MO Republican State Committee supports Kehoe proposal to eliminate state income tax

(From the Missouri State Republican Committee)

During a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Missouri Republican State Committee on December 16, 2025, an endorsement was issued to back Governor Kehoe's intent to eliminate Missouri's State Income Tax.

"This has been a long time coming," said Chairman Peter Kinder.

"We have seen many legislative leaders discuss it and now it is being proposed by the governor. We are excited to work with Gov. Kehoe to deliver another conservative victory for Missourians.

The motion was offered by Vice-Chair Jennifer Bukowsky and seconded by Jim Berberich, and the motion received unanimous support from the Executive Committee.

 

Carthage R-9 Board promotes Jason Vance to Steadley Elementary principal

(From the Carthage R-9 School District)

We are proud to announce that Mr. Jason Vance has been named the new Principal of Steadley Elementary! 

Mr. Vance brings more than 15 years of experience in education and most recently served as Assistant Principal at Steadley and Columbian Elementary. His strong instructional background, deep connections with students and staff, and commitment to learning make him a wonderful fit to lead the Steadley community.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Vance as he steps into this exciting new chapter.

Jasper County Sheriff's Office searching for Carthage man wanted on numerous charges

(From the Jasper County Sheriff's Office)

At approximately 4:05 AM, 12-17-2025, Jasper County Deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle involving 43-year-old Cody Vinson, Carthage.

Upon contact, he refused to exit his vehicle. The deputy broke out the driver side window of the truck and then Vinson fled in his vehicle out of the city of Jasper. The pursuit terminated after entering Barton County when deputies lost visual contact.

As a result of this incident, charges have been submitted to the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney for felony resisting arrest (Valentine’s law) and driving while revoked. 

He currently has warrants for violation of an order of protection and a warrant for probation violation; with an original charge of attempted escape from custody and damage to jail property. 

Vinson is driving a black older (late 2000s) Dodge Ram pickup with a broken driver side window. If he is seen, you should contact law enforcement immediately.

Galena residents arrested on drug, child endangerment charges

(From the Galena Police Department)

On December 17, 2025 Officers with the Galena Police department secured a search warrant for a residence located at 217 E Lilly Place Galena, Cherokee County Kansas 66739. The Search Warrant came from an ongoing investigation regarding Child Endangerment and drug related charges.

During the search warrant, officers located suspected controlled substances and paraphernaila. 

Paige Mammenga was taken into custody and transported to Cherokee County Jail for aggravated endangering a child, abuse of a child, abandonment of a child and possession of a controlled substance. 

Additionally Lonnie Atkins was arrested on a traffic stop and he also resides at 217 Lilly Place Galena. Atkins will also be charged with possession of a controlled substance and endangerment of a child and driving without a valid license. The above suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
We would like to thank the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office for their assistance!

Missouri faces budget crunch as capital gains tax cut hits harder than expected

By Rudi Keller

Missouri Independent

The capital gains tax cut passed this year by Missouri lawmakers will cost far more than expected and shrink state revenues, a new state budget estimate shows.

The consensus revenue estimate, issued Wednesday, anticipates that revenue in the year ending June 30 will be $400 million below estimates made a year ago. Growth will return for fiscal 2027, the estimate predicts, but the rebound will be modest, state Budget Director Dan Haug said in an interview with The Independent.

“The governor has been pretty transparent and pretty vocal that this is going to be a difficult budget year,” Haug said.

Gov. Mike Kehoe is scheduled to deliver his budget proposals on Jan. 13.

When lawmakers voted on the bill exempting profits from the sale of stocks and other assets from Missouri income tax, the official estimate put the revenue loss at about $160 million in the current fiscal year, with ongoing revenue losses at $111 million.

The state is now expecting a revenue loss in the current fiscal year of about $500 million from the cut, with an ongoing revenue loss of $360 million annually, Haug said.

That is close to the approximately $600 million estimate for the loss from the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy and reported by The Independent — and disputed by the state revenue department — weeks before the final vote in May.

During the most recent complete fiscal year, Missouri collected $13.4 billion in general revenue.

