(Missouri Independent) – The House Budget Committee will submit its revisions to Gov. Mike Parson’s $34.1 billion state operating budget to the full House this week without the benefit of clear guidelines for spending new infusions of federal cash. The committee must also decide whether and how it will use a record general revenue surplus. The fund’s cash balance […]
Tag: administration
COVID-19 vaccinator eligibility expands to additional medical professionals and students
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently amended the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act Declaration to allow more qualified professionals to serve as COVID-19 vaccinators. This action surpasses current Missouri standing orders for vaccine administration and authorized additional categories of qualified professionals to prescribe, dispense, and administer COVID-19 vaccines anywhere in […]
Audio: FEMA could be holding virus vaccination events in Missouri soon
The Federal Emergency Management Agency could be holding COVID-19 vaccination events in Missouri soon. During a Capitol press conference, Governor Parson says his administration has been talking to the agency about holding clinics in some of the state’s urban communities.
Audio: Roll up your sleeves, Missourians, new virus vaccination phases to begin earlier than expected
Governor Mike Parson has announced a new coronavirus vaccination phase will open on March 29 – earlier than originally anticipated. During a Capitol press conference today, Parson says Missouri is well ahead of schedule in its vaccination plan. “The federal government has informed us that COVID-19 vaccine allotments to Missouri are projected to increase significantly […]
Missouri joins 20 other states in suing Biden administration for revoking Keystone XL pipeline permit
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt joined 20 other state attorneys general in filing suit on Wednesday, led by Montana and Texas, in United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas challenging President Joe Biden’s cancellation of the permits for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The lawsuit argues that President Biden’s administration […]
Tax Day for individuals extended to May 17, 2021
The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. The IRS will be providing formal guidance in the coming days. “This continues to be a tough time for many […]
USDA invests $15 million to improve and modernize electric infrastructure in rural Missouri
U.S.Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $15 million to build and improve electric infrastructure in Missouri through its Electric Loan Program. “For nearly 85 years—since the inception of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936—USDA has played a role in bringing electricity to rural areas,” […]
Lawmakers say President Biden is escalating border crisis by unlawfully freezing border wall funding
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 […]
Audio: Full-blown Missouri State Fair is in the works this year
Missouri is planning a full-fledged state fair this August. Last year’s state fair was scaled back due to the coronavirus. Kari Mergen with the Missouri State Fair says planning is full speed ahead. The State Fair will be August 12 through 22 in west-central Missouri’s Sedalia. The Missouri Office of Administration projects about […]
‘Vaccine passports’ that show you’re inoculated are on the way
(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 […]
Grundy R-5 Board of Education approves employee health insurance plan and four-day week calendar
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education has approved a health insurance plan and a four-day week calendar. The district will work with Missouri Educators Trust for the insurance. The plan will provide all full-time staff a $3,000 health savings account for $549.91. Staff will have an option to buy up to three other plans […]
Senate confirms Haaland as first-ever Native American to serve in the Cabinet
(Missouri Independent) – U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland made history on Monday when she became the first Native American to ever be confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold a position in a president’s Cabinet. In a narrow 51-40 vote, senators confirmed Haaland, a New Mexico Democrat, to serve as secretary of the interior, where she […]
Tobi Crippen selected as North Central Missouri College’s Outstanding Employee
Tobi Crippen, Extended Operations Specialist from Savannah, MO, has been selected as North Central Missouri College’s Outstanding Employee for March. Tobi, an NCMC Alumni, has been employed at NCMC for three years and holds an Associate in Arts degree. Tobi strives to make personal connections with each student at the North Belt Center. She feels […]
Daughter of Mexican cartel leader pleads guilty to criminal violation of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
A dual U.S.-Mexican citizen pleaded guilty today to willfully engaging in financial dealings with Mexican companies that had been identified as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). According to court documents, Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, 34, of Guadalajara, Mexico, violated the criminal penalties of […]
Missouri State Auditor issues latest report on Missouri’s use of stimulus dollars received through CARES Act funding
State Auditor Nicole Galloway released her ninth monthly report detailing the state government’s use of federal stimulus dollars intended for the COVID-19 response. Last year, Auditor Galloway announced that her office would examine the state’s distribution and spending of funding received under the CARES Act and other federal assistance programs passed by Congress. The most […]
Senator Hawley calls for emergency Senate hearing on Biden administration’s handling of southern border crisis
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent letters to President Joe Biden and Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, calling for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to testify at a full Senate hearing, to be scheduled as soon as possible on the growing crisis at […]
Senator Hawley along with lawmakers from Arkansas, Tennessee and Nebraska introduce bill imposing sanctions on drug cartels
U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) introduced the Significant Transnational Criminal Organization Designation Act, legislation that would subject certain foreign criminal organizations like drug cartels to sanctions, including immigration, financial, and criminal penalties. The process would be similar to the system used for designating entities as […]
University of Missouri system launches “Missouri Online” to make online programs more accessible
The University of Missouri System today launched Missouri Online, a new unified resource and administrative structure that supports online certificate and degree programs at all four UM System universities. The launch represents the culmination of strategic priorities made by the UM Board of Curators and UM President Mun Choi over the last three years to […]
Trenton Board of Education tackles huge agenda including approval of salary schedule for next school year
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 […]