A Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court today to sexually assaulting two young children to produce child pornography and to receiving and distributing child pornography after his wife pleaded guilty to the same charges last month. Mark John Millman, 37, of Merriam Village, a citizen of Great Britain and a legal alien resident, pleaded […]
Tag: U.S.
Missouri man pleads guilty to botched robbery at auto dealer; robbery attempt ended in firefight with owner and shooting of employee
A Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court to the botched robbery of a Grandview, Mo., auto dealership that ended when he shot an employee while fleeing after a shootout with the owner, who was also armed. Lyndale E. Watson, also known as “Red, “Blood,” and “Stoni Blud,” 36, Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. […]
Kansas man sentenced in Missouri to 12-years in prison for Payday Loan fraud and tax evasion
A Kansas man was sentenced in federal court for engaging in two separate fraud schemes related to millions of dollars in false payday loan debt and for tax evasion totaling more than $8 million. “After raking in millions of dollars from the victims of his fraud scheme, the defendant lied repeatedly and used every trick […]
Coalition of lawmakers introduce SHIELD Act to preserve Title 42 expulsions of illegal immigrants
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) joined U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in introducing the Securing the Homeland from International Entrants with Life-threatening Diseases (SHIELD) Act to codify the Trump administration’s public health order under Title 42 that required U.S. border officials to promptly remove illegal immigrants to stop the spread of COVID-19. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tom Cotton […]
Fate of Missouri Medicaid expansion in the hands of the state Supreme Court
(Missouri Independent) – After an eight-year fight over Medicaid expansion, the arguments are over. The question of whether 275,000 people will receive state-paid health care coverage is in the hands of the Missouri Supreme Court. Oral arguments took place Tuesday in an expedited appeal. The seven judges must decide whether Medicaid eligibility will expand, as directed by the […]
USDA announces dates for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands signups
Agricultural producers and landowners can apply for the Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands signup from today until August 20. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated signup options to provide greater incentives for producers and increase the program’s conservation and climate benefits, including setting a minimum rental rate and identifying two national priority zones. […]
Audio: Missouri county considering whether to use federal aid to boost broadband access
The U.S. Department of Economic Development estimates that more than 400,000 Missourians do not have reliable internet access. The American Rescue Plan passed by Congress earlier this year includes giving 16.9-million dollars to Buchanan County in northwest Missouri. Presiding Commissioner Lee Sawyer says at the forefront of his and his commissioner’s minds are using the […]
MoDOT planned road work in north Missouri for the week of July 12, 2021
The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in North Missouri for the week of July 12 – 18. All road closures and planned roadwork may be viewed on the Traveler Information Map at MoDOT traveler map. Inclement weather may cause schedule changes in […]
Sara Walsh joins growing field in Missouri’s 4th Congressional District
(Missouri Independent) – A crowded Republican primary is emerging in Missouri’s 4th Congressional District, a solidly GOP seat that is also the only one of the state’s eight districts certain to have a new lawmaker at the end of 2022. State Rep. Sara Walsh, R-Ashland, on Wednesday became the latest candidate to enter the race […]
Biden administration defends push to boost COVID vaccinations after Parson criticism
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden’s key COVID-19 advisers on Thursday defended the administration’s strategies for boosting vaccinations in the states after Missouri’s governor said federal door-to-door outreach efforts are not welcome there. Top Biden adviser Jeff Zients said anyone mischaracterizing the administration’s attempts is “doing a disservice to the country.” Gov. Mike Parson voiced his […]
Mexican national sentenced to 6-years in federal prison for $10 million marijuana growing operation in Daviess County
A Mexican national who has been deported seven times after illegally entering the United States was sentenced in federal court for his role in a Daviess County, Missouri, marijuana-growing operation where law enforcement officers seized nearly $10 million worth of plants. Sergio Medina-Perez, 47, of El Monte, California, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg […]
Farm Service Agency now accepting nominations for county committee members
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency began accepting nominations for county committee members on June 15. Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas for these members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2021 election must be postmarked or received in the […]
USDA invests $910,000 to improve rural water infrastructure in Jackson County
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $910,000 to modernize rural drinking water infrastructure in Jackson County, benefitting nearly 3.000 rural Missourians. “Every community, large and small, needs safe, reliable access to necessities like clean water,” Thomas said. “Rural Development congratulates Public Water Supply […]
White House says executive order coming on labeling beef as a ‘Product of USA’
(Missouri Independent) – The White House will unveil an executive order in the coming days that directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to clarify that meat can only receive a “Product of USA” label if that livestock is raised in the U.S. rather than abroad, press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Tuesday afternoon. “The EO […]
Groups say postal reform Bill would benefit rural Missouri
Supporters of the U.S. Postal Service are pressing for passage of a bill to shore up the troubled agency. Twin versions of the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act of 2021 are winding their way through committees in the U.S. House and Senate. John McHugh, a former congressman from New York who served as Secretary of the Army until […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol reports on July 4 holiday statistics, including 7 fatalities
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the following 2021 July Fourth holiday statistics: 2021 July Fourth Holiday Traffic Statistics Troopers worked 312 traffic crashes, which included 124 injuries and all seven fatalities. Troopers also made 144 DWI arrests and 81 drug arrests over the holiday weekend. 2021 July Fourth Holiday Boating Statistics Troopers worked 12 […]
Audio: Census data shows Missouri is slow growth state
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released its 2020 population estimates which examines the population that occurred over the past year and decade. It showed that Missouri has some areas of growth and others of decline. Dr. Mark White is an associate extension professor at Mizzou, and he sorts through data on population, geography, and economic […]
Endangered fish, leaching ash ponds: Environmental groups oppose Missouri coal plant permit
(Missouri Independent) – For years, Lisa Zerbe said she biked, rode horses, and ran near Ameren Missouri’s largest coal-fired power plant in Franklin County because she “naively believed” state environmental regulators were protecting citizens from pollution. Now, she won’t. “It is truly a disheartening feeling of betrayal from an agency in my younger years I […]
MoDOT planned road work in north Missouri for the week of July 5, 2021
The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in North Missouri for the week of July 5 – 11. All road closures and planned roadwork may be viewed on the Traveler Information Map at http://traveler.modot.org/map/. Inclement weather may cause schedule changes in some of […]
Missouri man sentenced to 30 years in prison without parole for producing child pornography
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court today for sexually exploiting a minor to produce child pornography. Anthony Thompson, 40, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Thompson to spend 10 years on supervised release following incarceration. On Oct. […]