View the 7 Day ForecastWeather Data Provided by Visual Crossing
Weekly Trivia Question
Which Missouri town is known as the birthplace of ragtime composer Scott Joplin?
(Hint: He wrote many of his compositions here.)
Last Week’s Answer:
Last week’s answer, “Which Missouri city is home to the historic Union Station?” is Kansas City, where the station has been revitalized into a major attraction.
Hometown Business Spotlight
Hometown Business Spotlight: Gordon Building Center
When it comes to creating, building, and improving your home or commercial space, Gordon Building Center in Salisbury, Missouri, is your trusted local resource. They provide a broad range of innovative building materials and solutions designed to add value, enhance ...
Local News
Chariton County Schools Celebrate Final Four Wildcats, Thunder Team Spirit, and Student Achievements
Chariton County schools are celebrating student achievements and exciting athletic milestones this week! From the Brunswick Wildcats advancing to the Class 1 Final Four in Columbia, to Keytesville and Northwestern students supporting their Thunder teammates, and Salisbury students excelling in music and science competitions, the…
Hometown Business Spotlight: Salisbury Meat Market and Processing
Located just a quarter mile outside Salisbury on Highway PP, Salisbury Meat Market and Processing has been serving Mid-Missouri for over 43 years. This family-owned and operated business combines traditional craftsmanship with modern services, offering custom meat processing and a well-stocked retail shop full of…
Keytesville R-III School District Names New Principal, Seeks 7–12 Mathematics Teacher
The Keytesville R-III School District in Chariton County, Missouri, has announced a significant leadership change for the 2026–2027 school year. In addition, the district is now accepting applications for a 7–12 mathematics teacher position at Keytesville High School, offering a unique opportunity for educators seeking…
Chariton County Classrooms & Courts: Student Success, School Spirit, and Winter Highlights
Students across Keytesville, Northwestern, Brunswick, and Salisbury schools continue to excel academically, compete at a high level in athletics, and remain deeply involved in extracurricular and community-focused activities. This in-depth Chariton Beacon roundup highlights student achievement, school spirit, and important district updates from across Chariton…
State News
Who Does Rusty Black Actually Represent? $640K+ From Outside Donors Floods His Campaigns
Chariton Beacon Investigation — Missouri State Senator Rusty Black (R-District 12) was elected to represent 18 rural counties in north Missouri — a district defined by family farms, small towns like Chillicothe and Trenton, livestock auctions, and working-class communities. Yet a comprehensive review of every…
Governor Mike Kehoe’s 2026 State of the State Address: Fiscal Discipline, Tax Reform, and Potential Challenges for Rural Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — On January 13, 2026, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe delivered his second State of the State address, marking one year since his inauguration. In a speech centered on themes of resilience, government efficiency, and long-term growth, Kehoe outlined a vision for Missouri’s…
The Missouri Prenatal Equal Protection Act: The Only Answer to Ending Abortion in Missouri
The Missouri Prenatal Equal Protection Act (HB 1682) was filed in the Missouri House by State Representative Burt Whaley. The same bill (SB 951) was filed in the Senate Chamber by State Senator Mike Moon. This legislation aims to provide equal justice and equal protection…
Bill to Fully Abolish Abortion Filed in Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI — Missouri State Senator Mike Moon and Missouri State Representative Burt Whaley filed the Missouri Prenatal Equal Protection Act this week in their respective chambers to completely abolish abortion in the state. Senate Bill 951 and House Bill 1682 would provide equal…
US & World News
BREAKING UPDATE: Man Who Fatally Shot Loyola University Student is an Illegal Alien From Venezuela Released Into US by Biden Regime
Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman murdered by Venezuelan illegal alien Jose Medina-Medina Another innocent young American woman has been murdered by one of Joe Biden’s illegal aliens. Very early Thursday morning, 18-year-old Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman was shot and killed near campus in Chicago….
Senate Votes to Advance Markwayne Mullin For DHS Chief
The Senate on Sunday voted to advance Markwayne Mullin’s DHS nomination. Mullin’s nomination for DHS Secretary cleared the Senate Homeland Security Committee last week in an 8-7 vote. Fetterman voted with the Republicans and GOP Senator Rand Paul opposed Mullin. President Trump earlier this month…
Iran Conflict Exposes Chinese Military Technology Failures
Chinese radar and tracking systems failed during the U.S.-Iran conflict. Photo courtesy of web.junhao.mil.cn U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have demonstrated that Chinese military hardware does not perform as Beijing claims. Chinese-made air defense systems deployed in Iran were unable to intercept large-scale…
Saudi Arabia Expels Iranian Diplomats Over Aggression Against Kingdom
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Saudis have had enough of Iran’s strikes. The Iranian strategy of firing its missiles against the Gulf countries because of their collaboration with the US-Israeli strikes threatens turning these neighboring states against the mullahs’ regime. In the case of…
Obituaries
Leroy Martin
Leroy Martin, 64, of Higginsville, died on March 19, 2026 at Lafayette Regional Health Center.
Kenneth Ray Clause
Kenneth Ray Clause, 72, of Marshall, MO, died Thursday, March 19, 2026, at his home.
Joyce Evelyn (Sanders) Langkrahr
Joyce Evelyn (Sanders) Langkrahr, 87, of Concordia, MO, died Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Good Shepherd Care Community in Concordia.
Lois J. West
Lois J. West, 91, of rural Sweet Springs, MO, died Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg.
Opinion
The Irony of Peace: Watching Iran Through a Lens of Prophecy and Uncertainty
As I sit here, half a world away, in Mendon, Missouri, scrolling through the latest headlines at 2:43 AM, the situation in Iran commands attention. Protests that erupted late last month over economic hardships have morphed into a nationwide cry against the regime, met with…
Yes, You Can Legislate Morality — And The Bible Commands It
For years, Christians in America have been met with a familiar phrase whenever moral issues enter the political sphere: “You can’t legislate morality.” The saying sounds wise, even tolerant. It gives politicians an escape hatch and allows society to avoid the uncomfortable task of drawing…
The Pro-Life Establishment Is Actively Thwarting Abolition—Why Christians Must Take a Stand
For decades, many Christians have assumed that supporting the pro-life movement meant standing for the protection of unborn children. We donated, we lobbied, we voted—but what if the very organizations we trusted were actively preventing abolition of abortion? Pastor Jeff Durban, founder of End Abortion…
The Global Morality Quotient: Assessing National Moral Health and the United States’ Position
The Morality Quotient (MQ) is a composite index that measures national moral health using seven verifiable behavioral indicators: violent crime rate, property crime rate, abortion rate, pornography production share, illicit drug use prevalence, gambling revenue per capita, and prostitution scale. Drawing on data from 2022–2025…
Devotionals
Jump!..
Revelation 3:8 “…See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Before we consider the verse before us, we must remember that in…
Rescue Me!..
Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find…
Change your World..
Acts 21:11-13 “…Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him…
Milestones and Memorials..
Joshua 4:7 “Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for…