(Missouri Independent) – With the Missouri Senate poised for what promises to be a lengthy debate over Medicaid expansion, legislative Democrats said Tuesday that the fight over funding will move to the courts if lawmakers don’t approve money for the new coverage. During a rally on the Capitol Building lawn, Senate Democrats promised to push […]
As the state Senate debates Missouri’s budget for next year, groups are urging lawmakers to learn from the 38 states that have expanded their Medicaid programs. The budget passed by the Missouri House leaves out the $130 million needed to fund expansion. The remainder of the costs would be covered by the federal government. Joan Alker, executive director […]
Bipartisan legislation increasing penalties for people who knowingly release feral hogs into the wild has received initial approval from the Missouri House. The bill, which is sponsored by Portageville State Representative Don Rone, increases the criminal penalty from a class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The Missouri Department of Conservation, the […]
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees heard a report from the Faculty Senate Negotiations Committee on April 27th. History and Spanish Faculty Member Maryellen Harman and Psychology Faculty Member Lindsay Oram presented a proposal for a faculty salary schedule for 2021-2022. The proposal includes adding $1,000 to the salary base and continuing to […]
A jury listened to two vastly different stories during opening statements Monday in Jefferson City, in a high-profile northern Missouri murder case. 54-year-old James Addie’s murder trial is being broadcast live nationwide on Court TV. Addie and the victim, Molly Watson, both worked at the Moberly Correctional Center. The case has been moved from […]
Two key Missouri lawmakers from opposite parties view Tuesday’s resignation of state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director, Dr. Randall Williams, very differently. Missouri House Health and Mental Health Policy Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Stephens (R-Bolivar) praises Dr. Williams, while House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) says the resignation was long overdue. Chairman Stephens says Williams […]
(Missouri Independent) – On the heels of a historic cold snap that left thousands across the Midwest without power, Kansas and Missouri residents could soon reap the benefits of a massive high-powered transmission line delivering renewable energy. Grain Belt Express, a project a decade in the making, is starting to acquire land along its route spanning […]
(Missouri Independent) – As bills expanding charter schools and creating new scholarship accounts for private school tuition make their way through the process, one piece of legislation is trying to give students more options within the public schools that already exist. House Bill 543, sponsored by Rep. Brad Pollitt, R-Sedalia, would establish the “Public School […]
Cows need to conceive and calve early to earn their keep. University of Missouri Extension beef cow-calf specialist Jordan Thomas says managing for a short or even an “ultra-short” calving season should determine which cows get to stay on the farm. Late-conceiving cows should go to market. Thomas and MU Extension beef nutrition specialist Eric […]
Carroll County Memorial Hospital will re-open Jefferson Medical Group’s Hale Medical Clinic and Norborne Medical Clinic, effective Monday, April 12, after suspending them due to staffing challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are excited to be re-opening our clinics in the surrounding rural areas,” said Jeff Tindle, CCMH Chief Executive Officer. “We are also […]
State Senator Greg Razer says minds are shifting about changing the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act. The Kansas City Democrat has filed legislation that would ban discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identity for things like housing, financial help, employment, or the use of public restrooms. Razer, who is openly gay, says he has talked to […]
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen approved an amendment to an agreement for phone service and accepted a bid for cemetery mowing on March 22nd. The amendment to the City of Gallatin’s Windstream agreement for phone service at the city hall includes upgrading the phone service. City Administrator Lance Rains reported monthly recurring charges will be […]
A southwest Missouri company is adding more than 100 new jobs. John Deere Reman is expanding in Springfield, creating 130 new jobs. A state press release today says the remanufacturing division of Deere & Company will add drivetrain and hydraulic remanufacturing operations to their existing locations. The company has about 400 workers in […]
(Missouri Independent) – More than 70 million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine — and along with that shot, a small paper card with the CDC’s label detailing the timing and manufacturer of the dose. Those paper cards at the moment are the only proof readily available to Americans of […]
The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education approved several resignations during an executive session on March 9th. The resignations are effective at the end of this school year for Art Teacher Phoebe Duff and Fifth Grade Teacher Melanie Warren. Custodian Meghan McLain’s resignation was effective immediately. The board voted to hire Whitney Barlow of Trenton […]
As grain prices hit new levels, farmers are considering potential profit in preparing for the 2021 growing season. However, protection is always going to be important. Crop insurance decisions will be critical this year. Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois agricultural economics professor, said 93% of Illinois farmers took some form of Revenue Protection (RP) insurance […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education March 9th approved salary schedules for the 2021-2022 school year. One thousand dollars will be added to the base for the certified salary schedule, making the base salary $34,000. This was estimated to cost the district $119,591. Superintendent Mike Stegman noted the base salary for certified staff was “pretty […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt led a coalition of 12 states in filing suit against President Joe Biden’s administration over a massive expansion of federal regulations through executive order, potentially impacting nearly every aspect of the economy and Missouri household. “Manufacturing, agriculture, and energy production are essential to Missouri’s economy and employ thousands of hard-working […]
Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley voted Friday against adding a minimum wage hike to the current COVID-19 relief bill in the Senate but is calling for a higher minimum wage — and a tax credit for some blue-collar workers. Hawley, in a stand-alone bill, would require companies that make more than $1 billion annually to […]
Missouri lawmakers in both parties were surprised to learn Wednesday that absentee ballots cast by voters who later died should NOT have counted, under current state law. The issue came up numerous times during a Missouri House elections committee hearing on Wednesday. Carrollton GOP State Representative Peggy McGaugh and her colleagues in both parties […]
