School Bus

Missouri State Highway Patrol announces results of school bus inspection program

The Missouri State Highway Patrol announces the results of the Driver and Vehicle Safety Division’s 2021 annual school bus inspection program. Missouri’s 2021 school bus inspection results are as follows: School buses rated as “approved” upon initial inspection: 10,807 School buses rated as “defective” upon initial inspection: 822 School buses rated as “out-of-service” upon initial […]

Missouri State Capitol

Parson calls special session, setting up debate on contraceptives, Planned Parenthood

(Missouri Independent) – A special session to extend provider taxes essential to the state’s Medicaid program will begin at noon Wednesday, Gov. Mike Parson announced Tuesday afternoon. The announcement was issued just minutes after a noon deadline set by Parson on Monday. The call came after seven members of the Senate Conservative Caucus sent him a letter demanding […]

Gun RIghts graphic V2

Lawmakers pen letter to ATF in defense of Americans’ Second Amendment rights

U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sent a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Explosives expressing concern over two of their newly-proposed gun rules that could threaten Americans’ Second Amendment rights.  The rules, 2021R-05 and 2021R-08, would require the retention of firearms transaction records forever, paving the way to […]

Carroll County Memorial Hospital

Carroll County Memorial Hospital Honors Staff with a High Performers Social

To honor and recognize their employees, Carroll County Memorial Hospital typically holds departmental appreciation weeks throughout the year. Employees are categorized into five groups and are traditionally recognized during one of these five special weeks. However, COVID-19 has continued to create a challenge for traditional recognition activities. “The CCMH Rewards & Recognition Team worked hard […]

Prison Healthcare or medical

Missouri prison healthcare contract won by a company accused of bid-rigging in Tennessee

(Missouri Independent) – The long-time contractor for medical services in Missouri’s prisons is protesting the state’s decision to award the business to a company that will charge more than lawmakers appropriated and is accused of bid-rigging to obtain a contract in Tennessee prisons. Centurion Health, a Virginia subsidiary of St. Louis-based managed care company Centene, beat […]

Accident Graphic

Two injured in two-vehicle crash in Keytesville

A two-vehicle accident in Keytesville, in Chariton County, resulted in two people being taken to the University Hospital in Columbia. Sunday afternoon’s accident at 2:12 pm occurred at the junction of Highway 24 and Water Street. A car attempted to cross the street and pulled into the path of a truck. According to the patrol, […]

Natural Gas Meter (Photo by Tim Carpenter-Kansas Reflector via Missouri Independent)

After winter cold snap drove up natural gas prices, utilities grapple with who should pay

(Missouri Independent) – Penalties that Spire Missouri issued to suppliers who failed to provide natural gas during a February cold snap that forced power outages across the Midwest could drive bills for hospitals, schools, and businesses to astronomical levels, according to a trio of complaints pending before state regulators. During the worst of the cold snap in February, […]

USDA Logo

USDA opens signup for CLEAR30, expands pilot to be nationwide

Landowners and agricultural producers currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program now have a wider opportunity to enroll in a 30-year contract through the Clean Lakes, Estuaries, And Rivers initiative, called CLEAR30. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expanding CLEAR30, a water-quality focused option available through CRP – to be nationwide now. Interested producers with […]

Disabled Veterans graphic

Owner of school sentenced to prison for defrauding program dedicated to rehabilitating disabled military veterans

A Maryland man was sentenced Monday to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution for defrauding a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program dedicated to rehabilitating military veterans with disabilities.  According to court documents, Francis Engles, 65, of Bowie, was the owner and operator of Engles Security Training School (Engles […]

Economic Development

Department of Economic Development awards $15.8 million for community development projects statewide

The Department of Economic Development announced it will award more than $15.8 million to 38 recipients through its Community Development Block Grant Program to help communities with infrastructure improvement and other projects across Missouri. “Strengthening infrastructure and improving our workforce remains my administration’s top priorities,” said Governor Mike Parson. “Whether repairing roads, upgrading facilities, or […]