Midwest
Missouri judge who wore Elvis wigs in courtroom agrees to resign after ‘integrity’ concerns
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A Missouri judge who often wore Elvis Presley wigs in his courtroom and played the late rock star’s music has agreed to step down from the bench.
Judge Matthew Thornhill said he wanted to “add levity at times when I thought it would help relax litigants” but also recognized “that this could affect the integrity and solemnity of the proceedings.”
Thornhill, who serves in St. Louis, agreed to take a six-month unpaid leave before returning to the bench for 18 months, then resigning early after reaching a deal with a state board that will help him avoid a disciplinary hearing.
The state’s Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline mentioned Thornhill’s predilection to dress like the king of rock ‘n’ roll, including photos of him dressed in a wig and sunglasses with staff in its report.
FEDERAL JUDGE FINES, REPRIMANDS LAWYER WHO USED AI TO DRAFT COURT FILINGS
A Missouri judge who often wore Elvis Presley wigs in his courtroom and played the late rock star’s music, has agreed to step down from the bench. (St. Charles County Circuit Court via AP; Missouri Supreme Court)
The report also mentions Thornhill bringing up politics while on the bench, including mentioning his party affiliation and which candidates he prefers.
It says Thornhill regularly wore the wig around Halloween, sometimes walked into the courtroom while playing Elvis’ music and sometimes offered litigants the option to be sworn in while he played his music on his phone.
He would also allegedly make random references to Elvis during court proceedings at times.
The commission found his Elvis antics violated rules of “order and decorum” while in the courtroom.
Document showing Judge Matthew Thornhill dressed as Elvis in front of a cardboard cutout of Elvis and a poster of him. (Missouri Supreme Court)
HOUSE CONSERVATIVES RALLY BEHIND PUSH TO IMPEACH JUDGE BOASBERG OVER ROLE IN TRUMP INVESTIGATION
The agreement is pending before the Missouri Supreme Court, which has accepted 35 character references for Thornhill.
Thornhill was elected associate circuit judge in 2006, and he served for 18 years. In 2024, he was elected circuit judge in Division 4 and is the longest serving judge in the county, according to the St. Charles County Circuit Court website.
He’s presided over 25 jury trials and thousands of bench trials during his career.
Thornhill says in his biography on the court’s website that he loves Elvis. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
His biography adds that he “loves Elvis, surfing, gardening, watching soccer, golfing with his children, and running with his dog on the Katy Trail.”
Thornhill was also reprimanded and fined $750 in 2008 after he reduced charges for a woman after she offered him a baseball signed by Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw that turned out to be fake, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
He denies taking the ball.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
Minnesota
Minnesota United Statement on International Friendly | Minnesota United FC
Minnesota United, the Liberia Lone Star National Football Team and SARX today announced that the international friendly against the Liberia National Team, scheduled for July 26, 2026, has been canceled.
While we were looking forward to welcoming the Liberia National Team and celebrating the strong ties between Minnesota’s Liberian community and our club, circumstances outside of our control have made it necessary to cancel the match. We appreciate the understanding of our supporters and wish the Liberia National Team all the best.
Fans who purchased tickets to the match will be refunded within approximately 3-10 business days.
Missouri
Missouri teen Gabbriana Boyster shot dead in home as mom makes horrifying discovery; 3 friends charged
A Missouri teen was shot dead while hanging out with her friends, who are accused of not reporting the killing before her mother made the horrifying discovery inside their home.
Gabbriana Boyster, 16, was allegedly struck in the head in a Hillsboro, Missouri, home Friday night — with her body not being found by her mom, Candy G’Sell, until the following afternoon, KDSK reported.
“I walked in the room and she was laying there… sitting up,” the grieving mother told the outlet.
G’Sell immediately called 911, but by the time paramedics arrived, her daughter had already been dead for hours.
Investigators with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Boyster was shot Friday evening, and her body remained inside the home “for hours” until her mother made the devastating discovery, according to the outlet.
Police did not disclose what led to the fatal shooting or who owned the weapon.
