Public hearings set for Spire's request for 15 percent rate increase

(From the Public Service Commission)

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) is announcing local public hearings, starting on June 2, 2025, to receive customer comments in a natural gas rate increase request case filed by Spire Missouri Inc. d/b/a Spire. There will be in-person and virtual local public hearings.

On Nov. 25, 2024, Spire filed a request with the PSC for a rate increase that would total approximately $236 million. For the average residential customer, the proposed increase would be approximately 15% or $14 per month.

Below is the local public hearing schedule:

June 2 — St. Louis. University of Missouri St. Louis – Millennium Student Center, Room A, 17 Arnold Grobman Drive.
The hearing starts at Noon, beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.

June 2 — Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury City Center, The Sunset Room, 5200 Shrewsbury Avenue. The hearing starts at 6 p.m., beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.
June 3 — Virtual Local Public Hearing starts at Noon. See further details below**

June 3 — Virtual Local Public Hearing starts at 6 p.m. See further details below**
June 4 — St. Joseph. St. Joseph City Council Chambers—1100 Frederick Avenue.
The hearing starts at Noon, beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.

June 4 — Kansas City. Gregg/Klice Community Center, 1600 East 17th Terrace.
The hearing starts at 6 p.m., beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.

June 5 — Joplin. Missouri State Southern University - Corley Auditorium, 3950 Newman Road.
The hearing starts at 6 p.m., beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.

**To attend a virtual local public hearing by telephone, at the time of the virtual hearing, call toll-free 1-855-718-6621, listen to the prompt and enter the meeting number/access code 2866 775 5885 for the June 3 hearing at Noon); or 2867 463 1122 for the June 3 hearing at 6 p.m.); followed by # (pound/hashtag symbol). If prompted for a password, enter 0107.

To attend a virtual local public hearing by video (internet), visit the website www.webex.com. You can also download the Cisco WebEx meetings application on your mobile device, laptop, desktop or tablet prior to the hearing and join the meeting at the hearing time by entering the corresponding meeting number/access code and password listed above.

The Commission has scheduled seven local public hearings. Any person may participate at any of the hearings, but are encouraged to attend the hearing corresponding to the location nearest to their service area for the most relevant information. In order to ensure broad participation and the ability for every citizen to offer comments, comments may be time-limited.

These local public hearings will be held in facilities that meet the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any person who needs additional accommodations to participate in these hearings should call the PSC’s hotline at 1-800-392-4211 or TDD Hotline at 1-800-829-7541 before the hearings.

To facilitate an orderly presentation that can be preserved for the record, members of the public who wish to participate in the virtual hearings should register, but are not required to register, by sending their first and last name, phone number, email address and the hearing they wish to attend to pscinfo@psc.mo.gov or by calling 1-800-392-4211 by 5 p.m. the day before the hearing.

If you are unable to attend a local public hearing and wish to make written comments, you may click the link below, contact the PSC, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102, or by using the Commission’s electronic filing system (EFIS) at https://psc.mo.gov/General/Submit_Comments. From this webpage, click on “e-Filing Instructions” under the heading “Submit Comments in Writing”. When submitting comments, please reference File No. GR-2025-0107.

In addition, you may also provide comments or request additional information from the Office of the Public Counsel (Governor Office Building, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102-2230, telephone 1-866-922-2959 (toll-free) or 573-751-4857, email opcservice@opc.mo.gov). The Office of the Public Counsel is a separate state agency that represents the general public in matters before the Commission.

Webb City Junior High janitor charged with attempted enticement of a child

 

A Webb City Junior High School night janitor has been charged with a felony, attempted enticement of a child after he allegedly arranged to meet someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl and have sex.

Bond has been set at $150,000 cash or surety for Logan Blake Duncan, 25, a Joplin resident. If he is able to post bond, Duncan will be placed on house arrest with an ankle monitor and not be allowed to have contract with anyone under age 18 or have access to the internet.

From the probable cause statement:

Logan Duncan, who is 25 years of age committed the offense of enticement of a child by knowingly meeting with what he thought was a 13-year-old female to engage in sexual contact.

Mr. Duncan communicated with a decoy with Bikers Against Predators through the Grinder app.

Mr. Duncan also committed the offense of furnishing pornography to a minor by sending a picture of his penis to the decoy.

