Orscheln Headquarters Moberly (Photo by Rudi Keller - Missouri Independent)

Controversial bill would have aided Orscheln Products LLC, under scrutiny for contamination

(Missouri Independent) – Two years ago, a company led by an influential Republican businessman faced off with the state’s environmental regulators over whether it needed to do additional testing for a chemical that health officials worried could pose a cancer risk to the company’s workers.  The Moberly manufacturing facility, Orscheln Products LLC, is owned by […]

Person at sink filling drinking water tumbler

Database shows Missouri residents what contaminants are in their drinking water

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri and Kansas residents may be drinking unsafe amounts of arsenic, nitrates, and other chemicals — even if their provider is meeting federal drinking water requirements, according to data published Wednesday by an environmental group. The Environmental Working Group released its most up-to-date tap water database, compiling testing information for water utilities across the […]

Spickard School

Spickard Board of Education declines the use of “Test to Stay” COVID protocol

The Spickard R-2 Board of Education voted October 18, 2021, to DECLINE the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education COVID-19 Test to Stay option for students and staff. The board accepted a bid from Ace Roofing for cafeteria roof repairs for $11,172. A Princeton bus mechanic proposal was approved. Superintendent Erica Eakes reports the Princeton […]

Trenton R-9 School District

Trenton Board of Education approves after school tutoring pay rate, hear presentation on Summer School program

The Trenton R-9 Board of Education approved an adjustment to after-school tutoring pay on October 12, 2021. The pay rate was changed from $25 to $30 to match the quarantine tutoring program. Trenton Middle School Principal Daniel Gott said teachers select students to be tutored in the after-school program. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported there were […]

Coronavirus News Graphic

Sullivan County Health Department conducting a COVID-19 contact investigation at Milan United Methodist Church

As part of an ongoing COVID-19 contact investigation, the Sullivan County Health Department advises any individual who attended the Milan United Methodist Church on Sunday, September 26 to monitor for symptoms related to possible COVID exposure. The health department says the notice is only for people to be “informed” of the current situation. It emphasized […]

Nurse Filling Syringe with COVID-19 Vaccine at MU Health Care (Photo Courtesy of MU Health Care

Who will get a booster shot? A Question and Answer about what the feds are saying

(Missouri Independent) – Booster shots soon will begin rolling out to some Americans who received the two-shot vaccine made by Pfizer—after a contentious and confusing federal approval process that isn’t over yet. Determining who exactly should be rolling up their sleeves for an additional dose was tricky. The Biden administration had leapfrogged federal regulatory panels […]

Coronavirus News Graphic

Sullivan County Health Department conducting COVID-19 contact investigation at Sullivan County Poker Run

The Sullivan County Health Department is conducting a COVID-19 contact investigation involving the Sullivan County Poker Run at the Expo Center of Milan September 18th. The health department advises anyone who attended the event to monitor for symptoms related to possible COVID-19 exposure. Anyone who attended the event and feels he or she might have […]

Disaster Relief

White House seeks at least $24 billion to aid states struck by natural disasters

(Missouri Independent) –  The White House is urging Congress to approve at least $24 billion — and likely more — for disaster relief costs, saying that the aid should be included in a short-term spending bill expected this month. That tally includes $14 billion for recovery costs related to extreme weather events, including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires during […]

Disaster Declaration news graphic

Major disaster declaration approved for Missouri

FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Missouri to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornados, and flooding from June 24-July 1, 2021. Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations […]

Mask Mandate News Graphic

Biden administration opens civil rights investigation into states banning school mask mandates

(Missouri Independent) – Federal education officials have launched civil rights investigations in five Republican-led states that have prohibited school districts from mandating mask-wearing, saying those policies could amount to illegal discrimination against students with disabilities. The Biden administration notified the education chiefs in Iowa, Tennessee, South Carolina, Utah, and Oklahoma of the investigations through formal letters Monday. The new investigations will examine […]