Governor Mike Parson delivered the 2021 State of the State Address to the Missouri General Assembly. Governor Parson highlighted several accomplishments the state has made in combating COVID-19 as well as major successes in infrastructure and workforce development despite the challenges of the past year. Following a recap of 2020, Governor Parson’s speech focused […]
Tag: administration
Missouri woman sentenced to 17-years in prison without parole for meth conspiracy and Illegal Firearms
A Missouri, woman was sentenced in federal court for leading a conspiracy that distributed more than 15 kilograms of methamphetamine in a three-county area. Christina E. Gauger, 39, of Springfield, Missouri was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 17 years in federal prison without parole. Law enforcement officers seized a total of […]
Governor Parson announces launch of new COVID-19 vaccination dashboard
Governor Mike Parson announced the launch of a new COVID-19 vaccination dashboard containing Missouri-specific data submitted by providers from across the state. “We are excited to announce the launch of Missouri’s COVID-19 vaccination dashboard. This dashboard will provide Missourians with the most up-to-date, Missouri-specific data available,” said Governor Parson. “It is important that we provide this resource […]
Audio: Congressman Graves talks about working with Biden Administration and Keystone XL Pipeline
President Biden has issued an executive order canceling the 1,200-mile Keystone XL Pipeline project. The nine billion dollar oil pipeline project was first proposed in 2008 and has been stuck in court battles through the years. It would have stretched from Canada to Texas. Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says Biden’s decision is an economic […]
Audio: Four members of Gangster Disciples from Missouri arrested along with three from Kentucky and Illinois
Seven alleged members of the violent Gangster Disciples gang, including top national and state leaders, are in custody after multiple arrests this morning for their alleged participation in a years-long interstate racketeering conspiracy involving multiple murders, drug trafficking, and other crimes. The case was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District […]
Man pleads guilty to obtaining over $700,000 in COVID-19 relief using fraud scheme
A Washington man pleaded guilty today to perpetrating a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Nicholas L. McQuaid, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s […]
Biden immigration overhaul would open a door to citizenship for 11 million people
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden is poised to send a sweeping immigration reform bill to Congress Thursday that would lay out a path for nearly 11 million undocumented people to obtain citizenship within eight years. Immigration has been one of the toughest issues for Congress to tackle, and the legislation’s fate is unclear in […]
Trenton Police Department offers tips to prevent residents from being scammed
The Trenton Police Department has released tips for avoiding scams. It provides four signs to tell something is a scam. The first sign is that scammers pretend to be from an organization you know or claim to contact you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like the Social Security Administration, […]
Audio: Missouri Senate Committee hears testimony on Second Amendment Preservation Act
Legislation establishing a Second Amendment Preservation Act had support from rural Missourians during a Tuesday Senate committee hearing in Jefferson City. Battlefield GOP State Senator Eric Burlison, the bill sponsor, predicts President-Elect Joe Biden’s administration will push for gun control. Burlison’s bill declares that it’s the duty of the courts and law enforcement […]
Great Northwest Day at the Capitol to be held as virtual event in 2021
The Great Northwest Day at the Capitol will go virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Great Northwest Live Event will advocate regional priorities with state legislators from February 1st through 3rd. Participants are encouraged to ask questions on the Great Northwest Day at the Capitol Facebook page. The schedule includes a legislative […]
Effort to stop charging 17-year-olds as adults has stalled in Missouri
(Missouri Independent) – Khadijah Wilson had a bully during her junior year at Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles. She told her principal and teachers about the name-calling, and how the other girl constantly threatened to beat her up. But no one intervened. It went on for several months. “I reported it more […]
Health departments in Missouri fighting a lack of vaccine as new tiers open up on state COVID-19 plan
Wondering where to go to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Missouri? On Friday, the state launched an interactive map detailing where over 1,100 providers are located across the state. But not all locations identified on the map as providing the vaccine, actually have vaccines on hand to administer. And reports that the federal government has already exhausted its […]
Public interest groups sue EPA for re-approving controversial herbicide dicamba
Public-interest groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency over the agency’s re-approval of products containing dicamba, a herbicide controversial for its tendency to drift into neighboring fields and damage farmers’ crops and homeowners’ gardens. Last fall, the EPA green-lighted dicamba use for five years, the third time the agency registered dicamba products. George Kimbrell, legal director at […]
Chillicothe Police Department reminds residents to be vigilant of phone scammers
The Chillicothe Police Department reminds the public about scammers calling claiming they are from the IRS, Social Security Administration, or a banking institution or saying someone has won a sweepstake. Residents are advised to not provide these callers with any personal or banking information and hang up. Assistant Police Chief Rick Sampsel says these institutions […]
Governor Parson announces activation of first Tier of Phase 1B of Missouri’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
Governor Mike Parson has announced the activation of Phase 1B – Tier 1 of Missouri’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. Federal partners have informed the state that they plan to significantly increase vaccine supply next week and that individuals 65 and older and those with the presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions should be […]
Grundy County R-5 Board of Education approves extension of COVID Response Act; approves purchase of new math curriculum
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education approved an extension of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act on Wednesday evening, January 13th. The act provides employees 80 hours of paid sick leave if the employee is quarantined with COVID-19. The board approved the purchase of a new curriculum for the elementary school. Math Expressions will […]
Feds tell states to give COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 65 and older in bid to speed rollout
(Missouri Independent) – The Trump administration on Tuesday directed state officials to expand who is getting vaccinated for COVID-19, and announced that all available doses will be distributed to states instead of holding back a reserve of follow-up doses. Under the policy changes outlined by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, states should begin […]
Trenton Board of Education approves COVID-19 leave policy; teachers and admin now considered “essential”
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education at the latest meeting on Tuesday, January 12th approved two motions regarding COVID-19 leave. Another motion did not pass. On a vote of four to three, the board voted to consider teachers and administration essential. Voting yes were Vice President Brandon Gibler and board members David Whitaker, Corey Leeper, and […]
Governor Parson makes five appointments to various boards and commissions; fills seven county office vacancies
Governor Mike Parson announced five appointments to various boards and commissions and filled seven-county office vacancies. Governor Parson also named the new Acting Director of the Division of Professional Registration. Samuel Adams, of Ferguson, was appointed to the State Board of Mediation. Mr. Adams has served as business representative and organizer for the St. Louis – Kansas City […]