Latest posts
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SILENCE AND BLOCKADES: LOOMING LITIGATION EXPOSES CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE HANDLING OF SUNSHINE REQUESTS
By: Missouri Free Press What began months ago as a series of quiet tips to the Missouri Free Press has exploded into a sweeping investigation involving county whistleblowers, hidden files, an impending civil lawsuit, and what appears to be an unprecedented administrative blockade orchestrated by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office just weeks before the August
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Former Missouri Police Captain Sues Two Cities and Police Chief, Alleges Sexual Harassment, Retaliation
A former captain with the Aurora-Marionville Police Department has filed a civil lawsuit against the Cities of Aurora and Marionville, along with Police Chief Wes Coatney, alleging years of sexual harassment, retaliation, and other misconduct that ultimately forced her from her position. The lawsuit, filed June 19 in Lawrence County Circuit Court, was brought by
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“I’m Going to Have to Take Them”: Body Camera, Messages from Former Investigator Raise Serious Questions About Lincoln County Children’s Division
By Corey ThompsonMissouri Free Press Body camera footage obtained by Missouri Free Press, along with direct messages from former Missouri Children’s Division investigator Noney Martin, is raising serious questions about how the Lincoln County Children’s Division handled an investigation that resulted in two children being removed from their homes on the night of January 8,
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Supreme Court Rules Government Cannot Automatically Ban Marijuana Users from Owning Firearms
By Missouri Free Press A recent decision by the United States Supreme Court could have significant implications for gun owners across the country, including here in Missouri. While the case originated in Texas, decisions issued by the Supreme Court apply nationwide and establish binding legal precedent for federal courts throughout the United States. 1In a
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1Missouri Voters Face July Registration Deadline as August Ballot Puts Major Constitutional Changes Before the Public
Missouri voters heading into the August 4, 2026 election are facing a series of decisions that extend beyond routine primary races. Alongside selecting party nominees for state and federal offices, voters will also decide on multiple proposed constitutional amendments that could reshape how the state governs itself and how it raises revenue. 1The August ballot
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EXTENDED STOPS AND VANISHING EVIDENCE: Eldon Police K9 Search Raises Questions After Body Camera Footage Deleted
A routine traffic stop for expired license plates in a local grocery store parking lot has pulled back the curtain on roadside policing tactics, K9 reliability, and transparency loopholes within the Eldon Police Department. An investigation by the Missouri Free Press into a March 17, 2026, encounter involving Eldon Police Officer Trenton Lee reveals a
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Eldon’s Drinking Water: No Big Scandal, But Bigger Questions Remain
When Eldon’s latest boil order was issued on June 2, citizens immediately began asking questions. The biggest question was simple: If the original water sample was taken on May 20, why did it take so long for a boil order to be issued? MOFreePress was asked by multiple residents to investigate. To get answers, we
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The Real Crisis In Small Town America Isn’t Corruption. It’s Civic Surrender.
By Corey Thompson, Missouri Free Press When I started this organization in January of 2026, I wasn’t trying to build a media outlet. I wasn’t trying to become a journalist. I wasn’t trying to take on school districts, public officials, or local institutions. I started because I was ashamed. Someone close to me had their
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“No Such Policy Existed”: Maries County’s Response Raises Questions About Transparency and Accountability
By MOFreePress Records obtained by MIssouri Free Press show the Maries County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that, as of August 2024, no policy existed governing when deputies were required to complete reports. The revelation came during a Sunshine Law request submitted by Mo Free Press while investigating the death of Logan Edward Atterberry. MOFreePress requested incident
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Two Outsiders, One Message: “Audit the Senate” and Missouri’s Fight Over Government Transparency
By Missouri Free Press Across two neighboring states, two political outsiders are building campaigns around a message that many voters increasingly believe: government operates differently when nobody is watching. In Oklahoma, Senate candidate Sean Buckner is running under the slogan “Audit the Senate,” promising to expose what he describes as corruption, secrecy, and unchecked institutional