On Sunday, May 5 at approximately 0158 hours, Emergency Room staff at Ascension Via Christi reported they had a patient with a gunshot wound. It was determined that the patient was the victim of a shooting on the roadway south of Meadowbrook Mall on the 1000 block of south 220th St.  The victim was identified as 34-year old Keith Mitchell of Pittsburg. Preliminary investigation revealed the suspect of the shooting was known to the victim.  Mitchell is expected to survive his injuries.  The suspect has not yet been located. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office is currently attem ..read more

Drug abuse is a problem all across the nation. To determine where drug abuse is most pronounced and which areas are most at risk, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Missouri has the 6th highest drug use of all the 50 states. Arkansas ranks 8th and Oklahoma 9th in the study. Kansas, in case you’re wondering, comes in 19th. The state with the worst ranking is New Mexico. New Mexico has the biggest drug problem in the U.S., especially when it comes to teenagers. The state has the highest percentage of teens using illicit drugs and the highest share of teenagers who re ..read more

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will be hosting four in-person public open houses that will take place on May 16 and May 17, as well as a virtual open house that will take place on May 21. These events will be an opportunity for community members to express concerns, provide comments, and ask questions about the study. There will be no formal presentation at the in-person open houses. Open house details are shown below: ​• Thursday, May 16: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Memorial Auditorium 503 N. Pine St., Pittsburg, KS 66762 • Thursday, May 16: 4 – 7 p.m. Pittsburg High School 1978 ..read more

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A project to add a high-friction pavement treatment to selected curves on various routes in McDonald, Stone, Taney & Vernon Counties is scheduled to begin May 13, the Missouri Department of Transportation said. Short sections of road will receive a special pavement treatment to help improve traction at curves. Crews will begin in Taney County and then move to Stone, Vernon and McDonald Counties. Traffic can expect lane closures during nighttime hours of 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday on most routes. The two exceptions are Missouri Route 265 in Taney County ..read more

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Budget Director Dan Haug announced today that net general revenue collections for April 2024 increased 20.3 percent compared to those for April 2023, from $1.15 billion last year to $1.38 billion this year. Net general revenue collections for 2024 fiscal year-to-date increased 2.7 percent compared to April 2023, from $10.42 billion last year to $10.70 billion this year. GROSS COLLECTIONS BY TAX TYPE Individual income tax collections Decreased 7.3 percent for the year, from $7.96 billion last year to $7.38 billion this year. Increased 10.6 percent for the ..read more

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — When Arkansas lawmakers decided five years ago to replace the statues representing the state at the U.S. Capitol, there was little objection to getting rid of the existing sculptures. The statues that had stood there for more than 100 years were obscure figures in the state’s history. “I remember giving tours to constituents from Arkansas, to young people, and I would point out the two representatives in Statuary Hall in our United States Capitol from Arkansas,” said former Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who also served in Congress. “And they would say, ‘We’ve never h ..read more

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A state examination of the office that handles criminal prosecutions in St. Louis is being delayed because auditors can’t find former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said Monday. Fitzpatrick said in a news release that auditors have tried for several months to contact Gardner, including trying to serve her with a subpoena. Her whereabouts remain unknown, he said. “This is a pattern of behavior with Kim Gardner, who hasn’t shown a willingness to be transparent or accountable,” Fitzpatrick, a Republican, said in a news release. “Without questio ..read more

The KCU-Joplin Medical School held graduation ceremonies Sunday.   More than 150 graduates took part. Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez told Newstalk KZRG:   “I want to give a shout out to Doctor Tammy Wikki, who was born here, raised here, went to school here, graduated as a doctor and is going to stay here in our community as a primary care physician.  That is what we are looking for as a community.”  Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez on the KZRG Morning Newswatch said the city has a goal for the graduating doctors at the KCU Medical School.  “I think as a city, some of ..read more

A unique project designed by Art students at Pittsburg State University is helping to showcase attractions in Southeast Kansas: a coloring book for children, with Gus Gorilla as the “tour guide,” that tourism officials will distribute 10,000 copies of in coming days.  “I have been with Explore Crawford County since 2017 and one of the things we have learned over the years is how little residents know about the region they live in,” said Chris Wilson, marketing and communications manager for Crawford County’s Convention & Visitors Bureau.   He partnered with Professor J ..read more

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that May 5-11 is proclaimed Public Service Recognition Week. This week celebrates public servants at all levels of government who better the quality of life in communities across the state. “Kansas’ public service workers, no matter their job title, are vital to the state’s functioning, the amenities we enjoy, and the services we use daily,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Thanks to all of you for the tremendous impact you make on our communities, the lives of our visitors, and those who call Kansas home.” Governor Kelly, Secretary of A ..read more