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With five days left in session, the Missouri General Assembly will return to the state Capitol Monday, May 14, with an unclear agenda.  ... Read more
Democrat
The Missouri Democratic Party will hold its 2012 State Convention on Saturday, June 9, at the Lodge of Four Seasons at the Lake of the Ozarks.  ... Read more
The Missouri Department of Transportation has finished the northbound Highway 69 bridge replacement and will begin constructing a new bridge on southbound Highway 69 over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad just north of Liberty as part of the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program.  ... Read more
Shon Pernice, 39, was sentenced to 15 years for causing the death of his wife, Renée Pretz Pernice, on Jan. 1, 2009.  ... Read more
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt is accepting applications from young men and women interested in competing for nominations to the Air Force, West Point, Merchant Marine and Naval Academies.  ... Read more
A new urgent care center in Kearney is scheduled to open in September after the city approved the site plan Monday, May 7.  ... Read more
Kearney Fire & Rescue is repairing its activation system for the city’s tornado sirens.  ... Read more
Two local teenagers pleaded not guilty to burglary and theft earlier this week after being arrested last week.  ... Read more
The suspect arrested for robbing Casey’s General Store pleaded not guilty in an arraignment April 26 as he searched for an attorney, according to court documents.  ... Read more
When Tommy Saunders was considering his options for the near future, making a new fitness product was the furthest thing from his mind.  ... Read more
conservation
Nancy Hull Rigdon/ photos Special to The Kearney Courier
Bob and Karli Foreman’s 172-acre rural Smithville land is Robert Brejcha’s playground.  ... Read more
annual meeting
Kevin M. Smith/The Kearney Courier
Circumstances out of the electric cooperative’s control could lead to rate increases in the near future, the CEO told members at an annual meeting. However, that’s not to say it is in dire straits.  ... Read more
Emily Duncan doodle
Amy Neal/Liberty Tribune
Liberty High School junior Emily Duncan is a regional finalist in the Doodle 4 Google annual student art contest, and it’s the second year in a row a Liberty High submission has been picked for the honor.  ... Read more
The Kearney Board of Aldermen will consider plans for an urgent care center in Kearney after the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a plat with several amendments in an effort to better control traffic.  ... Read more
senior housing
Kevin M. Smith/The Kearney Courier
Board members and area officials celebrated the completion of a renovation project at Kearney Senior Housing.  ... Read more
The city of Kearney received a plaque along with a $10,000 discount because of its safety.  ... Read more
State of the City
Dale Garrison/Special to The Kearney Courier
Clay County leaders viewed a wide range of developments at the 2012 State of the City Luncheon on April 19. Highlights included a predicted wave of support businesses from the $1.1 billion Ford investment and signs of significant economic activity in retail and other manufacturing.  ... Read more
Missouri may be losing half a billion dollars annually from not collecting taxes on products sold exclusively online. A new study by researchers at the University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs said the state lost nearly $468 million annually in tax revenue over the past decade.  ... Read more
A Lathrop man is in custody for robbing Casey’s General Store in Kearney.  ... Read more
soldier
Kevin M. Smith/The Kearney Courier
Two Kearney boys got a pleasant surprise at day care recently.  ... Read more
fire
Kevin M. Smith/The Kearney Courier
Kearney residents will have one bulk pickup day for unwanted items this spring, instead of the usual two.  ... Read more
barge
Kenny Ragland/NPG Newspapers
A 36-foot long Missouri Department of Transportation barge overturned Friday morning, April 20, on the Owl Creek Arm of Smithville Lake, sending seven workers into the 62-degree water and one to the hospital.
The annual meeting and energy fair for Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative members is coming early this year.  ... Read more
Kearney police are looking for a man who robbed Casey’s General Store over the weekend.  ... Read more
map
An application to build an urgent care center in Kearney will go before the Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday, April 30, including a public hearing.  ... Read more
Jenny Hayes
Jenny Hayes isn’t on the Kearney Board of Aldermen anymore, but that doesn’t mean she is going to be much less involved in the city.
