(Missouri Independent) – States, cities, and counties can begin to tap their share of the $350 billion in federal funds intended to spur a national recovery from the economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, White House officials announced Monday. Missouri will receive $2.7 billion in federal funding, with another $2.5 billion in direct aid for counties […]
Tag: boost
Lawmakers approve Missouri operating budget
Missouri foster care advocates are praising Friday’s passage of the $35.1 billion state operating budget, saying it provides unprecedented support for the foster families who care for the thousands of children in Missouri foster care. House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage) tells Missourinet that the budget provides a $90 million increase for foster and adoptive […]
Less pollution, lower bills: Missouri, Kansas move ahead on utility securitization
(Missouri Independent) – Utility providers across Kansas and Missouri may soon be able to retire coal-fired power plants faster as the energy sector accelerates its transition to renewable energy sources. Kansas already passed legislation that allows companies to shutter coal plants, which release considerable amounts of carbon dioxide, without the financial hit that would otherwise come […]
Audio: Missouri Senate-House bill boosts protections for police, punishment for protests
The House and Senate will soon confer on a bill to boost protections for police officers and to boost penalties for repeated protesting in public streets. Senate Bill 26, deemed “the public safety bill of the session” by supporters, also comes with an array of amendments tacked on by the House Tuesday. The […]
Audio: Missouri House committee approves gas tax hike proposal
A Missouri House committee has unanimously approved a proposed gas tax increase. Under the bill, the state would boost the fuel tax by 2.5 cents per year for the next five years. Drivers could request a rebate for the amount of the tax hike. Ross Lien, with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, says the current […]
NCMC Board of Trustees approve renewal of health insurance, presented report from Faculty Senate Negotiations Committee
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees heard a report from the Faculty Senate Negotiations Committee on April 27th. History and Spanish Faculty Member Maryellen Harman and Psychology Faculty Member Lindsay Oram presented a proposal for a faculty salary schedule for 2021-2022. The proposal includes adding $1,000 to the salary base and continuing to […]
Biden infrastructure plan could boost apprenticeship programs
Apprenticeship programs at community colleges are poised for a big investment under President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan. The plan includes $12 billion dollars for community colleges. At a recent congressional hearing, members from both parties expressed support for targeting some of those funds at apprenticeship programs within community colleges. Shalee Hodgson, associate dean for technology, applied […]
Audio: Missouri Senate leader feeling confident gas tax proposal has enough House votes to pass
With three weeks left to go in the regular legislative session, Missouri Senate President Dave Schatz remains hopeful about his proposed gas tax hike. The Senate has already passed the bill that would boost the state’s fuel tax by twelve-and-a-half cents per gallon over five years. During a Senate press conference, Schatz says if the […]
Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group schedules next COVID-19 vaccine clinic for April 28
Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group in Trenton announced that their next Covid-19 vaccination clinic is set for Wednesday, April 28. The vaccination clinic is open to all area residents, 18 and older. Appointments are still available. The vaccine administered will be the Moderna vaccine, which will require a second booster dose at Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group […]
USDA expands and renews Conservation Reserve Program in effort to boost enrollment and address climate change
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program with higher payment rates, new incentives, and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation. Additionally, USDA is announcing investments in partnerships to increase climate-smart agriculture, including $330 million in 85 Regional Conservation Partnership Program […]
USDA invests $35 million in rural water, energy, and biofuel infrastructure in Missouri
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $35,046,000 in critical infrastructure that will help rural Missouri communities build back better and stronger while prioritizing climate-smart solutions and environmental stewardship. USDA is making the investments under the Water and Environmental Program, the Rural Energy for […]
Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group now scheduling COVID-19 vaccinations for non-patients
Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group in Trenton is opening COVID-19 vaccinations to all area residents, 18 and older. Previously, the clinic was only vaccinating established patients. “Our first priority was to ensure our established patients had the opportunity to get vaccinated,” said Shane Lynch, Practice Manager, Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group. “We’re now ready to move on […]
Sullivan County Health Department vaccinates 196 residents; Harrison County adds two cases of COVID-19 to totals
The Sullivan County Health Department vaccinated 196 residents with their booster doses of Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the North Central Missouri Electric Cooperative of Milan on April 16th. They were previously registered and met Phases 1A and B, 2, and 3. The health department notes it received the vaccine shipment on April 7th […]
Audio: Congresswoman Cori Bush on U.S. House passing bill to close gender pay gap
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Paycheck Fairness Act – a bill that would boost equal pay protections for women. On the House floor, Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush, a Democrat from St. Louis, says she supports the plan. As a nurse, Bush says she earned about 60-percent of what white males in the […]
Audio: New report says Missouri is gaining ground along the broadband superhighway
A new report says Missouri ranks 32nd in the nation in broadband internet access – a positive jump from 41st just a couple of years ago. It says one in four Missouri students still do not have access to high-speed internet and the state ranks in the bottom five for access to low-cost internet. During […]
Ducks Unlimited partners improve nearly 2,000 acres in Missouri for water quality and wildlife habitat
Ducks Unlimited and numerous partners invested more than $575,000 to protect, enhance or restore 1,926 acres of wetland and grassland habitat in Missouri in 2020, greatly improving water quality and wildlife habitat. The milestones in 2020 were achieved with field staff taking extra precautions and using creative solutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The acres […]
Compass Health to host Moderna COVID-19 vaccine clinic as Phase 3 opens to all Missourians
Compass Health will hold a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine event in Marceline on April 9th. Missourians at least 18 years old will be eligible to receive a vaccine at the Walsworth Community Center. No walk-ins will be accepted. Anyone who registers for this week’s clinic will be automatically scheduled for a booster shot in 28 days. […]
Audio: Missouri draws billions in federal contracts, 8th in nation, boosting growth
A new report by the University of Missouri Extension shows Missouri-based firms received $15.1 billion in prime federal contracts in the federal fiscal year 2019. Researcher Mark White led the study. The NGA construction project in St Louis City is another large contract for Missouri and White says federal money boosts smaller firms […]
Audio: Missouri House signs off on budget to include bigger pay raise for some corrections jobs
The Missouri House has passed a 34-point-one billion-dollar state operating budget that includes a big pay raise for some hard-to-fill Department of Corrections jobs. On top of the requested two-percent salary boost for all state workers, some Corrections food service workers, officers, sergeants, and lieutenants would get anywhere from a nearly six percent to an […]
Missouri 4-H career-readiness programs get $75,000 boost
Missouri 4-H has received $75,000 from Healthy Blue’s affiliated Foundation to help young people across the state explore colleges and careers. The 4-H Youth Futures College Within Reach program, developed by the University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University Cooperative Extension, is a college orientation program that includes ongoing local mentoring, campus visits, and a […]