News

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 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 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 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 Staff Writer Today is Thursday, Jan. 2, the second day of 2025. There are 363 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History On Jan. 2, 2016, a heavily armed group led by brothers Ammon and Ryan Bundy seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, beginning a 41-day standoff to protest the

by Staff Writer Monday, Dec. 30 At 7:18 a.m. the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office responded to a car vs. deer accident on Harding Road, near Beachnut Road. Jacob Milder, 42, of Williamsburg, struck a white tail deer that ran into the roadway with his 2007 Chevrolet Suburban. No injuries were reported and Milder’s vehicle sustained

by Clark Kauffman (Photo by Clark Kauffman/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The state board that oversees Iowa physicians has reinstated the license of a doctor it previously sanctioned for alleged “gross malpractice” related to patient deaths caused by drug overdoses. In 2017, the Iowa Board of Medicine accused Dr. Robert Cunard of Missouri Valley of inappropriate prescribing,

by Zach Wendling Margaret Behm smiles with her father, Mark Behm, in May 2003 after her graduation from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. At the time, Mark Behm had been undergoing procedures for colorectal cancer and he had already had surgery to remove part of his colon. He was going through chemotherapy. His cancer had metastasized

by Anna Kaminski The Greeley County Schools campus in Tribune. (Greeley County Schools) TOPEKA — The Kansas Attorney General’s Office blocked millions in school bond funds to a district in the state’s smallest county based on a rigid interpretation of a 2023 elections law. Voters in the Greeley County school district, headquartered in Tribune near

by Christian Riley Dutcher, KOMU 8 Digital Producer The Missouri State Highway Patrol said zero fatalities were reported during its New Year’s counting period, according to a news release Thursday. In its preliminary statistics, the Highway Patrol reported zero traffic or boating fatalities and zero drownings over a period which began 6 p.m. Tuesday and

by Clark Kauffman Sen. Chris Cournoyer, right, took the oath of office to serve as Iowa lieutenant governor Dec. 16, 2024 at the Iowa Capitol, led by Iowa Chief Justice Susan Christensen, left. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Scott County sheriff says although an Iowa Senate committee has rejected his ethics complaint against

by Clark Kauffman The Iowa Judicial Building. (Photo and seal courtesy of the Iowa Judicial Branch) An Iowa-licensed attorney is facing a potential suspension of his law license due to sanctions imposed in the state of Arizona. Earlier this year, the presiding disciplinary judge of the Arizona Supreme Court Attorney suspended for six months the

by Greg LaRose At least 15 people were killed and 35 injured when a pickup truck was driven into a crowd on Bourbon Street early Jan. 1, 2025, near the intersection of Conti Street. (Photo by Theron Sapp/Courtesy WVUE-TV) NEW ORLEANS — The man who sped down Bourbon Street early New Year’s Day in a

by Lucas Irizarry There were hundreds of stories to be told across the Olathe area, including in the school district, the city at large and in some surrounding communities. Check out some of our favorites from 2024: 1. Olathe East named top performing arts school in Kansas One school in Kansas was recognized above all

by Tim Carpenter Gov. Laura Kelly looks back on the roster of bipartisan tax, education, child welfare, worker compensation and other policy accomplishments during 2024. The Democratic governor will outline her 2025 policy agenda in the State of the State speech to the Kansas Legislature on Jan. 15. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Gov. Laura

by Staff Writer Happy New Year! The first co-op of the year will be held the third Thursday of January, the 16th. Co-op begins at 5 p.m. Please bring a dish to share and your own table service. Come enjoy good food and lively conversation. The board has decided to raise our dues. Please pay

by Robin Opsahl Sen. Chuck Grassley appeared on "Iowa Press" on Sept. 15, 2023. (Screenshot via Iowa PBS) U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley will retake the position of Senate president pro tempore when Congress convenes Friday. The Iowa Republican, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 1981, will take the position that goes to the

by Staff Writer 2015 District Court Judge Annette Scieszinski administered the oath of office last Friday to four newly elected and re-elected office holders, including Dennis Amoss, who became the county’s newest supervisor, Tracy Casady, Recorder, John Pabst, newly elected county attorney, and Peggy VandenBerg, re-elected treasurer. 2005 After two days if freezing rain and

by By Dana Rieck ST. LOUIS — Three appellate judges on Thursday upheld a lower court’s ruling, giving Missouri Gov. Mike Parson the power to appoint the next St. Louis County prosecutor. The ruling came hours after lawyers for state and county leaders again argued the case, this time in front of the Eastern District

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

by Robin Opsahl The Iowa Capitol on Dec. 20, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa’s latest reduction of income tax rates has gone into effect for 2025. The law, signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May 2024, lowers individual income tax rates from 5.7% in 2024 to a single 3.8% rate. It will

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 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 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 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 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