Bipartisan law enforcement legislation that bans most police chokeholds and eliminates residency requirements for Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) officers is now heading to the Missouri governor’s desk after receiving final House approval Thursday afternoon in Jefferson City. Senate Bill 53 is sponsored by State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville) and State Rep. Lane Roberts (R-Joplin). Representative Roberts […]
(Missouri Independent) – As the state of Missouri battles its second year of the novel coronavirus’ spread, lawmakers on Wednesday sent to the governor’s desk a bill that aims to rein in local public health orders and ban vaccine passports. The provisions were included in House Bill 271, which deals with local government transparency. It grew […]
The city of Trenton and its municipal utility expect to save money on interest costs with the re-financing of three long-term debts. It was announced the savings amounts to $658,000 over the length of the loans. Two involve 2012 issued bonds and the 2014 issued bonds for Trenton Municipal Utilities projects done at the water […]
A former paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School pleaded guilty in federal court to producing and distributing child pornography. Steven B. Allen, 45, of Independence, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to two counts of producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography over the internet. Allen, who has been […]
The Missouri Veterans Commission announces the launch of the Missouri Benefits and Resource Portal. In collaboration with the Missouri Department of Economic Development Office of the Missouri Military Advocate, MVC created the portal to serve as an informational tool and service guide to help Veterans find potential benefits and local resources. “The Missouri Benefits and […]
A Missouri man has pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple charges of illegally possessing firearms, including stolen firearms, and drug trafficking. Brandon L. Hill, 33, of Independence, Missouri, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Thursday, April 29, to three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, two counts […]
Wright Memorial Hospital Foundation’s first-ever virtual charity auction ended on Sunday, April 25, and the results have been tallied. The event netted the Foundation nearly $10,000. Those proceeds will be going to support the hospital’s Oncology Nurse Navigator Program, which offers free services to local oncology patients, as well as the Foundation’s general fund, which […]
(Missouri Independent) – After hours of fierce debate that spanned the course of two days, the Missouri House on Wednesday signed off on a prohibition on transgender students participating on the sports teams that match their gender identity. The provision, offered as an amendment by Rep. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, to House Bill 1141 was adopted by a vote […]
The Biden administration has taken the first steps in the regulatory process to eliminate the domestic gag rule, which forced more than 900 reproductive-health clinics nationwide to leave the Title X family-planning program and lose major amounts of funding. Rachel Fey, vice president for policy and strategic partnerships at the contraceptive-access advocacy group Power to Decide, said the […]
The Galt Board of Aldermen on April 14th reviewed the qualifications of engineering companies to do a study to evaluate potential improvements to the water system. Benton and Associates from Kirksville were chosen. City Clerk Ashley Bonnett reports the company is to present a proposal at the next meeting, and the board will decide whether […]
Three students were featured at the North Central Missouri College Foundation Scholarship Reception on April 14th. The reception recognized recipients of Foundation and institutional scholarships. The three student speakers shared their background and what their scholarships meant to them. Calvin Basham of Cowgill received the Paul and Betty Preston Steele Agriculture Scholarship. He is pursuing […]
The Laredo Board of Aldermen approved two salary increases on April 12th. Maintenance/Water and Wastewater Operator Adam Cooksey is fully certified in all departments. Laredo City Clerk Ashley Bonnett reports he received a $1.00 per hour raise, making his new rate $14.76 per hour for the part-time position. City Treasurer Lena Cooksey received a $10.00 […]
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education on April 12th approved a salary proposal that increased the base rate. The base was raised by $1,700 to $31,000. Steps 21 to 30 will be $550. The career ladder will be replaced with hourly tutoring rates. The rates will be $20 per hour for one to five-year probationary […]
(Missouri Independent) – A bipartisan coalition of state Senators was unable to stop politically connected Kansas City attorney Todd Graves from winning a seat on the University of Missouri Board of Curators. After a two-round filibuster — three hours last week and eight more hours ending around 1 a.m. Wednesday — the Senate voted 19-13 to […]
There will be two new members each for the Trenton R-9 Board of Education and the Trenton City Council following the election on Tuesday. Voter approval was given to the local use tax for the city of Trenton and brush control for Grundy County. It was a 17% voter turnout (992 votes out of 5,859 […]
A Missouri House committee on congressional redistricting will take public testimony today (Thursday) in Jefferson City from residents who live in southwest Missouri’s Seventh Congressional District. Southwest Missouri’s 7th District is a GOP stronghold and includes Springfield, Joplin, Branson, Carthage, and Table Rock Lake. In-person and written testimony will be taken at today’s […]
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing the firearm stolen from a vehicle in the parking lot at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Mo. Jeffrey Ray Dean Ford, 28, of Joplin was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to five years in federal prison without […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt officially jumped into the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, making him the second major Republican hopeful seeking to replace Roy Blunt. Schmitt’s decision comes after former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens jumped into the race earlier this week. Both made their announcements on Fox News. “Washington, D.C., needs more […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has announced a multistate settlement with Boston Scientific Corporation (Boston) to resolve allegations of deceptive marketing of its surgical mesh products for women. The settlement requires Boston to pay $188.6 million to 47 states and the District of Columbia to resolve allegations that it deceptively marketed transvaginal surgical mesh devices […]
A former Missouri governor who resigned three years ago announced Monday on national television that he’s running for the U.S. Senate in 2022. Current U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R) will not seek re-election next year, which will leave the seat open for the 2022 election cycle. Republican Eric Greitens was elected as Missouri’s governor in […]
