Missouri’s 2019 scores in national math and reading assessments remained statistically steady in math at Grade 4 and Grade 8, as well as at Grade 8 reading, but fell in Grade 4 reading according to data released by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The state was in line with national averages in all […]
Community Action Partnership of North Central Missouri offers weatherization all year to provide cost-effective energy-efficient home improvements to low-income households, especially for the elderly, children, disabled, and others hit hard by high utility costs. The program aims to lower utility bills and improve comfort to ensure health and safety for homeowners and renters. It is […]
Missouri is among states experiencing a serious erosion in children’s health coverage, according to a new report. The findings, released by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, indicated there were 12,000 more uninsured Missouri kids in 2018 than in 2016, a 17% increase. Traci Gleason, vice president for internal affairs at the Missouri Budget Project, […]
A Chicago, Illinois, man who was arrested while driving through northern Missouri pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine to distribute. Kevin M. Phyfiher, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. A Missouri State Highway Patrol […]
A Springfield, Missouri, man was convicted by a federal trial jury of receiving and distributing child pornography. Marco Barraza, 27, was found guilty of one count of receiving and distributing child pornography. Law enforcement investigators received two reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Barraza had transmitted images of child pornography […]
A former executive of a northern Missouri hospital pleaded guilty in federal court in Florida to a $114 million pass-through billing scheme. The Justice Department in Washington says former Putnam County Memorial Hospital chief executive officer David Lane Byrns pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Byrns pleaded […]
The manager of a Wilbur-Ellis Company processing facility in Texas pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a multi-million dollar conspiracy to sell adulterated ingredients to pet food manufacturers, for which the company has already paid more than $4.5 million in restitution. William Douglas Haning, 48, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge […]
To further assist in combatting the national opioid epidemic, Hy-Vee, Inc. announces it has purchased and will install drug take-back receptacles by Nov. 7, 2019, in all 276 Hy-Vee pharmacy locations throughout its eight-state region to provide customers a secure place to dispose of unused medications, including controlled substances. The availability of drug take-back receptacles […]
A northwest Missouri farmer accused of first-degree murder in the deaths of two missing Wisconsin brothers from made his first court appearance today. Garland Joseph Nelson, 25, appeared via closed-circuit TV in the Circuit Court of Caldwell County. Nelson’s attorney asked the judge for a continuance of three weeks to prepare before entering a plea. […]
Missouri Life Magazine’s Big BAM (Bicycle Across Missouri) will ride for the first time in Southeast Missouri in 2020. The upcoming sixth annual five-day recreational ride across our state will be hosted by the following overnight towns: Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Farmington, and Ste. Genevieve. Riders will start on June 1 in Poplar […]
State leaders will soon have a better grasp of the magnitude of Missouri’s backlog of untested sexual assault kits. With funding from a $2.8 million federal grant, the Missouri attorney general’s SAFE Kit Initiative is expected to complete its inventory of untested rape kits in the next couple of weeks. Matthew Huffman, public affairs director […]
A Kansas City, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a romance fraud scheme that bilked victims across the United States and overseas of nearly $900,000. Ronayerin K. Ogolor, 50, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Nigeria, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of conspiracy to commit […]
The co-founder of US Wellness Meats is the 2019 Missouri Livestock Symposium Person of the Year. Lifelong Lewis County farmer and businessman John Wood earns the honor for lifelong work to raise cattle on grass and market specialty meats says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Zac Erwin. His work makes a significant economic impact […]
A former Camden County, Missouri, sheriff’s deputy pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving child pornography. Leonard Jerome Wilson, 40, formerly of Camdenton, Missouri, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Wilson must surrender his peace officer license and enter guilty pleas in two related […]
Four Missouri teachers were among the 2017 and 2018 awardees honored by the White House for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Katherine Lodes (St. Joseph’s Academy, St. Louis), Shelley Paul (Anderson Elementary, McDonald Co. R-1), Terri Politte (Duello Elementary, Wentzville R-IV) and Stacey Wade (Frontier Middle, Wentzville R-IV) are […]
An Alabama man pleaded guilty in federal court to enticing a 16-year-old victim, whom he met through the “Game of War” application on her cell phone, to engage in illegal sexual activity. James Reece Vance, 46, of Madison, Ala., pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips. The investigation began when the child victim’s […]
A Mexican national who illegally entered the United States at least a dozen times was sentenced in federal court for illegal reentry and for stealing a deceased person’s identity to obtain employment. Rigoberto Vasquez-Milan, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to two years and six months in federal prison without parole. […]
The North Central Missouri College Trio program, Student Support Services was recently awarded a grant to help celebrate and support students that are first-generation college attendees. Tocarra Williams, Student Support Services Program Coordinator was the writer of the grant and has already many plans to recognize first-generation students. As a Trio program, students can qualify […]
The City of Laredo will receive funding from the United States Department of Agriculture to assist with making improvements to the city’s wastewater system. The city will receive a loan for $187,000 and a grant for $346,310. The USDA notes Laredo’s wastewater system was constructed in the 1980s and needs upgrades to meet ammonia standards. […]
Earthquake drills will be held Thursday as part of the Great Central United States Shakeout. The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance reports nearly 500,000 Missourians will participate in the shakeout at 10:17 in the morning. The department encourages consumers to consider their plan for financial recovery if a major earthquake event occurs in Missouri. […]
