The Missouri House has given initial approval to a bill that would ban judges from changing ballot language written by the Legislature. The proposal follows two Missouri courts rewriting language for a controversial legislative redistricting measure passed by voters last fall. Bill sponsor John Wiemann, a Republican from O’Fallon, and Hillsdale Democrat Kevin Windham debated […]
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden’s massive pandemic stimulus law pumps a welcome infusion of federal aid into state and local government coffers — but one brief section is raising questions about whether states are barred from cutting their own taxes if they accept the federal help. The Senate added language to the COVID-19 relief package […]
The Trenton Convention and Visitors Bureau approved a budget proposal on March 10th. The budget proposal for the city council to review March 22nd includes $20,000 for digital marketing and $4,000 for print marketing. The Branding Committee drafted the request for proposals for digital marketing. There was discussion about using the city hall address with […]
The state House of Representatives has given first-round approval to an effort that would tax out-of-state businesses selling online to Missourians. The legislation might not result in a significant state revenue increase because it would be offset by lowering the state’s income tax rate. Bill sponsor J. Eggleston, of northwest Missouri’s Maysville, says a so-called […]
The Missouri Senate has given initial approval on Wednesday to a proposed gas tax hike with a rebate. The vote comes after the upper chamber spent about eight hours Tuesday on the plan before eventually pulling the bill from debate. Senate President Dave Schatz of Sullivan is proposing to boost the tax by 12-and-a-half cents […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education March 9th approved salary schedules for the 2021-2022 school year. One thousand dollars will be added to the base for the certified salary schedule, making the base salary $34,000. This was estimated to cost the district $119,591. Superintendent Mike Stegman noted the base salary for certified staff was “pretty […]
Bipartisan legislation that gives Missourians a two-year vehicle registration option is now heading to the Missouri Senate. The House voted 156-1 on Monday to approve Carl Junction State Representative Bob Bromley’s bill, which modifies the vehicle biennial registration option so that all motor vehicles have a two-year registration option. Bromley’s bill also says […]
Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, announced that he is an original cosponsor of the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2021. The bill, introduced by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (Tenn.), would enable Congress to approve – or block – any administration effort to suspend or terminate U.S. sanctions […]
The Trenton Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday evening, March 1st, approved a request from the City of Trenton regarding an ordinance section related to apartments over downtown Trenton businesses. Deputy City Clerk Tracy Maberry says the hearing involved adding a section to an existing ordinance stating businesses need to be on the lower level […]
A one-point-nine-trillion-dollar pandemic relief package heads to the U-S Senate after approval by the Democratic-controlled U.S. House. The plan featuring $1,400 stimulus checks passed early Saturday with no Republican support. Missouri GOP Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler says it’s “serving as an excuse to spend our tax money on unnecessary things completely unrelated to the […]
After years of attempts, the state House has voted to pass a bill that would let donors provide scholarships for students to attend a private Missouri K-12 school. In return, they would get state tax credits. Under the bill, students with special needs and those who qualify for free and reduce price school meals would […]
(Missouri Independent) – Republican state Senators advanced sweeping legislation early Tuesday morning aimed at penalizing protestors who block streets, while also providing further protections for law enforcement under investigation for misconduct or excessive force. The bill also aims to prevent municipalities from decreasing the budgets for law enforcement agencies in Missouri by more than 12 percent over […]
The Trenton City Council on Monday night tabled an ordinance, approved a resolution, accepted a bid, and agreed to buy a riding lawnmower locally. More details also were presented on TMU’s use of diesel generators during the cold weather. The council voted to table a “right of way” agreement between the city of Trenton and […]
A company that’s acquired Moberly-based Orscheln Farm and Home says it’s business as usual for now. Tennessee-based Tractor Supply Company has purchased Moberly-based Orscheln in an all-cash transaction for $297 million. A Tractor Supply spokeswoman says “That it’s business as usual right now for those stores and that no other plans have […]
Trentons’ five-member Utility Committee is recommending the City Council accept a proposal for an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) for TMU. Two proposals were considered, and Utility Director Ron Urton said the committee recommends the proposal from Tantalus as the city looks to upgrade “meter reading.” This proposal allows TMU to use most of the existing […]
The Trenton Convention and Visitors Bureau discussed a proposed budget on February 10th. It includes $20,000 for digital marketing, such as branding, a website, social media, and online advertising. It also includes $4,000 for print marketing, such as papers, magazines, and billboards. A subcommittee of Vice President Micah Landes, Treasurer Jordan Ferguson, and Member Megan […]
Refinancing three long-term loans with the use of lower interest rates is expected to save the city of Trenton $55,000 per year or as much as $798,000 over the life of the loans. The Trenton City Council on Monday night voted seven to nothing to allow Utility Director City Administrator Ron Urton to sign disclosures […]
The Sullivan County Health Department administered 100 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to residents at the North Central Rural Electric Coop in Milan on February 5th. The residents vaccinated were previously registered and met Phase 1A and Phase 1B Tiers 1 and 2 descriptions. The Moderna vaccine requires a second dose after 28 days […]
The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals for anticipated funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Interested individuals, community organizations, and research institutions working to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Missouri should submit their application by March 8, 2021. “Specialty Crop Grants are one of the many financial assistance options […]
GRM Networks has received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service and is preparing to begin fiber-to-the-premise construction this spring in the rural Bethany and rural Princeton exchanges. Customers can anticipate construction crews and equipment in their area over the next several months once construction begins. This project’s funding stems from […]
