COVID-19 Delta Variant Final

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services urge continued vaccination as close monitoring of Delta variant continues

Missouri is experiencing a rise in individuals contracting the Delta variant (B.1.617.2, first detected in India) of the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2. It was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday that the Delta variant has been reclassified as a “variant of concern” in the United States. The Missouri Department of […]

United States Capitol Building by Florian Pintar on Unsplash

Lawmaker announces that he will reintroduce Taiwan Defense Act

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced he will reintroduce the Taiwan Defense Act (TDA), following new signs of China’s increasing belligerence in the Asia-Pacific and imperial ambitions worldwide. Sen. Hawley’s bill ensures the United States is able to defeat any attempted Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Originally introduced in June 2020, TDA is co-sponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Steve […]

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Owner of school sentenced to prison for defrauding program dedicated to rehabilitating disabled military veterans

A Maryland man was sentenced Monday to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution for defrauding a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program dedicated to rehabilitating military veterans with disabilities.  According to court documents, Francis Engles, 65, of Bowie, was the owner and operator of Engles Security Training School (Engles […]

Economic Development

Department of Economic Development awards $15.8 million for community development projects statewide

The Department of Economic Development announced it will award more than $15.8 million to 38 recipients through its Community Development Block Grant Program to help communities with infrastructure improvement and other projects across Missouri. “Strengthening infrastructure and improving our workforce remains my administration’s top priorities,” said Governor Mike Parson. “Whether repairing roads, upgrading facilities, or […]

WOTUS or Waters of the United States

Missouri Attorney General opposes reinstatement of overreaching WOTUS rule in Letter to EPA and Army Corps of Engineers

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, opposing their recent move to reconsider the more limited Navigable Waters Protection Rule, a President Trump-era rule that reversed the 2015 Obama-era Waters of the United States rule. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and the […]

Sam Graves Sam Graves official photo

Graves warns against reviving Waters of the United States rule

Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) sent a clear message that any attempt to revive the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule would be met with staunch resistance in Congress and from farmers and ranchers across America. “The Obama-era WOTUS rule was a direct assault on farm families everywhere,” said Graves. “Farmers and ranchers across America came together to […]

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Audio: Former Lt. Governor says nominating Greitens in U.S. Senate GOP primary could backfire on Republicans

The Republican primary for the U.S. Senate in Missouri could end up including a crowded field of candidates. West-central Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler is holding a “special campaign announcement” Thursday morning near Kansas City. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, former Governor Eric Greitens, and St. Louis attorney Mark McCloskey have already announced a bid for […]

Audit Graphic

Missouri State Auditor launches audit of Harrison County

State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced today that her office has begun a regularly scheduled audit of Harrison County, located in northwest Missouri.  The county received a rating of “fair” from the most recent state audit, issued in November 2015. “Audits can help local officials take steps to make government more efficient and effective for taxpayers,” Auditor […]

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Audio: Starting Saturday, Missouri will no longer offer additional federal pandemic unemployment benefits

Starting Saturday, Missouri will no longer offer additional federal pandemic unemployment benefits.     A growing number of Republican-controlled states have chosen to end the federal aid that added $300 per week. Last month, Governor Parson announced the decision because he said the extra funding is causing worker shortages among some Missouri businesses. Missouri House […]