News

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Annelise Hanshaw The Missouri House of Representatives, as photographed during discussion of a bill aimed at teacher recruitment and retention (Annelise Hanshaw/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

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 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 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 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 Jacob Richey, KOMU 8 Digital Content Editor Charges including first-degree murder have been filed against the suspect in a deadly assault between two patients at the Fulton State Hospital last week, court records show. Jabril Kanatzar, 29, was charged Friday with first-degree murder and fourth-degree assault in connection to the death of another patient

by Staff Writer TOPEKA, Kan. (KAKE) – With the bang of a gavel, the 2025 session of the Kansas legislature got underway Monday afternoon. Lawmakers’ main job is to decide how to spend your tax dollars for your benefit and decide if they should change how much you pay in taxes, from sales tax to

by Zach Wendling A letter from Taylor Woods of Lincoln, a survivor of sexual assault at 19 years old while she was in a transitionary Lincoln Public Schools program for adults with disabilities, to State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln sits on Conrad’s desk in the legislative chamber on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska

by Staff Writer Sunday, Jan. 5 At 8:35 a.m. Buchanan County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Jonathan Harold Vanroekel, 55, of Pine Bluff, AR. for driving while license suspended (simple misdemeanor) and cited for operation without registration plate and failure to provide proof of insurance. This arrest was made following a traffic stop in the 1900 block

by Cindy Gonzalez Rod Yates in March 2024 shows a rendering of what the Gretna good life district could look like around his Nebraska Crossing shopping center. At the time, he envisioned a 3,000-acre sports-centric district whose engine would be the Nebraska Crossing stores but also featured would be a billion-dollar youths sports component, a

by By Rudi Keller, Missouri Independent Deaths in Missouri prisons hit a new high in 2024. The preliminary total, 139, is two more than the 137 recorded by the Department of Corrections in each of the previous two years and represents the fourth year in the past five where deaths behind bars have averaged 10

by Rudi Keller Michelle Smith, director of the Missouri Justice Coalitions, speaks during a Jan. 3, 2024, memorial service for the 364 Missourians who died in state custody in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Deaths in the Department of Corrections hit a new high of 139 in 2024 (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent). Deaths in Missouri prisons hit

by Cami Koons Broiler chickens are raised in a chicken house on the Bobby Morgan chicken Farm in Luling, Texas on Aug. 23, 2013. (Photo by Bob Nichols/USDA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized a third regulatory reform under the Packers and Stockyards Act, with the latest regulation giving greater stability and fairness to chicken

by Jacob Richey, KOMU 8 Digital Content Editor Six suspects have been detained in connection to a reported armed robbery in Jefferson City Monday night, according to the Jefferson City Police Department. Three adults and three juveniles are currently in custody and awaiting formal charges of first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a

by Staff Writer According to reports from the Dent County Sheriff’s Department: • deputies took a report for a theft that occurred in the 400 block of County Road 5070 Jan. 1. The victim, a 65-year-old Salem man, stated money had been taken from his wallet. The investigation is ongoing. • deputies responded to the

by Jacob Richey, KOMU 8 Digital Content Editor An arrest warrant has been issued for a Tipton Correctional Center employee accused of having sex with an inmate, court records show. Jessica D. Baird is charged with sexual conduct in the course of public duty after she allegedly had sex with an offender at the center

by Clara Bates In 2022, Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem ordered the state to pay a little over $4 million that the company argued it was owed, and a jury awarded $18.9 million on additional claims (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). The Western District of Missouri Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a $23 million ruling

by Sherman Smith Gov. Laura Kelly speaks with John Nave, executive vice president of Kansas AFL-CIO, before a labor rally on Jan. 14, 2025, at the Statehouse. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly praised labor unions for contributing to unprecedented economic growth in Kansas and touted her administration’s economic development gains in a

by Tim Carpenter Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes and House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, both of Lenexa, said during a news conference Tuesday at the Capitol that Democrats in the 2025 legislative session would concentrate on issues that reduced the burden of basic cost increases on Kansans. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Kansas Democrats vowed

by Chloe Ireland-Killday, KOMU 8 Digital Producer A Linn County man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for recording himself having sexual contact with a 10-year-old girl, according to a news release from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Russell Alan Pirkey, 54, used his cell phone to record