U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Mark Warner (Va.) introduced legislation to prevent further financial instability for rural health clinics and safeguard the care they provide to underserved communities. The bipartisan Strengthening Rural Health Clinics Act of 2021 would make a technical fix to protect existing rural health clinics from a sudden and unexpected Medicare […]
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged the U.S. Senate to immediately pass legislation to close loopholes on background checks for guns and to ban assault weapons, following a mass shooting that killed 10 at a Colorado supermarket. “This should not be a partisan issue,” Biden said. “This is an American issue.” Biden’s […]
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently amended the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act Declaration to allow more qualified professionals to serve as COVID-19 vaccinators. This action surpasses current Missouri standing orders for vaccine administration and authorized additional categories of qualified professionals to prescribe, dispense, and administer COVID-19 vaccines anywhere in […]
The Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities launched a partnership with StationMD to ensure that all 15,000 Missouri residents with disabilities who are on a Medicaid Waiver have 24/7 access to a doctor anytime they need it. After nine months of successful utilization of StationMD’s specialized telehealth service across the state, the […]
Missouri U.S. Senator Roy Blunt says America does not need “alternative versions” of this year’s U.S. Capitol attack. Blunt joined NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday to talk about the mob of former President Donald Trump supporters storming the Capitol in January. Blunt pushed back on fellow Republican Senator Ron Johnson calling the rioters […]
A performer at a Branson, Missouri, theater pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing more than $85,000 from hundreds of his own audience members who donated to his non-existent charity for foster children. “For several years, this performer took advantage of his own audiences by pulling at their heartstrings while stealing from their pockets,” said […]
(Missouri Independent) – Legislation creating a path to citizenship for undocumented people brought to the U.S. as children face a new border crisis and old partisan objections, diminishing the chances it will become law despite full Democratic control of Congress and the White House. On Thursday, the U.S. House is poised to pass the American […]
The North Central Missouri College Foundation recently awarded four NCMC students the Jack N., Mildred M., Noble J., and Mayra A. Young A+ Outstanding Student Award Scholarship. This year’s recipients are Emily Poston (Maysville, MO), Samuel (Cody) McClaran (Harris, MO), Kennadie Crowe (Chillicothe, MO), and Noah Bodenhausen (Country Club, MO). All four students are actively […]
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and 16 of his colleagues reintroduced the Protect and Serve Act, legislation that would create federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence. In 2020, more than 300 officers were shot in the line of duty and 47 officers were shot and killed, including […]
(Missouri Independent) – More than 70 million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine — and along with that shot, a small paper card with the CDC’s label detailing the timing and manufacturer of the dose. Those paper cards at the moment are the only proof readily available to Americans of […]
Webmasters note: This article is a commentary by Tim Gibbons of the Missouri Independent. Tim Gibbons is communications director for the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, a statewide farm and rural organization dedicated to preserving family farms and promoting stewardship of the land and environmental integrity. The comments in the article are those of the author, […]
A new report ranks Missouri 48th in the country for the rate at which coronavirus cases are spreading. A USA Today analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows Missouri reported nearly 38-hundred COVID-19 cases in the week ending Sunday. That’s a decline of nearly 12-percent from the previous week’s nearly 43-hundred cases. Last […]
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 […]
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Congressman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) reintroduced legislation in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to ease the burden active-duty military service members face when renewing concealed-carry licenses while stationed outside of their state of residency. The U.S. Military Right to Carry Act allows service members to renew their permits by […]
The American Red Cross of Missouri and Arkansas has an urgent need for additional volunteers who can assist virtually and in-person for disaster response. Volunteers are also needed to support blood drives and transport blood to hospitals. “We are gearing up for spring disaster response needs such as flooding and tornadoes, and we need additional […]
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 […]
A Missouri Department of Conservation District Supervisor will speak at the Princeton Rotary Youth Turkey Calling Contest and Outdoor Expo. Scott Roy will speak on Humorous Animal Encounters at Country Wood Rentals of Princeton on March 20th from 9 o’clock to 9:45 in the morning. Amateur callers 15 years old and younger can participate in […]
Testimony began Monday in the trial of an Iowa reporter arrested during a protest in Des Moines. Her case has become the focal point for those raising concerns about the treatment of the press by authorities. Andrea Sahouri is on trial for misdemeanor charges related to her arrest at a Black Lives Matter protest last May. […]
On its online public health dashboard, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) began posting county-level data showing “probable” COVID-19 cases detected by antigen testing. Last fall, DHSS began reporting statewide numbers of reported negative and positive antigen tests. DHSS will follow the guidance of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt led a coalition of 12 states in filing suit against President Joe Biden’s administration over a massive expansion of federal regulations through executive order, potentially impacting nearly every aspect of the economy and Missouri household. “Manufacturing, agriculture, and energy production are essential to Missouri’s economy and employ thousands of hard-working […]