Through Tuesday, tax receipts for the year have grown 3.5%, enough to generate about $350 million in unanticipated revenue if continued through June 30 The capital gains tax cut, and to a smaller degree state tax impacts of federal changes, will help push the trend line into negative territory, with a contraction of 2.1% and total revenue of $13.15 billion.

“What we expect to happen is that most of the reduction from capital gains will occur in that February to April period when people start filing their returns,” Haug said.

The state does have a cushion to absorb the loss of revenue. 

For several years, Missouri has enjoyed historically large reserves of surplus cash. The surplus peaked at nearly $8 billion in June 2023. Large sums have been set aside for improvements to Interstates 70 and 44, a major expansion of the Capitol Building and construction projects on college campuses and elsewhere.

The state employee pension fund received a one-time injection of $500 million and state employees have seen pay raises of as much as 35% since the start of 2021.

And lawmakers have been able to earmark hundreds of millions for pet projects and programs, despite vetoes by Kehoe and his predecessor, Gov. Mike Parson, that cut many of the expenditures.

For the past three years, appropriations for ongoing programs have exceeded current revenue, with the shortfall coming from the surplus.

“We’ve sort of gotten a little out of whack on ongoing expenditures versus ongoing revenues,” Haug said. “We need to get that back under control.”

Kehoe has said he will make eliminating the state income tax, which accounts for about 65% of general revenue, his top goal for 2026.

The budget will be “challenging,” Kehoe said In the news release reporting the new revenue estimate

“Spending, not revenues, is the problem facing state government,” Kehoe said.

Republican budget leaders from the House and Senate, quoted in the news release, echoed Kehoe. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Rusty Black of Chillicothe said he will “develop a fiscally responsible budget,” while House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton of Noel said his goal is to “deliver a sustainable budget.”

The top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, state Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield, said the state has problems that require attention — and money — and the issue is insufficient revenue, not overspending.

Democrats warned that the capital gains cut was being low-balled but had no power to stop it, Fogle said. Being correct doesn’t help fund services, she said.

“What helps me is making sure that my constituents have a strong social safety net, have access to good public schools and have a state government that is more focused on making proper investments in the next generation and less focused on winning a primary election,” Fogle said.

Issues that require immediate attention, Fogle said, include the growing number of people languishing in jail while they wait for state mental health evaluations and treatment, which has doubled in two years to nearly 500, and federal program changes that increase state costs for Medicaid and other benefits.

Lawmakers must also deal with department budget requests that have identified more than $1 billion in new costs to continue current programs.

“Very few people in the General Assembly have been at the table when we’ve had to make drastic cuts,” Fogle said. “It’s very important that we do so in a thoughtful way that protects the core vital services of our departments.”

It would be irresponsible to eliminate the income tax, Fogle said.

“I cannot believe we are having a good faith conversation about the elimination of the income tax and blowing a $9 billion hole in our state budget,” Fogle said.

The current budget, after Kehoe’s vetoes, projects spending $15.7 billion in general revenue, about $2.6 billion more than the new estimate anticipates in revenue.

Fogle said she is worried that the state will cut optional services for Medicaid recipients or reduce funding for higher education and public schools to align expenses with receipts.

Kehoe will include some surplus funds in his budget proposal, Haug said.

“One nice thing about the fund balance we do have is it does let us try to solve this problem over a couple of years, versus having to solve it all in one year,” Haug said. “And so I think what you’re going to see with our budget this year is the beginning of that process, sort of reining in some of the spending.”

MSSU, MO State sign memorandum of understanding expanding graduate education for history students

(From Missouri State University)

Missouri State University and Missouri Southern State University signed a new memorandum of understanding to expand graduate education opportunities. Inked Dec. 16, the MOU expands access for Missouri Southern students who are studying history through access to Missouri State’s accelerated master’s programs.

Under the agreement, qualified MSSU juniors and seniors may apply to select Missouri State accelerated master’s programs, enabling high-achieving undergraduates to begin graduate-level coursework while completing their bachelor’s degrees.

