Jackson County lawmakers are considering a controversial ordinance that would prohibit most law enforcement officers from concealing their faces or badges while on duty, with limited exceptions for undercover or tactical work. Legislature Chair Manny Abarca III argues the measure is a necessary step to ensure uniform accountability and protect civil liberties. However, the proposal…
The St. Joseph School District’s finance committee met Tuesday to take a deeper look at the recent financial audit and discuss ways to strengthen district procedures. Assistant Superintendent Robert Hedgecorth says the meeting gave members time to clarify complex figures and address misconceptions circulating in the community. He also noted that building two new high…
The Missouri Department of Transportation is teaming up with Evergy to overhaul the intersection of U.S. Route 71 and 340th Street in preparation for a major new natural gas plant south of Maryville. The project, which is set to go out for bids this April, will replace the current crossover with “J-turns” to handle the…
The FedEx Ship Center located on Easton Road in St. Joseph is scheduled to permanently close its doors on February 28th. The company confirmed the move in emails to customers, though specific reasons for the closure have not been released. A spokesperson stated that FedEx operations will continue in the wider area and encouraged customers…
Missouri lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 1408, which seeks to raise the maximum speed limit on rural interstates and freeways from 70 to 75 mph. While Senator Jamie Burger introduced the legislation to increase travel efficiency, the Missouri Department of Transportation has voiced opposition, warning that higher speeds could lead to a rise in traffic…
North Central Missouri College’s Savannah Campus has secured a $1.37 million federal grant in partnership with Mosaic Life Care to enhance its health workforce training. The funding is designed to accelerate growth in the school’s behavioral health program by covering tuition and essential costs for students. Officials say the initiative aims to strengthen care coordination…
Missouri Representative Jeff Farnan has introduced legislation aimed at closing legal loopholes regarding the use of artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse material. House Bill 2035 would explicitly criminalize the creation of AI-generated images that depict sexual abuse, whether they feature identifiable children or are entirely synthetic. If passed, the bill would prevent defendants…
New legislation introduced in the Missouri House would require all public school districts to screen every student for gifted education programs before they enter the third grade. House Bill 1757 aims to create a more equitable identification system by replacing reliance on referrals with universal screenings, beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Under the proposal,…
Brian Helm has been sentenced to 28 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Dustin Allen Graham. Helm admitted to shooting Graham during an attempted robbery in November 2024 after blocking the victim’s vehicle in a parking lot on Jules Street. He will serve consecutive…
The Platte County Commission has voted to officially withdraw from all public financing agreements related to the Zona Rosa shopping district. This decision follows a legal settlement confirming the county was never in default on bond obligations or required to cover sales tax shortfalls. As part of the agreement, the county will transfer ownership of…