After learning that the decoy was 13 years of age, Mr. Duncan asked if he she had received the picture and if she liked it.

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office did not charge Duncan with the child pornography offense.

Webb City R-7 officials placed Duncan on administrative leave Thursday night.

A video posted by Bikers Against Predators of two representatives of that organization confronting Duncan at the junior high school went viral Thursday evening.

More information about the confrontation, the video and the message sent to district patrons by the R-7 School District can be found at the link below.

The Turner Report: Webb City Junior High employee on leave after accusations of arranging to have sex with 13-year-old girl

Webb City Junior High employee on leave after accusations of arranging to have sex with 13-year-old girl

A Webb City Junior High School janitor is on administrative leave while the Webb City Police Department investigates allegations that he arranged to have sex in a dark room at the school "with no curtains and a couch" with someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

The call was actually a setup by a non-profit group called Bikers Against Predators that according to its Facebook page {takes} action against online child predators and {exposes} them to the community and {has} them face justice!

On the video, the janitor, who said he has been an R-7 employee for five years, is confronted outside of Webb City Junior High School by two representatives of Bikers Against Predators, who note that he sent a picture of his genitals to the "girl" and asked for nude photos.

In the janitor's conversation with the girl, according to the Bikers Against Predators representative, he told her she could "come to the school,' and described the room where he would have sex with her. The "girl' was taking an Uber to the school to meet with him.

The janitor told the Bikers Against Predators representatives that he watched pornography and preferred "lesbian pornography," but that "I'm more hetero."

The video confrontation, which was livestreamed on Bikers Against Predators Facebook page, comes to a close with Webb City Police officers arriving, being told the situation and also being told that all conversations with the janitor had been recorded.

The Webb City R-7 School District issued the following statement on its Facebook page Thursday night:

On the evening of Thursday, May 1st, District Administration was contacted by local law enforcement regarding a situation involving a staff member. 

The District’s number one priority is keeping our students safe, and upon learning of these allegations, the District immediately cooperated with the Webb City Police Department and put the staff member on administrative leave. 

Until this matter has been properly investigated by the local law enforcement, the District is not in a position to share any additional information, as prohibited by board policies. However, we will continue to cooperate with local authorities as they continue their investigation.

Missouri paid sick leave law now in effect, though legislative challenges still loom

By Clara Bates

Missouri Independent

Missouri’s voter-approved paid sick leave law officially went into effect Thursday, allowing thousands of qualified employees to begin accruing paid time off.

“No Missourian should have to choose between a day’s pay and their family’s well-being,” said Caitlyn Adams, executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice, which led the campaign for the law, in a press release. “Tens of thousands of Missourians who work full-time do not get any paid sick days, but that changes today.”

(Photo- Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O'Laughlin said it is a priority of her party to roll back a paid sick leave expansion that was approved by voters in November- Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

But while advocates for the policy celebrated Thursday’s milestone, the new law remains at risk of being overturned by the GOP-dominated Missouri legislature.

Republicans have vowed to pass legislation rolling back the paid sick leave and modifying an accompanying boost to the minimum wage. That bill has stalled in the face of Democratic opposition, and the legislative session ends May 16.







Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, a Republican from Shelbina, has been a particularly loud voice urging repeal of the law.

“Our side of the aisle has great concern for the burden that this would place on businesses,” she told reporters Thursday, “and if we’re going to promote economic growth and jobs, we need to really be cognizant of that.”

Proposition A passed with nearly 58% of the vote in November, garnering support from unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights groups, as well as over 500 business owners. The measure expanded access to paid sick time for many employees, effective Thursday. It also increased the minimum wage to $15 this year, which went into effect in January, to be adjusted for inflation thereafter.

Under the law, employers with business receipts greater than $500,000 a year must now provide at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers with fewer than 15 workers must allow workers to earn at least 40 hours per year, with larger employers mandated to allow at least 56 hours.

“I’m a single mother of four, and I am now able to start earning paid sick for the first time in my life,” said Andi Phillips, a server in Springfield, in the press release.

“I can’t explain how huge of a relief it is that I can now earn time off to better take care of my family and give my kids a better future,” Phillips said. “I never wanted a handout, just an opportunity to be the best version of myself for my kids and now I have that.”

