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Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson speaks to reporters Thursday after being the lone Republican vote against a proposal to reinstate the abortion ban overturned by voters in November.

Missouri abortion ban clears House, heads to Senate

The top Republican in the Missouri House said Thursday that a proposed constitutional amendment to ban abortion approved by his GOP colleagues doesn’t go far enough to protect victims of sexual …
Sen. Jill Carter, a Republican from Granby, sits at her desk on the Senate floor. Carter has filed a bill for three consecutive years on school accreditation and accountability.

Missouri school accreditation bill passes Senate for first time after three years

The Missouri Senate sent a bill to the House Thursday that would overhaul the state’s accreditation and accountability system in order to give local school districts more control. State …
State Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, speaks to reporters in April 2022.

Missouri Democrats filibuster GOP effort to overturn sick leave

Missouri Democrats stonewalled a Republican effort to roll back a voter-approved paid sick leave law, blocking action in the Senate for more than nine hours before GOP leadership adjourned the …

Local Briefs for April 18

Pettis County announces road closure The Pettis County Road and Bridge Department announced that Anderson RD, between BB HWY and J HWY,  will have daily road closures beginning next week in …
Fourteen students were selected for the 2025 Who’s Who at UCM honor. Not pictured is Aka'Ne Tinsley.

Sedalia student named to 2025 Who’s Who at UCM

Recognized for their academic excellence and strong community involvement, University of Central Missouri (UCM) seniors Marie Hall and Alyssa Robertson are the recipients of the 2025 Charno Award, …

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Linn shuts down Lone Jack

Smith-Cotton senior Jakobe Linn strikes out the final batter to help the Tigers defeat Lone Jack 5-1 in the Smith-Cotton Tournament championship game on Saturday, April 12.  Read the story …

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Local News

MU Extension hosting short-term operating plans workshop

If key decision makers on a farm are unable to make decisions for a short time (2 weeks to 6 months), how well would their farm operations continue? Join University of Missouri Extension for an …

Missouri Farmers face setbacks after recent severe weather

Farmers across Missouri are grappling with widespread damages to crops, livestock, and infrastructure following a series of severe weather events that swept through the state earlier this month. …

Police reports for April 17

Sedalia Police Department Arrests April 15 9:56 a.m.: Joint Communications began receiving calls from a specific phone number in the 700 block of South Ohio Avenue.  23 total …

PHOTO: Fire recruits work simulated house fire on East 11th Street

Police Reports for April 16

Sedalia Police Department
Local Sports

Smith-Cotton track and field qualifies for Kansas Relays in six events

Smith-Cotton senior Julie Kuehner competes in a relay race during the Smith-Cotton Quad on March 21. Kuehner is a part of the girls 4x800-meter relay team that will compete in the 2025 Kansas Relays this weekend.
Smith-Cotton track and field will be represented in six events at the 2025 University of Kansas Relays on Friday, April 18, and Saturday, April 19, at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas. The …

State Fair softball drops two against Crowder College

State Fair Community College softball lost its doubleheader to Crowder College 11-3 and 11-3 on Tuesday, April 15, in Neosho.  In the first game, SFCC took a 2-0 lead after the top of the …

In the Community
Education
Former Sedalian and 1993 Smith-Cotton High School graduate Chad Alexander Williams will be inducted into the S-C Hall of Fame at 6:30 p.m. May 1 during the Spring Vocal Music Concert.
The Lincoln R-2 Academic Team is heading to the quarterfinals after clinching the District Championship title earlier this month.
WARRENSBURG — Missouri has seen an increased need for cannabis education for businesses and individuals looking to enter the industry since the passage of the 2022 Missouri Constitutional Amendment 3, also known as the Marijuana Legalization Initiative. This initiative officially legalized adult-use cannabis sales in Missouri in February 2023.
Calendar of events
Business

Burrell Behavioral Health names Mat Gass as its new CEO

Mat Gass
For just the third time since its founding, Burrell Behavioral Health has a new chief executive officer. Mat Gass will be just the third CEO since Burrell Behavioral Health was founded in 1977.
Creative Palette customers show off their art. The business is located at 216 Main St. in Warsaw and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, along with 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. 


Photo courtesy of Kimberly Pearcy
Creative Palette brings big city fun to small town Warsaw
WARSAW — Nestled in the heart of downtown Warsaw, Creative Palette is more than just an art studio—it’s an ever-evolving hub for creativity, community and connection.
On Wednesday, March 26, Lindsey Starr, owner of Artistic Isle in downtown Sedalia, stands outside her building next to a mural created by Paul Woronecki of Lincoln. She opened the art supply business in 2023 and offers art classes.


Photo by Faith Bemiss-McKinney | Democrat
Artistic Isle offers art supplies, classes
Artist Lindsey Starr has returned home to Sedalia to offer others the opportunity to be creative.
Bothwell earns Acute Heart Attack Ready recertification from The Joint Commission
Bothwell Regional Health Center has been granted continued compliance of its Acute Heart Attack Ready (AHAR) certification from The Joint Commission, demonstrating its ability to quickly diagnose heart attacks, including the most severe type, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). STEMI occurs when a major artery supplying oxygen-rich blood to the heart is completely blocked.
The Ag Forward Estate Planning Forum featured Kent Lang, CPA with Anchor Point; Wesley Tucker with MU Extension; and Attorney Jim Buckley with Buckley and Buckley Attorneys at Law. It was hosted by Brett Hudson, Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor with Central Investment Advisors.


Photo by Chris Howell | Democrat
Ag Forward forum provides estate planning advice
An interactive estate planning panel was hosted by Central Bank of Sedalia and State Fair Community College on Tuesday, March 25, at the SFCC Thompson Conference Center. 
Skelly’s Ice Cream Shoppe, a 100-year-old gas station transformed into an old-fashioned ice cream shop in Stover, has long been a gathering place for locals and visitors alike.


Photo courtesy of Skelly's Ice Cream Shoppe
Skelly’s Ice Cream Shoppe to host spring cruise-in event
STOVER — The rumble of classic engines and the gleam of polished chrome will fill the streets of Stover as Skelly’s Ice Cream Shoppe, 401 W. 2nd St., welcomes car and motorcycle enthusiasts to its Car & Bike Cruise-In on Friday, April 5, from 5 to 8 p.m.
On Thursday, Feb. 27, Dr. Jess Oliveira, DVM, looks over Midge, a Whippet, with Brooke Spitzer, a vet tech at Advanced Pet Care. Oliveira was hired on Feb. 17 and joins veterinarians Dr. Jennifer Jones, DVM, and Dr. Aaron Criss, DVM, at the practice.


Photo by Faith Bemiss-McKinney | Democrat
Advanced Pet Care adds third veterinarian to its staff
Advanced Pet Care of Sedalia now has three veterinarians on staff, with the Feb. 17 hiring of Dr. Jess Oliveira, DVM.
From the Opinion page
Columnists

Rejection and resurrection

This weekend, we celebrate Easter. Some will celebrate it with Easter baskets, bunnies, Easter egg hunts, candy, and get-togethers. All of those can be fun. When I was a kid, my parents would make …

What we have is a pothole, what we need is a grownup

“It doesn’t matter who started it. I’m going to finish it!” Do you ever remember your mom saying this, when you and your siblings were fighting? Usually it happened after …

It could happen to you

Jeff Berman. Seeing this name still makes me nervous.  He was the man who turned me from a confident young woman into a jiggly, wobbly pile of Jello.  Before Jeff Berman, I knew I …
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