The Chillicothe City Council on January 25th approved 2021 COBRA rates and a resolution adopting the Hazard Mitigation Plan. City Administrator Darin Chappell explains if someone leaves the employment of the city, he or she is entitled to have COBRA coverage on health insurance for 18 months with the city insurance company. The city has […]
Tag: agency
Grundy County Commission adopts deficit budget for 2021
The Grundy County Commission unanimously adopted a deficit budget for 2021 the morning of January 26th. The budget estimates total revenues of $5,736,634 and expenditures of $6,928,813. A balance deficit of $1,192,179 is expected for 2021. The county begins the year with carryover funds of $3,910,220.81. The projected ending balance is $2,718,041.81. Grundy County Clerk […]
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 […]
High-speed pursuit ends in crash and arrest
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office reports it assisted the Highway Patrol with a pursuit on Friday morning, January 22nd that originated on Interstate 35 and ended when the driver crashed. Savana Kaleeba was taken into custody on multiple traffic charges and an outstanding outside agency warrant. The passenger was released from the scene. The pursuit […]
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 […]
United States reaches agreement with Midwest Can for Clean Air Act violations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement that will require Midwest Can Company, one of the largest manufacturers of portable fuel containers in the United States, to pay a $1.7 million civil penalty to resolve Clean Air Act violations. The violations resulted from failure to disclose test […]
Audio: Health Department that covers three rural northwest Missouri counties creates COVID-19 vaccine waiting list
Northwest Missouri’s Tri-County health department has created a COVID-19 vaccine waiting list, due to the high interest in getting the vaccine and a shortage of staff covering the area there. Tri-County health administrator Teresa McDonald is one of just three nurses covering rural Worth, Gentry, and DeKalb counties. She says the list has helped streamline […]
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 […]
EPA takes action to investigate PFAS contamination
As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) extensive efforts to address PFAS, the agency is making new information available about EPA testing that shows PFAS contamination from fluorinated containers. Through a coordinated effort with both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a pesticide manufacturer, the agency has determined that fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers that are used to […]
PETA seeks criminal probe after revealing steers shot in head at Warner Locker near Maysville
PETA has obtained a U.S. Department of Agriculture report revealing a recent violation of law at Warner Locker outside Maysville, Missouri. In response, the group sent a letter this morning calling on DeKalb County Prosecuting Attorney Erik Tate to review the matter and, as appropriate, file criminal cruelty-to-animals charges against the facility and its manager […]
Audio: Should Missouri K-12 teachers get a bonus for sticking around next school year?
Missouri Board of Education President Charlie Shields wants the state to check into whether a bonus can be given to K-12 teachers to help keep them next school year. During today’s board meeting, Shields says he wants the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to do some “serious” exploring of what measures the […]
NCRS releases final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for East Locust Creek Watershed Plan
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Missouri released a final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) recently for the East Locust Creek Watershed Plan. The plan involves the construction of a proposed multiple-purpose reservoir in Sullivan County. The supplement addresses changes since NRCS prepared the East Locust Creek Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement in 2006. […]
Green Hills Regional Planning Commission announces new Executive Director
The Green Hills Regional Planning Commission Board of Directors announces the next Executive Director of the commission. Corrine Watts plans to assume her duties in the first week of March. She is currently the Director of Workforce Services for the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council in Olympia, Washington. She will replace Randy Railsback who was […]
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation lending rates for January 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation announced interest rates for January 2021, which are effective January 4-January 31. These rates are used for a variety of farm credit options available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). The CCC’s borrowing rate-based charge is 0.125%, the same as December. The interest rate for crop year commodity […]
Audio: Noonan says Missouri Veteran Commission report reveals “fault lines everywhere”
A detailed report on a coronavirus outbreak at the state’s veterans’ homes further shows breakdowns in leadership and confusion over command structures. Chairman Tim Noonan resigned the day the report was released on Thursday saying he did not think the commission had the governor’s support in making reforms. He says the report shows that there […]
Audio: Veterans Commission Chairman resigns, detailed report released on COVID outbreak in veterans’ homes
The Missouri Veterans Commission on Thursday released the detailed report on a Covid outbreak in veterans’ homes. To date, 158 veterans have died since September. Soon after – Chairman Tim Noonan resigned as chairman of the commission. He told Missourinet that he took issue with the governor’s statement that he QUOTE “is not going to […]
Audio: K-12 Education Commissioner says boosting teacher pay remains a top priority
Missouri’s average teacher salary is roughly $42,000 – ranking it about 42nd in the nation. The state’s starting teacher pay of $25,000 has not been changed in 15 years. State Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven (van-DEE-ven) tells Missourinet boosting pay for K-12 educators remains a top priority for her department. Vandeven says her agency […]
University of Missouri Extension to help expand mental health resources in rural areas
Missouri’s rural counties lack mental health services despite growing financial stress and suicide rates with all of Missouri’s 99 rural counties facing a shortage of mental health professionals; 57 of them have none. The University of Missouri Extension hopes to change that through a multistate project to help farmers, ranchers, and farm families find affordable […]
EPA proposes registration of Trifludimoxazin, a new herbicide active ingredient
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposes registering pesticide products containing the new active ingredient trifludimoxazin, a vital additional tool in managing resistant weeds. Trifludimoxazin is an herbicide intended for pre-and/or post-emergent control of broadleaf and grass weeds. It can be applied by aircraft on citrus fruits, pome fruits, cereal grain (except rice), tree nuts, peanuts, […]