Proposed jury duty exemption stirs discussion of breastfeeding age limit
After a Lee’s Summit woman was faced with a $500 fine for contempt of court for bringing her breastfeeding infant to jury duty, some called for a change in Missouri law to exempt breastfeeding women...
View ArticlePublic comment, or not, on guns in schools (AUDIO)
The state senate is likely to vote later today on a proposal requiring school boards to let the public have a say about whether anybody should be able to carry a gun in a school. State law says...
View ArticleUPDATE: Southwest Missouri girl found safe in Oklahoma
UPDATE: Danielle Monica Smith has been found safe in the Oklahoma City area. She was with her father, Andrew Smith, and his brother, Richard Smith. Both men were arrested. Earlier story: Authorities...
View ArticleUPDATE: Daviess County girl reported ‘endangered’ found safe
Update: Megan Taylor Guffey has been found safe in Daviess County. Northwest Missouri authorities say a missing 14-year-old girl is endangered and might have run away to Wichita. Megan Taylor Guffey...
View ArticleAmber Alert issued for 10-year-old Springfield girl
Authorities have issued an Amber Alert for a missing Springfield girl. Police say 10-year-old Hailey Owens was taken Tuesday afternoon by a white male driving a gold 2008 Ford Ranger with license...
View ArticleENDANGERED PERSON ADVISORY: 23-month-old missing from northwest Missouri
Northwest Missouri authorities are looking for a missing 23-month-old girl. Harrison County Deputies have issued an Endangered Person Advisory for Caiden Stanton. They believe she could be with her...
View ArticleAMBER ALERT lifted in Missouri, 15-year-old girl still missing
UPDATE Wednesday 10:30 a.m.: This alert has been lifted in Missouri but authorities say Nomei Velazquez is still missing. An Amber Alert concerning a 15-year-old girl that originated in Nacogdoches,...
View ArticleAdvocates seek more time for at least some child abuse investigations (AUDIO)
The state House has passed a bill that would extend from 30 days to 30 business days the length of time investigators with the state Children’s Division have to conduct an investigation into child...
View ArticleGov. Nixon announces emergency funds for shelters denied grants
Governor Jay Nixon has announced $1.3-million dollars will be made available to emergency and domestic violence shelters who have been denied for grants they have received in past years. Nixon says the...
View ArticleAMBER ALERT UPDATE: Alert for 3-year-old Jaden Hanson cancelled
Update 5:35 p.m.: The Amber Alert for Jaden Hanson has been cancelled. Media reports indicate he has been found safe by Springfield Police. An Amber Alert has been issued for a 3-year-old southwest...
View ArticleIncest proposed as aggravating factor (AUDIO)
Tougher penalties are being proposed for those who commit crimes against children. Missouri’s laws have some gaps in them that prosecutors and child protection centers say need to be plugged—so those...
View ArticleSeveral children taken to hospitals after bus crash in northeast Missouri
A bus from northeast Missouri’s Lewis County C-1 school district has been involved in an accident near LaGrange. The Highway Patrol tells Missourinet the bus rolled onto its roof, pinning one child’s...
View ArticleUPDATE: Bus accident injures 28 students, 3 seriously
More than two dozen students were injured when a Lewis County C-1 school bus rolled onto its top in an accident near LaGrange Tuesday afternoon. Three students sustained what the Highway Patrol terms...
View ArticleSenate budget committee criticized for pulling money for child abuse...
Governor Jay Nixon (D) is lending his voice to those concerned about the removal from the budget of $4.6-million for the state Children’s Division by the Senate budget committee. Advocates for children...
View ArticleHouse approves ‘Pop Tart’ bill to protect kids pretending to have weapons in...
A bill has been sent to the state Senate that is meant to protect children simulating a weapon during play at school from criminal or civil penalties, fines or other punishments. Representative Mike...
View ArticleChild advocacy group pleased with criminal code passage (VIDEO)
Child advocates say there are changes made in the proposed rewrite of Missouri’s criminal code that are good for children. Deputy Director of Missouri Kids First Emily van Schenkhof was involved...
View ArticleIncreases for Children’s Division still pending for legislative budget proposal
The Senate Appropriations Chairman says some of the money Governor Jay Nixon (D) and the state House proposed adding to the budget for the state Children’s Division might make the final legislative...
View ArticleFighting seizures with hemp oil (AUDIO)
An emotional state senator hoping an oil made from the hemp plant will change his son’s life has gotten unanimous support for a bill making the oil legal. The legislature has sent the Governor a bill...
View ArticleBudget agreement includes $5.1-million boost for state Children’s Division
The House-Senate budget conference committee has adopted most of the additional money for the Children’s Division within the Missouri Department of Social Services that had been proposed by Governor...
View ArticleChildren’s Division Director responds to proposed funding increase
The Senate Budget Committee Chairman has said he will be watching for results from the Children’s Division within the Department of Social Services for improvements in its handling of child abuse...
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