School Bus Picking up kids (children)

Audio: Northern Missouri Senator proposes to limit pay for Missouri’s K-12 public school superintendents

State Senator Cindy O’Laughlin of northern Missouri’s Shelbina wants to limit pay for Missouri’s K-12 public school superintendents. Under a bill she has pre-filed, total compensation could not exceed 3.5 times the average total compensation provided to all certified, full-time teachers employed by the district. Missouri has about 551 public and charter schools. The Missouri […]

Prison Sentence News Graphic

Arkansas project manager sentenced to two years in prison in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud

A project manager employed by a major retailer was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for fraudulently seeking more than $8 million in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. […]

Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana subpoena may have been connected to Independence, Missouri FBI probe

(Missouri Independent) – The head of Missouri’s medical marijuana program testified under oath that a grand jury subpoena his agency received late last year was likely connected to an FBI investigation in Independence.  The revelation by Lyndall Fraker, director of medical marijuana regulation at the Missouri Department of Health and Seniors Services, is the first […]

Accident-Crash graphic

Two-car crash in Adair County injures Ottumwa teenager

One person from Iowa was taken to the hospital in Milan following a two-vehicle accident late Sunday night on Highway 6 in western Adair County. Nineteen-year-old Manuel Ruano of Ottumwa received minor injuries and was taken by private vehicle to Sullivan County Memorial Hospital. A trooper reported cars driven by Ruano and 27-year-old Yadira Hernandez-Jimenez, […]

Healthcare Graphic

Audio: Missouri prepares to launch new program to help rural hospitals with covid struggles

On Tuesday, Missouri is launching a program focused on helping rural hospitals with their problems of limited staffing, bed capacity, and equipment during the pandemic. In southwest Missouri’s Appleton City, many low-income families are waiting for care. Jamie O’Farrell tells Springfield television station KOLR she treats patients at Ellett Memorial Hospital’s clinic.     Through […]

School Funding

Audio: $76 Million in to be deployed to Missouri’s K-12 schools, once Governor signs supplemental budget

About $76 million in federal money will be heading to Missouri’s k-12 schools, once Governor Mike Parson signs the supplemental budget bill. House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, says the $1.27 billion supplemental budget includes $75.6 million for school nutrition services.     “i.e., paying for meals in k-12 education,” Smith says. “So this […]

NCMC PAS 2021 President and Vice President Neill and Dobbins

NCMC agriculture students participate in state conference; elected PAS President and Vice President

Eight agriculture students from North Central Missouri College participated in the Missouri Postsecondary Agriculture Student Organization (PAS) State Conference November 9-11, 2020. The conference was hosted virtually by State Fair Community College in Sedalia, MO. Over 100 students from seven Missouri community colleges and universities participated in the conference. Calvin Basham, an NCMC student, concluded […]

COVID-19 or Coronavirus Update

COVID-19 Update: New deaths reported in Daviess and Harrison counties; 106 new cases of COVID-19 reported in area counties

A COVID-19-related death has been added in Daviess County since November 25th. The health department reports 10 deaths in total. Forty-nine cases were also added, bringing the total to 410. One hundred sixty-two cases are active. The Daviess County Health Department notes the county is now identified as a Top 5 Hot Spot in Missouri […]

Business finance and economy concept

Census survey reveals COVID-19’s devastating impact in Missouri

(Missouri Independent) – Hundreds of thousands of Missourians are struggling to get by during our coronavirus public health emergency, including children, according to the recently released U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey. While 40.8 percent of Missouri households report losing income since March, families with children under 18 have been especially impacted, with 51.4 percent reporting […]

Bridge Closed Sign

Grand River overflow bridge on Chariton County Route 139 to close for replacement

The Grand River Overflow Bridge on Chariton County Route 139 will close soon for replacement. The Missouri Department of Transportation contracted with Boone Construction Co. to replace the structurally deficient 57-year-old bridge. This bridge is included in Gov. Mike Parson’s $351 million Focus on Bridges program, which will repair or replace 250 bridges across the state. […]

Missouri Governor Mike Parson

Audio: Governor Parson reacts to investigative report into recent COVID deaths at Missouri veterans homes

Missouri’s governor said Thursday in Jefferson City that he wants some answers, after reading a 53-page independent investigation into recent COVID deaths at Missouri veterans homes. Governor Mike Parson ordered the investigation, which was conducted by St. Louis-based Armstrong Teasdale. The governor emphasizes that he’s limited in what he can say because he doesn’t know […]

Veterans and services news graphic

Audio: Independent 53-page report on Missouri Veterans Homes shows failure of leadership, response and planning

An independent investigation into the COVID-19 deaths at Missouri veterans homes has found that the Missouri Veterans Commission headquarters failed to recognize the outbreak. Armstrong Teasdale’s report says MVC should have recognized the presence of an outbreak in the Cape Girardeau veteran’s home by September 2. MVC Chairman Tim Noonan says a tremendous amount of […]