Latest news with #SWMO
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kit Bond remembered for contributions to Missouri
MISSOURI — Former and current state leaders are reflecting on the life and legacy of Kit Bond. The former U.S. Senator and Missouri Governor passed away today at 86. Ozarks First's Bailey Strohl spoke with Bond's successor in the U.S. Senate, Roy Blunt, this afternoon, as well as a former district director, about his character and Bond's constant fight to better Missourians' lives. 'What a great life, what a great loss. What a good friend. Nobody understood our state better or did more for Missouri than Kit Bond,' says Former U.S. Senator for Missouri Roy Blunt. Despite making Missouri history and climbing the ranks to Washington D.C., longtime supporters say former Governor and U.S. Senator Christopher 'Kit' Bond never forgot who he was working for. 'You know, he was always seen as a guy who was out there competing for whatever was going to be good for our state, whether that was an appropriation or an opportunity of some kind,' says Blunt. Bond was born in St. Louis and practiced law until 1972, at the age of 33, when he became Missouri's youngest governor. 'He always had a joke or a story to share and a smile on his face. Everywhere we went, he always had a smile,' says Stacy Burks, Former SWMO District Director for Senator Bond's Office. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 and served four terms before retiring in 2010. 'You know, he loved serving the state of Missouri. And the people of Missouri, in the end, truly had their very best interests at heart in everything he did,' Burks adds. Both Blunt and Stacy Burks say Bond's legacy lives on in the roads and bridges he secured funding for, and the taxpayer dollars he fought to bring back to Missourians. 'You know, he loved serving the state of Missouri. And the people of Missouri, in the end, truly had their very best interests at heart in everything he did,' says Burks. 'So we're going to miss Kit Bond. But there are plenty of things left in Missouri to remind us of Kit Bond and how much he appreciated and how much he understood our state,' adds Blunt. Bond's cause of death has not yet been announced. Ozarks First will be sure to update you when funeral arrangements are made. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'They're wanting to get the hardened criminals at this time,' SWMO officials address immigration fears amid national ICE raids
NOEL, Mo. — Law enforcement in McDonald County say national headlines have caused fear in their community. Noel City Marshal Randy Wilson says he serves a very diverse community. 'Last I knew, we had between 35 and 40 different cultures,' said Marshal Wilson. Among those, Pacific Islanders, Middle Easterners, and Hispanics. In the last few weeks, that population has grown fearful. 'We've had some that were pretty fearful and scared that we were going to be picked up.' Marshal Wilson is referring to raids by ICE, and he's been working to ease those concerns in the community. 'The ones that they're going after right now are the hardened criminals, ones that are out there breaking laws that, you know, are felony laws, and we kind of explain that to them the best that we can.' 'They're wanting to get the hardened criminals at this time,' SWMO officials address immigration fears amid national ICE raids 'Swatting' calls placed at multiple Four State school districts Former Missouri police officer accused of pocketing DARE program donations Special prosecutor appointed in case of former school janitor accused of hiding camera in girl's locker room Three dead in McDonald County double-vehicle wreck Sheriff Robert Evenson says he's not aware of that happening in McDonald County. 'We're not participating, we're not conducting any kind of immigration enforcement actions, no raids, no door-to-door, no checkpoints on the highway. We're responding to calls, like we always do,' said Sheriff Evenson. Evenson says from time to time, a person will be arrested whose immigration status comes into question. For several years, standard protocol has been to call ICE in to investigate. 'That hasn't changed. The same thing is happening now that has been happening for twenty-plus years,' said Sheriff Evenson. I spoke to several immigrants, all of whom declined to go on camera for fear of what might happen. Marshal Wilson says nearly all of them can rest easy because they're not who is being looked for. 'They're wanting to get the hardened criminals at this time,' said Marshal Wilson. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
