(Missouri Independent) – As the midterm election season ramps up, the Biden administration wants rural Americans to know it’ll be spending a lot of money to improve health care in rural areas. It has tasked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack with delivering the message that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed long-standing problems with health care infrastructure in […]
Tag: administration
Leonardo DRS expands in West Plains creating more than 100 jobs
Leonardo DRS, a leading provider of defense products and technologies, has announced the start of the expansion of its manufacturing campus in West Plains. The company’s expansion is expected to create more than 100 jobs and was enabled in part by a cooperative effort to construct a new overpass that addresses concerns affecting logistics and […]
Missouri woman sentenced 8 years in prison for meth trafficking
A Missouri woman was sentenced in federal court for methamphetamine trafficking after she received a large package of methamphetamine shipped from California to distribute locally. Cassiopeia Marie Blaise, 37, Columbia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to eight years in federal prison without parole. Blaise pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2021, to […]
DEA to hold 22nd national Prescription Drug Take Back Day to prevent addiction and reduce overdose deaths
The Drug Enforcement Administration will host its 22nd National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This bi-annual event offers free, anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide. “Disposing of unneeded medications can help prevent drugs from being misused,” said DEA Administrator […]
Legislators weigh blocking COVID visitor restrictions at Missouri hospitals, nursing homes
(Missouri Independent) – State Rep. Ed Lewis had just hours to say goodbye. In March 2020, his 89-year-old mother had to go to the hospital after suffering from a fall. Lewis’ sister was their mother’s primary caregiver, but in the pandemic’s first days as hospitals restricted visitors, family members weren’t allowed to stay with her. Lewis […]
Obituary & Services: Mary Kathleen “Kathy” Gilliland,
Mary Kathleen “Kathy” Gilliland, age 62, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at St. Luke’s Hospice House, Kansas City, Missouri. She was born the daughter of Ralph and Louise (Posch) Wilson on September 11, 1959, in Chillicothe, Missouri. Kathy was a 1977 graduate of Chillicothe High School. She attended […]
Princeton Board of Education review bids for an electric school bus
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education reviewed bids for an electric school bus on April 11th. Three bids were received, and only one met bid specifications for delivery within six months and the inclusion of a Level II charging station. Lion Bus Company’s bid was $351,320.25 and included the bus being available that day and […]
Trenton R-9 Board of Education address full agenda at meeting on Tuesday
At the Trenton R-9 Board of Education meeting on April 12th, Superintendent Mike Stegman discussed the school district’s bomb threat on March 30th. He said a threat came into the Trenton Police Department regarding a suspicious package at the high school, and the police informed the school district. Trenton Middle School and High School were […]
Missouri man sentenced to 13 years in prison, without parole, for meth conspiracy
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Darrell Lynn Ferguson, 57, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 13 years and one month in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 6, 2021, Ferguson pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper in Macon promoted to Corporal
Captain Erik A. Gottman, commanding officer of Troop B, Macon, announces Trooper Trent J. Haley is being promoted to the rank of corporal effective May 1, 2022. He will be designated assistant zone commander of Zone 5 which encompasses Adair, and Schuyler counties. Haley was appointed to the Patrol on January 7, 2007, and after […]
Laredo Board of Education approve salary proposal for staff increases
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education approved a salary proposal April 11th. Administration and non-certified staff received a five percent increase. The certified staff base was increased by $1,500 to make the base $32,500. Bus driver salaries were tabled until May to correspond with transportation reports. Non-certified, extra duty, band, and counseling contracts were approved. […]
Department of Justice rule cracks down untraceable firearms known as ‘ghost guns’
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden Monday unveiled the Department of Justice’s plan to regulate untraceable firearms known as ghost guns, as well as announced his nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Department of Justice’s final rule bans the business of manufacturing ghost guns, such as “buy build shoot” kits […]
Grundy County R-5 Board of Education to meet April 12th
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education next week will discuss salary information and insurance for next school year. The board will meet on April 12, 2022, at 6 pm. The agenda also includes the administration of oath to board members, reorganization of the board, bids for electrical work at the elementary school, an agreement with […]
North Central Missouri College Dean of Instruction gives presentation on “The Values of Higher Education” at Trenton Rotary meeting
The North Central Missouri College Dean of Instruction spoke at the Trenton Rotary Club meeting on April 7th. Mitch Holder discussed the values of higher education and how NCMC can meet those needs. Holder said the college prepares students for their “next step” once they leave NCMC, and the college does that at an affordable […]
Agenda for Trenton R-9 Board of Education includes insurance plans, grants and track repair
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education will discuss establishing insurance plans for 2022-2023 and a budget amendment. The board will meet at the school district office on April 12th at 5:30 pm. Other items on the agenda include the certification of election results, administration of the oath of office, reorganization of the board, GEC grants, […]
Agenda for Trenton City Council meeting includes ordinances and discussion of driving all-terrain vehicles after dark
Three ordinances and one resolution will be considered, and newly elected officials will be sworn in at the Trenton City Council meeting next week. The council will meet at the Trenton City Hall on April 11th at 7 pm. The meeting will also be available on Zoom at us02web.zoom.us/j/83458330081. One ordinance would enact a new […]
Crystal Bupp named as new City Administrator in Milan
The Milan City Council voted on Monday, April 4, 2022, to authorize an employment agreement with Crystal Bupp as the city’s next city administrator, effective April 6, 2022. “The City of Milan welcomes Crystal as our next city administrator,” said Mayor Andy Herington. “Crystal’s institutional knowledge of our community, experience, and diverse skill set will […]
Pause on federal student loan repayments extended by Biden through August 31
(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration Wednesday announced its plans to extend the pause on federal student loan repayments until the end of August. “I recognized in recently extending the COVID-19 national emergency, we are still recovering from the pandemic and the unprecedented economic disruption it caused,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “If loan […]
Coalition of 27 state treasurers and auditors call on the Biden administration to promote American energy production
Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick joined 26 other state financial officers in calling on the Biden Administration to promote American energy production. In a letter to the President, the state leaders emphasized the need to re-establish American energy independence amid the massive increase in the price of gas and diesel, which is contributing to the […]
Hawley rips Biden administration over plans to allocate veteran resources to illegal immigrants
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, expressing deep concern with the administration’s decision to rescind the Title 42 order amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis – with numbers surging at the southern border. Senator Hawley also inquired about disturbing new reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) […]