 

The Missouri Supreme Court upheld the law earlier this week, dealing a blow to a coalition of business groups who argued the measure violated the single-subject and clear title requirements for ballot measures, and that the fiscal summary was misleading. The Supreme Court found the election results valid.

The Missouri House passed legislation that would repeal the paid sick leave part of the law and remove the requirement that the minimum wage be indexed to inflation. That bill awaits action in the Senate.

The Senate Democrats have been in negotiations with Republicans for weeks to modify the bill, in what they’ve said is an effort to maintain the will of the voters in expanding paid sick leave rather than gut it entirely, as well as make it easier for businesses to comply.

The Republicans could also force the bill through in a rarely-used procedural maneuver known as the previous question, or PQ. That requires the signatures of 10 members of the 34-member Senate and must be approved by a similar majority to shut down debate. It’s use to end a filibuster is seen as a last-resort option by Senate leadership, and the last time the chamber deployed it was eight years ago.

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, told reporters Thursday he doesn’t know whether the two sides will come to an agreement.

“I would like to see us come to some sort of conclusion, because the law is in effect,” he said. “People are earning sick time, and anything we do at this point could be taking away from people…I’m just saying, I am in good faith negotiations with the other side of the aisle on this and welcome to having those conversations as we continue on. Whether or not we come to a conclusion, I don’t know.”

Speaker of the House Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, told reporters Thursday that modifying the law remains a priority and that he sees action on Prop A as necessary before the legislature can make progress on a bill that seeks to bring businesses to downtown St. Louis.






“For me, Prop A has to be addressed before we do anything like that,” Patterson said, referring to the bill that seeks to revitalize downtown St. Louis. “…There’s no point to try to attract businesses when you’re telling them with Prop A that it’s going to be very difficult for you, you have these sick leave provisions that can lead to criminal penalties.”

That is an “absurd way to look at Proposition A,” state Rep. Betsy Fogle, a Springfield Democrat, responded to Patterson’s comments. When Missouri workers are successful, she said, businesses will be, too.

“The idea that providing workers with more protections is a business killer is wild,” she said. “…To try to make this seem like this is something that will kill business, that will keep businesses from opening, I think it’s absurd, and I think it’s quite disappointing, and I think it sends absolutely the wrong message.”

Jeff Brown named Webb City Middle School principal

(From the Webb City R-7 School District)

Webb City School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jeff Brown as the Principal of Webb City Middle School for the 2025-26 school year.

Mr. Brown brings 19 years of experience in education to his new role. His career includes four years as Assistant Principal at Webb City High School, thirteen years with the Joplin School District teaching Special Education, Business, and Dual Credit Psychology, and serving as Career Services Coordinator at Franklin Technology Center. He also served as Assistant Principal at Seneca High School.

Mr. Brown has obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Missouri Valley College, a Master’s degree in School and Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri, and an Educational Specialist degree in Administration from Arkansas State University. His commitment to supporting teachers, fostering positive relationships with students, and building a strong school culture aligns with the district’s vision for a thriving educational environment.

Mr. Brown is passionate about serving as a resource and advocate for both students and staff. He looks forward to collaborating with families, staff, and students to ensure a bright future for the Webb City community. Outside of school, Mr. Brown enjoys cheering for the Kansas City Royals, hunting, and spending time with his wife and two children on their family farm.

Please join us in welcoming Mr. Jeff Brown as the new Principal of Webb City Middle School.

Carthage teen bound over for trial on second-degree murder charge

Elijah M. Hardee, 19, Carthage, waived his preliminary hearing today in Jasper County Circuit Court and was bound over for trial on a second degree murder charge in connection with the February 15 shooting death of Johny Reyes Garcia, 22, Carthage. Hardee is also charged with armed criminal action.

After ordering Hardee held for trial, Judge Nicole Marie Carlton reduced Hardee's bond from $1 million cash only to $500,000 cash or surety. 

Hardee's arraignment in Division I is set for 9 a.m. June 2.

The allegations against Hardee are detailed in the probable cause statement:

On 2/15/2025 the Carthage Police Department was contacted in reference to a disturbance involving a weapon. The reporting party advised on the 911 emergency call that someone had been shot at the residence and that there was a large physical disturbance ongoing.