Three boys were at Boyster’s home at the time of the shooting, investigators suspect, and one has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, unlawful use of a weapon resulting in death, armed criminal action, and abandonment of a corpse.
The two other juveniles were released from custody following charges of abandonment of a corpse.
The identities of all three minors are being withheld by authorities due to their ages.
G’Sell said the three boys were friends with her daughter.
“It’s not fair. My daughter was sweet and innocent and kind. And she loved her friends… for them, her friends, to just leave her…” the grief-stricken mother said.
“There’s no relief. My baby is gone. What mother wants to bury their baby?”
Gabby, as she was known to loved ones, was an incoming junior at Hillsboro High School with dreams of becoming an ultrasound technician after graduation.
The district’s superintendent, Dr. Jon Isaacson, released a statement Tuesday saying that “Our hearts are with the student’s family, friends, and everyone impacted by this unimaginable loss,” KMOV reported.
“While words cannot take away the pain of this tragedy, we want our students, staff, and families to know they are not alone. We are committed to providing support and care for everyone who is grieving during this difficult time.”
Boyster, the youngest of three siblings, “brought warmth and laughter to those fortunate enough to know her,” according to an online obituary.
“Although she could be quiet at first, once she opened up, her vibrant personality and gift for conversation quickly shined through,” the obituary read.
“Her kind heart, playful spirit, and the joy she brought to others will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.”
Nebraska
Omaha hospice nurse speaks out after Nebraska AG disciplinary action
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A part-owner of Endless Journey Hospice is speaking out after the Nebraska Attorney General issued a 14-page petition of disciplinary action against her and another nurse at the company.
Melanie Costlow, who has been a part owner of Endless Journey Hospice since the company opened in 2016, said she is working to show the positives of the organization following allegations from the state.
Allegations and investigation
In April of last year, the state opened an investigation into Endless Journey Hospice following a self-reported incident. Attorney General Mike Hilgers issued the disciplinary petition against two nurses at the company.
Allegations against Costlow included failing to report misdemeanors on nurse renewal applications, transporting medications from a deceased patient, and allowing staff to sign medical reports as a physician.
The second nurse was accused of mishandling medications in an unlocked cabinet and signing patient records as a physician. That nurse has since been terminated.
Costlow’s response
Costlow said she was unaware the employee was keeping medications from a deceased patient, and that an automated computer system unknowingly marked employees as physicians in patient records.
“None of that happened knowingly. None of that was done with ill intent,” Costlow said.
She said the charting system issue was identified and steps were taken to correct it before the state investigated.
“I will tell you that we had a system. All hospices had a system that they chart and we changed our system,” Costlow said.
Regarding the failure to report prior misdemeanors, Costlow said she had an attorney at the time and was unaware she was required to report them to the state board of nursing.
“That was not done maliciously. That is not me trying to hide from the state board of nursing that I was caught driving without a driver’s license,” Costlow said.
Outcome
There is no longer an active investigation. Costlow will serve a 90-day suspension and pay a $10,000 fine. Endless Journey Hospice will remain open.
Costlow said her suspension had not yet begun but was expected to start in the coming days.
“I don’t want Endless Journey to suffer for something that we already been through, that we already handled, that we already took care of,” Costlow said.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
-
Minnesota18 seconds agoMinnesota United Statement on International Friendly | Minnesota United FC
-
Mississippi6 minutes agoGPS data tracks boat Mississippi teen Nolan Wells was on before he went missing
-
Missouri12 minutes agoMissouri teen Gabbriana Boyster shot dead in home as mom makes horrifying discovery; 3 friends charged
-
Montana18 minutes agoPhotos: Helena Senators sweep home doubleheader from Billings Royals
-
Nebraska24 minutes agoOmaha hospice nurse speaks out after Nebraska AG disciplinary action
-
Nevada30 minutes agoSparks weekend road closures are slated
-
New Hampshire36 minutes agoN.H. police chief placed on leave after video released of him grabbing someone by the throat inside police station
-
New Jersey42 minutes agoCyclists are frustrated, upset. Is NJ’s new e-bike law already broken?