Matt Mason
Kevin M. Smith/The Kearney Courier
Matt Mason was never a quitter, according to friends and former teammates.  ... Read more
The amphitheater is the reason for the latest city ordinance on Kearney’s books.  ... Read more
seal
For anyone with inkling to try their first triathlon, the upcoming event at Smithville Lake may just be the place to get their feet wet.  ... Read more
The people have spoken: Missouri is the No. 1 state for camping in the U.S.  ... Read more
fire district
Kevin M. Smith/The Kearney Courier
The Holt Fire District is trying to avoid a downpour when it taps into its “rainy day” fund.  ... Read more
Paving work begins tonight, Wednesday, April 18, on Missouri Highway 92 in Kearney from I-35 east to Missouri Highway 33.  ... Read more
Rural Development will host an open house at Kearney Senior Citizen Housing at Grove and Main streets at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18.  ... Read more
Sewer service is coming to the northwest side of town.  ... Read more
The Missouri Department of Transportation is gearing up for warmer weather while taking a stand against trash. On Thursday, April 19, the MoDOT Kansas City District will have employees sporting orange safety vests, working along the road side picking up litter, and helping to keep Missouri roads clean and safe while beautifying the area in preparation for the 2012 MLB All-Star Game.  ... Read more
Matt Mason was never a quitter, according to friends and former teammates.  ... Read more
groundbreaking
Kevin M. Smith/The Kearney Courier
Work on Bennett Boulevard should start any day now, construction officials said.  ... Read more
bond issue
Kevin M. Smith/The Kearney Courier
The Holt Fire District will have to use its “rainy day” fund to make up budget shortfalls up to $25,000 this year after the bond issue failed on the April 3 ballot.  ... Read more
Mega Millions players in Missouri bought tickets at such a high rate over the past couple of weeks, local schools will get more money for gas for their school buses.  ... Read more
Staff Sgt. Tyler James Smith, 24, of Licking died on April 3 of wounds he sustained from an improvised explosive device. Smith was serving in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  ... Read more
A decline in the state’s overall unemployment rate is bad news for about 9,000 long-term unemployed Missourians who suddenly find themselves without unemployment benefits.  ... Read more
seal
Matt Mason died in Afghanistan. But the Kearney High School graduate and former ball player at Metropolitan Community College will not soon be forgotten.  ... Read more
Former Missouri Gov. Roger Wilson has been indicted for allegedly laundering campaign contributions through the workers’ compensation insurance company he once ran.  ... Read more
A development company will formally present a plan to the city of Kearney on April 30 for a new urgent care facility. Already there is concern about traffic congestion, accidents and confusion.  ... Read more
National Healthcare Decisions Day on Monday, April 16, is the perfect time to start a conversation about end-of-life wishes with your loved ones, according to a press release from Crossroads Hospice in Kansas City.  ... Read more
An issue that brought a lengthy, contentious legal battle has entered the celebration phase.  ... Read more
The Kearney Chamber of Commerce’s biggest event of the year raised $1,000 for a fund that supports schools and a community program.  ... Read more
No matter where Missourians live — in the country, suburbs or cities — trees and forests are vital to their health, wealth and happiness.  ... Read more
Missouri is well positioned to defend its military bases should another round of base closures sweep the nation.  ... Read more
Consumers shopping in Missouri will be able to benefit from the state’s fourth annual Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday, which runs from Thursday, April 19, through Wednesday, April 25. People who purchase new Energy Star-qualified appliances in Missouri during the holiday will save a minimum of 4.225 percent off their purchases.  ... Read more
cigarette
Metro Creative
Sen. Claire McCaskill had just one word to describe Missouri’s current 17-cents per pack tax on cigarettes: embarrassing.  ... Read more
egg hunt
Nancy Hull Rigdon/The Kearney Courier
Chace Fishback, 2, above, inspects the contents of his basket during First Christian Church of Kearney’s Easter egg hunt Sunday, April 1.  ... Read more
The Missouri Department of Transportation will close the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 69 between East Heartland Drive and Chandler Road to accommodate replacement of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad bridge just north of Liberty as part of the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program  ... Read more
Kearney will use Ideker to build its new Bennett Boulevard this year, despite another company bidding about $40,000 less to complete the project.  ... Read more
A program new to the Northland will give area homeless families a place to sleep in communities like Kearney and Liberty.  ... Read more
Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kearney isn’t terribly large, but Jerry Hearne wants to ensure everyone can find their way around.  ... Read more
All systems are ready for severe weather in the Kearney and Holt area.  ... Read more
The Kearney Board of Aldermen approved the city budget during its March 27 meeting, with no changes to the original proposal.  ... Read more
Republican
In a surprise move, Sen. Luann Ridgeway filed to challenge Clay County Eastern Commissioner Katee Porter in the August primary.  ... Read more
The results are in from the April 3 election.  ... Read more
The Grief Recovery Method, offered by Crossroads Hospice, helps people move beyond the pain of any loss and achieve healing.  ... Read more
Members of a Missouri House committee Wednesday, March 28, cast a wary eye on a new form of pseudoephedrine that, its manufacturer says, cannot be made into methamphetamine.  ... Read more
