2022 Judicial Redistricting Commission - (Photo by Rudi Keller - Missouri Independent)

Judges release new boundaries for Missouri Senate districts

(Missouri Independent) – A panel of Missouri judges tasked with redrawing 34 state Senate districts released a tentative plan Monday, part of a once-in-a-decade process that reconfigures political boundaries following the U.S. Census. The new map, drawn by the Judicial Redistricting Commission after a citizen commission failed to reach consensus, will be formally submitted to […]

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Missouri man sentenced to 15 years without parole for meth conspiracy and illegal firearms

A Missouri man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy that, in total, distributed more than 150 kilograms of methamphetamine and more than 10 kilograms of heroin, valued at more than $1.7 million. Matthew John Fabulae, 33, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Friday, […]

Man with fingers through fence also immigration or immigrants

Pressure ramps up to halt Trump-era policy that expels migrants at the border

(Missouri Independent) – Senate Democrats and immigration advocates are pushing the White House to end a controversial Trump-era immigration policy enacted during the pandemic that allowed U.S. officials to expel migrants and asylum seekers at the border. “I continue to be disappointed, deeply disappointed, in the administration’s response,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York […]

NCMC Distinguished Alumni 2022

North Central Missouri College Foundation announces honorees for the Distinguished Alumni Class of 2021

North Central Missouri College Foundation announces the Distinguished Alumni Class for 2021, John Hunolt, Janet (Boyd) Lake and Nick Sottler.  Honorees will be recognized during the Pirates Ball on March 26, 2022, at the Ketcham Community Center on the campus of North Central Missouri College.  The Pirates Ball is to honor distinguished alumni, Voyage Fund […]

Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson

Governor Parson to embark on trade mission to United Kingdom and Ireland promoting Missouri

From March 11 – 19, Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson will travel to the United Kingdom and Ireland for their third international Trade Mission. The U.K. and Ireland are key trade partners for Missouri, with nearly $354 million and more than $130 million in exports in 2021, respectively. Consistent with Governor Parson’s […]

Reports of Iowa Tornados on Saturday, March 5, 2022

Seven dead, including two children, from tornados that rolled through Iowa on Saturday

Seven deaths, including two children, were reported from tornadoes on Saturday in Iowa. Six of those deaths were in Madison County, which is just southwest of Des Moines. The National Weather Service estimated tornados in the Winterset area of Madison County were an EF-3 based on photos and videos. Video posted on Twitter, which was […]

Governor Mike Parson (Photo by (Rudi Keller - Missouri Independent)

Parson digs in against evidence absolving reporter he accused of being a ‘hacker’

(Missouri Independent) – Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday once again refused to accept the conclusions of an investigation by the highway patrol and Cole County prosecutor surrounding a reporter who uncovered a security flaw in a state website.  Speaking to a gathering of reporters and editors in the governor’s mansion for Missouri Press Association Day, […]

Missouri Teacher Shortage News Graphic

Audio: Missouri House near passage of bill to enable more substitute teachers

The Missouri House of Representatives is near final approval on a bill to enable more people to become trained as substitute teachers.  This bill provides a four-year certificate for individuals with a background check and 36 college hours or a 20-hour online training, Bill Sponsor Ed Lewis – Republican from Randolph recites how the current […]

President Joe Biden Photo provided by White House

Biden in State of the Union urges ‘unmistakable’ support for democracy in Ukraine

(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden used his first State of the Union address on Tuesday night to reassert America as a leading global voice for democracy and condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin for starting an “unprovoked” war in Ukraine. “Throughout our history, we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price […]

Screenshot of USDA or United States Department of Agriculture website

USDA announces March 2022 lending rates for agricultural producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced loan interest rates for March 2022, which are effective March 1, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment, and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs. Operating, Ownership, and Emergency Loans FSA […]

Fentanyl Graphic

Missouri man pleads guilty to distribution of fentanyl related to overdose death investigation

United States District Court Judge John A. Ross accepted a plea of guilty from Markquis Bryant for the crime of distribution of a controlled substance related to an overdose death.  Judge Ross set sentencing for June 14, 2022. According to the plea agreement, Bryant knowingly and intentionally distributed a controlled substance on or about March […]

Video Poker Machines from Missouri Independent (Photo by Rudi Keller - Missouri Independent).

Push for expanded Missouri gambling puts casinos, video operators in opposing camps

(Missouri Independent) – Approving video lottery would produce more than 10 times the new state revenue of sports wagering and drive cash-prize video games of debated legality out of Missouri, a newly updated report contends. The report, prepared by Morowitz Gaming Advisors LLC and Global Gaming & Hospitality Capital Advisors LLC and paid for by companies that […]

Planned Parenthood

Missouri budget bill blocks Medicaid patients from accessing Planned Parenthood

Missouri’s supplemental budget bill signed into law Thursday includes a provision to block patients who rely on Medicaid from accessing Planned Parenthood health centers. Federal Medicaid law protects patients’ rights to choose their providers, including Planned Parenthood. Michelle Trupiano, executive director of the Missouri Family Health Council, noted because of the Hyde Amendment, Medicaid cannot cover abortions, […]

Cameron Public Library website

Cameron Public Library Selected as Charter Member of Makerspaces Project

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and the Missouri State Library are pleased to announce that the Cameron Public Library has been selected to be a charter member of the New Face of Library Makerspaces by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in partnership with CALIFA, Nation of Makers, Reguallium Consulting, P. Van Halsema […]

Rotary Website

Experimental archaeologist gives presentation at Trenton Rotary Club

An experimental archaeological hobbyist spoke at the Trenton Rotary Club meeting on February 24, 2022, about primitive fire building. Experimental archaeology is a field of study which attempts to generate and test archaeological hypotheses, usually by replicating or approximating the feasibility of ancient cultures performing various tasks or feats. It employs several methods, techniques, analyses, and […]

North Central Missouri College Website V2 (NCMC)

North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees hear reports, work continues on former US Bank building

Multiple reports were given at the North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees meeting February 22nd. Vice President of Student Affairs Doctor Kristen Alley reported NCMC’s graduation rate is 42%, and the withdrawal rate is 39%. NCMC is the only community college in the state to have a higher graduation rate than a withdrawal rate. […]

Photo of cattle (cows) by Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash

Beef processing facility near KC in violation of Missouri regulations for polluting waters

(Missouri Independent) – A beef processing facility 40 miles southeast of downtown Kansas City polluted at least a mile of nearby streams and allowed septic tanks of sewage and entrails to overflow, state regulators found this month.  The facility, the former site of a beef operation that neighbors felt threatened a nearby botanical garden, was referred […]

Body Found

Body discovered at Poosey Conservation Area in Livingston County

Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox reports Jamesport residents discovered a deceased man at the Poosey Conservation Area in northwest Livingston County on Saturday afternoon, February 19th. The man was identified as 45-year-old Michael Daniel Daly of Blue Springs. The sheriff’s office, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Highway Patrol responded to the Wind Pump Trail at […]

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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 […]