(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a request by five counties and health departments to quickly hear arguments and review a case that they say “upended the longstanding public health framework” in Missouri. The decision means an appeal of a Cole County judge’s November ruling will have to first go through […]
Tag: western
Missouri, Arizona and Louisiana sue Biden administration for rescinding Title 42
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry are suing the Biden Administration for rescinding the public health policy, Title 42, during the worst border crisis in decades. The revocation will result in an unprecedented crisis at the United States southern border that will have a devastating […]
Grand River Conference All-Conference Scholar Bowl teams and results announced
The Grand River Conference All-Conference Scholar Bowl has been announced. Selected for the Eastern Division First Team include Aden Segal of Polo, Mary Scott of South Harrison, Gabe Hacking of Gallatin, Shelby Williams of Trenton, and Cole Clay of Milan. Students selected for the Western Division First Team include Matthew Heintz of North Harrison, Ryelin […]
Preferred Family Healthcare to pay more than $8 million in fines related to embezzlement, bribery investigation
Springfield, Missouri-based nonprofit Preferred Family Healthcare will pay more than $8 million in forfeiture and restitution to the federal government and the state of Arkansas under the terms of a non-prosecution agreement announced, which acknowledges the criminal conduct of its former officers and employees. “Preferred Family Healthcare must relinquish the illegal profits it garnered from […]
Nine indicted for creating blockade to prevent services at reproductive health care clinic; all facing 11 years in prison
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia announced a two-count indictment charging Lauren Handy, 28, of Alexandria, Virginia; Jonathan Darnel, 40, of Arlington, Virginia, Jay Smith, 32, of Freeport, New York; Paulette Harlow, 73, of Kingston, Massachusetts; Jean Marshall, […]
Temporary changes to water disinfection begin April 4th at TMU Water Treatment Plant in Trenton
The Trenton Municipal Utilities Water Treatment Plant will begin utilizing free chlorine, or a free chlorine conversion, in its water system on April 4th. The change entails feeding free chlorine, instead of chloramines, as the disinfectant leaves the water treatment plant. It will last three to six weeks. The change will affect customers of TMU, […]
NCMC’s Edward Neill selected for Missouri Community College Association’s Student Leadership Award
Edward Neill, a criminal justice student at North Central Missouri College from Princeton, has been selected as NCMC’s representation for the Missouri Community College Association 2022 Student Leadership Award. Edward is pursuing two degrees, including an AA and an AAS in Criminal Justice. He is involved in the Criminal Justice Club, Tutoring Center, and Student […]
Audio: Fears that avian influenza outbreak could be worse than 2015
Widespread cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have the poultry industry fearing an outbreak more devastating than 2015. Minnesota Board of Animal Health senior veterinarian Dr. Shauna Voss says high-path avian flu is being seen in wild birds, commercial poultry, and backyard poultry in many different states. “So now is the time as birds are […]
Audio: Missouri House gives initial approval to eminent domain legislation for utility purposes
The Missouri House of Representatives has given initial approval to eminent domain legislation for utility purposes. Lawmakers have been working for years to pass a plan like this due to a high-voltage power transmission line project planned across eight northern Missouri counties. Under the bill, in eminent domain proceedings, just compensation for agriculture or horticulture […]
Audio: Missouri bill would create grant program to incentivize K-12 learning based on mastery of skills
Missouri’s current K-12 education system goes by chronological age and time in class. State Representative Doug Richey, a Republican from western Missouri’s Excelsior Springs, wants to award grants to eligible school districts to provide competency-based learning. This type of learning is based on students showing that they have learned the knowledge they are expected to […]
As CAFO lawsuit heads to Missouri Supreme Court, counties weigh options
(Missouri Independent) – As a fight over who can regulate industrial hog and cattle operations awaits action by the Missouri Supreme Court, counties that sought more stringent protections against them wait in limbo. The Missouri Supreme Court is expected to hear an appeal by county commissioners who sought to regulate concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, […]
Missouri man and woman indicted for armed robbery of banks and businesses
A Missouri, man and woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to commit armed robbery at four businesses and two banks in six different cities. Drake Adam Stockton-Kenney, 30, of Columbia, and Mary Catherine Sumpter, 28, of Moberly, were charged in an eight-count indictment returned under seal […]
Father and son convicted of $1.7 Million COVID-19 relief fraud
A federal jury in the Western District of North Carolina convicted two men for the submission of fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $1.7 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. According to evidence presented during a six-day trial, Izzat […]
Man traveling through Missouri charged with fentanyl trafficking after authorities find 9 pounds of counterfeit pills
A California man was charged in federal court with smuggling more than four kilograms of counterfeit pills that contain fentanyl aboard a bus traveling through Kansas City, Missouri, from Los Angeles, Calif. Matthew John Gomez, 27, was charged with one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute in a criminal complaint filed in […]
Judges release new boundaries for Missouri Senate districts
(Missouri Independent) – A panel of Missouri judges tasked with redrawing 34 state Senate districts released a tentative plan Monday, part of a once-in-a-decade process that reconfigures political boundaries following the U.S. Census. The new map, drawn by the Judicial Redistricting Commission after a citizen commission failed to reach consensus, will be formally submitted to […]
House Republicans renew calls for the Biden administration to drop “Waters of the United States” expansion
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member David Rouzer (R-NC), and Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (R-WA) are leading 201 House Republicans in renewing calls for the Biden administration to drop its plan to expand the scope of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). House […]
Audio: Missouri House advances bill that would change funding calculation for K-12 schools
The Missouri House of Representatives has given initial approval to an effort that would change the way state and local funding is doled out to the state’s traditional and charter K-12 public schools. The bill aims to send more funding to charter schools. State Representative Doug Richey, a Republican from western Missouri’s Excelsior Springs, is […]
Audio: Former Branson performer receives 5 years probation for wire fraud
A one-time Branson performer has been sentenced to five years’ probation after pleading guilty last year to wire fraud. Jason Patrick Garrett was the star of the John Denver Tribute, performed at the Branson IMAX theater 6 nights a week for several years. He ended his shows by asking audience members to donate […]
California man pleads guilty to smuggling four kilos of meth aboard bus stopping in Missouri
A Desert Hot Springs, California, man pleaded guilty in federal court to smuggling more than four kilograms of methamphetamine from Los Angeles, Calif., to Indianapolis, Indiana aboard a bus traveling through Kansas City, Missouri. Gary A. Aquerrebere, 63, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent […]