Republican lawmakers seek further expansion of Missouri charter schools

By Annelise Hanshaw
Missouri Independent

Republican legislators are set to push for further expansion of charter schools around Missouri when the General Assembly reconvenes next month.

Meanwhile, Democrats are pushing for more local control in counties where charters already operate, along with rolling back an expansion into Boone County that passed earlier this year.

Identical bills filed by Sen. Ben Brown, a Washington Republican, and Rep. Michael O’Donnell, a Republican from St. Louis, seek to authorize charter schools in the state’s five charter counties and in municipalities with at least 30,000 residents.

Iterations of the bill have been filed since 2022. O’Donnell prefiled the legislation last legislative session but did not receive a hearing.

With some exceptions, charter schools are only allowed to operate in Kansas City, St. Louis and Boone County.

Bills authorizing specific counties to establish charter schools had more traction. Rep. Brad Christ, a St. Louis Republican, got his bill seeking to authorize charter schools in St. Louis County through committee early in the 2024 legislative session and has refiled the bill this year.

He believes legislation providing alternatives to traditional public schools will gain more traction under the leadership of Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe, who has spoken publicly about his support for charter schools and K-12 tax-credit scholarships.

“There will be much more coordination between the governor’s office and both bodies than in the past,” Christ told The Independent.

Residents in his district have asked for more publicly-funded schooling options for various reasons. The schools in his district have a good reputation, so Christ doesn’t anticipate a large exodus from the public districts.

“I don’t think charter schools will be popping up overnight all over St Louis County if this passes,” he said. “But in areas where there’s a need and where there’s a demand, I think it will provide options for families, whether that be academic, personal, social, religious or whatever it might be.”

He’s open to his bill amending a larger education package. Last year, his bill was tacked onto proposals to expand charters into St. Charles and Boone County.

Ultimately, only the Boone County legislation survived a tumultuous 2024 legislative session, with former Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden of Columbia pushing for his county to be a new home for charter schools.

Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Democrat from Columbia, is hoping to reverse the decision with a pair of bills that would remove the authorization from state law and, secondly, call for a vote in Boone County to let voters decide if charters are welcome.

“Ultimately, it would be good to just completely have a repealed charter school provision,” he told The Independent. “But also, if we can take it to the voters and let them decide, I think that would be appropriate.”

Smith said Boone County residents “never wanted” charter schools expanded to their county, calling the legislation “Rowden’s baby.” Rowden is leaving office because of term limits and has accepted a job as director of strategic advocacy at the lobbying firm Strategic Capitol Consulting.

“I don’t know that now that he’s gone, you’re gonna have anyone who’s just adamant about keeping charter schools in Boone County,” Smith said.

He said he didn’t know of anyone in the House pushing for charter schools in Boone County. Last year, Republican Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch from Hallsville filed the legislation. In November, she narrowly lost a bid for Boone County commissioner and is term limited from continuing her work in the Missouri House.

Other bills seek to change the way charter schools operate in Missouri.

A proposal by Sen.-elect Maggie Nurrenbern, a Democrat from Kansas City, would require charter schools to obtain a certificate of need from their local school districts to operate. The State Board of Education would review and approve the certificates of need.

Rep. Doug Clemens, a St. Louis Democrat, also filed legislation that would require local oversight.

His legislation, which he filed last year as well, would require local school districts to sponsor charter schools. Most of the state’s charter schools are currently sponsored by the Missouri Charter Public School Commission, a state board that oversees charters. Clemens’s bill would remove the need for the commission.

“The idea that local school boards don’t have control over charter schools operating within their district is just not okay,” Clemens told The Independent. “I think that it is worth talking about local control when it comes to the education of our children.”

Having local governance of charter schools would allow residents to have more input on the way their tax dollars are spent on education, he said.

His bill did not get a hearing last legislative session, along with bills filed by other lawmakers that would modify charter sponsorship.



Rudi Keller contributed to this report.

Panel rejects Joplin man's appeal of murder conviction

The Missouri Southern District Court of Appeals today rejected a Joplin man's appeal of his conviction on second degree murder and armed criminal action charges.

The panel rejected the contention that Judge Gayle Crane erred when she sustained the prosecution's objection to a question asked by the attorney for Damyon Fisher, 43, during jury selection.

Fisher was found guilty by a Jasper County jury in October 2023 and was sentenced to life in prison for the March 2022 murder of Scotty Roller, 36, Neosho. 

Fisher shot and killed Roller, then he and his father, Eddie Fisher, 66, dumped Roller's body in a well on the father's property.

Lamar R-1 mourns loss of special education teacher

(From the Lamar R-1 School District)

With heavy hearts, we share the news that our beloved high school Special Education Teacher and district bus driver, Mr. Scott Gordon has passed away.

Mr. Gordon was a cherished member of the Lamar R-I staff, and his absence will be deeply felt.

 
Counselors and staff will be available to support students at the High School on January 6th from 1-3:00.

Scott Gordon Obituary

Stealing charges filed against Neosho man in Newton, McDonald counties, allegedly robbed 98 mailboxes

The McDonald County and Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed felony stealing charges against a Neosho man who allegedly was responsible for a series of mail thefts.

Included in the thefts, according to the McDonald County probable cause statement, were checks sent from Platte County to a Newton County family that were intended to be Christmas gifts. The total mail stolen came from 98 mailboxes, according to the Newton County probable cause statement.

Kyle Benjamen Winsauer (DOB 1999), is being held in the Newton County Jail on a $1,500 cash only bond with a bond reduction hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. January 7.

The mail thefts were detailed in the Newton County probable cause statement:

Winsauer told me he lost his job and was desperate to buy Christmas gifts for his family. 

He said when he came across checks or cash; he would go to the casino to gamble for it to try to double his money but lost it all to thé casino on bad betting. 

Winsauer told me he started stealing mail from mailboxes at the "end of November" of 2024 through today's date, I spoke with W1 who told me he knew Winsauer was stealing mail and that he would burn mail he didn't need in the "backyard" behind his "qrandfather's house." 

Majority of the mail stolen would stay in his vehicle where it was located by McDonald County Sheriff's Office. The total mail stolen and recovered came from approximately 98 different mailboxes in the area.

The mail that was seized was logged and turned over to the U. S. Postal Inspector in Neosho so that it all could be returned to the owners, along with the check from (name redacted) and other pieces ·of mail where checks were taken out of the envelopes. 

The McDonald County allegations against Winsauer were spelled out in the probable cause statement:

On December 24, 2024, I was responding to an emergency call for service. While responding, I turned my patrol vehicle onto east State Highway 90 from Rains Road when I observed a white passenger car in front of me traveling the same direction. 

As I approached observed the vehicle had gone off the roadway and crashed into trees. I notified McDonald County dispatch of my location and what I observed. I exited my patrol vehicle and observed that the vehicle was unoccupied. 

I further observed the vehicle was a white Mercury Milan with numerous items inside. I advised dispatch that the vehicle was unoccupied and to cancel medical but continue fire due to smoke from the vehicle. 

I then began to check the area for subjects from the crash but, was unable to locate any. I began to check the vehicle for identification of subjects in the vehicle and was able to find a wallet. While checking the wallet, I observed a Missouri issued license to Winsauer. 

I also observed a check from a subject in Platte County, MO. that had been written to two subjects. I contacted Platte County Sheriff's Office and requested they make contact with the owners of the checks. 

A Platte County Deputy responded to the address on the checks and later advised me that the checks were Christmas presents for family members in Newton County, MO. I made contact with Newton County and was advised that the vehicle had been used in numerous mail thefts. I was also aware that deputies with McDonald County are currently working mail thefts. I was also aware that at the same time of the crash, we had received calls for mail theft on Route Kand Big Sugar Road. 

On December 27, 2024, while off duty, I was notified by Detective Booe that Winsauer was in custody in Newton County and was willing to speak with me. I responded to the Newton County Jail. 

Upon arrival, I spoke with Winsauer. Winsauer was provided his Miranda Rights in writing. Winsauer waived his rights and stated he would like to speak with me. Winsauer stated that he had been driving the Mercury Milan when he observed me behind him. He stated that he panicked and wreck the vehicle. He stated that his passenger and he crashed into a tree. 

They exited the vehicle and proceeded to run into a wooden fence, breaking it, so they could get through. When asked why he panicked, he stated that he had been stealing mail and thought that I was chasing him. I was aware that I had served a search warrant on Winsauers vehicle on December 26, 2024. During the search I located numerous pieces of stolen mail and checks.

The case was investigated by the McDonald County Sheriff's Office.

Joplin woman cited for felony possession following Cass County traffic stop

The Missouri State Highway Patrol cited Markie Lynn Harper, 34, Joplin, for felony possession of a controlled substance following a traffic stop 1:57 p.m. today in Cass County.

According to Jasper County Circuit Court records, Harper is on probation after pleading guilty May 1 to tampering with evidence in a felony prosecution.

On 08/22/2023 at 1: I 9 P.M, Markie Lynn Harper was taken into custody for trafficking drugs 2nd, tampering with physical evidence, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. 

Originally, Harper was taken into custody roadside for city charge, possession of drug paraphernalia due to being a passenger in a traffic stop and having paraphernalia located in her purse. There was also multiple drug paraphernalia items located in the vehicle. Harper was attempting to hide drug paraphernalia under the driver seat however didn't notice an officer looking at her while she was doing it. 

Once Harper was taken into custody she was then transported directly to the Jasper County Jail where she admitted to having more drug paraphernalia stuffed into her bra. 

Harper turned over the drug paraphernalia to an officer. Due to Harper bringing drug paraphernalia into the jail facility, a strip search was conducted on Harper. 

While in the restroom with a female corrections officer Harper took a baggie out of her bra and putted into her mouth. The corrections officer noticed and quickly attempted to get the baggie out of her mouth however Harper bit the corrections officer and ingested the small baggie. Harper admitted to jail staff that the baggie contained approximately 2 grams of fentanyl.

Harper eventually pleaded guilty, but insisted in the plea agreement that she did not bite the corrections officer.

I swallowed a baggie in the jail and a guard stuck her fingers in my mouth and said she was hurt.

As part of the plea agreement, the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office dismissed the drug trafficking charge against Harper, who was given a suspended sentence and placed on supervised probation for five years. 

Jason Smith: Fixing all the problems Biden created won't be easy

(From Eighth District Congressman Jason Smith)

Happy New Year! We can finally turn the page on 2024 – a year that was defined by crisis after crisis and immense hardship. Thanks to the American people electing a Republican-controlled Congress and sending President Donald Trump back to the White House, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about what the next twelve months will bring.

With President Trump and Republicans setting the agenda in Washington, we’ll work around the clock to advance the policies we need to get our nation back on track. 

We’ll fight to secure the border. We’ll advance economic policies that put hardworking Americans and small businesses first. And we’ll bring an end to the Left’s war on American energy and relentless efforts to expand government command and control. We will do everything we can to make our nation great again.

As Chairman of Congress’s tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, I’m excited to work hand-in-hand with Trump to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which expires at the conclusion of 2025. The Trump tax cuts created the strongest economy in my lifetime: real median household income rose by $5,000, wages increased 4.9%, and the poverty rate and unemployment rate reached their lowest levels in 50 years. By extending and building off the proven, pro-growth 2017 Trump Tax Cuts, we’ll deliver much-needed relief to the farmers, workers, and small businesses that have struggled to get by in President Joe Biden’s painful economy.

With Republicans in charge in Washington, we’ll get rid of the Left’s radical Green New Deal Agenda, which prioritized wealthy donors and climate extremists over working families. Together, Republicans will work with Trump to unleash American energy to make gas and utility costs more affordable and reduce our reliance on foreign oil. We’ll stand up for farmers and small businesses who are sick and tired of dealing with burdensome regulations that cost them far too much time and money.

President Trump and Republicans will waste no time tackling one of the most important issues to the American people: the border crisis. With Trump, America will once again have a president who will do what’s necessary to secure the border. That means deporting illegal immigrants who pose a threat to the safety of our communities, whether they have criminal backgrounds or ties to gangs and terror groups. And he’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with our border patrol agents who work tirelessly to combat human trafficking and stop illegal drugs from coming across our border – two main components of the Cartel’s billion-dollar business enterprise. I’m incredibly excited to help Trump advance the policies we need to make our border secure again.

Amid all the chaos abroad, Trump’s peace through strength agenda is exactly what America – and the world – needs right now. He’ll fight to end the war that’s raging in Europe. He’ll be the friend Israel needs to help protect itself from Iran and its terror proxies. And he’ll stand up to the Chinese Communist Party, which is doing everything it can to spread its influence around the world. With Trump’s leadership, America will once again be respected by our allies and feared by our adversaries.

While fixing all the problems Biden created over the last four years won’t be easy, I – along with Trump – have never backed down when faced with a challenge. We will hit the ground running in 2025 to deliver for the American people – the workers, farmers, and small businesses that have been left behind by Biden and Washington Democrats.

Man who blamed "spurt of blood rage" for assault, abuse of 5-month-old daughter sentenced

(Note: Sometimes I lose track of these cases. After posting Zachary Bridwell's arrest in the year-end review on the Turner Report Newsletter and Inside Joplin Facebook page, I discovered that in the months that have passed, Bridwell was bound over for trial and then pleaded guilty and was sentenced in Lawrence County Circuit Court. My apologies for being so late with the story.) 

During a September 10 hearing in Lawrence County Circuit Court, Judge Alan Blankenship sentenced Zachary Bridwell to 23 years in prison for assaulting his 5-month-old daughter, 15 years for sexual exploitation of a minor, and seven years for statutory rape. According to the probable cause statement, the victim in the latter two charges was the child's mother, an underage girl.

The crime was detailed in the probable cause statement:

During the interview, Bridwell admitted to physically abusing the baby on multiple occasions. He confessed he regularly dropped the baby and on one occasion he slammed her down in her crib.

He heard the baby crying, so he entered her room. He removed the child from her crib and grasped her around the neck. He turned the baby around with its back facing toward him. He laid her partially on the floor, but kept ahold of the baby's neck with her torso suspended off the floor. Bridwell stated he shook the head back and forth repeatedly.

Bridwell confessed he intentionally shook the baby's head back and forth approximately seven times. He stated he laid the baby back down, but he immediately picked her up again by the neck and shook her head approximately three more times. He stated he laid the baby back in the crib afterwards. He described her as "groaning. He stated he stuck a pacifier in the baby's mouth. The baby bit down on the pacifier and continued groaning.

He stated the baby's right arm and leg were shaking, but he was unsure if the baby was having a seizure.

The probable cause statement said Bridwell claimed he did not want to kill the child "only hurt her." He told the investigating officer from the Aurora-Marionville Police Department "I got a spurt of blood rage."

A fourth charge against Bridwell, child pornography, due to a sex video he made with the child's underage mother, was dismissed.

The Aurora-Marionville Police Department became involved after being notified by the Children's Division of the child abuse. The baby had "significant brusing," head injuries and suffered a stroke.

More information can be found in the original Turner Report post at the link below.

The Turner Report: Man's explanation for assaulting, abusing 5-month-old daughter- "I got a spurt of blood rage"

Joplin woman charged with DWI, meth possession

A 1 p.m. January 28 arraignment is scheduled in Newton County Circuit Court for a Joplin woman charged with driving while intoxicated and possession of a controlled substance.

Melissa Lynn Draper (DOB 1981) was arrested following a 12:45 a.m. Friday traffic stop by the Joplin Police Department, which is detailed in the probable cause statement:

I contacted Cpl. Wright who witnessed a red passenger car cross over the center double yellow line in the roadway into the oncoming lane of travel. 

