The governor is expected to sign off on the gas tax increase, but an advocacy group is moving forward in trying to put the question on a general election ballot. Lawmakers approved the state’s 17-cent-a-gallon gas tax to 29.5 cents over five years, including a refund if consumers collect receipts. The increase is […]
The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced federal approval of the state’s amendment to the Industrial Hemp Plan. With the approval, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Marketing Service affirmed that Missouri’s amended plan complies with federal law and regulations. The entire amended Missouri State Plan can be reviewed here. Key changes include: Increasing the pre-harvest window […]
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen this week approved an ordinance and resolution regarding the setting of electric rates. City Clerk Hattie Rains reports the ordinance authorized the city, going forward, to use a resolution instead of an ordinance to set electric rates. The resolution changed the electric rates for citizens and businesses. The rates will […]
(Missouri Independent) – The lawsuit seeking to force Missouri to expand Medicaid coverage under a voter-approved constitutional amendment will go to trial June 18 in Cole County. On Wednesday morning, Circuit Judge Jon Beetem met in a conference call with Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office and attorneys for the three people suing for coverage. In an online notation with […]
Beginning 2022, North Central Missouri College will be the primary community college for students, school districts, and businesses and industries in Buchanan County. The addition of Buchanan County will increase NCMC’s service region from sixteen to seventeen counties in northern Missouri. Both the NCMC and Metropolitan Community College Board of Trustees approved a memorandum of […]
The Grundy County Commission digitally signed a document on May 25th regarding the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Streambank Stabilization project near the Thompson River Bridge on Highway 6. Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray reports the document will allow the State Highways and Transportation Commission to allocate 12.5%, or $43,750, for the project that will then go […]
The North Central Missouri Board of Trustees received a consolidated budget update on May 25, 2021. The 2021-2022 budget projection includes total operating revenue of $11,111,547. With auxiliary operations of $12,151,045, the total consolidated income is projected at $13,262,592. Revenues include $7,433,078 for tuition and fees and $2,939,169 in state appropriations. The budget projection also […]
Extensions of time were allowed for three locations in Trenton to continue to make progress on recommended repairs and/or cleanup of structures. The Trenton Building and Nuisance Board met Monday evening to review progress. A 60-day extension was approved for 401 Monroe Street. Building Inspector. Wes Barone reported Don Dockray had contacted Derek Fee to […]
The Trenton City Council took action Monday night on several topics including the adoption of three ordinances as recommended by the Trenton Utility Committee from last week. Toward the end of the council meeting, the discussion focused on what the city can do, if anything, to enforce the cleanup of property at 601 Jefferson Street. […]
The Missouri Conservation Commission recently approved proposed regulation changes from the Missouri Department of Conservation related to chronic wasting disease surveillance and management efforts. The changes were approved at the Commission’s May 21 open meeting. They add four counties to the CWD Management Zone and reinstate mandatory CWD sampling requirements. The approved MDC regulations add […]
Personnel actions were announced following Monday mornings’ special meeting of the Trenton R-9 Board of Education, which included resignations and employments. Rebecca Burr has resigned as a 7th-grade social studies instructor. Richard Miller resigned as a paraprofessional. Also was resigning is a cook, Sarah Huffstutter. Those being employed by the Trenton R-9 School District include Kayla […]
The Salvation Army of Chillicothe ceased worship activities as of Sunday, May 23 and Captain Crystal Sherack says the change is due to budgets. Sherack will also move to Canton, Illinois at the end of June and work in a similar capacity. She has been at the Chillicothe location for less than one […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missourians voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2018. But under federal law, growing, transporting, or selling marijuana remains a crime. Unsurprisingly, that dynamic has created a lot of headaches for the fledgling industry. One notable example: Unlike every other legal business in the state, marijuana companies are prohibited from deducting business expenses […]
The Gilman City R-4 Board of Education approved a salary schedule for the next school year in an executive session on May 19th. Board Treasurer reports there is a two percent raise, which makes the base $29,580. During the regular meeting, Principal Jill Sperry reported the FFA fair will be June 17th through 19th. There […]
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) joined Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and 17 other colleagues to introduce bipartisan legislation to set the United States Postal Service on a more sustainable financial footing and support the goal of providing long-term reliable service across the country. The bill strengthens transparency and accountability for Postal Service […]
A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of three people who would become eligible for government-funded healthcare on July 1. It seeks an order for the state Department of Social Services to allow them to enroll and receive the same coverage as Missourians currently enrolled in the program. The lawsuit argues there is no legal […]
The Spickard R-2 Board of Education on May 17 approved an addition to the 2021-2022 student handbook involving out-of-school suspension. The addition says that when a student has OSS as a consequence, he or she is not eligible for any after-school events on the same day as the OSS. The student must remain off of school […]
The next state budget does not include funding to expand Medicaid healthcare coverage to another 275-thousand low-income Missouri adults. The Republican-controlled Missouri Legislature refused to fund the expansion – setting up an expected court battle. John Rizzo, the top Democrat in the Missouri Senate, says the GOP is more concerned about their next office. […]
(Missouri Independent) – Republicans in the Missouri Senate should move to shut off debate if a filibuster blocks anti-abortion lawmakers from putting their stamp on provider taxes that fund Medicaid, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said in an interview with The Independent this week. The advice was not, however, well received by the Senate’s Republican or […]
The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education May 18th approved bids for next school year. One was from the People’s Coop for diesel at five cents below the pump price. A bid from Prairie Farms Dairy was approved to provide milk at 30.28 cents for one percent white milk and 33.07 cents for chocolate milk. […]
