Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, USACE Commanding General and 55th U.S. Army Chief of Engineers, signed the Chief’s Report for the Grand River Basin Study on November 19, 2020. The signing of the report progresses the project to Congress for authorization. “I am grateful for the hard work of the entire team and for the […]
A recent study from St. Louis University shows mask mandates in St. Louis and St. Louis County quickly and drastically slowed coronavirus infection rates this summer compared with outlying counties. The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports the effects of the mask orders were also durable. After 12 weeks, the average daily growth rate of […]
The Missouri labor market showed mixed results in October 2020. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 6,400 jobs over the month, but over-the-year job losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic remained stubbornly high. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points from September 2020 to October 2020, but the civilian labor force decreased […]
The Missouri Office of Workforce Development has issued a new policy within all Job Centers across the state to help protect staff and customers from spreading COVID-19. Beginning Friday, Nov. 20, all Job Centers will be open for in-person services by appointment only. Staff have been wearing masks, but now customers will also be required […]
The Grundy County Commission approved COVID-19 Relief Fund allocations for five entities on November 17th. Laredo R-7 was approved for $5,641 and the health department for $46,372.03 both for payroll for public health and safety employees, Pleasant View R-6 for $5,201.05 for distance learning and disinfecting supplies, the Grundy County Senior Tax Board for $3,343.76 […]
Some Missouri policy experts say federal COVID-19 relief money should be allocated to help struggling Missourians and spur local economies. The current supplemental appropriations bill under consideration at the Missouri Statehouse would use federal COVID relief funds to replenish the state’s unemployment trust fund. It would happen at the same time the state decreased the unemployment tax […]
The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development has partnered with the Department of Social Services and seven of Missouri’s postsecondary institutions across the state to make social services easily accessible for college students and staff. This pilot program enables DSS to have a member of the department’s Family Support Division team on campus […]
(Missouri Independent) – Cortaiga Collins doesn’t know how much longer her childcare center will survive. Only about a dozen children have been attending regularly amid the pandemic. Under normal circumstances, she used to serve as many as 100. She’s already had to reduce the hours that Good Shepherd Preschool and Infant/Toddler Center in St. Louis […]
A Missouri woman was sentenced in federal court for a Social Security and bankruptcy fraud scheme. Carol L. Dille, 68, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to two years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Dille to pay $76,601 in restitution. On Jan. 31, 2020, Dille pleaded […]
Seattle-based Amazon has announced that it will open its first fulfillment center in one of the fastest-growing towns in southwest Missouri. Governor Mike Parson made the announcement Thursday afternoon while briefing Capitol reporters in Jefferson City. The governor says the facility will be located in Republic. “The new fulfillment center, which is expected to launch […]
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit of the Department of Social Services’ (DSS) Medicaid Managed Care Program, which found system limitations that resulted in millions of dollars in potential overpayments on behalf of ineligible participants. “At a time when every dollar is being stretched to deliver vital services to Missourians, state government […]
(Missouri Independent) – State governments are unique political bodies that allow for experimentation in how rules and laws affect political outputs. As Justice Louis Brandies pointed out – states are laboratories of democracy. State governments have broad jurisdiction to “tweak” institutional rules and laws. Through this system of government, we can observe the aftermath of […]
Carroll County Memorial Hospital and Brunswick R-II School District are continuing their partnership of providing educational opportunities for students through a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) lab. In 2019, CCMH donated funds to sponsor the Brunswick R-II’s STEM lab initiative. “CCMH is dedicated to supporting our local communities as they strive to provide high-level […]
Scott Hoad was at a low point this spring, trying to piece together a decent living after being laid off from a job painting commercial aircraft. Then Hoad crossed paths with Amy Patillo, a University of Missouri Extension labor and workforce development specialist based in Springfield. Hoad’s brother owns the ranch where Patillo boards her […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which provides annual rental payment for land devoted to conservation purposes. “CRP is one of the many ‘tools’ that USDA offers to producers and private landowners to […]
The Trenton and Chillicothe police departments are warning of scams related to Medicare and government officials. The Trenton Police advise you to hang up if someone calls claiming to be from Medicare and asks for your social security number or bank information to get a new card or benefits. Residents are asked to not provide […]
The Missouri labor market’s recovery resumed in September 2020. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 13,000 jobs over the month, and over-the-year job losses from COVID-19 shutdowns dropped below 125,000. Missouri’s smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate went down by 2.1 percentage points in September 2020, decreasing to 4.9 percent from an August 2020 rate of 7.0 […]
The Missouri Association of School Nurses says school nurses are playing an even more critical role during the COVID-19 crisis. The state had about 1600 school nurses among Missouri’s more than 500 K-12 public school districts. Linda Neumann (pronounced newman), executive director of the association, says school nurses have been going above and beyond the […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation recently awarded $366,446 to Missouri communities through its Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant program. TRIM grants offer cost-share funding for government agencies, schools, and nonprofit groups to manage, improve or conserve trees on public lands. “TRIM grants help communities with tree management-related activities that help keep neighborhood trees […]
The Chillicothe Area Chamber has established the “Chamber Hero Program,” and through this program, area businesses may contribute membership funds to help other businesses join the Chamber for the first time. The recipient then gains access to the many benefits The Chamber has to offer their business through the generous act of sponsorship by a […]