“It’s been a pleasure to partner with faculty from Missouri State to make this pathway available for students who want to continue historical studies,” said Dr. Megan Beaver, professor of History at MSSU. “It benefits our advanced students who are ready for the additional challenge of graduate coursework by connecting them to Missouri State’s more expansive course offerings.

“It also offers students a chance to earn a master’s degree more quickly, opening up additional job opportunities.”

Missouri State leaders expressed similar enthusiasm for the initiative.

“Missouri State is proud to partner with Missouri Southern to create this accelerated pathway for history students,” said Dr. Johannes Strobel, dean of the Graduate College. “By working together, we are expanding access to graduate education and providing motivated undergraduates with a clear, efficient route to earning an advanced degree.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to student success, public affairs mission and to creating meaningful academic opportunities through collaboration.”

Participating students will gain dual-enrollment access to Missouri State libraries and student services while retaining nondegree-seeking status until they complete their undergraduate degrees.

Joplin man held without bond for DWI, assault, property damage

A Joplin man is being held without bond in the Joplin City Jail on charges of driving while intoxicated, aggravated fleeing, second-degree assault and property damage.

Phil Burkybile III allegedly tried to run over a Joplin Police Department officer. The officer shot Burkybile. Burkybile's injuries were not serious and he was treated at a Joplin hospital.

From the probable cause statement)

On 12/17/2025 {a Joplin Police Department officer}was on patrol in Joplin, Missouri. He observed a green passenger car traveling southbound from W 26th St and S Main St. He estimated the vehicle's speed to be 100mph. caught up to the vehicle at E 50th St and S Main St and initiated a car stop using his
lights and sirens. 

The vehicle fled west on Glendale Rd at a high rate of speed that caused substantial risk to the public. The vehicle crashed into a ditch in the area of the 1900 block of Glendale Rd and spun around so that the front of the vehicle was facing {the JPD} vehicle. 

{The officer} parked his vehicle in front of the crashed vehicle, {and} stepped out to take cover behind the a-pillar of his patrol car, and called the driver from his vehicle. The suspect vehicle accelerated forward as if to strike {the officer} which put him in apprehension of serious physical injury or death. 

In response, {the officer} shot his duty weapon at the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle continued to 5002 S Main St, Joplin, Missouri, with {the officer} in pursuit. The vehicle briefly stopped in the parking lot of 5002 S Main before it attempted to leave the parking lot through a southeast entrance. 

{The officer} was pulling into the parking lot and the suspect vehicle struck the front of his patrol car, unit 2759, causing over $750 in damage. The driver of the suspect vehicle tried to accelerate forward, further ramming {the officer's} vehicle.

{The officer} called the driver from the vehicle again and he was taken into custody. The driver was identified as Phil Dean Burkybile.

{The officer} conducted a DWI investigation on Burkybile at the hospital and found him to be driving while intoxicated.

According to a Joplin Police Department news release earlier today, the officer who shot Burkybile has been placed on administrative leave following department policy until an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol is completed.

Earlier story- Joplin PD attempted stop of suspected drunk driver leads to shooting

MIssouri Supreme Court announces changes designed to improve public access to court documents

(From Missouri Supreme Court)

The Supreme Court of Missouri today acted to improve remote public access to case documents and provide greater clarity and uniformity in its application.

Specifically, the Court entered an order refining various court rules to:Streamline and restructure Court Operating Rule 2, governing public access to court records, and provide uniform vocabulary for terms relevant to redaction. 

-Specify the appropriate standard required for sealing court records in a new Rule 55.0275.

-Clarify what is “confidential” in a revised Court Operating Rule 4.24, precisely defining both “confidential record” and “confidential information.”

-Simplify redaction instructions and enhance the process for correcting redaction. 

Under revised Court Operating Rule 2.03 and Rules 19.10, 55.025, and 84.015:

Redactions will be limited to the defined list of “confidential information” and information that is sealed, expunged, or closed by statute or Court rule. No other information may be redacted without leave of court for good cause shown. 

A confidential redaction information filing sheet (or CRIF) no longer will be required if a redacted and unredacted version of the filing are filed at the same time. 