Upon officer arrival, there was a large group of people standing around a male who was lying in the yard. The male had suffered an apparent gunshot wound and first aid was being rendered. The male was later transported to Mercy Carthage Hospital via ambulance where he was later pronounced deceased.

During a subsequent investigation, several witnesses were contacted on scene, as well as surrounding neighbors to the residence. Witness 1 was standing by the victim when he was shot and identified the male with the pistol as Elijah Hardee.

Witness 2 was also in close proximity to the victim and identified Elijah Hardee as the male who had the pistol. Witness 3 was in a physical altercation with another subject while the shooting occurred. Once a gunshot was heard, their fight stopped and they turned to look and identified Elijah Hardee holding a gun.

While a neighborhood canvass was being conducted, witness 4 approached officers and advised that they had taken a video of the entire incident. While observing the video, Hardee is observed to be partially involved in the physical altercation before stepping back, pulling a pistol from his person and firing a shot into the victim.







Witness 4 then observed Hardee and 3 other unknown subjects flee the scene in a passenger vehicle. Hardee was observed wearing a black hoodie and blue athletic shorts on the video.

Hardee was stopped and contacted in a traffic stop by the Joplin Police Department on 02/15/2025 at approximately 2040 hours. Hardee was the passenger in the traffic stop wearing a black hoodie and blue athletic shorts.

Witness 5 was later contacted and interviewed. Witness 5 stated that they were standing behind the victim trying to pull another male off during the physical altercation portion of the disturbance. Witness 5 stated that they observed Hardee pull a gray/black pistol from his hoodie pocket area and shoot the victim.

Carthage man bound over for trial on child pornography charges

Eugene Pershing Boone III was bound over for trial on child pornography charges following a preliminary hearing today in Jasper County Circuit Court.

Boone's initial appearance in Division II is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. June 4.

Charges were filed after a man contacted the Jasper County Sheriff's Office about an SD card he found in his driveway, which he thought might contain child pornography. The man believed the card belonged to a friend who had lived on the same property for the past four to five years.

From the probable cause statement:

On 09-11-2024, I Detective Trenton Greene conducted a data extraction from an SD card belonging to Eugene Boone after obtaining a search warrant for the device (24AO-MC00263).

While reviewing the device, I found the following:

- 46 still images of a young juvenile victims of Child Sexual Abuse Material with one being an “identified child” through NCMEC. These juvenile victims were young and appeared to be adolescent, exposing their genitals in a sexual nature.

- 4 different videos of 5 juvenile victims of Child Sexual Abuse Material. During the videos, their private areas were shown on video with three of the videos show the female juvenile victims performing sexual acts. These juvenile victims were young and appeared to be either prepubescent or adolescent. The combined length of time for the videos amounts to over 74 minutes.

There were also multiple videos of various lengths with at least three of which showing Eugene Boone placing a recording device in a private bathroom of Victim 1-4’s residence, unknowing to them and recording them in various states of undress from partially nude to fully nude exposing their breasts, butt and vaginal areas. Eugene had hidden the recording device at the bottom of a basket.

Victim 1 was identified in 1 video, Victim 2 was identified in 4 videos, Victim 3 was identified in 6 videos and Victim 4 was identified in 5 videos. There were also two videos that were taken outside of Victim 3’s, bedroom from the outside and recorded her changing. The other individuals were not identified at this time

92-year-old Neosho man charged with furnishing pornographic material to a minor

The Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed a furnishing pornographic material to a minor charge, a felony today against a 92-year-old Neosho man who allegedly showed an 11-year-old boy pornography in February.

The allegations against Edwin Lawrence Cloteaux (DOB 1932) were detailed in the probable cause statement:

Upon arrival, I made contact with witness 1, who is the father to victim 1, a 11-year-old juvenile, stated a man by the name of Edwin Cloteaux, who resides on the same street, had shown victim 1 pornographic materials. 

Witness 1 stated victim 1 usually goes to Mr. Cloteaux's house to help him with work after school. Witness 1 stated victim 1 had told him Mr. Cloteaux had given him a hug, called him "Sweetie," and asked him if he had ever seen porn before. 

Witness 1 stated victim 1 told him he made an excuse to leave and came home.

The case was investigated by the Neosho Police Department.

Missouri bill allowing homeschoolers to participate in school sports nears passage

By Sterling Sewell

Columbia Missourian

A Senate bill allowing homeschooled student participation in public and charter school activities and athletics passed the Missouri House on Wednesday.

