Month: January 2025

by John Murphy, KOMU 8 Anchor COLUMBIA — Covering things from how much Missourians get paid at work to things to watch out for on the roads on the way into work, many new Missouri laws went into effect on the first day of 2025. The Missouri minimum wage now stands at $13.75 per hour.

by Kahleah Gaither, KOMU 8 Digital Producer The Fulton Police Department has increased the reward to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest of a suspect in connection to the killing of Dominique Ford. Fulton police said they found Ford, 27, found in his apartment complex with gunshot wounds Oct. 25. He was taken to

by Yasmeen Saadi Boone County judges Stephanie Morrell and Jayne Pearman will be officially installed in their new roles in an investiture ceremony Friday. The public ceremony will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday at the Boone County Courthouse Ceremonial Courtroom, 705 E. Walnut St. Morrell was elected Division III 13th Circuit Court

by Angeline Jane Bernabe and Mason Leib Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Justin Baldoni has filed a lawsuit against The New York Times after it published an article featuring allegations from his It Ends With Us co-star, Blake Lively. Baldoni, who directed and starred in the blockbuster film with Lively, filed a suit on Tuesday for libel

by Tim Carpenter Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly designated Jan. 9 as a day of mourning and that flags be flown at half-staff until Jan. 28 to honor former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at age 100. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order declaring a day of mourning for

by Elaine S. Povich Ollie, a labradoodle, died when he was 9 months old, two months after being mauled at a pet care facility in Massachusetts. He was the inspiration for “Ollie’s Law,” a new state statute designed to protect pets in kennels. Business owners worry the regulations may be too expensive. (Submitted by Amy

by Greg LaRose A vehicle is driven over a protective gate Jan 4, 2025, on Toulouse Street near Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Mayor LaToya Cantrell has asked for the federal government to provide an expert who can evaluate the city’s remaining vulnerabilities after a Jan. 1 terrorist attack that killed 14 people and injured

by Staff Writer CASS COUNTY – The Cass County Sheriff’s Department is wishing former Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren well in a post on the Cass County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page. “A sad, yet also exciting day around our office,” officials said in the post. “Please help us in wishing Sheriff Darby McLaren a much

by Aaron Sanderford A hot dog vendor opens for business on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, where a terrorist attack killed at least 14 people and injured 37 more in the early hours of Jan. 1, 2025. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator) NEW ORLEANS – While they try to move on from the incident, workers in the normally

by Cami Koons Corn growing in a western Iowa field in August 2023. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Corn farmers in Iowa, and across the country, will have “full and fair” access to markets in Mexico after a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, panel found Mexico’s bans on genetically engineered corn were against USMCA

by Anna Kaminski William Pope’s self-edited mugshot appears at the end of a Dec. 25, 2024, federal court filing in his case, which arose from his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol building. (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) TOPEKA — A Topeka man who blocked officers in

by Aaron Sanderford Gov. Jim Pillen sits down with the Nebraska Examiner at the Governor’s Mansion in Lincoln on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, a former University of Nebraska defensive back, knew about getting hit hard long before he played for Hall of Fame football coach Tom

by Staff Writer SCHEDULED TRAFFIC: Speeding: Lucas L. Rabine, 23, Reedsburg, Wis., Rodney J. Stoler, 63, Jesup, Broc M. Walker, 19, Marion, Dawn M. Timmerman, 45, Dundee, Jennifer L. Payton, 47, Vinton, Nathan M. Kuennen, 26, Cedar Rapids, Daniel E. Boyer Rodriguez, 18, Georgetown, Texas, Ryan J. Baumgard, 49, Norfolk, Neb., Alison J. Steggall, 18,

by Erika Bolstad A historical marker in Vancouver, Wash., celebrates the “civilization of Washington,” by white explorers, erasing the presence of Indigenous people who lived in the area for thousands of years. As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, many states are reexamining markers with questionable historical facts or outdated language. (Photo by

by Missourian staff A treacherous mix of freezing rain and snow continues to be forecast for much of the state this weekend, including weather patterns that threaten travel and power outages in central Missouri. "Stay home," warned Matt Beitscher, a lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis. The severe weather is expected

by By Missourian staff A treacherous mix of freezing rain and snow continues to be forecast for much of the state this weekend, including weather patterns that threaten travel and power outages in central Missouri. “Stay home,” advised Matt Beitscher, a lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis. The severe weather was

by Jacob Richey, KOMU 8 Digital Content Editor Columbia police have identified and arrested a Columbia man accused in an assault and shots-heard incident on Forum Boulevard in early November. Marquise Dajuan Mathis, 44, was arrested Thursday on charges of unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and assault for the November incident, as

by Clark Kauffman Bluebell Road Health Plaza in Cedar Falls, where a physician assistant is alleged to have sexually assaulted multiple patients. (Photo via Google Earth) The state of Iowa has issued an emergency order suspending the license of a physician assistant alleged to have sexually assaulted multiple patients. The Iowa Board of Physician Assistants

by Tim Carpenter Kansas State University and Garden City Community College are launching a four-year degree initiative that doesn’t require southwest Kansas students to relocate after earning an associate degree. Signers of the agreement are, from left: KSU Provost Jesse Perez Mendez and President Richard Linton; and GCCC President Ryan Ruda and Vice President Marc

by Staff Writer House Speaker Mike Johnson faces a tricky fight to retain the gavel on Friday as the Republican leader kicks off the new Congress with a razor-thin majority. Holding only a four-vote edge in the chamber, Johnson likely cannot afford to lose the backing of more than one fellow GOP lawmaker as he

by Staff Writer (Creston) — A Creston man faces multiple assault charges following his arrest Thursday evening. The Creston Police Department says 39-year-old John David Foster was arrested shortly after 7:15 p.m. for domestic abuse assault 3rd or subsequent offense and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. Authorities say the arrest occurred at the Creston-Union

by Brooklyn Draisey The University of Northern Iowa is planning events and celebrations for its 150th class in 2025 and sesquicentennial in 2026. (Top two photos courtesy of University of Northern Iowa, bottom photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The University of Northern Iowa is set to honor its past and drum up excitement for

by Jason Wert The former owner of the award-winning Pierce Arrow show has been arrested related to a drinking and driving incident on Thanksgiving. Dan Britton has been charged with one count of DWI-Persistent, a class E felony. According to court documents, Branson police were dispatched on Thanksgiving day for a “check well-being” call because

by By Kaia Tran The soil seed bank is a natural reserve of seeds in the soil. Plants drop seeds that lie dormant, sometimes for a thousand years, and wait for favorable conditions to germinate and grow into a new plant. However, as the climate changes, this secret bank is no longer safe. Rising temperatures

by By AMY STOURAC news@vintonnewspapers.com VINTON — Benton County Supervisor Gary Bierschenk capped off the last Board of Supervisor’s meeting of 2024 with the statement, “that’s a wrap,” marking the end of his service to Benton County as District 3 Supervisor. It was also the last meeting for District 1 Supervisor Rick Primmer. Bierschenk was

by Cindy Gonzalez The boundaries of the Omaha Inland Port Authority. (Courtesy of City of Omaha) OMAHA — Omaha’s Inland Port Authority board on Thursday approved the release of nearly $7.4 million in state funds to help a development team assess if a long-sought $90 million business park near Nebraska’s largest airport is a viable