Rachel Lippmann

3 weeks ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Rachel Lippmann

A Missouri woman has admitted that she committed a crime when she lied about the status of a chimp named Tonka. Tonia Haddix pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to two counts of perjury and a count of obstruction of justice — all are felonies. Sentencing is currently set for July 16. “Individuals go to court to seek justice,” Assistant United States Attorney Hal Goldsmith said to reporters after Haddix’s plea hearing.

3 weeks ago | kcur.org | Rachel Lippmann

A Missouri woman has admitted that she committed a crime when she lied about the status of a chimp named Tonka. Tonia Haddix pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to two counts of perjury and a count of obstruction of justice — all are felonies. Sentencing is currently set for July 16. “Individuals go to court to seek justice,” Assistant United States Attorney Hal Goldsmith said to reporters after Haddix’s plea hearing.

1 month ago | kcur.org | Rachel Lippmann

The City of Ferguson has marked a key milestone in its compliance with a 2016 federal consent decree that forced reforms to its Police Department and municipal courts. Police Chief Troy Doyle on Thursday outlined the department's community policing and engagement strategy, a document that the team in charge of monitoring the decree calls part of the foundation of implementing it. “These things are not innovative or brand new,” Doyle said.

1 month ago | kcur.org | Rachel Lippmann

The Missouri Supreme Court is weighing whether to uphold the November passage of a measure that raised the state’s minimum wage and mandated paid sick leave for some employees. Voters approved Proposition A by 15 percentage points and more than 445,000 votes. It increases the minimum wage to $15 by 2026 with some exceptions. It also requires most businesses to offer an hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours an employee works, though there are caps on how much sick leave someone can use.

1 month ago | kbia.org | Rachel Lippmann

The chief justice of Missouri's Supreme Court urged lawmakers on Wednesday to continue to support court employees in the state’s 46 judicial circuits. “From the front lines, our local court staff experience firsthand how their everyday work impacts the people in their communities,” Mary Russell told the state House and Senate during her State of the Judiciary speech Wednesday.