Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt speaks to a gathering of Missouri Highway Patrol officers in April 2021 (photo courtesy of the attorney general’s office)

Missouri Attorney General sues Springfield schools in quest to find critical race theory documents

(Missouri Independent) – Attorney General Eric Schmitt alleges in a newly filed lawsuit that Springfield Public Schools wants to avoid scrutiny of its curriculum and training materials — and is violating the Missouri Sunshine law to do it. The district improperly demanded a deposit of more than $37,000 to search its records for instances where it incorporated elements […]

Auto Theft or Stolen Vehicle

Grandview man charged with multiple felonies after breaking into Woody’s Automotive

A Grandview man has been charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly unlawfully entered Woody’s Automotive in Chillicothe during September. Twenty-four-year-old Jahquise Tyronne Webb has been charged with second-degree burglary, stealing a firearm, first-degree property damage, and three counts of stealing $25,000 or more. No bond is allowed. A probable cause statement accuses Webb of […]

Charges Filed news graphic

Pattonsburg man charged with three felonies after giving daughter THC Tincture that contained opiates

A Pattonsburg man has been charged with three felonies after he allegedly gave his 17-year-old daughter a controlled substance, and another minor was hospitalized in October. Forty-year-old Joseph Sperry faces delivery of a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance in violation of registration requirements, and possession of a controlled substance. Bond was initially denied […]

Child Sex Abuse graphic

Marceline man facing four sex-related felony charges involving girl younger than 14

A Marceline man faces four sex-related felony charges after four alleged separate incidents in May and June 2018 involving a girl younger than 14 years of age. Forty-three-year-old James Thurston has been charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy involving deviate sexual intercourse. In […]

Plane or airplane fighting a wildfire

Climate funds in infrastructure bill aimed at drought, wildfires, floods

(Missouri Independent) – The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure bill isn’t just about roads and bridges — it also spends billions to address wildfire, drought, flooding, and other effects from climate change, Interior Department officials said Wednesday. The $1.2 trillion measure, which is awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature after the House cleared it last week, includes pay […]

Spire Natural Gas Company Van

Critics say Spire Missouri’s warning of natural gas outages a “manufactured crisis”

(Missouri Independent) – As federal energy regulators prepare to decide the fate of a St. Louis natural gas pipeline, Spire Missouri is warning customers their gas service could fail this winter.  Business industry groups and the utility maintain their responsibility to keep customers informed. But environmental groups and some local elected officials — who note federal regulators seem […]

A gavel and a name plate with the engraving Lawsuit

Gun safety group files suit alleging NRA illegally coordinated with Hawley campaign

(Missouri Independent) – The Giffords gun safety organization has sued the National Rifle Association and the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana, alleging the group used shell corporations to improperly aid the Republican lawmakers in 2018. The suit alleges two NRA affiliates made up to $35 million in illegal […]

Gavel and Law book news graphic

Corizon loses challenge to Missouri prisoner medical care contract award worth $1.4 billion

(Missouri Independent) – The company providing health care to state prisoners failed to prove a competitor misled state purchasing officers to win the $1.4 billion contract, Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled Thursday. Corizon Health, which has been the state’s vendor for prisoner medical needs since 1992, accused the state Purchasing Division of giving the contract […]

Piglets in barn (Photo courtesy Diego San)

Smithfield withdraws request for CAFO permits environmentalists criticized as too lax

(Missouri Independent) – The global meat producer operating some of Missouri’s largest industrial hog operations has withdrawn requests to convert 10 of its permits to what environmental groups say would be more lenient ones. Smithfield Foods Inc., which has a history of environmental violations in Missouri, operates some of the largest concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, in the […]