The state’s lieutenant governor says Missourians will have to decide whether a gasoline tax increase is needed. Missouri’s 17-cent gasoline tax has remained the same since 1996. Last November, voters rejected a proposed ten-cent gas tax increase. At his campaign announcement, last week at Jefferson City’s Memorial Park, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (R) told the audience […]
Tag: state
The net neutrality battle moves to the states, and to 2020
Net neutrality suffered a significant blow on Tuesday as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the Trump administration’s rollback of Obama-era consumer protections. Because the court upheld the repeal, it remains legal for internet service providers such as AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon to block or throttle any sites they want, and […]
Audio: Missouri Supreme Court ponders whether voter ID law’s sworn statement should stay or go
The Missouri Supreme Court is deciding whether voters without a photo ID must sign a statement at the polls swearing they are who they say they are. The state is challenging Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan calling the language contradictory and misleading and ruling last year to get rid of the requirement. In Thursday’s […]
Audio: Reward Increased to $8,000 for horrific southwest Missouri animal abuse case
Police in the community of Neosho have made little progress in their investigation of the suspected live-skinning of a pet beagle who had to be euthanized a week ago because of her suffering. Authorities hope an increased reward will lead to an arrest in a gruesome animal abuse case. Reporter Ty Albright at our Joplin […]
Deadline extended for NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program
The application deadline has been extended in Missouri for the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection Program. The deadline has been extended to November 27, 2019, due to the addition of 14 Missouri counties recently added to a federal disaster declaration following flooding this year. Missouri State Conservationist J. […]
Grundy County Commission takes part in Incident Command System training
A class was held in Trenton this week covering the National Incident Management Command System. Grundy County Emergency Management reports chief elected officials, emergency response personnel, dispatchers, and emergency managers from the state attended the multi-day class. Grundy County Clerk Betty Spickard previously said the Grundy County Commission attended the training at the North Central […]
FAFSA Frenzy events helps students apply for college financial aid
Missouri students and families can receive free help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at 178 FAFSA Frenzy events this year. Events will be held Oct. 1, 2019, through Jan. 31, 2020, at locations across the state. Filing a FAFSA is the first step students must take to apply for most forms […]
General John J. Pershing Boyhood Home to host public information meeting
Representatives from Missouri State Parks invite the public to an informational meeting about General John J. Pershing Boyhood Home and Locust Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Sites at 6 p.m., Wednesday, October 16, 2019m, at the Pershing Memorial Museum and Leadership Archives building at 900 Ausmus St., Laclede. Representatives from the sites will be on […]
Preparations underway for National FFA Convention
In a few weeks, the city of Indianapolis will transform into a sea of blue jackets when the National FFA Convention & Expo kicks off for the 92nd time. This time-honored tradition will be held in the Circle City on October 30- November 2, 2019. More than 67,000 FFA members from across the U.S., representing […]
Independence man pleads guilty to possessing child pornography
An Independence, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing and sharing hundreds of videos and images of child pornography over the internet. James Andrew Clingenpeel, 31, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to one count of attempting to distribute child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. By pleading […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to transporting a minor for illegal sexual activity
A Carl Junction, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to transporting a Kansas minor across state lines to engage in criminal sexual activity. Nathan Roger Belcher, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual […]
Monthly grain crop review for September, 2019
September had several warmer than normal days, breaking records in some parts of the state. The high temperatures helped the corn crop dry. However, harvest progress is trailing last year’s pace and the five-year average. The late-planted corn is still too wet to combine unless there are dryers available. Nationally, 11 percent of corn has […]
Crowder State Park to host “Fall Colors Tours” of Thompson Cemetery
Crowder State Park will offer free guided bus tours of the Thompson Cemetery 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, October 19th and 20, 2019. Park staff will point out fall foliage and other interesting features along the way. Tours will run every half hour with the last tour ending at 4 p.m. Meet at […]
Audio: Missouri convicted killer shows no signs of suffering during execution
A convicted killer serving a death sentence since 1997 took his final breath on Tuesday. A group of witnesses watched at the state prison in southeast Missouri’s Bonne Terre as 51-year-old Russell Bucklew was executed by lethal injection. Former Cape Girardeau County Prosecutor Morley Swingle witnessed the execution. “This was the final chapter […]
Audio: Walmart to hire over 100 with hiring events in Moberly and Harrisonville
The United States’ largest private employer, Walmart, is expanding in Missouri. After five years of consistent same-store growth, Wal-Mart is looking to hire more people to keep up with demand. They are holding “hiring events” in northern Missouri’s Moberly, and in Harrisonville just south of Kansas City. Wal-Mart is looking to hire over […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to illegally selling firearms
An Independence, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally selling firearms without a license, some of which have been seized during arrests at several crime scenes. Frank E. Hedden, 25, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to engaging in the business of dealing […]
Thirty two women from North Mercer and Princeton awarded Gene Kauffman Foundation scholarships
The Board of Directors for the Gene Kauffman Scholarship Foundation, Incorporated, has approved the latest scholarship recipients. Thirty-two female graduates from North Mercer and Princeton high schools have been awarded a combined total of $126,398.98 in scholarships for the Fall 2019 semester. The Gene Kauffman Scholarship recipients provided signed statements saying they meet all criteria […]
FFDD celebrate Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Grundy County Families and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled Executive Director Kayla Graham explains the designation is to raise awareness of disability employment and celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities. Graham says FFDD is “very fortunate” to have several employers in the community that employs individuals […]
New officers assume roles in Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and Missouri Corn Growers Association
The Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC) and the Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) have announced a new slate of officers, the appointment of recently elected board members and national committee assignments. The election of the 2019-20 MCMC officer team took place during an August board meeting held in Branson. The following MCMC leaders assumed their […]
Former CEO of Putnam County Memorial Hospital to plead guilty to health care fraud
Reports indicate the former Chief Executive Officer at Putnam County Memorial Hospital in Unionville, David Byrns has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Charges were filed with the US District Court for Western Missouri, however, it is expected further proceedings will be held in a federal […]