(Missouri Independent) – Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit Thursday against Missouri’s Department of Social Services, alleging the agency unlawfully plans to restrict Medicaid payments to the provider. A March 4 notice sent to Planned Parenthood of St. Louis Region cites a supplemental budget bill lawmakers passed last month that bars abortion providers or their affiliates from being […]
Tag: bill
Missouri Attorney General announces top 10 consumer complaints for 2021
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office received 126,100 total consumer complaints in 2021, submitted in writing or via phone call. The Consumer Complaint Unit received 86,856 complaints and inquiries and the No-Call Unit received 39,244 complaints. The Attorney General’s Office has advocates who take complaints and work actively to mediate those complaints between consumers and businesses […]
Family and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled to meet on March 14
The Families and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled will hold an election of officers next week. A meeting will be at the east entrance of the Grundy County Courthouse in Trenton on March 14th at 6:30 in the evening. Other new business on the agenda includes Indian Creek Therapeutic Equine, OATS transportation, Developmental Disability Awareness […]
Congress reaches deal on massive spending package with billions for COVID aid, Ukraine
(Missouri Independent) – Democrats and Republicans forged an agreement early Wednesday on a spending package that will fund the government for the next eight months, as well as provide billions in emergency funding for COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. The announcement means Congress should be able to avert a government shutdown when a spending […]
Missouri fines CAFO, owned by Smithfield Foods, $18,000 for polluting streams with 300,000 gallons of waste
(Missouri Independent) – Regulators ordered an industrial hog farm in northern Missouri to pay more than $18,000 for spilling 300,000 gallons of manure into miles of nearby streams. An advocate for environmentally responsible agriculture called that “pathetic,” noting the fine amounted to less than $0.04 per gallon of waste spilled. “You’re talking about a multi-billion […]
Audit of city of Cross Timbers finds more than $44,000 misappropriated by former city clerk; city finances in poor condition
Auditor Galloway released her findings from an audit of the city of Cross Timbers in Hickory County. Residents of Cross Timbers, a small town of fewer than 120 residents in west-central Missouri, initiated the audit through the petition process. The audit released, which gives a rating of “poor” – the lowest possible rating – found […]
Trenton Board of Education approves 2022-2023 salary schedule which sets base pay at $36,000
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education on March 8th approved, on a vote of five to one, salary schedules for the 2022-2023 school year. Approval was given after hearing a proposal from Charley Crimi with the Salary and Welfare Committee and a recommendation from Superintendent Mike Stegman. The certified salary schedule for next school year […]
11 Missouri school districts receive a total of $535,000 in school bus rebate opportunities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the winners of two school bus rebate opportunities which include the 2021 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Electric School Bus Rebates, and the 2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebates. The $7 million in ARP funding is directed toward school districts in underserved communities to replace old diesel […]
Banquet and auction in Unionville to benefit “Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever”
A fundraising banquet and auction is scheduled in Unionville in early April to benefit two habitat organizations. The April 2nd event will be held in the 4-H building at the Putnam County fairgrounds in Unionville. Doors open at 5 o’clock with the dinner to begin at 6. Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Joshua Maxwell said the […]
Audio: Missouri bills would change the state Sunshine Law
Some Missouri lawmakers are pushing for changes to the state’s Sunshine Law. A measure sponsored by Senator Andrew Koenig of Manchester would shield public records identifying any student under age 18, details about government security measures, and contact information of Missourians who sign up for government communications and public utility bills. Other bills […]
Audio: Missouri House advances bill that would change funding calculation for K-12 schools
The Missouri House of Representatives has given initial approval to an effort that would change the way state and local funding is doled out to the state’s traditional and charter K-12 public schools. The bill aims to send more funding to charter schools. State Representative Doug Richey, a Republican from western Missouri’s Excelsior Springs, is […]
Audio: Former Branson performer receives 5 years probation for wire fraud
A one-time Branson performer has been sentenced to five years’ probation after pleading guilty last year to wire fraud. Jason Patrick Garrett was the star of the John Denver Tribute, performed at the Branson IMAX theater 6 nights a week for several years. He ended his shows by asking audience members to donate […]
Polo man sentenced to life in Missouri prison for murder of Elizabeth Adams
A Polo man was sentenced March 3rd to life in the Missouri Department of Corrections on second-degree murder. Online court information shows 36-year-old Kevin Lynn Barnett Junior was also sentenced in Livingston County Circuit Court to seven years on unlawful possession of a firearm. The sentences are to run consecutively to each count and all […]
Audio: Grudges continue among Missouri Senate Republicans as bickering breaks out on the floor
The grudges continue among Missouri Senate Republicans. The upper chamber did not vote on any bills on Thursday. A group of Republicans who continue to stall work in the chamber ate up the clock talking about abortion. That’s when Senator Karla May, a Democrat from St. Louis, interrupted to speak her mind. The […]
Audio: Missouri lawmakers pushing “Missouri Stands by Ukraine” bill, prohibiting business with Russia
Vladimir Putin’s attack on Europe’s largest nuclear plant Thursday night is heightening alert from Missouri and the rest of the world. Missouri lawmakers have already been speaking out about a crisis over which our state has little control. House Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher is pushing his House Bill 29-13. The so-called “Missouri Stands by […]
White House wants $10 billion for Ukraine aid, $22.5 billion for more COVID help
(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration is asking Congress to provide $10 billion in assistance to Ukraine and $22.5 billion in COVID-19 funding on a fast timeline — within the next week. White House acting budget director Shalanda Young wrote in a letter to lawmakers that this likely won’t be the last emergency funding request for either […]
Audio: Missouri Senate set to debate separate wide-ranging gun bill
Legislation that would expand the number of places conceal-carry permit holders can carry guns is ready for debate in the State Senate. A State Senate committee passed the bill Tuesday, which would allow conceal-carry permit holders to carry guns onto the floor of the House or Senate, or to meetings of any local […]
Audio: Missouri senator says family court should not discriminate against medical marijuana
Should a Missouri family court be allowed to tell a person they cannot take their legally prescribed medicine..even if it’s medical marijuana? As Joey Parker tells us, at least one Missouri lawmaker says “NO.” State Senator Barbara Washington says Missouri’s family courts should not tell someone involved in the court that they must […]
Audio: Missouri House near passage of bill to enable more substitute teachers
The Missouri House of Representatives is near final approval on a bill to enable more people to become trained as substitute teachers. This bill provides a four-year certificate for individuals with a background check and 36 college hours or a 20-hour online training, Bill Sponsor Ed Lewis – Republican from Randolph recites how the current […]