A bill awaiting action by Governor Parson would crackdown on drivers with a commercial vehicle license who are convicted of human trafficking. State Representative Becky Ruth of eastern Missouri’s Festus sponsored the bill. She says drivers with a CDL license are often involved in sex trafficking. The bill also penalizes people with a […]
(Missouri Independent) – From statehouses to Congress, Republicans have launched into a fight against the teaching of “critical race theory,” which just a year ago was a niche academic term. Experts in critical race theory say it’s about acknowledging how racial disparities are embedded in U.S history and society, and the concept is being mischaracterized […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missourians voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2018. But under federal law, growing, transporting, or selling marijuana remains a crime. Unsurprisingly, that dynamic has created a lot of headaches for the fledgling industry. One notable example: Unlike every other legal business in the state, marijuana companies are prohibited from deducting business expenses […]
A man who was a leader of a $56 million criminal enterprise was sentenced in federal court for his role in the conspiracy that distributed more than 2,600 kilograms (5,732 pounds) of cocaine in the metropolitan area. Jose Luis Armendariz-Rascon, Kansas City, Kansas, also known as “Uncle” or “Rambo,” 40, was sentenced by U.S. Chief […]
A Kansas City, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy. He sold more than 14 kilograms of methamphetamine and 30 firearms to an undercover federal agent. Jose Alvarado, 28, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to one count of conspiracy to […]
The Sullivan County Health Department can now administer Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to individuals at least 12 years old. The office is taking a list of names for parents or guardians interested in the Pfizer vaccine for themselves or their children. The health department also offers the Janssen Johnson and Johnson vaccine for adults and scheduling […]
(Missouri Independent) – As the case counts of the novel coronavirus began to tick up last March across Missouri, providers who offer tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) found their resources were being pulled in two directions. Swabs were in short supply as they became needed for COVID-19 testing. Contact tracers, who reach out to […]
Trenton’s Utility Committee met Tuesday evening with an engineer to review preliminary plans for water-related projects. The committee reviewed details and saw cost estimates for work at the reservoir pump station and the river pump station. Members also learned costs would be forthcoming from a specialized company regarding upgrades or rehabilitation of the clarifier basins […]
A Braymer, Missouri, man was indicted by a federal grand jury for a $215,000 cattle fraud scheme that he attempted to cover up by murdering two Wisconsin brothers. Garland Joseph Nelson, 27, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment charges Nelson with one count of […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri will not expand Medicaid coverage to working-age adults on July 1 because lawmakers refused to include funding for the health care program in the state budget, Gov. Mike Parson announced Thursday. In a news release, Parson said the state was withdrawing documents submitted to the federal government necessary to add the approximately 275,000 […]
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees on May 11th rejected bids at this time for construction of a new Russ Derry Practice Facility for baseball and softball. The project will be put on hold until further fundraising can be done, and the cost of construction can be reviewed again. This came after Jeremy […]
On top of reports and public comment, the Trenton City Council agenda Monday night only included one topic. No mention was made last evening of the Planning and Zoning recommendations from last week, one to deny a cell phone tower at a specific location in Trenton and the other to approve the downtown historic district. […]
(Missouri Independent) – States, cities, and counties can begin to tap their share of the $350 billion in federal funds intended to spur a national recovery from the economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, White House officials announced Monday. Missouri will receive $2.7 billion in federal funding, with another $2.5 billion in direct aid for counties […]
(Missouri Independent) – Lawmakers slammed the Department of Social Services on Thursday for underreporting the number of substantiated cases of abuse and neglect at youth residential facilities during a previous legislative hearing. For nearly an hour-and-a-half on Thursday, the House Special Committee on Government Oversight pressed DSS officials on why the number of findings of […]
The Missouri Legislature’s state budget negotiators are recommending the hiring of 53 attorneys for the state Public Defender System. During negotiations, Senate Minority Floor Leader John Rizzo of Independence says his wife corrects some cases handled at the local level by overworked attorneys. The system has nearly 400 lawyers handling about 90,000 cases […]
Two men traveling through Kansas City, Missouri, were charged in federal court for possessing nearly 24 pounds of heroin aboard a bus en route from California to New York. Darwin G. Morales-Sagastume, 23, and Cristian J. Lopez-Catalan, 28, were charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., with […]
On Friday, April 30, 2021, a jury convicted William Henry, AKA William Henry Applewhite III, of three counts of Assault on a Corrections Officer in the First Degree and three counts of Armed Criminal Action in the First Degree. The defendant was housed in the Scott County Jail awaiting trial on murder charges when the […]
The staff of Trenton Municipal Utilities continues to flush the water system as part of a semi-annual requirement of the water treatment process. The area east of Highway 65 to the city limits will be flushed May 5 through 7. There may be discolored water during the hours of flushing from 7 o’clock in the morning […]
A Chillicothe man faces two felonies after an incident in the 600 block of Webster Street in Chillicothe on May 3rd in which he allegedly threatened to shoot his neighbors. Thirty-five-year-old Chamen Richard Bell has been charged with first-degree burglary and first-degree harassment. Bond was set at $50,000 cash only, no surety, and Supervision Services. […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri lawmakers must finish work on the fiscal 2022 budget by Friday. And while the biggest spending issue of the session, Medicaid expansion, is off the table, there are other big issues to resolve in the state-run health care program. One of the largest is whether to provide a cushion for hospitals that […]
