Crime
SEC charges FTX founder with fraud(The Center Square) – Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of defunct cryptocurrency firm FTX, was charged Tuesday by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with defrauding investors. In a formal complaint,… Read More
State Government
Lame duck Clay County commission may expand prevailing wage requirements in oddly swift action Wednesday eveningA majority of Clay County’s lame duck commission seems intent on expanding prevailing wage requirements on contractors Wednesday night, just weeks before other commissioners join them in January. Missouri… Read More
Economy
Federal inflation data: Grocery prices continue to rise nationally(The Center Square) — While overall inflation has slowed from its rapid pace earlier this year, grocery prices continue to rise, putting Americans in a pinch, according to newly released… Read More
Gender Identity
Children’s Mercy Kansas City hospital offers ‘gender-affirming’ care, apparently to children as young as 2Children’s Mercy Kansas City hospital has been offering transitioning treatments to “gender questioning” children and adolescents, perhaps even to those as young as 2. Simultaneously, its standards of care warn… Read More
State Government
Illinois drivers can expect two gas tax increases in 2023(The Center Square) – Illinois drivers will see increased gasoline taxes next month, with another increase six months after that. Motor fuel prices in Illinois are down nearly 70 cents… Read More
Education
Teachers are fleeing partisan unions that some say undermine public educationTeachers are fleeing unions in droves, citing the political partisanship of the organizations that charge $750 to $900 a year in membership fees. The National Education Association (NEA) and the American… Read More
Local News
Missouri deer hunting permits raise $13.3M as 197,724 harvested during firearms season(The Center Square) – Although the 2022 hunting season doesn’t technically end until mid-January, the Missouri Conservation Department reports $13.3 million in revenue from the purchase of more than 810,000… Read More
National
‘It’s going to be us’: Homeland security expert warns America is destroying itself from withinThe biggest threat to the homeland may actually be the homeland itself. That’s the startling assessment of Pat Proctor, a state representative from Leavenworth and one of Kansas’ leading authorities… Read More
Local News
Branson’s Mochas and Meows expanding, aims to be the purrr-fect place to loungeBRANSON, Mo. – Guests at Branson’s lone cat cafe can expect to have more room to lounge and more felines to lounge with in the future as an expansion of… Read More
Economy
Wholesale vegetables price index spiked 38% last month as key inflation marker rose more than expected(The Center Square) – The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released new inflation data Friday for wholesale prices with a 0.3% rise in November, part of a 7.4% increase in the… Read More
Biden administration
New GOP oversight chair demands ‘accountability’ for ‘catastrophic’ Afghanistan withdrawal(The Center Square) – House Oversight Republicans pledged to use their newfound majority to hold President Joe Biden “accountable” for the controversial withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan last year. Read More
Biden administration
Rescinding vaccine mandate for military isn’t enough, Liberty Counsel argues(The Center Square) – If Congress were to rescind the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. military service members, that still won’t be enough to undo the damage the mandate caused,… Read More
Local News
$400 million Bluhawk Sports Facility coming to Overland ParkOVERLAND PARK, Kan. – A new $400-million sports facility with one of the only regulation-size hockey rinks in the Kansas City area is coming to Overland Park. Kansas Gov. Laura… Read More
National
Federal Trade Commission sues Microsoft to block Activision Blizzard deal(The Center Square) – The Federal Trade Commission filed suit Thursday against Microsoft Corp. to block it from acquiring Activision Blizzard Inc., publisher of the “Call of Duty” games. The… Read More
Local News
Skydivers from the Ozarks jump at opportunity to skydive over Egyptian pyramidsSPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Skydivers usually pick open fields, unincorporated land or otherwise unexciting places to land during their jumps. But a group of Missourians took it up a notch –… Read More
Education
Proposed legislation would expand Tennessee school ESA program(The Center Square) — A school voucher pilot program that began this school year in Davidson and Shelby counties could be expanded if new proposed legislation becomes law. Sen. Todd… Read More
Politics
Arizona senator leaves Democratic Party, declares to be independent(The Center Square) – U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona says she’s left the Democratic Party and will be unaffiliated with either major political party. Arizonans woke up to the… Read More
Economy
Illinois named worst state for the middle class(The Center Square) – A new report lists the Land of Lincoln as the least tax-friendly state in the nation for middle-class families.The report was… Read More
Big Tech
No immunity for Big Tech or amnesty for illegal immigrants, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley arguesBig Tech companies should no longer be immune from lawsuits over “illegal content” on social media sites, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley told The Heartlander Thursday. And no amnesty for illegal… Read More
Schools
Loudoun County school superintendent sacked after grand jury condemns handling of transgender sex assaults that sparked parents’ movementFirst it “dropped the ball” in two sexual assaults of girls by a transgender student. Now the Loudoun County school board has dropped the hammer – on the superintendent who presided… Read More