Plane or airplane fighting a wildfire

Climate funds in infrastructure bill aimed at drought, wildfires, floods

(Missouri Independent) – The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure bill isn’t just about roads and bridges — it also spends billions to address wildfire, drought, flooding, and other effects from climate change, Interior Department officials said Wednesday. The $1.2 trillion measure, which is awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature after the House cleared it last week, includes pay […]

Spire Natural Gas Company Van

Critics say Spire Missouri’s warning of natural gas outages a “manufactured crisis”

(Missouri Independent) – As federal energy regulators prepare to decide the fate of a St. Louis natural gas pipeline, Spire Missouri is warning customers their gas service could fail this winter.  Business industry groups and the utility maintain their responsibility to keep customers informed. But environmental groups and some local elected officials — who note federal regulators seem […]

Cargo or container ship docked for unloading

White House says “Easing of supply chain problems to start with backed-up seaports”

(Missouri Independent) – The first seaport to improve its facilities following passage of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill could be in Savannah, Ga., a senior Biden administration official said Tuesday. President Joe Biden has yet to sign the measure, which Congress sent to Biden’s desk late last week, funding improvements in highways, transit, ports, waterways, airports, […]

Governor Mike Parson

Governor Parson touts benefits of moving to, living in and doing business in Missouri

Governor Mike Parson celebrated Missouri’s strong economic position as the number of Missourians on unemployment decreases, businesses continue to invest and expand in Missouri, and the state earns several economic recognitions.  “Throughout the pandemic, we took a balanced approach that protected the health and safety of Missourians without sacrificing their livelihoods,” Governor Parson said. “We didn’t […]

City of Trenton Website

Trenton City Council reviews problems with trash service; city health insurance premiums to decrease

All votes were unanimous Monday night when the Trenton City Council adopted four ordinances and approved a resolution. Faced with two dozen additional, documented complaints on trash service, at least two members of the council called for a change in trash hauling companies. The city of Trenton’s contract with Rapid Removal Disposal doesn’t expire until […]

A gavel and a name plate with the engraving Lawsuit

Gun safety group files suit alleging NRA illegally coordinated with Hawley campaign

(Missouri Independent) – The Giffords gun safety organization has sued the National Rifle Association and the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana, alleging the group used shell corporations to improperly aid the Republican lawmakers in 2018. The suit alleges two NRA affiliates made up to $35 million in illegal […]

Marijuana being weighed by person on scale

Federal grand jury subpoenas sought records from Missouri medical marijuana regulators

(Missouri Independent) – Twice last year a federal grand jury demanded the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services turn over records pertaining to the medical marijuana program.  The pair of subpoenas, issued by the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri in September 2020, were redacted by the department at the […]

Tractor pulling Nitrogen tank

Uncertain nitrogen prices and supplies may affect application timing

Rising nitrogen prices, uncertain spring supplies, and unseasonably high temperatures may push farmers to apply nitrogen outside of their normal application windows, says University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist John Lory. “We may be in unprecedented times with respect to nitrogen management decisions for the 2022 growing season,” says Lory. “Nitrogen pressures for 2022 […]

Missouri Department of Insurance website

Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance announce health insurance rates for 2022

Chlora Lindley-Myers, the director of the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, announced final health insurance rates for the individual market in 2022 for the State of Missouri.   “The health insurance market in our state and our country continues to be challenging, however, I’m pleased by the significant increase in competition we’ve seen in Missouri […]

Sunnyview Nursing Home

Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors accept proposal for new phone system

The Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors voted October 19, 2021, to accept a proposal for a new phone system. Sunnyview Nursing Home and Apartments Administrator Jerry Doerhoff reports the accepted proposal was from Green Hills Communications for a Voice Over Internet Protocol system. He says it will cost $600 to integrate it with […]

Trenton Utility Committee

Trenton Utility Committee reviews qualifications of two firms for water and sewer rate studies

The council committee that oversees Trenton Municipal Utilities on Tuesday evening reviewed the qualifications of two companies interested in doing studies on Trenton water and sewer rates. TMU staff reviewed the qualifications of Toth and Associates and for Raftelis. Utility director Ron Urton said the staff recommends using Toth and Associates based on good experience […]

Josh Hawley Courtesy of Missourinet

Hawley demands answers on airlines’ use of pandemic funds, widespread layoffs from Biden vaccine mandate

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, Brian D. Miller, and acting Inspector General Richard K. Delmar urging an investigation into the widespread layoffs of airline workers who declined to submit themselves to President Biden’s vaccine mandate and the potential misuse of CARES Act funds by airlines. “The […]

Photo of Kansas City, Missouri Metro area (Photo Courtesy of Pixabay)

Feds seize property of Kansas City area companies accused of COVID relief fraud

(Missouri Independent) – The federal government has seized two vehicles and is threatening to seize a lake house, allegedly purchased illegally with COVID-19 relief money by a Kansas City-area businessman. The property was seized from several real estate companies incorporated in Kansas by Joseph Campbell, with most operating under a version of the name Titan […]

Higher Education (college)

Free online learning now available to Missourians

The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development and the Office of Workforce Development are expanding their partnership with the online learning platform Coursera, to offer free, online education opportunities to Missourians. Coursera partners with more than 200 of the world’s leading university and industry educators to offer courses teaching job-relevant skills in fields […]