The Mexico School District’s tax rate will remain unchanged for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The Board of Education approved a rate of $4.6191 per $100 of assessed valuation during its August 18 meeting. Superintendent Troy Lentz says the district’s adjusted assessed valuation is about $255 million. That’s a decrease of roughly $12 million, largely due…
A new Missouri law allowing rural highway speed limits to increase to 75 miles per hour takes effect August 28, but drivers won’t see immediate changes. The Missouri Department of Transportation is evaluating eligible roads based on traffic levels, truck traffic, crash history, terrain and road design. MoDOT Director Ed Hassinger says safety will be…
Missouri’s Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday over two ballot measures that Secretary of State Denny Hoskins refused to certify. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is defending that decision in both cases. One measure would put a proposed congressional map before voters in November. The other, Amendment 6, would limit lawmakers’ ability to change citizen initiative…
A Columbia man was taken into custody Wednesday following a cyber-investigation by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. 53-year-old Stephan Jon Sheltmire II was arrested and charged with Possession of CSAM – Possession of More Than 20 Pics/One Film/Videotape. The arrest came after a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported…
IN HIGHSCHOOL FOOTBALL Country 96′ and AM-1340 KXEO Present the game of the week, As the rivalry is back tonight in Mexico The Centralia Panthers and the Mexico Bulldogs Meet for the battle for Highway 22 – with both teams looking to start the season with a statement. It’s a rivalry that doesn’t need much…
A 51-year-old Moberly man is under arrest, accused of killing 57-year-old Cheryl Gravitt. Moberly Police say Christopher Viley was arrested Thursday in the 1000 block of Sinnock Avenue and charged with first-degree murder. Authorities say Viley came out of a residence after a brief standoff and was taken into custody without incident. Multiple agencies, including…
Dolly Parton, who passed away yesterday, leaves behind a lasting legacy in Missouri through her work promoting childhood literacy. Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995, mailing free, age-appropriate books to children under five. Missouri became the first state to fully fund the program in 2023, making every child under five eligible. The program distributed…
Mizzou’s annual Tomato Festival is returning Thursday at Jefferson Farm in Columbia. The free event runs from 4 to 7 p.m. and will feature up to 240 varieties of tomatoes, along with peppers, sauces and other food. Festival-goers can also enjoy cooking and gardening demonstrations, educational talks, a plant sale and activities for kids. This…
North Callaway elementary students are starting the school year under one roof for the first time. The district’s new consolidated elementary school welcomed students Tuesday, bringing together families and staff from Williamsburg and Hatton-McCredie elementary schools. The kindergarten-through-fifth-grade campus also houses the district’s early childhood program. For some families, the new school also means a…
A former University of Missouri student remains in critical condition after falling from the rooftop bar at Harpo’s Bar and Grill in Columbia Sunday night. Corbin Rodenberg, a Chillicothe High School graduate, fell from the second-story Skyy Bar. No lawsuit has been filed. A personal injury attorney says any potential case would likely focus on…
A juvenile is in critical condition after being shot Tuesday evening in east Columbia. Police responded around 5:16 p.m. to the 5700 block of Canaveral Drive for reports of shots fired. Officers found the juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound and detained another juvenile nearby. The victim was taken to a local hospital in critical…
IN MLB The Kansas City Royals defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 on last night, extending their impressive winning streak to nine consecutive games. a game that featured strong pitching, clutch hitting, and a dramatic finish. Salvador Perez drove in two runs, while Seth Lugo earned the win with five solid innings. Kansas City led…
The Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce will honor Spartan Light Metal Products with its 2026 Commerce and Industry Award. The award recognizes Spartan’s more than three decades of investment in Mexico, including four expansions and a second manufacturing facility focused on large-tonnage die casting. Today, Spartan’s Mexico operations span nearly 289,000 square feet and employ…
A former Centralia police officer accused of domestic violence has been sentenced to five years of probation. Curtis Higby of Mexico pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic assault, reduced from a first-degree charge, and unlawful use of a weapon. Prosecutors dismissed five other felony charges as part of the plea agreement. Higby was accused of a…
A Columbia man is facing charges after police say he pointed a gun and laser at a car during an apparent road rage incident on Interstate 70. Court documents say a 17-year-old called 911 Saturday, reporting a man in a red pickup pointed a firearm and laser at him near mile marker 105. Officers later…