He made a car stop at this location and believed the driver was impaired. I contacted the driver, Melissa Draper, who consented to standardized field sobriety testing and she displayed multiple clues to indicate impairment. Her speech was slow and slurred. and her eyes were glassy. 

Ms. Draper admitted to using valium, cannibis and methamphetamine. Ms. Draper submitted a chemical test of' her blood under implied consent. 

During an inventory of the vehicle, a glass smoking pipe with a white residue was located in the center console of the vehicle. A clear plastic baggie was located in the glove box that contained a white crystal-like substance that tested positive for methamphetamine using the department's Truenarc tester. 

After Miranda had been read, Ms. Draper admitted the pipe and baggie were hers.

Matt Stewart sworn in as Newton County Sheriff

(From the Newton County Sheriff's Office)

Matt Stewart was sworn in as the next Sheriff of Newton County today after giving his oath of office before Judge Kevin Selby.

 
In addition, all Newton County deputies were sworn in for the next term. Sheriff Stewart’s term begins January 1, 2025.

Biden commutes death sentence of man who killed Noel banker, stomped another inmate to death

By Ashley Murray

States Newsroom

President Joe Biden commuted the sentences on Monday of 37 death row inmates, citing his conscience as a force behind the decision. He also left the death sentences unchanged for three men charged with hate-motivated mass shootings and terrorism.

Biden, who imposed a moratorium on federal executions during his administration, commuted the death sentences to life sentences without the possibility of parole, saying in a statement that he’s dedicated his career “to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system.”

(Note: Among the 37 death row inmates whose sentences President Biden were commuted is Shannon Agofsky, who was on death row for the 2004 stomping death of another inmate and killed Noel banker Daniel Short during a 1989 bank robbery.)

“Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden said.

“But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.”

The three men Biden left on death row Monday include Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, sentenced in 2015 of bombing the Boston Marathon in 2013; Dylann Roof, sentenced in 2017 of fatally shooting nine members of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina; and Robert Bowers, sentenced in 2023 for the deadly shooting in 2018 that killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

The president’s commutations Monday come after he commuted the sentences on Dec. 12 of 1,500 people who were placed in home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic. He also granted pardons for 39 individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes.

Biden received criticism from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and others for including among the mass commutations a Pennsylvania judge convicted in 2011 of sending children to prison in exchange for millions of dollars in kickbacks from a private jail — a crime that became known in the commonwealth as the “Cash for Kids” scheme.

Advocates for abolishing the death penalty and some U.S. House Democrats had pressured Biden to commute death penalty sentences ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Trump expedited some executions during his first term.

In a statement, Trump transition spokesman Steven Cheung blasted the commutations.

“These are among the worst killers in the world and this abhorrent decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones,” Cheung wrote. “President Trump stands for the rule of law, which will return when he is back in the White House after he was elected with a massive mandate from the American people.”

According to the White House, the names of the death row inmates whose sentences were commuted Monday are:

Shannon Wayne Agofsky


Billie Jerome Allen


Aquilia Marcivicci Barnette


Brandon Leon Basham

Anthony George Battle


Meier Jason Brown


Carlos David Caro


Wesley Paul Coonce, Jr.


Brandon Michael Council


Christopher Emory Cramer


Len Davis


Joseph Ebron


Ricky Allen Fackrell


Edward Leon Fields, Jr.


Chadrick Evan Fulks


Marvin Charles Gabrion, II


Edgar Baltazar Garcia


Thomas Morocco Hager


Charles Michael Hall


Norris G. Holder


Richard Allen Jackson


Jurijus Kadamovas


Daryl Lawrence


Iouri Mikhel


Ronald Mikos


James H. Roane, Jr.


Julius Omar Robinson


David Anthony Runyon


Ricardo Sanchez, Jr.


Thomas Steven Sanders


Kaboni Savage


Mark Isaac Snarr


Rejon Taylor


Richard Tipton


Jorge Avila Torrez


Daniel Troya


Alejandro Enrique Ramirez Umaña