Money - stack of cash
As the state Senate prepares to come up with its version of the state budget, Gov. Jay Nixon wants to add another $68 million to the pot.  ... Read more
JEFFERSON CITY — The House Budget Committee chairman’s idea for putting some money into the state budget for medical services for the blind is on its way to the House floor.  ... Read more
ford
Angie Anaya Borgedalen/Liberty Tribune
Following the excitement of the Kansas City Auto Show earlier this month and after Ford Motor Co. announced its plans to equip the Transit commercial van with the company’s 3.5-liter, V6 EcoBoost engine, local dealers are anxious for the van to be available for sale in this country.  ... Read more
A significant program relocation took effect recently to provide more localized services for Clay County residents with developmental disabilities and their families.  ... Read more
The Kearney Area Development Council plans to get more involved with a regional organization tha  ... Read more
Polls will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Kearney and Holt on Tuesday, April 3, for voters to cast ballots on several candidates and issues.  ... Read more
Kearney police took two teens into custody in connection to a rash of vehicle break-ins and other crimes Sunday, March 25.  ... Read more
The Holt Board of Aldermen approved its fiscal year 2013 budget, which starts April 1 this year, in a special meeting March 20.  ... Read more
Courier
When you look in the lower left corner on A1 of The Kearney Courier, you’ll notice some numbers. This week you’ll see: Volume 81, No. 1.  ... Read more
Local law enforcement agencies arrested 17 people the morning of March 20, in connection with an eight-month investigation, according to a statement from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.  ... Read more
On Tuesday, April 3, county voters will pick three candidates to serve on the Clay County Health District Board of Trustees. Four candidates — incumbent Patricia Dixon, Patrick Avila, incumbent Russell W. Andrews and Cherie W. Journée vying for the seats.  ... Read more
Now that Clay County has made its picks, the board that will oversee a new tax for the Kansas City Zoo can get to work.  ... Read more
vote
outside
Kevin M. Smith/The Kearney Courier
Ryan Rische and Hunter Rische fly a kite Thursday, March 22, in Jesse James Park.  ... Read more
The Missouri Department of Transportation will begin paving operations on Missouri Highway 92 beginning Monday, April 2...  ... Read more
vote
Missouri
On the final day that candidates could file for state representative and state senator seats, the Missouri Supreme Court has upheld the Missouri House of Representatives’ district boundaries.  ... Read more
handcuffs
Metro Creative
Kearney police have two suspects in custody following a rash of car break-ins over the weekend.  ... Read more
zebra mussel
Mike Watkins/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Three zebra mussel shells were found on metal gates used to control water flow through the lake dam, said Mike Watkins, a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The clam-looking mollusks are an invasive species from Eurasia that can cause ecological and property damage. Their presence in the 7,200-acre Clay County impoundment was announced March 21.  ... Read more
Missouri flag
The Missouri House of Representatives passed its version of a $24 billion state budget that restores a $106 million cut to higher education funding, includes a slight increase in the Elementary and Secondary education budget, finds a new source of revenue for veterans programs, and includes a state worker pay raise of two percent for employees who make less than $70,000 a year.  ... Read more
The city of Kearney delayed going to court against a former local business owner this week.  ... Read more
fundraiser
Nancy Hull Rigdon/The Kearney Courier
Some cowboys strolled into town, and mischief by way of monkeys and lingerie-flinging women ensued.  ... Read more
Northland lawmakers are teaming up to ensure Clay County, as well as the other counties in the state, don’t have another felon in an elected office.  ... Read more
Legislation that Rep. T.J. Berry believes would end the border war between Missouri and Kansas is moving closer to a vote.  ... Read more
Three Kearney High School students broke from their school lunch routine one day recently to dine with a crowd of Northland business and education leaders.  ... Read more
For the second time, Clay County has received an award honoring the most transparent government websites in the nation.  ... Read more
The Holt Board of Aldermen approved its Fiscal Year 2013 budget, which starts April 1 this year, in a special meeting March 20.  ... Read more
Kearney residents could see instant results when they’re curious about their water usage and bills.  ... Read more
The lawsuit by a former Kearney business owner against the city did not go before a judge today as expected.  ... Read more
flooded road
Metro Creative
According to the National Weather Service, flooding is a major concern. Heavy rain can produce slippery road surfaces. Stopping quickly on wet pavement is more difficult. Pavement markings will be harder for drivers to see.  ... Read more
Local law enforcement agencies arrested 17 people the morning of Tuesday, March 20, in connection with an eight-month investigation.  ... Read more
Turkey hunters will have to stay away from the Peck Ranch Conservation Area’s refuge in south central Missouri for the second straight year.  ... Read more
National Weather Service offices in Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield are participating in a pilot program to simplify reports and include better information about the severity of storms. Wes Browning, meteorologist, said the new reports will include an expectation of the severity of damage.  ... Read more
Missouri could see an increase in the number of traffic deaths for the first time in six years. The highway patrol reports so far this year there have been 139 deaths in traffic incidents, up from 105 this time last year.  ... Read more