Transcripts of open court proceedings will not be subject to redaction requirements, although any party may seek to redact from such transcripts otherwise confidential information as identified in COR 4.24(b).

If a court finds a filer acted in bad faith – either by failing to redact confidential information or by redacting information that is not otherwise confidential without leave of court – the court may impose appropriate sanctions.

These refinements do not take effect until July 1, 2026, but they should provide helpful guidance for lawyers and the public now. Over the coming months, the Court plans to provide additional information to help ensure consistent and successful implementation of the rule revisions.

“We are proud of our ongoing efforts to ensure meaningful access to public case information,” Chief Justice W. Brent Powell said. “Making public case documents available remotely was a huge step forward. Since then, we have continued to evaluate how best to balance two equally important goals: making public court documents more accessible online and protecting confidential information in those documents. Today’s order will help lawyers and the public better understand how to achieve that delicate balance.”

Since the 1990s, people have been able to use Case.net – a web-based search portal – to find real-time public information about Missouri court cases. But this did not include the filings themselves. After electronic filing began in 2011, people could use computer terminals at courthouses to view public case filings. Since July 2023, people have been able to use Case.net to view, download, and print available public court records from their personal computers, tablets, or cell phones. 

But differences arose about what was, in fact, confidential, and best practices for redaction have been applied inconsistently. Through extensive review and examination of the rules and their practical implementation, as well as feedback from a variety of sources, the Court has sought to improve remote public access and redaction and to provide greater clarity and uniformity for those engaged with the court system.

“Throughout the extensive analysis we have undertaken, our ultimate goal has been to clarify the nature of confidential information and to simplify the redaction process,” Powell said. “We believe today’s order will result in better access to public court records while protecting any truly confidential information they may contain.”

Springfield business owner indicted for COVID fraud, money laundering

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield business owner was indicted by a federal grand jury for fraudulently obtaining $316,062 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and for laundering over $35,000 of PPP funds.

Jason L. Hemingway, 47, was charged with two counts each of bank fraud and making a false statement on a loan application, and three counts of money laundering.

According to the indictment, Hemingway applied for a PPP loan for his business, Principal Transfer Group, LLC on Feb. 9, 2021. The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorized forgivable loans to small businesses to retain workers and maintain payroll, make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments.

On his electronically submitted loan application Hemingway claimed that another individual was the owner of his business, Principal Transfer Group, LLC, and stated that the business had an average monthly payroll of $63,212 and employed 25 people, all of which were false statements. Hemingway signed the application in the name of the individual he claimed was the president and owner. Hemingway received $158,031 in PPP proceeds.

On April 8, 2021, Hemingway applied for a second PPP loan on behalf of Principal Transfer Group, LLC. On that application, again submitted under another individual’s name, Hemingway certified that he had received a previous PPP loan and that he had used the full loan amount for eligible expenses only, which was a false statement. He again claimed that another individual was the president and owner, that the business had an average monthly payroll of $63,212 and employed eight people, all of which were false statements. Hemingway signed the application in the name of the individual he claimed was the president and owner and received another $158,031 in PPP loan proceeds.

The indictment alleges that Hemingway used the PPP proceeds for non-approved purposes, including for his personal benefit. According to the indictment, Hemingway transferred $11,000 of the PPP funds into the bank account for another business he owned, 417 Print Shop, LLC, an additional $11,000 in PPP funds into his personal bank account, and $13,851.16 of PPP funds to his Robinhood account. Robinhood is a financial services company that allows users to invest and trade in stocks and cryptocurrencies.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Hemingway to forfeit to the government any property derived from the alleged fraud scheme, including a money judgment of at least $316,062, and an additional $35,851.16 money judgment for proceeds derived from the alleged money laundering scheme.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Monett nursing home administrator indicted for fraud, lying to EPA

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

The former administrator, maintenance contractor, and company owner of a Monett, Mo., skilled nursing facility were indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a conspiracy to impede the EPA, a related state agency, and OHSA, and violate the Clean Air Act regarding the removal of asbestos-containing materials.

