Missouri
Lawmakers question security at Missouri Capitol
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri lawmakers are criticizing Capitol Police for not being transparent enough during emergency situations.
A bipartisan panel of lawmakers told the chief of the Missouri Capitol Police Thursday they are concerned about their safety inside the statehouse. This comes after threats were made, but the General Assembly said it was not informed.
Now, members are calling for changes to the way the building is secured.
“These concerns stem from numerous occasions of threats, including bomb threats being made against the state Capitol building, without leadership in either body being notified,” Senate President Cindy O’Laughlin said during the committee hearing.
In one of their first hearings of the year, leaders of both chambers said they are troubled about the gap in information. Lawmakers said they want an immediate update on threats.
When asked if she feels safe in the Capitol, O’Laughlin said yes.
“We just want to let people know the things that do concern us, and we want to think that we’re well versed in what is expected for us and people who visit the Capitol,” she said.
Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, chairs the Joint Committee on Capitol Security.
“Some people in the General Assembly and the staff have raised concerns and issues with that that have potentially hampered the capabilities of members and staff that would like to be efficiently and effectively able to perform and be a part of the solution and of the security apparatus of this building,” Brattin said.
In a letter signed by O’Laughlin and House Speaker Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, to Chief Zim Schwartze, they questioned why there’s only one entrance for visitors after the state paid for more than one metal detector.
“Members of the General Assembly and staff alike have been stopped from entering the building through certain entrances, while some members of the public are not even screened before entering the building,” O’Laughlin said.
The meeting comes on the heels of Monday’s governor inauguration. Schwartze said a security plan has been in the works for months.
“It is a very comprehensive plan, and we’ve been meeting regularly, as well as a lot of phone calls and a lot of emails, and a lot of information has been shared,” Schwartze said.
Under current rules, people who have a concealed carry permit are allowed to enter the Capitol with a firearm but cannot be in any legislative meeting rooms or in the House or Senate chambers.
The committee plans to meet again in the coming weeks.
Callaway County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested two Mexico, Missouri, residents on suspicion of possession of 10 pounds of methamphetamine, according to a social media post from the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 10:18 p.m. on Wednesday, deputies conducted traffic stops on Interstate 70 regarding an ongoing narcotics investigation by the Sheriff’s Office investigators assigned to the MUSTANG Drug Task Force, according to the social media post.
Deputies made contact with Louetta Dorsey, 43, and Brian Wilson, 41, of Mexico, in their vehicles during the investigation, according to the social media post. The two suspects were in separate vehicles, and one was allegedly acting as a decoy vehicle for the other, according to court documents.
During the traffic stops, deputies located approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Dorsey and Wilson were arrested and taken to the Callaway County Jail, according to the social media post.
Dorsey has been charged with second-degree drug trafficking and possession of a controlled substance, according to court records. Charges for Wilson were not appearing in Missouri’s online court record system as of Friday afternoon.
A probable cause statement filed in Dorsey’s case indicates that both she and Wilson were under investigation on suspicion of distributing large amounts of methamphetamine throughout Audrain, Boone and Callaway counties.
Members of the MUSTANG Drug Task Force worked with the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office, East Central Drug Task Force and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office-MO to execute additional narcotics related search warrants, according to the social media post.
The results of the search warrants revealed firearms and drug paraphernalia commonly used for drug trafficking, according to the social media post.
Juneteenth 2024: How to celebrate
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. Here’s how to prep for and celebrate the important holiday.
Problem Solved
Juneteenth is marking five years since it was officially recognized as a federal holiday.
Given the holiday’s relatively recent federal designation, it may not be clear to many what will be open/closed on Juneteenth. Will the post office be open? Will my trash get collected? Can I go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew my license?
Here’s a guide to what is open and closed on Juneteenth in Missouri.
When is Juneteenth 2026?
This year, Juneteenth will be celebrated on Friday, June 19. The holiday is also often celebrated on the third Saturday of June, with many events taking place on that day.
Communities use this day to honor resilience, culture and progress through various events, gatherings and activities. These can include church services, picnics, barbecues, parades and festivals, to name a few.
Are federal or Missouri state offices open on Juneteenth?
Given that Juneteenth is a federal holiday, non-essential federal offices will be closed.
It’s also a state holiday in Missouri, so all local governments and state offices will be closed, as well.
Will major retailers be open on Juneteenth?
Most major retailers, grocery stores, warehouse clubs and restaurants should be open on Juneteenth, but you may want to check with your local stores to confirm business hours, as they can vary by location.
Is the post office open on Juneteenth? Will mail be delivered?
All post offices will be closed, and mail will not be delivered on Juneteenth, according to the U.S. Postal Service’s website.
FedEx and UPS will operate more or less as usual, and their stores will be open.
Are banks open on Juneteenth?
Most banks will be closed on Juneteenth, as most follow the Federal Reserve’s holiday schedule.
Is the stock market open on Juneteenth?
Both the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market will be closed on Juneteenth.
Will trash pickup happen on Juneteenth?
Trash pickup on Juneteenth varies from city to city, so it’s best to check with your local waste management service to see whether they observe the holiday.
Trash pickup can be delayed by one day if the scheduled pickup falls on a federal holiday.
Columbia will have normal trash pickup on Friday, according to the city’s website. Each hauler in Springfield sets its own holiday schedule. Ozark Refuse, Republic Services and Waste Management are not delayed for the holiday.
Are libraries and DMV offices open on Juneteenth?
Holiday hours can vary among Missouri’s libraries, so it’s best to check whether the ones in your area will be open on Juneteenth.
The Daniel Boone Regional Library network in Columbia and Springfield-Greene County Library District branches will be closed.
All Missouri Department of Revenue offices will be closed on Juneteenth, including driver examination stations. With that being said, some license offices will be operating during the holiday, so check the Missouri License Office Locator to see if your local office is open.
Nearly all of Missouri’s abortion regulations, including laws that Planned Parenthood said made it impossible for providers to prescribe medication abortion, were struck down in a ruling Thursday by a Jackson County judge. One of the regulations most widely condemned by abortion rights supporters, a 72-hour waiting period between an initial consultation and an abortion, […]
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