The Grundy County Commission signed a letter of agency with Granite phone service on March 16th. The letter gives the company permission to contact AT&T on behalf of Grundy County. Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray says going through Granite for the county is estimated to reduce the cost of three AT&T lines from $500 a month […]
Tag: bill
Grundy County Commission accepting bids for pipe and fuel
The Grundy County Commission is accepting bids for pipes and fuel. The metal or polyethylene pipes are for 2021. Bids are to be for two and two-thirds-inch by half-inch and three-inch by one-inch standard round corrugated, riveted metal pipes and riveted polymer-coated pipes and/or polyethylene pipes per foot with fittings and accessories approved by the […]
Senate confirms Haaland as first-ever Native American to serve in the Cabinet
(Missouri Independent) – U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland made history on Monday when she became the first Native American to ever be confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold a position in a president’s Cabinet. In a narrow 51-40 vote, senators confirmed Haaland, a New Mexico Democrat, to serve as secretary of the interior, where she […]
Audio: Missouri’s Senate President Pro Tem praises Senate passage of gasoline tax legislation
Missouri’s Senate leader is praising senators in both parties for approving his legislation to increase the state’s gasoline tax by 12 cents per gallon, by 2025. Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz (pronounced like shots) says the state transportation system has billions of dollars in maintenance needs. The bill now heads to the […]
Audio: Missouri House attempts to ban judges from changing ballot language written by Legislature
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 […]
States question whether new federal stimulus law rules out tax cuts
(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 […]
Audio: Three former students recognized as “Distinguished Alumni” at NCMC Foundation Pirates Ball
Three former students of Trenton Junior College or North Central Missouri College were recognized as distinguished alumni at the NCMC Foundation Pirates Ball on March 13th. The Distinguished Alumni Class of 2020 included Doctor Jamie Hooyman, John Sturdevant, and Donovan Thompson. Jamie Hooyman attended TJC from 1981 to 1983 and received her Associate in Arts […]
Jay Nixon comeback? Democrats lining up for shot at open Missouri Senate seat
(Missouri Independent) – Roy Blunt’s announcement that he won’t seek a third term certainly shook up Republican politics in Missouri, sparking nearly every GOP elected official in the state to publicly mull jumping into the campaign. Democrats aren’t immune from the speculation. While any Democrat would face an uphill fight, the chance of a messy […]
Daughter of Mexican cartel leader pleads guilty to criminal violation of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
A dual U.S.-Mexican citizen pleaded guilty today to willfully engaging in financial dealings with Mexican companies that had been identified as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). According to court documents, Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, 34, of Guadalajara, Mexico, violated the criminal penalties of […]
Missouri State Auditor issues latest report on Missouri’s use of stimulus dollars received through CARES Act funding
State Auditor Nicole Galloway released her ninth monthly report detailing the state government’s use of federal stimulus dollars intended for the COVID-19 response. Last year, Auditor Galloway announced that her office would examine the state’s distribution and spending of funding received under the CARES Act and other federal assistance programs passed by Congress. The most […]
Audio: Missouri House advances effort to tax out-of-state businesses selling online
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 […]
Audio: Missouri Senate gives initial approval to proposed gas tax hike with a rebate
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 […]
Senator Hawley along with lawmakers from Arkansas, Tennessee and Nebraska introduce bill imposing sanctions on drug cartels
U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) introduced the Significant Transnational Criminal Organization Designation Act, legislation that would subject certain foreign criminal organizations like drug cartels to sanctions, including immigration, financial, and criminal penalties. The process would be similar to the system used for designating entities as […]
Trenton R-9 School District patrons to hear from candidates seeking positions on Trenton R-9 Board of Education
The date, time, and location has been announced for patrons of the Trenton R-9 School District to hear from the candidates in next months’ election. The Trenton Teachers Association and Trenton Republican-Times have joined forces to give the public an opportunity to hear from seven candidates who are seeking positions on the Trenton R-9 Board […]
Audio: Missouri gas tax hike proposal pulled from debate
The Missouri Senate spent about eight hours Tuesday working on a proposed gas tax increase that would also offer a rebate. Two Conservative Caucus members, Senators Bill Eigel and Andrew Koenig blocked a vote on the bill, eventually leading to the proposal getting pulled from debate. Senate President Dave Schatz of eastern Missouri’s Sullivan, says […]
Trenton Board of Education tackles huge agenda including approval of salary schedule for next school year
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 […]
Audio: Missouri has been reviewing whether it can give teachers a retention bonus, there’s good news and bad news.
The Missouri K-12 Education Department has been reviewing whether federal coronavirus aid can be used to give teachers a bonus next school year if they stick around. The state already has a persistent teacher shortage and COVID-19 has made the problem even worse. During a Missouri Board of Education meeting, Deputy Finance Commissioner Kari Monsees […]
Audio: Missouri House gives final approval to legislation giving all motor vehicles a two-year registration option
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 […]
City of Forsyth receives “Poor” audit rating; audit highlights city’s poor oversight and accounting procedures
An audit of the City of Forsyth released today by State Auditor Nicole Galloway gives a rating of “poor” after finding numerous concerns, including more than $1,400 missing from the city’s vault and another $2,000 in utility deposits that were received but never deposited. In addition to the missing money, the audit also found that […]