Juan Carlos Aguilar Gomez, 45, a citizen of Honduras, residing in Lawrence, N.Y., who was previously charged by criminal complaint on Aug. 1, 2025, with one count of violating the Clean Air Act, was charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, six counts of violating the Clean Air Act, and one count of making a false statement to a federal department or agency.

Rebecca Massey, 46, of Granby, Mo., was charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, six counts of violating the Clean Air Act, and one count of making a false statement to a federal department or agency.

Goldner Capital Management, LLC (GCM), a limited liability company located in the state of New York, was charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, and six counts of violating the Clean Air Act.

“The Department of Justice, working in partnership with the EPA, will seek to hold accountable those who violate environmental laws, as evidenced by the charges returned today,” said R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

“Conspiring to violate our nation’s environmental laws to prevent exposure to the lethal dangers of asbestos is a betrayal of trust that puts the most defenseless members of our society at risk. By neglecting proper asbestos inspections and precautions, the defendants have not only violated laws but endangered the health of over 150 residents and staff,” said Cate Holston, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Missouri.

According to today’s indictment, in Dec. 2018, Gomez’s company was contracted to do maintenance and renovation work at nursing homes within GCM’s investment portfolio, including a long-term care facility in Monett, Mo. The services in their signed agreement included planning and overseeing all construction, alteration, maintenance, and repair projects at the facilities.

The facility provided senior and other assisted-living care to at least 67 residents and was staffed by approximately 80 employees between 2018 and 2021 and was owned and operated as part of an investment portfolio owned by GCM, which funded all capital improvements to facilities owned by the parent company.

As early as July 2020 GCM agents and employees, including Massey, began plans to renovate the facility, including plans to remove the existing linoleum flooring and replace it with new flooring. This flooring contained at least 6-12% chrysotile asbestos, was in poor condition and crumbled easily, making the tile a regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM) under EPA guidelines. The removal of RACM requires special handling and disposal precautions and procedures.

GCM, Massey, and Gomez were advised during the bidding process by other construction contractors and maintenance employees that the floor needed to be tested for the presence of asbestos and that an asbestos certified contractor needed to remove any flooring containing asbestos.

Despite receiving at least one bid from a reputable contracting company, which advised that the floors likely contained asbestos, no testing or asbestos abatement was conducted at the facility. Instead, GCM agents and employees engaged Gomez to conduct the proposed renovations. Neither Gomez, nor any of his employees were qualified asbestos abatement contractors, workers, or supervisors.

Renovations began around Oct. 2020 and continued through Jan. 2021. During renovations, Gomez and his employees used an electrical/mechanical floor stripper, other scrapers, chippers, and other abrading or grinding machinery to remove the tile flooring. This process generated visible emissions throughout the facility’s hallways, dining areas, and residents’ rooms. Additionally, Gomez and his employees posted no signs regarding potential asbestos exposure, erected no containment, used no water to mitigate visible emissions, had no decontamination units constructed, did not use negative air machines, and disposed of RACM waste in an unlined, unsealed dumpster that was sent to a landfill not authorized to accept RACM.

Massey, knowing that no asbestos analysis/inspection had occurred and that one was needed, permitted the work to continue even though as the Administrator she was empowered, and obligated, under law to shut down any operations that posed a health or safety hazard to the facility’s residents.

On Jan. 20, 2021, officials with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) inspected the facility and obtained a bulk floor sample from the hallway. MDNR conveyed to Massey that they were concerned that the materials contained RACM and that, if they did, the owners of the facility would need to evacuate the residents. Gomez told MDNR inspectors that he had no knowledge of the presence of asbestos or permitting requirements prior to their inspection, both of which were false statements.

The indictment alleges that on April 30, 2021, Massey falsely told OSHA inspectors that she was unaware of the renovation project involving the flooring prior to Gomez and his workers beginning work in Dec. 2020. She also claimed that she knew nothing about asbestos until MDNR arrived at the facility. Both were false statements.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark, who was significantly assisted by former Environmental Crimes Section Senior Litigation Counsel Todd W. Gleason. It was investigated by the EPA – Criminal Investigations Division and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.