Sponsored by state Sen. Ben Brown, a Republican from Washington, the bill would prohibit public and charter schools from banning homeschooled or full-time virtual students from taking part in school athletics and activities.

A similar bill proposed by Brown in the last session stalled in the House. This year, Brown’s bill passed unanimously out of the Senate and passed the House Wednesday on a 91-53 vote.

Because the House made minor changes, the bill is headed to a conference committee to work out differences between the two chambers. The legislative session adjourns May 16.

State law allows public school districts to ban or restrict the participation of homeschoolers in athletics. The policy of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, which many schools follow, is to allow homeschoolers to participate in sports if they are enrolled in one credit hour of coursework at a public school.

State Rep. Ben Baker, a Republican from Neosho, said the bill “ensures that every child has access to opportunities that add to and foster their academic, social and personal growth.”

Baker, whose children have been homeschooled, argued that homeschoolers’ parents who pay taxes should be able to send their children to programs in publicly funded schools.

State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Democrat from Columbia and former teacher, said she was sympathetic to the bill’s intent, but expressed concerns that the passage could lead to an unfunded mandate.

State funding for education is partially determined by the level of enrollment in a school. Steinhoff’s concern is that potential homeschoolers who take part in public school programs or utilize school resources would not be considered in enrollment counts.

“(Schools) will not be getting state money to support these students participating in these activities,” Steinhoff said.

Baker said the strain brought by increased participation would likely be minimal, as few homeschoolers would be likely to participate in each school.

Several Democrats also expressed concerns that the bill could be unfair to public school students as homeschoolers may not have to meet the same standards as public school students. Steinhoff pointed specifically to grade and attendance requirements for some athletic programs in schools.

“There’s also some requirements and conditions in accessing the privileges provided by our schools,” Steinhoff said. “Often you have to keep your grades up, you have to keep your attendance up, you have to maintain positive relationships with peers and adults.”

Rep. Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, spoke to the long history of this legislation, beginning with its first proposal in 2014 by former House Speaker Elijah Haahr. Deaton, along with other legislators, have taken up the bill unsuccessfully since then.

Deaton also pointed out a provision of the bill which allows schools to require homeschoolers to attend courses, rehearsals or practices related to their participation in school activities.

“For example, if you’re going to be involved in a band, and there’s a band class directly related to that, you absolutely should have to play in that band class,” Deaton said.

Another concern, voiced by Rep. Michael Burton, a Democrat from Lakeshire, involved vaccine requirements.

Missouri public school students are required to have several vaccines to attend school. Burton said he worries that unvaccinated homeschoolers participating in school activities could put public school students at risk.

Mark Alford: With President Trump, America is back and we're standing tall

(From Fourth District Congressman Mark Alford)

In just his first 100 days, President Trump has already delivered on key promises, and we’re seeing a renewed sense of strength, pride, and possibility in our great nation.

With President Trump leading our nation, we’ve had: 

100 days of securing the border.

100 days of unleashing American energy.
And 100 days of putting American citizens FIRST!

In just 100 days, he's deported dangerous illegal criminals, brought down gas prices by 6.3%, and is making sure we never turn our backs on this great nation!

From the very beginning, President Trump made it clear that he would put American workers and families first—and he’s doing just that. Trump has taken bold steps to cut job-killing regulations, promote energy independence, and bring manufacturing jobs back to our shores. We’ve heard from small business owners in MO-04 who are already seeing a boost in confidence thanks to the President’s pro-growth agenda.

It may seem like a roller coaster, but President Trump is taking transformative actions for the survival of America.

On the world stage: President Trump is sending a very clear message: the days of leading from behind are OVER. America is back, and we’re standing tall. From reinforcing our commitment to our allies to holding rogue nations accountable, President Trump is showing peace through strength in his foreign policy.

 

The President is leading the charge for tax reform that will help middle-class families keep more of what they earn. We promised to renew and deliver the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and that’s exactly what we are doing. These are the kind of changes Americans voted for—and we’re hard at work!

It’s simple. We’re proud to support President Trump’s vision for a stronger, safer, and more prosperous America. The road ahead won’t always be easy, but one thing is clear: the American people have a fighter in the White House, and I’m honored to stand with him.