Traffic backed up coming into Jefferson City near Missouri River Bridge - KRCG

Four media organizations, including the Missouri Broadcasters Association and Missouri Press Association, have filed a lawsuit against the Missouri State Highway Patrol alleging the patrol's redacted crash reports violate Missouri's open records law. The MBA and MPA, alongside Gray Media and Warden Publishing Company Managing Editor Roxie Murphy, are asking the Highway Patrol to restore full public access to crash records. The MBA and MPA are news membership organizations that represent hundreds of local media organizations across the state. KOMU 8 News is a member of the MBA. Gray Media is a television ownership group that owns multiple stations in Missouri, and Warden Publishing Company owns several local newspapers in the state. In a petition filed on Friday, the organizations allege that the Highway Patrol's withholding of information in crash reports violates the Missouri Sunshine Law. The petition states that beginning in 2024, the patrol has redacted names, addresses, phone numbers and other identifiable information in crash reports received through Sunshine Law requests. Have the top local news delivered every day to stay informed.

Several media companies and associations have sued the Missouri State Highway Patrol to restore access to the names of those involved in crashes. The Missouri Broadcasters Association, Missouri Press Association, Gray Local Media, Warden Public Company and editor Roxie Murphy are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit against MSHP. ABC 17 News is a member of the MBA.

Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing OptionsMore than 70 entries participated in the Missouri Days Parade on Saturday in Trenton, with Green Hills Head Start receiving the Spirit of Missouri Day Award and top honors in the school and youth division. Green Hills Head Start’s entry, which featured a truck and trailer, earned recognition in both categories during the annual celebration. Several businesses, community organizations, and individuals also received awards for their parade entries. Centerstone of Trenton won the community and nonprofit division, while BTC Bank received the award for best business entry. Tenth Street Baptist Church earned top honors in the religious category, and Phil Fox was recognized in the political division. The North Central Missouri College track and cross-country teams received first place in the sports and club category. In the vehicle competitions, Ed Arnold won the best car or truck manufactured before 1960 category with a truck. Matt Gibson Goodview Farm received the award for best car or truck manufactured after 1960 with a pickup.

Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing OptionsKirksville captured the Buddy and Karla Hannaford Sweepstakes Award at the Missouri Days Marching Festival on Saturday in Trenton, earning the festival’s top combined honor for performances in the parade and field show competitions. The sweepstakes award recognizes the band with the highest combined score from parade and field show judging. Kirksville competed in Class 4, finishing first in both events to secure the overall championship. Kirksville also earned first place in Class 4 field show auxiliary and indoor color guard competitions, along with a second-place finish in indoor drumline. A total of 29 bands entered the Missouri Days Marching Festival for evaluations across several competitive events. Only five schools participated in both the parade and field show, making them eligible for the Hannaford Sweepstakes Award. In overall field show competition, first-place honors went to North Harrison in Class 1, Harrisburg in Class 2, Richmond in Class 3, Kirksville in Class 4, and Park Hill South in Class 5.