(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration announced Thursday steps to expedite asylum cases at the U.S.-Mexico border in an attempt to resolve a years-long backlog, but policy advocates worry the streamlined process could prevent asylum seekers from obtaining legal representation if their cases are denied. “If somebody is not approved in the first instance, they’re […]
Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says it appears financial sanctions imposed by the United States and the rest of the West are beginning to have an impact on Russia. But Graves says President Biden should have imposed the sanctions long before Russia invaded Ukraine. Graves, a Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, says […]
(Missouri Independent) – In the third day of hearings Wednesday on the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, several Republicans on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee interrogated her about sentences she handed down for child pornography offenses, disagreeing vehemently with her judicial decisions. Republicans grilled her with questions she had already answered […]
The Missouri House of Representatives has given initial approval to eminent domain legislation for utility purposes. Lawmakers have been working for years to pass a plan like this due to a high-voltage power transmission line project planned across eight northern Missouri counties. Under the bill, in eminent domain proceedings, just compensation for agriculture or horticulture […]
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today announced her office has begun an audit of the Carroll County Ambulance District. The ambulance district board of directors passed a resolution requesting the audit after a complaint to the State Auditor’s Whistleblower Hotline led to an initial review of the allegations by the Auditor’s Public Corruption and Fraud Division. […]
(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri House gave first-round approval Wednesday to a bill that would allow betting on major college and professional sports. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Dan Houx, R-Warrensburg, is the proposal preferred by the casinos and major sports teams, who would all get a piece of the action. A major part of the […]
As snow and ice fade to an unpleasant memory, attention turns to trash that has accumulated on roadsides during the winter months. The Missouri Department of Transportation would like to invite all who use Missouri roads to join us in doing some spring cleaning throughout April. MoDOT spends about $6 million annually to remove litter […]
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports a Tuesday night arrest in Putnam County. Forty-six-year-old Brandon Baughman of Unionville was taken on a 24-hour hold to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. Baughman is accused of felony alleged failure to register as a sex offender, failure to register annually with the Missouri Department of Revenue, operating a […]
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees on March 22nd approved increases in tuition and fees as well as room and board. Tuition for NCMC district students will stay the same at $92 per credit hour for the 2022-2023 academic year. However, there is a $5 per credit hour increase for other Missouri residents, […]
State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced that her office has begun a regularly scheduled audit of Dent County, located in south-central Missouri. The county received a rating of “good” from the most recent state audit, issued in July 2019. “Audits can help local officials take steps to make government more efficient and effective for taxpayers,” Auditor […]
(Missouri Independent) – Former Gov. Eric Greitens is facing calls to abandon his campaign for U.S. Senate following accusations that he abused his ex-wife and children that surfaced in a sworn affidavit made public Monday. U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, who has been the only major GOP Senate candidate to publicly criticize Greitens over the accusation of violent […]
(Missouri Independent) – Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens is facing new allegations that he physically abused his ex-wife and children and that in the months before his resignation became so unstable that his access to firearms had to be limited. The accusations are included in a sworn affidavit filed by former Missouri First Lady Sheena Greitens as […]
(Missouri Independent) – As a fight over who can regulate industrial hog and cattle operations awaits action by the Missouri Supreme Court, counties that sought more stringent protections against them wait in limbo. The Missouri Supreme Court is expected to hear an appeal by county commissioners who sought to regulate concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, […]
The Livingston County Library recently received an LSTA Technology Mini-grant grant for the library’s Technology Reboot Project that included the purchase of 10 new hotspots that will be available to the public beginning April 1, 2022. Mobile wi-fi hotspots are portable and allow up to 12 devices to connect to the internet at the same […]
(Missouri Independent) – When Missouri’s health department refused to turn over certain documents to ProPublica reporter Pamela Colloff in October 2020, she did what the attorney general’s office directs anyone to do if they believe a government agency is illegally withholding public records. She filed a Sunshine Law complaint with Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, […]
State Auditor Nicole Galloway has begun a regularly scheduled audit of Grundy County, in northern Missouri. The county received a rating of “fair” from the most recent state audit, issued in September 2015. “My office will review Grundy County operations to ensure taxpayer resources have been used effectively and appropriately, and make recommendations with any […]
Missouri state lawmakers have various tax-cutting and tax credit proposals to consider this session. As Joey Parker tells us, some legislators have been working years to make changes to the state’s tax code. Other tax credit proposals are geared at those who don’t have a badge. St. Louis Senator Steven Roberts sponsors Senate […]
State Auditor Nicole Galloway released her office’s annual report on the state’s financial reporting processes. The report examines Missouri’s annual statewide financial statements and makes recommendations to ensure accurate financial reporting, which better protects and accounts for taxpayer resources. Auditors found that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations needs to improve controls in the […]
Missouri WIC announces a new, temporary waiver that will allow the purchase of larger containers of formula using WIC benefits during the Abbott infant formula recall event. This temporary waiver allows Missouri WIC participants to purchase larger containers of formula if standard-size Similac formula is not available at authorized WIC retailers. Participants may begin to purchase […]
(Missouri Independent) – Applying for health insurance through Medicaid expansion took Raven Cole just 10 minutes. But the wait to see if she’s approved has dragged on for months. The 23-year-old legal assistant applied for coverage, “well over two to three months ago.” “And I haven’t heard anything back,” Cole said. Cole is one of […]
