 65 to the City limits. This is a semi-annual requirement of the water treatment process. TMU reports that maintenance improves the quality of […]
No signs of support for Greitens in Missouri county where abuse charges will be heard
(Missouri Independent) – A smattering of giggles greeted the name of former Gov. Eric Greitens Friday evening when emcee Branden Rathert called for the U.S. Senate candidates invited to speak at Boone County Republican Lincoln Days to come forward. Up to that point, there had been no trace of Greitens or his campaign at the […]
Supreme Court refuses to hear Kim Gardner appeal in Eric Greitens records case
(Missouri Independent) – It will be up to a St. Louis judge to decide how long Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner has to produce records sought by a journalist considered an ally of former Gov. Eric Greitens. The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a last-ditch appeal by Gardner of an order giving her […]
MoDOT planned road work in North Missouri for the week of April 11, 2022
The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in North Missouri for the week of April 11 – 17 All road closures and planned roadwork may be viewed on the Traveler Information Map. Inclement weather may cause schedule changes in some of the planned […]
Lathrop man arrested after pursuit by authorities for marijuana grow operation
The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department reports a man was taken into custody after a short pursuit on April 5th as a result of the discovery of an illegal homegrown marijuana operation Forty-two-year-old Jamal Ghazai of Lathrop has been charged with felonies of possession of a controlled substance and manufacture of 35 grams or less of […]
NCMC Business Department to host alumni speakers during Career Week
The North Central Missouri College Business Department will host Career Week for students from April 9th-13th. During the week, business students will have resume writing workshops, mock interviews, internship opportunities, and guest speakers. Guest speakers, alumni Olivia Helmandollar and Aubrey Nelson will speak on Wednesday, April 13th, in Cross Hall 208, with Olivia speaking at […]
Crystal Bupp named as new City Administrator in Milan
The Milan City Council voted on Monday, April 4, 2022, to authorize an employment agreement with Crystal Bupp as the city’s next city administrator, effective April 6, 2022. “The City of Milan welcomes Crystal as our next city administrator,” said Mayor Andy Herington. “Crystal’s institutional knowledge of our community, experience, and diverse skill set will […]
Pause on federal student loan repayments extended by Biden through August 31
(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration Wednesday announced its plans to extend the pause on federal student loan repayments until the end of August. “I recognized in recently extending the COVID-19 national emergency, we are still recovering from the pandemic and the unprecedented economic disruption it caused,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “If loan […]
Audio: Judge dismisses criminal charges in Ride The Ducks deaths in Branson
The judge in the criminal trial of three men accused of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of 17 people in the Duck Boat Tragedy has dismissed all charges. Stone County Judge Alan Blankenship issued his ruling on Tuesday after delaying the initial hearing for his decision in March. The boat was swamped by waves caused […]
Flushing of water distribution system to begin today in Trenton
Trenton Municipal Utilities staff will begin flushing the distribution system beginning Wednesday, April 6th, 2022. Crews will begin flushing the area east of the Railroad tracks to Highway 65. This is a semi-annual requirement of the water treatment process. This routine maintenance improves the quality of your drinking water. There may be some discolored water […]
Career, college readiness program in Missouri expands statewide
An increasing number of jobs across Missouri require some level of training or education beyond high school, but rural students are less likely than their urban or suburban peers to enroll in and finish college. The rootEd Alliance wants to change it, by bringing career counselors into school districts to complement the work guidance counselors are already […]
Audio: Missouri funding has come up short to help improve underperforming school districts
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education says it has been asking for millions to help improve academically struggling K-12 school districts. That funding has come up short over the years – by several million in many instances. What this means is that some underperforming schools are getting help and some are […]
Biden OKs release of 1 million barrels of oil a day from reserve, calls for supply boost
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden called Thursday for U.S. energy companies to do their part in lowering gasoline prices by boosting supplies of oil, saying the industry should plow record profits back into increased production. Biden also said he would release 1 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve daily for the […]
Former Greenville, Missouri city clerk sentenced to 10 years in prison, ordered to pay $168,957 in restitution
The former city clerk of Greenville, Pam Birmingham, was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison and ordered to repay $168,957 to the city after being convicted on a charge of receiving stolen property. A 2018 audit by State Auditor Nicole Galloway found improperly cashed checks, missing cash, and improper payroll and other payments during […]
House Budget Committee rejects adding surplus revenue to Missouri public schools, colleges
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri’s record general revenue surplus was off-limits for spending plans as the House Budget Committee worked Thursday, defeating Democratic efforts to give boost money for public schools and state colleges. The only significant addition to education budgets approved by the committee was to restart the teacher Career Ladder program, providing $21 million to give experienced […]