(Missourinet) – Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says federal authorities have told him Russians did not interfere with any votes or voter rolls in 2016, and he does not expect that to happen in 2018. Ashcroft says his office and a separate commission certify every voting machine. There’s a paper trail connected to […]
Category: State News
Five ballot measures, three for medical marijuana, certified for November ballot
(Missourinet) – Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft certified five ballot measures that will NOT be part of Tuesday’s primary but WILL be on the November Three of them would legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes while a fourth would hike the minimum wage and the fifth would change redistricting procedures […]
Crowded field of candidates seeking Missouri first congressional seat in Tuesday primary
(Missourinet) – A crowded field of candidates is running for a St. Louis area congressional seat. Alisa Nelson with the Missourinet files this report. Eight people are seeking Missouri’s first congressional seat currently held by Democratic Congressman Lacy Clay. He is seeking his tenth term in the U.S. House. Clay’s heavily Democratic district […]
Audio: Missouri Congress members in rural district back Trump’s tariffs to differing degrees
(Missourinet) – Missouri’s Republican Congressional members that represent rural areas have remained supportive of President Trump’s tariffs, despite some of the tough economic conditions they’ve brought. Southwestern Missouri GOP House member Billy Long says businesses in his district are still behind President Trump and are hopeful trade conditions will improve. Long says farmers […]
Hospital workforce challenges persist in Missouri
A new report from the Missouri Hospital Association finds increased turnover rates among the majority of hospital-based healthcare positions. Vacancy rates decreased for several employee categories, including registered nurses, between 2016 and 2017. However, combined turnover among all professions surveyed increased statewide from 16 percent in 2016 to 17.7 percent in 2017. “Every Missourian has […]
State Auditor Galloway releases monthly reports on local government and special district financial information
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway issued monthly reports detailing the compliance of local governments and other political subdivisions with financial reporting laws. One report includes cities, towns, and villages while the other lists political subdivisions such as water, fire protection, and other taxing districts. These entities are required to file annual financial reports with the […]
Audio: Storm that hit Branson during duck boat sinking known as a Derecho
(MissouriNet) – The National Weather Service says an unusual weather event called a derecho (durr-AY-shee-oh) hit Missouri the night a Ride the Ducks boat tour in Branson turned deadly. Senior Meteorologist Doug Kramer with the Springfield office calls a derecho a line of thunderstorms on steroids. Senior Meteorologist Doug Kramer with the Springfield National […]
Audio: Missouri’s largest utility is first to pass corporate tax cut on to customers
(Missourinet) – Ameren Missouri is the first of the two largest utilities in the state to drop customer rates based on savings it’s receiving from a tax reduction. Congress cut the nation’s corporate income tax rate from 35%-to-21% last December with the reduction taking effect January 1st. Ameren’s drop of customer rates to […]
Audio: Missouri legislator cautions lawmakers about drafting duck boat regulations
A state legislator cautions lawmakers to wait until all facts have been released before drafting regulations aimed at preventing additional deaths on duck boat tours. Shell Knob State Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick tells Missourinet not enough information has surfaced about the boat sinking this month in Branson that killed 17 people aboard. Fitzpatrick, who […]
Audio: Missouri State Fair Public Campground opens today
(Missourinet) – The Missouri State Fair’s public campground in Sedalia will open by 9 o’clock Thursday morning. State Fair Director Mark Wolfe says campers have been allowed to enter the fairgrounds at the Centennial Gate since Tuesday morning. Wolfe tells Missourinet officials have made significant technology upgrades since the 2016 State Fair, which […]
Audio: Right to Work opponents mobilize ahead of next week’s Missouri primary election
(Missourinet) – Opponents of a Right To Work measure continue to urge voters to defeat the ballot initiative ahead of next week’s primary election. During a press conference, today in St. Louis, Amy Blouin of the Missouri Budget Project says banning mandatory union fees would have a negative impact on all workers, not just organized […]
USDA encourages rural Missouri communities to apply for loans to improve and rebuild infrastructure
“USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities in building their futures,” Hazlett said. “All people – regardless of their zip code – need modern, reliable infrastructure to thrive, and we have found that when we address this need, many other challenges in rural places become much more manageable.” Eligible rural communities […]
Audio: Missouri Congressional member proposes enhancing VA doctor recruitment measures
(Missourinet) – West-central Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler is proposing to let VA hospitals recruit and hire doctors during their residency. She tells Missourinet doctor offices and hospitals practice such recruitment measures. Hartzler, whose district includes Columbia, goes on to say she thinks failing to recruit doctors during the residency period has contributed to […]
Audio: Missouri candidate receives death threats for gun device giveaway
(Missourinet) – Missouri Republican U.S. Senate candidate Austin Petersen says he’s received several death threats since announcing a giveaway of a machine that makes unserialized guns. During a podcast on Missourinet affiliate KZRG in Joplin, Petersen says the threats made on social media include hoping he gets shot in the face and his head blown […]
Audio: President Trump’s Chief of Staff briefed on Missouri’s increase in violent crime
(Missourinet) – The new U-S Attorney for the Western District of Missouri says the state’s increasing violent crime rate has drawn the attention of White House Chief of Staff General John Kelly. Tim Garrison briefed Mr. Kelly during President Trump’s Kansas City visit last week. Garrison tells reporters he told Kelly that Missouri has three […]
Audio: Missouri Attorney General launches criminal investigation into Branson Duck Boat incident
(MissouriNet) – A criminal investigation has been launched into the Duck Boat mishap near Branson that killed 17 out of 31 aboard and has triggered two lawsuits. Mary Compton of Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley’s Office confirmed to Missourinet that a probe is underway over the accident in which a Duck Boat sank […]
Audio: $100 Million lawsuit filed against Branson Duck Boat operator after recent tragedy
Attorneys for family members who lost relatives in the Duck Boat mishap on Table Rock Lake near Branson have filed a $100 million lawsuit. Jason Taylor with the MissouriNet reports. The suit filed in federal court in Kansas City for family members handling the estates of two people who died in the accident, […]
Missourians could see protection from predatory student loans
In Missouri, 70 percent of college graduates leave school with debt, and navigating the payback process for their loans isn’t easy. That could change with a bill introduced in Congress this month that has gotten support from numerous higher education and consumer groups. The Aim Higher Act (HR 1772) is intended to make institutions more accountable and […]
Audio: New U.S. Attorney for Western District of Missouri outlines his priorities
(Missourinet) – The top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the Western District of Missouri says there’s been an increase in violent crime and in drug trafficking in the western district. A public swearing-in ceremony was held Friday in Springfield for 42-year-old Tim Garrison, who’s a former military prosecutor in the Marine Corps. Garrison […]
Audio: Announcement from attorneys representing Missouri Duck Boat victims coming today
Lawyers representing victims of the Duck Boat tragedy on Table Rock Lake near Branson are holding a news conference today in Kansas City. Seventeen people were killed when the vehicle sank while taking on four waves during a storm. Attorney Andrew Duffy says the Duck Boat industry has irresponsibly portrayed their excursions as fun and […]