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Longtime Republican political consultant, lobbyist indicted on felony tax charge
David Barklage, an influential campaign consultant and lobbyist who has been a fixture in Missouri Republican politics for decades, has been indicted for allegedly failing to pay more than $150,000 in taxes over the course of a three-year period. The indictment was handed down in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on April 28, but […]
Nonprofit hopes to free Missouri man serving 23 years on marijuana charges
Eric McCauley was a first time marijuana offender when he was sentenced to 23 years in federal prison in 2012. A federal jury convicted him on four counts of marijuana trafficking and 26 counts of money laundering as part of his role in distributing marijuana in Boone County. Now advocates with the nonprofit Weldon Project […]
Gov. Parson holding fundraiser with Missouri medical marijuana companies
Individuals and companies that were awarded lucrative medical marijuana licenses by the state will gather next week to raise money for Missouri Gov. Mike Parson. An invitation to Tuesday’s fundraising reception was sent out to members of the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association by its executive director, Andrew Mullins. The event will be held in […]
Missouri House expels Rick Roeber, a Republican accused of sexually abusing his children
Rick Roeber, a Lee’s Summit Republican accused by his adult children of sexual and physical abuse, was expelled from the Missouri House on Wednesday on a 153-0 vote. One legislator voted “present.” Only one member of the Missouri House has ever been expelled before. The charge at that time, in 1865, was disloyalty to the […]
Panel recommends Missouri House expel Republican accused of sexually abusing his children
The Missouri House Ethics Committee voted unanimously on Monday to recommend Rep. Rick Roeber be expelled from the Legislature. The committee, made up of five Republicans and five Democrats, said evidence obtained over the course of its four-month investigation confirmed Roeber had sexually abused two of his children in 1990, when they were 9 and […]
Former Trump adviser Kimberly Guilfoyle named national chair of Greitens Senate campaign
Kimberly Guifoyle, a former Fox News host and chair of former President Donald Trump’s campaign finance committee, was announced Monday as the national chair of former Gov. Eric Greitens’ U.S. Senate campaign. Guifoyle, who is also dating the former president’s son, said in a press release that she looks forward to “championing Gov. Greitens’ vision […]
Potential Missouri Senate candidate holding Mar-a-Lago fundraiser with Gov. Parson
U.S. Rep. Jason Smith is holding a fundraiser at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida later this month, fueling already rampant speculation that the southeast Missouri Republican is planning a run for U.S. Senate next year. According to an invite for the event, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is serving on the host committee […]
Missouri House rejects resignation of Republican accused of sexually abusing his children
The Missouri House refused to accept the resignation of Rep. Rick Roeber on Thursday, with a bipartisan group of lawmakers arguing that the ethics committee should complete its investigation into allegations that he sexually and physically abused his children. “This is a serious allegation that has been brought forth before this body.” said Rep. Richard […]
Republican accused of abuse by his children resigning from Missouri House
Rep. Rick Roeber, a Lee’s Summit Republican facing accusations by his adult children that he physically and sexually abused them when they were young, is resigning from the Missouri House. In a letter to other lawmakers Tuesday afternoon, Roeber said his final day as a state legislator will be Friday. He makes no mention of […]
Missouri legislators investigating Rick Roeber ask prosecutor to ensure ‘safety’ of child
Citing the “severity of the allegations” against Republican state Rep. Rick Roeber, legislative leaders have asked Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker to help ensure the safety of a minor child with whom Roeber reportedly has regular contact. Soon after The Independent reported the request from GOP lawmakers to Baker, Roeber announced he was resigning. […]
Missouri legislators question whether labor department reneged on unemployment deal
When the Missouri House signed off on legislation last month forgiving almost $109 million worth of unemployment benefits mistakenly paid out last year, GOP leaders said they had worked out an agreement with Gov. Mike Parson’s administration. After months of efforts to claw back the money from Missourians who the state incorrectly authorized to receive […]
COVID-19 vaccine now available to all Missourians who are 16 and older
All Missourians 16 and older are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine. Starting today, an estimated 4.5 million residents will be eligible. Gov. Mike Parson first announced last month that the state intended to open eligibility to all Missourians by April 9. About 1.8 million Missourians have already received at least one dose of the […]