This week, the state of Missouri joins many others across the nation in recognizing National Small Business Week. Small businesses have a major impact on Missouri’s economy, as more than 45 percent of employed Missourians receive a paycheck from working at a small business. In 2019, Missouri’s small businesses created 13,855 net new jobs. More […]
Tag: administration
Missouri is averaging 3,908 new COVID cases per day; public health warning issued
The Parson administration has issued a statewide public health warning, due to the continued increase in new COVID cases statewide. The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says there are currently 2,588 COVID patients in Missouri hospitals, an increase of 135 in the past 24 hours. 608 of those patients are in the ICU and 310 […]
Audio: Missouri issues public health warning for local governments to implement, and a travel advisory
Missouri’s governor has issued a statewide public health warning because of the continued increase in new COVID cases statewide. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services says there have been 27,358 new COVID cases in Missouri in the past week, which is an average of 3,908 new COVID cases per day. The DHSS new […]
Livingston County mask mandate and fines not enforceable until adopted by Chillicothe City Council at next meeting
Livingston County Health Center Administrator Sherry Weldon has provided more information about the mask mandate going into effect on November 20th to slow the spread of COVID-19. The executive order from the health center, Chillicothe Mayor Theresa Kelly, and Presiding Commissioner Ed Douglas requires persons at least seven years old to wear face masks or […]
Seven charged in connection with COVID-relief fraud scheme involving at least 80 fraudulent loan applications
Seven individuals across two states were charged in an indictment unsealed for their alleged participation in a scheme to obtain approximately $16 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Amir Aqeel, 52, and Pardeep Basra, 51, both of […]
2020 was a bloodbath for Missouri Democrats. Will 2022 be any better?
(Missouri Independent) – There’s no point trying to spin it: While the 2020 election was a mixed verdict nationally, with Republicans gaining congressional seats and minimizing Senate losses even as Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump, the Missouri verdict was unequivocal. It started atop the ticket with Trump’s dominance. He and Gov. Mike Parson set […]
State Auditor issues 5th report on Missouri’s use of stimulus dollars received through CARES Act funding
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released her fifth report detailing the state government’s use of federal stimulus dollars intended for the COVID-19 response. In March, 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 recently passed by Congress. The […]
Biden wants mask mandates nationwide: ‘We can save tens of thousands of lives’
(Missouri Independent) – President-elect Joe Biden’s coronavirus response plan seeks to put a national mask mandate in place by calling on all governors to require face coverings in their states. It’s a move that public health experts say could dramatically reduce the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths. But putting wider mask laws in place […]
Missouri receives national “Innovation In State Government” award for professional development
The National Association of State Chief Administrators (NASCA) awarded one of four 2020 Innovations in State Government Awards to Missouri, the state’s first time receiving the award. Missouri was recognized for its distinctiveness and innovation in the “Personnel Best Practices” category for its professional development transformation. Criteria included program innovation, transferability to other state governments, […]
Grundy County Board of Education modifies attendance for home basketball games
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education the evening of November 11th discussed modifications for home basketball games in regard to COVID-19. Attendance will be allowed only with a ticket. About 150 tickets will be issued per game. Each Grundy R-5 player, coach, and cheerleader will receive five tickets. Visiting teams will receive two tickets […]
“Missouri is fully prepared to start vaccinating people in December,” DHSS promises, including transporting long-term care patients
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director told Missouri legislators that the state is “fully prepared to start vaccinating people in December” if the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Randal Williams updated the House Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention on how a vaccine would […]
Jamesport Board of Education approves agreement with Daviess County on CARES Act funding
The Jamesport Tri-County Board of Education the evening of November 9th authorized Edward Jones to liquidate funds into a certificate of deposit to create a district scholarship fund. The funds were a private donation to be used explicitly for scholarships. The board approved the use of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education-provided rapid tests […]
‘Won’t be able to survive’: Childcare centers serving low-income Missourians face closure
(Missouri Independent) – Cortaiga Collins doesn’t know how much longer her childcare center will survive. Only about a dozen children have been attending regularly amid the pandemic. Under normal circumstances, she used to serve as many as 100. She’s already had to reduce the hours that Good Shepherd Preschool and Infant/Toddler Center in St. Louis […]
Missouri woman sentenced to prison for Social Security, bankruptcy fraud scheme
A Missouri woman was sentenced in federal court for a Social Security and bankruptcy fraud scheme. Carol L. Dille, 68, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to two years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Dille to pay $76,601 in restitution. On Jan. 31, 2020, Dille pleaded […]
Princeton High School staff member tests positive for COVID-19; high school student is probable case
Princeton R-5 Superintendent Jerry Girdner reports classes will continue as scheduled November 4th after the district learned on Tuesday evening, November 3rd of a high school staff member testing positive for COVID-19. A high school student is also considered to be a probable case. Those are the fifth and sixth positive cases Girdner is aware of […]
St. Joseph man pleads guilty to meth trafficking
A Missouri, man who led law enforcement officers in a pursuit in Taney County, Mo., pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing approximately six pounds of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Andrew R. Trammell, 47, of St. Joseph, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of possessing 500 grams […]
Missouri man who trafficked ‘Half the Town’ sentenced to 12-years for meth conspiracy
A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy that distributed more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine in southern Missouri. Eric Eugene Akins, 54, of Monett, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 12 years in federal prison without parole. On Jan. 21, 2020, Akins pleaded guilty […]
Food Safety webinar scheduled for November 17, 2020
The Missouri Small Business Development Center at Northwest Missouri State University, the Missouri Small Business Development Center for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and University Missouri Extension are partnering to host a Food Safety for Food Processors and Small Businesses webinar on Nov. 17, 2020, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is no fee to […]
Missouri ranks in top 3 in 2020 Digital States Survey; receives “Grade A” for data-driven government
Governor Mike Parson announced that Missouri has been recognized as a national leader in digital technology best practices. The Center for Digital Government (CDG) released its 2020 Digital States Survey, which showed that Missouri received a grade of “A,” one of the top grades among all 50 states. The grade A demonstrates very strong innovation […]