A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for coercing a minor victim to engage in illicit sexual activity. Tracy Todd Presson, 55, of Gainesville, Missouri was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 70 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Presson to spend the rest of his life […]
Tag: Southwest
Audio: Missouri House Budget Committee votes against funding for Medicaid expansion in next budget cycle
The Missouri House Budget Committee has voted against funding for Medicaid expansion in the next fiscal year. The committee, made up of mostly Republicans, has voted down 1.6-billion dollars in funding for Medicaid expansion in the next state budget cycle. Last year, 53-percent of Missouri voters approved a ballot measure to expand government-funded […]
Audio: Bill in Missouri Legislature would delay full increase of minimum wage hike
In 2018, 62-percent of Missouri voters approved a gradual minimum wage hike of $12.00 an hour by 2023. A state House committee is considering a bill that would delay the full increase by three years. During a committee hearing, Representative Allen Andrews of northwest Missouri’s Grant City says he supports the bill. He says his […]
Missouri man sentenced to 24-years in prison for distributing 12 pounds of methamphetamine
A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed at least 12 pounds of methamphetamine in the Joplin area, as well as for illegally possessing numerous firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Mark E. Burdge, 50, of Joplin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. […]
Audio: Lawmakers to question Missouri DSS chief about boarding school abuse investigations
The head of the Missouri Department of Social Services is scheduled to appear before a panel of lawmakers Wednesday about the agency’s handling of abuse investigations within boarding schools. The Missouri House Special Committee on Government Oversight has called a Wednesday afternoon hearing to question the department’s acting director, Jennifer Tidball. The Kansas City Star has […]
Audio: John Deere Reman to expand in Springfield, adding 130 jobs
A southwest Missouri company is adding more than 100 new jobs. John Deere Reman is expanding in Springfield, creating 130 new jobs. A state press release today says the remanufacturing division of Deere & Company will add drivetrain and hydraulic remanufacturing operations to their existing locations. The company has about 400 workers in […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15-years in federal prison for child pornography found on lost phone at truck stop
A Missouri man whose lost cell phone containing child pornography was found at a truck stop was sentenced in federal court. Christopher Lee Caven, 40, of Belton, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Caven to 12 years of supervised release […]
Audio: Circle of Hope owners in Missouri, charged with 102 felonies, plead “NOT guilty” in court appearance
The owners of the now-defunct Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in southwest Missouri’s Humansville remain jailed without bond on Thursday morning, after pleading NOT guilty in Cedar County Court. Boyd and Stephanie Householder are from Nevada, near Humansville. Attorney General Eric Schmitt had to stop speaking at one point during his Wednesday press conference, to […]
Audio: Missouri community of Joplin offering $200 million package trying to land massive GM battery plant
A growing southwest Missouri city is offering millions of dollars in tax incentives to General Motors (GM), in an effort to land a new GM factory. Reporter Ty Albright from our Joplin affiliate KZRG has the story. Joplin Chamber of Commerce President Toby Teeter says the city is offering a $200 Million package […]
Audio: Missouri House advances effort to tax out-of-state businesses selling online
The state House of Representatives has given first-round approval to an effort that would tax out-of-state businesses selling online to Missourians. The legislation might not result in a significant state revenue increase because it would be offset by lowering the state’s income tax rate. Bill sponsor J. Eggleston, of northwest Missouri’s Maysville, says a so-called […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15-years in prison without parole for child pornography
A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for receiving and distributing child pornography. Brian M. Turner, 38, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 14, 2020, Turner pleaded guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography. The investigation began in December […]
Detection of COVID-19 variant in wastewater, during second round of testing, found 1 location with detectable levels of virus
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) continues to partner with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, University of Missouri – Columbia, wastewater operators, and others to monitor trends of the COVID-19 by testing wastewater in communities around the state. Recently, the team has been testing wastewater to look for the presence of […]
Bethany man injured in crash near Maryville; accused of DWI and careless and imprudent driving
A Bethany man was injured in a single-vehicle rollover accident Tuesday evening two miles southwest of Maryville. Twenty-eight-year-old Christopher McCourt refused medical care for minor injuries. McCourt was driving eastbound when his vehicle allegedly failed to make a curve, traveled off the north side of Route V, and overturned on its passenger side. The vehicle […]
Wind Advisory for northern Missouri in place until 6 pm Wednesday, March 10, as winds could gust to 50 mph
Another warm and windy day is expected today with temperatures in the 70s and winds gusting 40 to 50 mph out of the south-southwest. With the strong winds and dry conditions, very high to extreme fire weather danger will exist today. As such, we have a Wind Advisory in place from 7 AM to 6 […]
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 […]
Fire gets away from individual burning brush causing 150 acres of pasture to burn
Approximately 100 to 150 acres of pasture and timber burned in southwestern Grundy County on March 9th, according to Jamesport Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief John McKiddy, who reports Jamesport responded with two units to the fire east of Jamesport near Route F and south on 55th Avenue. The Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District responded […]
Audio: Blunt says this is not a retirement, but he’s leaving elected office
Missouri’s Senior Senator Roy Blunt announced on Monday he will not run again for US Senate. After 26 years in Congress, he says this is not a retirement. Blunt traveled to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Southwest Missouri to answer questions in a press conference on Monda, Blunt has this advice for his successor. […]
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt announces retirement and will not seek re-election
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt announced he would not seek re-election to the United States Senate in 2022. The Missouri Republican Party reports it’s grateful for everything Senator Blunt has done for Missouri and The United States. Senator Blunt began his service to Missouri as the Greene County Clerk. This position would lead him to become […]