Amid the rapidly escalating crisis along the southern border, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) and dozens of his colleagues joined U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, in sending a letter to Government Accountability Office Comptroller Gene L. Dodaro highlighting President Joe Biden’s suspension of border wall […]
Tag: acts
Newtown-Harris Board of Education approves employee health insurance plans and senior trip to Branson
The Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education on March 15th approved paying $575.08 toward employee health insurance plans. Insurance will continue through the Ozark Schools Benefits Association. Superintendent Lucas McKinnis reported that the district offers seven plans, and insurance costs are less than last year. Employees can upgrade to a PPO plan, but they may have […]
Hawley and colleagues reintroduce “Protect and Serve Act” to punish criminals for targeting law enforcement
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and 16 of his colleagues reintroduced the Protect and Serve Act, legislation that would create federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence. In 2020, more than 300 officers were shot in the line of duty and 47 officers were shot and killed, including […]
Grundy County Commission signs with Granite Phone Service; Grundy County to receive $2 million in next round of COVID funding
The Grundy County Commission signed a letter of agency with Granite phone service on March 16th. The letter gives the company permission to contact AT&T on behalf of Grundy County. Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray says going through Granite for the county is estimated to reduce the cost of three AT&T lines from $500 a month […]
Essie Williamson selected as NCMC’s Outstanding Student
Essie Williamson from Gilman City, MO, has been selected as North Central Missouri College’s Outstanding Student for March. Essie, an A+ student, is currently pursuing her ADN (RN) degree and plans to graduate in May. After graduation, Essie intends to continue her education to obtain her bachelors of nursing and begin work as a registered […]
Laredo Board of Education accepts health insurance bid, approves field trips and renews teaching contracts
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education accepted health insurance through the Ozark Schools Benefits Association on March 8th. The district will pay $530 for 2021-2022 plus vision and life insurance. The board approved field trips. They included the eighth grade to Kansas City, kindergarten through second grade to Shatto Dairy, and third through eighth grades […]
North Mercer Board of Education approves addition to base salary schedule; senior trip to Florida approved
The North Mercer R-3 Board of Education approved items related to the salary schedule on March 8th. Seven hundred fifty dollars was added to the base salary schedule, and each teacher will receive steps on the salary schedule. After the increase, North Mercer’s base salary will be $30,250. Other personnel will receive a two-point-five percent […]
State agriculture officials recommend enhancements to USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers to Families Food Box program and recommend adjustments to improve the program’s effectiveness. “The Farmers to Families Food Box program has been a critical tool during the COVID-19 pandemic […]
Audio: Federal government to prioritize teachers in retail pharmacy vaccine program
All Missouri K-12 public and private school workers will be eligible to get vaccinated beginning March 15. Nonprofit PreK-12 staff, state-licensed childcare center workers, some food production employees, as well as grocery and convenience stores workers, will also become eligible at the same time. During a webinar hosted Wednesday by the Missouri Department of Elementary […]
Mid-America Music Festival slated for July, 2021
Five rock and four country bands will compete in April for a chance to open for the Mid-America Music Festival in July. The bands will also compete for a chance to win $1,000. The Battle of the Bands will be at the Black Silo Winery of Trenton on April 16th and 17th. Doors will open […]
March 15 last day to complete enrollment for 2021 Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage Programs
Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2021 must do so by March 15. Producers who have not yet signed a 2021 enrollment contract or who want to make an election change should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office […]
Registered Missouri sex offender sentenced to 15 years in prison without parole for child pornography
A registered sex offender in Raytown, Missouri, was sentenced in federal court for receiving child pornography over the internet. Joseph L. Smith, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Smith to spend the rest of his life on supervised release […]
Missouri Department of Conservation offers hunter education in schools despite COVID-19 challenges
COVID-19 presented considerable challenges to Missouri schools, staff, and students in 2020, including closures, cancellations, remote learning, and more. The pandemic also presented challenges to schools and instructors teaching the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) hunter education courses. “Many schools were closed for much of the year, which reduced the number of kids who could […]
North Central Missouri College Foundation sets dates for annual Holiday Hoops event
December 2021 will mark the 17th year of the North Central Missouri College Foundation-sponsored High School Holiday Hoops. The Holiday Hoops Committee recently met and has set dates for games to be played on December 18th, 20-23, and 27-31, 2021. “We are excited to begin the planning for Holiday Hoops 2021. Canceling the 2020 event […]
Defendant sentenced to 36-years in prison on multiple counts of sex and drug trafficking
Prince Bixler, 41, of Lexington, Kentucky, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Wier to 36 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $333,100 in restitution to three sex trafficking victims. In September 2020, a federal jury convicted Bixler of 15 federal felonies related to his […]
One of the nation’s largest chicken producers pleads guilty to price fixing and is sentenced to $107 million criminal fine
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a major broiler chicken producer based in Greeley, Colorado, has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to pay approximately $107 million in criminal fines for its participation in a conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products, the Department of Justice announced today. According to the plea agreement entered […]
Trenton City Council table “right of way” agreement with MoDOT, discuss generation of power at Monday meeting
The Trenton City Council on Monday night tabled an ordinance, approved a resolution, accepted a bid, and agreed to buy a riding lawnmower locally. More details also were presented on TMU’s use of diesel generators during the cold weather. The council voted to table a “right of way” agreement between the city of Trenton and […]
Free farming webinar explores lessons learned from the 1980s
AEI Premium invites agricultural decision-makers to participate in a virtual event exploring lessons learned from its “Escaping 1980” podcast to be held on March 3 at 1 pm eastern. Farmers, agribusiness leaders, farm policy wonks, and students can click here to register for the free webinar. Agricultural economists Brent Gloy and David Widmar will […]
Brutal weather leads to early pothole season on Missouri roads
Missouri Department of Transportation crews are focusing on pothole repair through April. When you see a MoDOT crew making repairs, motorists should slow down and move over a lane to give them room to work. Crews started working to address the pesky potholes as soon as there was a break in the weather last week. […]
Audio: Arctic temps have made it a hard few weeks for Missouri farmers
The director of Missouri agriculture says it’s been a tough few weeks, especially for livestock producers, in the frigid weather. Chris Chinn, who owns a hog operation with her husband, says it’s also impacting growers who have a lot of grain to get to market. “A lot of farmers had contracts that they […]