News

A leadership transition is underway in Excelsior Springs following the selection of the next city manager. Council members recently appointed Melinda Mehaffey to the role, as longtime City Manager Molly McGovern prepares to retire.

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Local prevention advocates recently traveled to Jefferson City to testify before a Missouri Senate committee on proposed legislation addressing kratom and related products sold in gas stations and convenience stores.

The Women Legislators of Missouri (WLM) Caucus, a bipartisan group of women House and Senate members, has announced its annual education scholarship program for female high school seniors. The WLM scholarship program was established to support the higher education goals of female high school seniors.

Excelsior Springs Substance Abuse Free Environments (SAFE) members were recently introduced to a framework encouraging communities to consider health impacts when making policy decisions. The program, titled “Health in All Policies,” was presented by Lauren Crome, a health policy analyst with the Clay County Public Health Center, and outlined ways social, economic and environmental conditions can shape health outcomes across a community.

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., announced he secured funding for several bridge and interchange projects in northwest Missouri through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, H.R. 7148, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Feb. 3.

Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series examining the way traffic tickets can affect Missouri drivers beyond the initial fine. Part One focuses on insurance and record consequences, while Part Two will explore when and how tickets may be contested.

The Richmond News, Feb. 6, 2026 Donald Carmichael Donald L.