United States Supreme Court (Phot credit Laura Olson - States Newsroom)

Supreme Court blocks Biden workplace vaccine rule, allows health care workers mandate

(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday dealt a blow to the Biden administration’s fight against the pandemic, blocking a federal mandate that workers be vaccinated or regularly tested for COVID-19 — though the court allowed a separate rule requiring vaccinations for some health care workers. The two rulings represented a split victory for Republican attorneys general […]

Gallatin City Hall

Gallatin Board of Aldermen address financing of street resurfacing project and approve purchases

The Gallatin Board of Aldermen on Monday, January 10th  approved a resolution involving funding for a street project and an ordinance regarding an equipment sales agreement. The resolution states the intent to seek funding through the Community Development Block Grant Program and authorizes the mayor to pursue activities in an attempt to secure funding for […]

Trenton R-9 School District

Trenton Board of Education hears evaluation reports on multiple programs at Tuesday meeting

The Trenton R-9 Board of Education heard evaluation reports on multiple programs on January 11th. Trenton Middle School Principal Daniel Gott presented the Health Services Evaluation Report, which was submitted by school nurses Tasha McCall and Tyann Cox. Gott said health office visits for the 2020-2021 school year included 33 for preschool, 4,237 for kindergarten […]

Scott Fitzpatrick

Missouri schools must comply with COVID ruling to win treasurer approval of bond deals

(Missouri Independent) – If school districts want to take advantage of a lower interest rate on bonds, Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is requiring them to certify compliance with a recent court ruling targeting local health orders before his office will approve of the deal. Fitzpatrick detailed the decision he described as “unprecedented” in an interview Wednesday […]

SafeDefend Website

Trenton R-9 Board of Education hears presentation on implementation of SafeDefend system

The Trenton R-9 Board of Education on December 14th heard about the implementation of the SafeDefend system for the district. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported employee training for the system was December 6th. Law enforcement and fire and rescue members were also invited to participate. On-site employees were fingerprinted into the system, and it is now […]

Laredo R-7 School

Laredo Board of Education approve insurance renewal, review Board of Education election

The Laredo R-7 Board of Education on December 13th approved Missouri United School Insurance Council insurance renewal. Secretary Robin Griswold reports there is $4 million worth of coverage for a premium of $13,096 for the year. The policy covers property, general liability, buses, school board liability, compensation, bond, cyber, and pollution liability. The board approved […]

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (Photo Courtesy Missouri AG Office)

Missouri’s largest counties seek to appeal ruling overturning local health orders

(Missouri Independent) – Jackson and St. Louis Counties requested Monday that they be permitted to intervene and appeal a recent court ruling that they argue has “upended the longstanding public health framework” in Missouri. In a filing submitted Monday afternoon and obtained by The Independent, the two counties asked Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel […]

Crime and Courts

Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court news for Thursday, December 9, 2021

Several defendants received prison sentences or probation on Thursday in Grundy County Circuit Court. Mercer County Associate Judge Matthew Krohn was appointed to preside during the proceedings in Division One of Circuit Court. Princeton resident James LeRoy Houk saw his probation revoked on two drug-related counts and was sentenced to four years with the Missouri […]

Trenton R-9 School District

Two additional candidates file for a seat on the Trenton R-9 Board of Education

Two additional candidates have filed for the Trenton R-9 Board of Education election on April 5th. Joshua Shuler filed for a three-year term, and incumbent Jason Hostetler filed for the one-year position. Incumbent Dorothy Taul, Jeffrey Spencer, and Toby Havens previously filed for three-year terms. Two three-year board positions and a one-year term are open. […]

Guilty Plea news graphic

Missouri doctor pleads guilty to making false statements to obtain insurance coverage for fentanyl prescription

A Missouri, physician pleaded guilty in federal court to making a false statement to Medicare to obtain insurance coverage for a fentanyl prescription and to conspiring with others to use his DEA registration number to issue Schedule II controlled substances to patients in his absence. Randall Halley, 65, Nixa, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate […]