A federal appeals court has upheld today the temporary blocking of Missouri’s eight-week abortion ban. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis issued the ruling about the regulations passed by the Missouri Legislature in 2019 for abortions around eight weeks of pregnancy. Under House Bill 126, sponsored by O’Fallon Republican […]
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Attorney General says Missouri lawmakers can refuse to fund Medicaid expansion
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri lawmakers were not obligated to fund Medicaid expansion, and the courts cannot force the state to pay the medical bills of people who would be eligible under an initiative that amended the state constitution, the state attorney general’s office argued in documents filed Monday in Cole County Circuit Court. The filing from Attorney […]
Missouri Attorney General files civil suit against St. Louis County illicit massage business
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a civil lawsuit against an illicit massage business, Royal Day Spa, located in St. Louis County. This lawsuit is the fifth filed by Attorney General Schmitt as part of his Office’s Hope Initiative to combat human trafficking in illicit massage businesses. “Human trafficking is a scourge on our society […]
Filibusted: Experts say the time has come to end Senate practice
(Missouri Independent) – Even the stuffy, florid name of the procedure, “filibuster” sounds like something conceived around a table of wig-wearing Founding Fathers. While the name has its roots in the 18th Century (with pirates nonetheless), the concept and practice in the United States Senate is much younger, not being implemented in a modern form until […]
Teachers across the country share FFA and agriculture opportunities
For years, teachers across the country have advocated for their students regardless of their environment – whether it be in-person, virtual, or hybrid. Agricultural education teachers are no exception. For the past few years, they have worked together to share the story of FFA and agricultural education in their states and communities. This summer, more […]
Attempts to ban teaching on ‘critical race theory’ multiply across the U.S.
(Missouri Independent) – From statehouses to Congress, Republicans have launched into a fight against the teaching of “critical race theory,” which just a year ago was a niche academic term. Experts in critical race theory say it’s about acknowledging how racial disparities are embedded in U.S history and society, and the concept is being mischaracterized […]
Judge sets trial date for lawsuit over Missouri Medicaid expansion
(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 […]
USDA to begin loan payments to socially disadvantaged borrowers under American Rescue Plan Act
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency published the first notice of funding availability announcing loan payments for eligible borrowers with qualifying direct farm loans under the American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005. The official NOFA will be published in the Federal Register early next week and USDA expects payments to begin in early […]
Former Harrison County deputy sheriff sentenced to jail time and probation on tampering charge
A former Harrison County deputy sheriff has been sentenced in Harrison County after he entered a plea of guilty to misdemeanor tampering with a public record. Forty-four-year-old Kevin Lawson of Gilman City was sentenced to six months in jail. The court suspended the execution of the sentence, and he was placed on probation for two […]
Audio: Missouri Veteran Commission Chairman says veterans homes need to keep their guard up
The Missouri Veterans Commission last held a special meeting to look deeper into its finances because they are in a deficit. Much of its money comes from unpredictable sources, like gaming and medical marijuana revenue, and the latter, medical marijuana, is paying for lawsuits over its licensing. Kelly McClelland is the new MVC Commissioner and […]
Audio: Lawsuit filed over Missouri defunding Medicaid expansion
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 […]
North Central Missouri College Ag Club elects officers for 2021-2022
The North Central Missouri College AG Club/PAS chapter has elected officers for the 2021-22 school year. Elected to offices are. President: Abby Dobbins; Brunswick, MO Secretary: Taylor Hileman; Grain Valley, MO 1st VP: Bryce Wolf; Mooresville, MO VP – Recruiting: Makayla Eads; Lathrop, MO VP – Activities: Jamie Mathis; Lawson, MO Student Representative: Jared Meisberger; […]
Missouri eases rules for building CAFOs despite outcry about potential pollution
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri regulators on Tuesday eased the rules governing the design of massive industrial hog facilities in a move critics claim was meant to help one controversial facility. The state’s Clean Water Commission voted 5-1 to narrow the definition of groundwater in the state’s rules governing the construction of “concentrated animal feeding operations” […]
Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce to honor two individuals, two businesses and one organization at chamber banquet
Two individuals, two businesses, and one organization will be honored by the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce during its annual banquet/meeting on Friday, June 4, at the Black Silo Winery. The five honorees will be recognized for their service to the community, with M.G. Kennedy and Dan Wilford being named Pillars of the Community while […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol: “Every available trooper to be out enforcing traffic laws during Memorial Day weekend”
The Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) during the long holiday weekend. This means every available trooper will be on the road enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists. Over the 2020 Memorial Day holiday weekend, 10 people died, and 444 were injured in 1,081 traffic crashes. Last year, troopers made […]
Audio: Key bills passed in the final day or days of the Missouri Legislature’s session
Another session of the Missouri Legislature has come and gone. Of the 1,559 House bills and 689 Senate bills filed this time around, 69 bills will make it to Gov. Mike Parson’s desk. Here are some key bills left up to the governor to sign or veto: Missouri lawmakers vote to pump up […]
Paws for a Cause event postponed
The Walkin’ Paws for a Cause fundraiser for the Green Hills Animal Shelter has been postponed due to the weather forecast. The event was originally scheduled for the morning of May 15th. A reschedule date has yet to be announced.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission files suit against Hiland Dairy Foods for disability discrimination
Hiland Dairy Foods, a Missouri-based producer and distributor of dairy products, violated federal law when it refused to hire a man to work in its Norman, Okla. plant because he was vision-impaired, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged in a lawsuit filed. According to the suit, Hiland interviewed the man, toured the plant with […]
State of Missouri withdraws State Plan Amendments for expansion of MO HealthNet
The Missouri Department of Social Services submitted a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services formally withdrawing its State Plan Amendments for MO HealthNet expansion. On August 4, 2020, Missouri voters approved a constitutional amendment expanding MO HealthNet eligibility to individuals between 100 and 138 percent of the federal poverty level. However, the […]
Know youth labor laws before hiring summer staff
As the school year ends, you can expect young people to start applying for summer jobs. For agricultural employers, these young workers can provide extra capacity at a time when farms and agribusinesses often have more work than they have employees to get that work done. “Labor is tight as the economy picks up steam […]