Court TV van parked at Courthouse

Audio: Closing arguments set for Thursday in high-profile Addie Murder trial; Court TV has live coverage

Closing arguments are set for Thursday in Jefferson City in a high-profile northern Missouri murder trial that’s being broadcast live nationwide on Court TV.     54-year-old James Addie is charged with first-degree murder for the 2018 death of Molly Watson, his fiance. Addie and Watson both worked at the Moberly Correctional Center (MCC). The case was […]

Fentanyl news Graphic

DEA announces new initiative called “Project Wave Breaker” to disrupt flow of fentanyl into the United States

The Drug Enforcement Administration announced a new initiative, Project Wave Breaker, to disrupt the flow of deadly fentanyl into the United States. Project Wave Breaker will direct interdiction, enforcement, and outreach efforts to high-impact areas to disrupt the flow of fentanyl in and around the United States. The initiative will also employ analytical intelligence assets […]

Josh Hawley Courtesy of Missourinet

Senator Hawley introduces “Parent Tax Credit” to assist working parents in starting and raising a family

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced legislation to create the Parent Tax Credit, a historic tax cut to help working parents afford to start a family and raise their children. Through a fully refundable tax credit provided directly through automatic, monthly advances, Senator Hawley’s Parent Tax Credit gives working parents the flexibility they need to make the best choices for raising their […]

Soil Sampling for Soybean Cyst Nematodes to Prevent Potential Yield Losses

Free soybean cyst nematode tests available to farmers

Missouri farmers can submit two free tests to beat the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) by contacting their county University of Missouri Extension center or the SCN Diagnostics laboratory. Testing soil before planting soybean is vital, says MU Extension plant pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette. SCN is the No. 1 soybean disease in the U.S. and Canada, with […]

Girls Team a Huddle sports

LGBTQ advocates oppose bills seen as harmful to trans youth

The Missouri House of Representatives advanced a bill aimed to ban transgender kids from participating in girl’s sports, which advocates said is the latest in a growing list of legislative attacks on trans youth across the country. More than 250 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in 2021 alone, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Shira Berkowitz, communications […]

Transgender Students Graphic

Bill banning trans students from sports teams by gender wins support of Missouri House

(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 […]

Century Farm

2021 Century Farm application deadline extended to June 1

In recognition of the Missouri Bicentennial, University of Missouri Extension will extend this year’s Century Farm application deadline to June 1. “With our partners the Missouri Farm Bureau and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, we want to be sure every eligible farm family has an opportunity to apply in this special […]

Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy + Health Center

Audio: Life Options Green Hills provides free and confidential services; Diaper Drive to benefit organization set to kick off April 26

Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy and Health Center of Trenton provides free and confidential services to residents in the nine-county Green Hills area. Services include pregnancy testing, limited first trimester ultrasounds, and pregnancy, prenatal, and parenting education. Executive Director Rachael Brothers says the center also provides a fatherhood education program.     She explains that […]

Representative Rick Roeber Lee's Summit

Audio: For the first time since the Civil War, the Missouri House votes to expel one of its own

The Missouri House has voted unanimously to expel Lee’s Summit Representative Rick Roeber. The House Ethics Committee released an investigative report this week about allegations that Roeber, a Republican, abused his four adult children when they were younger. It says two of the children were allegedly sexually abused and two others reported being physically abused. […]

Gas Tax

Audio: Missouri’s Senate President says state is $800 million short annually in maintaining the state highway system

Business groups and construction companies from across the state have testified for legislation to increase Missouri’s gasoline tax by 12-point-five cents per gallon by 2025.     Schatz testified last (Wednesday) night before a Missouri House committee. The GOP-controlled Missouri Senate has already given final approval to the bill.  Schatz is urging lawmakers to increase […]

Grain Belt Express

Audio: Anti-Grain Belt Express bill gets another Senate hearing with testimony lasting two hours

The Grain Belt Express project plans to run wind power transmission lines across eight rural counties in northern Missouri—from Buchanan through Ralls. Though the Public Service Commission has approved it and the commission’s approval won a court challenge, agricultural opponents have once again found support in the Legislature. The Missouri House passed HB 527 to stop utility […]