Traffic will be reduced to one lane each direction on U.S. Highway 69 starting Monday, March 19.  ... Read more
Ron Paul
m Sampson/Missouri News Horizon
Two days before Missouri Republicans were set to caucus on who should be their party’s 2012 presidential nominee, libertarian-favorite Ron Paul held a rally at the University of Missouri campus in Columbia.  ... Read more
The Holt Board of Aldermen approved a police car purchase during its regular meeting March 7.  ... Read more
highway
Metro Creative
The U.S. Senate has passed its version of a highway funding bill, and while there’s some relief for Missouri, MoDOT officials aren’t thrilled about the legislation overall.  ... Read more
The Missouri Senate has given first round approval and is expected to pass later this week a bill changing the rules for the state’s worker’s compensation program.  ... Read more
turf
Contributed photo
While the Kearney R-1 School District is still considering installing an artificial turf field at Kearney High School, it no longer is looking to fund the field solely through advertising.  ... Read more
volunteer
Kevin M. Smith/The Kearney Courier
The Kearney Community Foundation broke tradition and named two people as volunteer of the year at its annual volunteer appreciation banquet.  ... Read more
The proposed budget for the city of Kearney shows growth in several areas, including sales tax revenue, staff salaries and water rates.  ... Read more
Katy Plogher, 14, sees a common theme with teens who drink alcohol, smoke or do drugs.  ... Read more
The Holt Board of Aldermen is expected to call a special meeting later this month to vote on its proposed budget, but it took a discussion of more than an hour to reach a balanced budget.  ... Read more
While the Holt Board of Aldermen has two unopposed candidates for the April 3 election, The Kearney Courier asked those candidates to answer some questions so the community could get to know their elected officials.  ... Read more
firefighting
Kevin M. Smith/The Kearney Courier
Firefighting isn’t all about using hoses and ladders to extinguish flames.  ... Read more
Barack Obama
Metro Creative
Nearly a year to the day after a deadly tornado tore through Joplin, President Barack Obama will speak at the high school graduation ceremony.  ... Read more
For the first time since filing a lawsuit against the city nearly a year ago, Pour Boy Oil Co. has put a dollar figure in the legal document.  ... Read more
The Kansas City District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a total of six contracts since January to repair seven levees that were damaged in the Missouri River flood in 2011.  ... Read more
Mitt Romney’s campaign is scheduled to stop at William Jewell College in Liberty at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 13.  ... Read more
 ... Read more
A study by an agriculture economics group at the University of Missouri shows that farm income will fall slightly in 2012 because of dropping crop prices.  ... Read more
tornado
Metro Creative
“It’s hard to predict if we’ll see more storms than average this spring, but the high temperatures will certainly create the kind of conditions that generate tornadoes,” said Jayson Gosselin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis.  ... Read more
U.S. Capitol
Metro Creative
The National Journal every year studies the voting records of Congress and ranks them along the ideological spectrum.  ... Read more
The shipping season on the Missouri River usually starts in April, but a mild winter and good river conditions allowed the crew to get an early start.  ... Read more
expo
Kevin M. Smith/The Kearney Courier
The annual Kearney business expo drew a mix of clientele and vendors March 3.  ... Read more
Missouri state seal
Seeking to undo the governor’s proposed cuts to higher education, the Missouri House Budget Committee Wednesday, March 7, voted out its version of the state budget.  ... Read more
trophy
Contributed photo
The Texas Auto Writers Association, one of the largest associations of auto writers in the nation, named the 2012 Ford F-150 as the Truck of Texas, according to a press release.  ... Read more
vote
Filing opened a week ago for August primary elections at the state level, and candidates have mixed feelings about the situation.  ... Read more
Despite lingering confusion over Missouri’s legislative district boundaries, the Secretary of State’s office has seen an increase in the number of candidates filing early for the August primary.  ... Read more
The Holt Board of Aldermen took little action at a special meeting Thursday, March 1.  ... Read more
Jim Dier
The WIN for KC Women’s Triathlon at Smithville Lake has been applauded for empowering women while bring an economic boost to the area. But the 1,000-participant event has also brought complaints.  ... Read more
Kearney students were never in danger due to a threat from a Kearney Junior High School student, according to Kearney R-I School District superintendent Bill Nicely and a Kearney Police Department press release.  ... Read more
If an 18-year-old is allowed to vote in the general presidential election, why shouldn’t he or she get a say in the presidential primary while they’re still 17?  ... Read more
The Hall of Famous Missourians is a collection of bronze busts displayed on the third-floor rotunda of the State Capitol in Jefferson City. The statues honor Missourians who have made a significant contribution to the notoriety of the state.  ... Read more
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Amid one of the most tumultuous redistricting years in Missouri history, one state senator is looking to change the rules to allow more transparency in the process of redrawing legislative districts.  ... Read more
budget shortfall
Metro Creative
The Kearney Board of Aldermen heard an overview of the city’s budget for Fiscal Year 2013, which begins April 1 this year.  ... Read more

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