Month: January 2025

by Tim Carpenter The Kansas House chamber sits empty Monday morning ahead of the 2 p.m. start of the 2025 session of the Kansas Legislature. Republicans dominate the House and Senate with larger supermajorities as Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly enters the final two years of her governorship. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature

by Staff Writer Oelwein search warrant A search warrant was executed by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 12:40 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, at 200 2nd St. SE, Oelwein. During a search illegal substances and items were found and seized. Kolten Michael Maakestad, 24, of Oelwein was arrested and charged with second offense possession

by By Annelise Henshaw, Missouri Independent More Missouri educators are staying in their jobs following efforts to raise teachers’ base pay and provide alternative measures for certification, the State Board of Education learned last week. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education predicts schools will have fewer vacancies in the future, speaking positively about

by John Murphy, KOMU 8 Anchor JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Capitol Police are working on security preparations ahead of Mike Kehoe’s inauguration as Missouri’s 58th governor on Monday. Some state lawmakers expressed concern about a lack of communication between the department and lawmakers during a Thursday hearing dedicated to Capitol security. "Our concern was the

by Kendra Simpson Local chess enthusiast and tutor, Asher Baldwin, has played chess his entire life. Now he wants to help others discover the intricate beauty of the game. Baldwin, an experienced and competitive chess player, is offering tutoring in chess for all ages for roughly $10 to $20, depending on the lesson. With these

by Bob Sillick Robust Cannabis has a 75,000-square-foot greenhouse in Missouri, one of the states Iowans visit to buy cannabis products that are illegal in their home state. (Photo by Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent) Most Americans continue to support the legalization of cannabis, as the medical use of cannabis is legal in 40 states and

by Zach Wendling State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, left, is the lead sponsor on the "Stand With Women Act" to define school sports teams, bathrooms and locker rooms, as well as all bathrooms for state agencies, as male or female, as defined in her bill. Jan. 10, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Nebraska

by Jacob Richey, KOMU 8 Digital Content Editor A patient at Fulton State Hospital has been detained on charges of first-degree murder and fourth-degree assault following an assault at the hospital on Monday, according to the Fulton Police Department. Jabril Kanatzar, 29, is being held without bond in a secure facility, Fulton police say. Kanatzar

by Cindy Gonzalez The Nebraska State Capitol. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — A Nebraska legislator has proposed a new law to end “double-bunking” of two inmates in a cell designed for one — a situation that has arisen due to prison overcrowding and has led to lawsuits against the state. Legislative Bill 99, introduced Friday

by Anna Spoerre State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, is hoping to ban the shackling of pregnant women in Missouri jails (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent). Seven years ago, Missouri banned the shackling of pregnant women in state prisons. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Republican from Arnold, is again hoping to expand the law this year

by Will Vraspir wvraspir@hastingstribune.com Hastings man charged with sexual assault A 19-year-old Hastings man has been accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old. Kyle Siebrass of 1843 Boyce St. was charged Jan. 7 with first-degree sexual assault of a minor, a Class 2 felony punishable by up to 50 years in prison. The arrest affidavit from

by Anna Kaminski Gov. Laura Kelly signs the first executive order of 2025 with, from left, Morgan Rothenberger of Children’s Alliance of Kansas, Gabriella Pogány of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, state Treasurer Steven Johnson, Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard, Mike Fonkert of Kansas Appleseed and Rep. Jarrod Ousley, a Merriam Democrat,

by Tim Carpenter Kansas City Democratic state Rep. Valdenia Winn, left, said a subcommittee of the Kansas Legislature will recommend placement of a mural honoring Black soldiers from Kansas who fought with the Union Army during the Civil War to be placed on a fourth-floor wall in the Capitol. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — A

by Cami Koons Cattle in a feedlot. (Photo by Preston Keres/ USDA/FPAC) Iowa counties can have their own review on proposed animal feeding operation permits if they adopt a construction evaluation resolution and submit it to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources by the end of January each year. But not all counties are taking

by Tim Carpenter Lt. Gov. David Toland, who also serves as secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce, defended the agency’s administration of a $4 million community service tax credit program. The Kansas Legislature’s auditors reported the department’s selection of tax-credit recipients lacked transparency because justification for selections wasn’t documented. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA —

by Snapshot of the Past brought to you by Monroe Co. Historical Society & Museum 2015 The oldest continuous recreation facility in Albia, the Albia Golf and Country Club has been sold for the second time since 2003. John Johnson of Omaha, a 1979 graduate of Blakesburg High School, has purchased the club from Larry

by Matthew Jacobi, KOMU 8 Digital Producer A juvenile in Randolph County is recovering after she was attacked by several dogs on Tuesday, according to a news release from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. The attack happened at a home on Main Street in Huntsville. When a deputy arrived, he found the victim with "numerous

by Rudi Keller Entrance sign at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking (Department of Corrections photo). The warden and a top supervisor at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking have been replaced amid allegations contraband was entering the prison through a poorly screened gate. Michele Buckner, a 25-year employee of the Department of

by KOMU 8 Digital Staff Mid-Missouri schools make changes for Friday due to snowfall The Jefferson City School District, Columbia Public Schools, Mexico Public Schools, Fulton Public Schools, North Callaway R-1, and Southern Boone R-1 will all be closed today. You can find a full list of closings and cancelations here. Forecast: Tracking snow showers,

by Staff Writer Friday, Jan. 3 At approximately 8:50 p.m. the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call regarding a disturbance among multiple individuals in the city of Maynard. Fayette County Deputies arrested Christopher Alan Cosgriff, 39, of Maynard. Cosgriff is being charged with disorderly conduct. Cosgriff was transported to the Fayette County

by Zach Wendling State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, center, hosts a news conference on his legislation for a one-time extension to an income-tax based property tax relief program. Behind him are, from left: State Sens. Margo Juarez of Omaha, Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, Tom Brandt of Plymouth, Jana Hughes of Seward and Glen Meyer

by Annelise Hanshaw, Missouri Independent (Missouri Independent) — A committee dedicated to the security of the Missouri Capitol convened Thursday to raise concerns ahead of Monday’s inauguration of Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe. Lawmakers are not only worried about the inauguration ceremony and governor’s ball but also the everyday operations of the Capitol Police. President Pro Tem

by Krystal Fowler Associate Editor Monroe County Sheriff Dan Johnson said goodbye to the job he has held for the last 20 years on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. Although his technical last day was Jan. 1, 2025, Johnson was treated to a reception celebrating his retirement on Tuesday afternoon at the Monroe County Law Center.

by Staff Writer Nebraska U.S. Congressman Mike Flood issued a statement following news that House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill had named him Chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing & Insurance for the House Financial Services Committee. Flood said, "It is an honor to lead the Subcommittee for Housing and Insurance. I am grateful

by Brooklyn Draisey Sen. Lynn Evans (left) and Rep. Taylor Collins have asked the Iowa Board of Regents to deny the University of Iowa’s request to form a new school at its February meeting. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Two Iowa lawmakers have urged the Iowa Board of Regents to deny the University of

by Jeff Beach Lynn Helms, center, director of the Department of Mineral Resources, listens Tuesday, June 11, 2024, during a public hearing in Bismarck on proposed carbon dioxide storage that would be connected to the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. (Photo by Kyle Martin for the North Dakota Monitor) A group of North Dakota landowners is

by Krystal Fowler Associate Editor The Monroe County Board of Supervisors approved contributions to several local food programs during their Dec. 10, 2024 meeting. The board approved using $10,000 of American Rescue Plan Act money to support three local programs. A resolution was passed stating that contributing up to $5,000 to the Albia Community School

by Krystal Fowler Associate Editor The Albia School Board heard a presentation on the facilities Master Plan for the district during their November meeting before approving it. They heard from superintendent Richard Montgomery, Laura Peterson from Invision Architecture and Pete Perez from Boyd Jones as well as Kristin Mick and Ryan Ammons as members of

by By Alan Wooten | The Center Square (The Center Square) – North Carolina’s senior senator will be serving on his chamber’s committees for Veterans Affairs and the Judiciary while the junior senator has a seat on the Committee on Armed Services, one of three on which he is retained from the 118th Congress. The