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The Louisiana, Missouri City Council voted Tuesday night to impeach Ward One Councilwoman Heather Wernowsky by a five-to-one margin. The action followed articles of impeachment filed last month after Wernowsky publicly questioned the chief of police regarding an October incident in which law enforcement allowed someone to enter a home they did not own. City officials cited prior media coverage and community discussion on social media, stating that her questioning interfered w

News Headlines and Chapel Report — January 14, 2026 News Headlines Bowling Green, Missouri Police Chief Bennie Church resigns Bowling Green Police Chief Bennie Church has announced his resignation after a brief tenure. Church, who became interim chief in June 2025 and was officially named chief in November, said his decision was based on a life-changing job opportunity for him and his family. City officials confirmed Church accepted a more lucrative position and, on the advic

News Headlines Louisiana, Missouri mayoral candidate Woodrow Polston  has issued a public statement regarding the pending impeachment proceedings involving a city council member. Polston called for the dismissal of Resolution Number 10-2025 and urged that all articles of impeachment be dropped. He cited sections of the city code related to council conduct and the mayor’s duty to enforce ordinances, while encouraging city leadership to move past prolonged political conflict an

News Headlines Bowling Green Police Chief Bennie Church announced Friday that he is stepping down from the Bowling Green Police Department. Few details have been released at this time, and the situation is considered a developing story. More information is expected as it becomes available. In Illinois, one person was found dead in a structure fire Sunday morning in Camp Point. The Adams County Coroner’s Office says the fire occurred in the 200 block of East Spring Street, whe

In Louisiana, Missouri, the city council took another step Monday night toward impeaching one of its own members. Council members approved procedures for an impeachment hearing involving Councilwoman Heather Wernowsky, though no official reason for the impeachment has been released. The move follows Wernowsky publicly questioning Police Chief Josh Baker about police procedures after an October incident involving a home being entered without the owner’s consent. Some council m

West-central Illinois has largely avoided a new strain of the flu that has driven hospitalizations in other parts of the state and nationwide, but health officials say respiratory illnesses are beginning to rise locally. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Metro East health region — which includes Pike, Morgan, Greene, Scott, and surrounding counties — reported only two flu outbreaks as December ended, while the Peoria region reported none. Statewide, r

Pike County (Illinois) Board Approves Self-Funded Unemployment Plan, Selects Loan Rate, and Much Contention in December 22 Meeting Pittsfield, IL – December 24, 2025  – The Pike County Board held its regular meeting on December 22, 2025, addressing insurance decisions, financing needs, and ongoing internal tensions highlighted by a recent vote of no confidence. The board discussed whether to continue paying approximately $25,000 annually to a company for unemployment insuranc

Former Bowling Green Police Chief Ty Bounds has been charged with two felony counts and four misdemeanor counts related to his involvement in the ongoing investigation into the death of Nathaniel Mueller in Pike County, Missouri. The charges were filed by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and allege interference with an official investigation currently being handled by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Bounds resigned from law enforcement in June after publicly accusing

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced a $4.25 million multistate settlement with Menards, resolving claims that the retailer deceptively marketed its 11 percent rebate program. Investigators say Menards’ advertising led customers to believe they were receiving an immediate discount, when the offer was actually store credit for future purchases. The settlement also addresses allegations of price gouging on certain essential items during the early months of the CO

Preliminary figures from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) show 158,697 deer were harvested statewide during the November 2025 firearms season, a slight increase from 158,577 in 2024 but still well below harvest levels seen less than a decade ago, such as 200,738 in 2018, with hunters citing unusually warm opening-weekend weather as a contributing factor. Across the river here in Illinois, preliminary firearms-season numbers from the Illinois Department of Natural

Multiple law enforcement agencies took part in “Saturation Saturday” this weekend along the Missouri Highway 79 corridor as part of the 79 Safe coalition, which works to improve roadway safety from St. Charles County to Hannibal. Officers conducted increased patrols within their own jurisdictions, focusing on impaired driving and overall traffic safety. Despite bitterly cold conditions and wind chills well below zero, officers remained on duty throughout the evening to help k

From the Eagle Valley Bank 24 Hour News Center: A contentious Silex Board of Aldermen meeting Monday ended with former mayor Stuart Gambrill announcing that a group of residents is exploring a petition effort to disincorporate the city, saying ongoing dysfunction has made Silex a “laughing stock” in surrounding counties. Under Missouri law, dissolving the city would require signatures from 25% of registered voters before going to a public vote. The meeting itself again highli

The City of Louisiana continues to face mounting political and policing turmoil as new details emerge regarding a disputed police entry into a Georgia Street home. Mayor Tim Carter released a statement defending the police chief and his officers after a councilwoman — already facing articles of impeachment and a formal complaint from the chief for allegedly interfering with police operations — questioned whether officers unlawfully entered a residence without the homeowner’s

Chief Michael Starman of the Pittsfield Police Department was recently celebrated as a Co-Top Shot after completing a challenging Pistol Red Dot course. The specialized firearms training was held today at the Jacksonville Police Department Training Center and was expertly conducted by Critical Conflict Solutions, a Jacksonville-based training provider known for delivering exceptional instruction. Despite the demanding conditions, including an impressive 10 inches of snow on t

Federal investigators are now working to piece together what led to Sunday night’s fatal plane crash near Griggsville, as questions continue to surface about the aircraft’s final moments and even how many people were on board. Authorities returned to the crash site Monday, where the wreckage of the 1977 Piper PA-28R remained visible from Interstate 72. The Pike County Sheriff’s Department and NTSB confirmed the pilot was killed and at least two passengers were hospitalized, t

Pike County, IL officials are working through major financial questions after a tense budget hearing Wednesday led to a flood of follow-up inquiries for the County Clerk’s Office. Clerk Natalie Roseberry responded Thursday morning with detailed explanations on payroll totals, election expenses, reimbursements, and past journal entries. Treasurer Scott Syrcle questioned why a past $30,000 internal reimbursement was discontinued, while Board Chair Reta Hoskin requested full pa

The Pike County Board met Wednesday to confront a seven-figure budget shortfall ahead of next week’s final vote, and tensions rose during a debate over election funding. County Clerk Natalie Roseberry criticized board member Derek Ross for what she called “government by ambush,” after last-minute questions about changes to her election budget. Board Chair Reta Hoskin countered that the clerk’s office needs to be more transparent during the budgeting process. The board also ap

Authorities in Pike County, Missouri continue to face mounting scrutiny over the unsolved death of Nathaniel Mueller, who went missing in December 2024 and whose body was found in a Pike County pond in February 2025—months after deputies initially searched the same area and reported finding only a log. Former Bowling Green Police Chief Ty Bounds has alleged a cover-up, claiming text messages uncovered during a separate robbery investigation showed a sheriff’s deputy knew the

The Pike County, Illinois Animal Shelter is entering one of its toughest seasons yet as ongoing county budget cuts leave the facility operating with limited staff, reduced supplies, and little financial cushion. With fewer resources available, the shelter is working hard to place animals into homes quickly so it can continue providing basic care for those still coming through its doors. At the same time, many local families are facing their own hardships as the recent governm

Hemp businesses in the bi-state region are facing growing uncertainty as federal and state regulators move toward tighter control of hemp-derived THC products. In Missouri, a new federal rule capping hemp products at just 0.4 milligrams of total THC per package has sparked fears of an industry collapse, with many businesses warning the limit would wipe out most of their current inventory and revenue. Lawmakers in Jefferson City are already considering adopting the same limits