Marijuana leaf

U.S. House votes to decriminalize marijuana in federal law

(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. House passed legislation Friday to legalize marijuana nationally, but its future is much less clear in the Senate. The House voted 220-204 to approve the measure, which would fix the split between federal law and 19 states where recreational marijuana is legal. Three Republicans joined all but two Democrats in approving the measure. […]

Drinking Water Fountain (Photo by Sean Musil on Unsplash)

Missouri House bill would cut down on poisonous lead in school drinking water

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri children would be better protected from lead poisoning under a state legislative bill to require schools to nearly rid their drinking water of the dangerous toxin. The bill, heard Monday by the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, would require schools to test drinking water, remove old coolers and filter water where […]

Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy + Health Center

Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy and Health Center offers a wide variety of free services

The Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy and Health Center opened its doors at 1433 Lulu Street in Trenton in July 2020. Executive Director Rachael Brothers reports the center saw its first client in the first hour it was open. She believes it is wise to build a strong foundation when starting a nonprofit or business. […]

armed robbery News Graphic

Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in prison without parole for armed robbery conspiracy

A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a series of armed business robberies in Kansas City and Independence, Mo. Henry Simmons, 22, Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 1, 2021, Simmons pleaded guilty to one count […]

Winter Storm Warning

Upcoming winter storm prompts Winter Storm Warning in northern Missouri

A Winter Storm is set to track through northern Missouri tonight (Wednesday) through Friday Morning. Accumulating Snowfall is expected tonight through early Friday morning with the greatest Snowfall into west and northwest Missouri. Periods of moderate to heavy bands of snowfall are possible. Depending on the track of the storm, residents may find their Thursday […]

2022 Mid America Music Festival website

Mid-America Music Festival organizers announce weekend lineup of entertainment

Mid-America Music Festival organizers have announced the weekend lineup, which features 12 country music artists.  Celebrating its fifth year, the festival will be held Friday through Sunday, August. 5 through August 7, 2022, at the Black Silo Winery in Trenton.  Headlining Friday, Aug. 5 is country music artist, Lauren Alaina.  Alaina was recently inducted as […]

Sneakers and formal shoes. Sport and outdoor leisure. Licensed through Envato Elements

Audio: Shoes vs. masks? Missouri lawmaker and attorney general spar over school dress codes

A state Representative and Missouri’s attorney general sparred over school dress codes. Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, has sued 45 K-12 school districts for requiring masks and quarantining to slow the spread of the coronavirus. During a Missouri House Budget Committee hearing, Democrat Peter Merideth of St. Louis asked if […]

18 Wheel Truck or Big Rig

Audio: Missouri trucking industry expert says carriers reject thousands of loads weekly due to driver shortage

A Missouri task force is working to address the state’s supply chain slowdowns. More than 70-percent of Missouri communities rely solely on the trucking industry to get their goods delivered to them. During this week’s task force hearing, Tom Crawford of the Missouri Trucking Association said the ongoing truck driver shortage cannot keep up with […]

Livingston County Sheriff

Out of state driver causes problems in traffic and for authorities

Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox has released information on an incident that occurred last week in which a Texas driver was argumentative, uncooperative, and belligerent during a traffic stop. The sheriff’s office responded to a report of a “dually” (dual) pickup truck pulling a flatbed trailer with heavy equipment on Highway 36 near Wheeling traveling […]

State of Emergency

Governor Parson declares a State of Emergency, activating Missouri National Guard, in preparation for severe winter storm

Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 22-02 declaring a State of Emergency in Missouri and activating the Missouri National Guard in preparation for the severe winter storm forecasted to affect most of the state over the next two days, including significant accumulations of snow, sleet, and ice.  “Severe winter weather isn’t something we are strangers to here in the […]

Jobs Report

Missouri monthly job report shows unemployment rate at 3.5 percent

Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from October 2021 to November 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 7,600 jobs over the month, with job gains in both the goods-producing and service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November […]

Traffic Fatalities

Missouri traffic fatalities surpass 1000 for the first time since 2006

For the first time since 2006, Missouri’s traffic fatalities surpassed 1,000. According to preliminary data, 1,007 people were killed in Missouri traffic crashes in 2021, a 2% increase over 2020 and marking the second straight year of growing fatality totals after nearly a decade of steady decline. Within the Green Hills region, the number of […]