Construction workers installing solar panels

USDA invests $464 million in renewable energy infrastructure to help rural communities, businesses and ag producers reduce energy costs

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Department is investing $464 million to build or improve renewable energy infrastructure and help rural communities, agricultural producers, and businesses lower energy costs in 48 states and Puerto Rico. “USDA continues to prioritize climate-smart infrastructure to help rural America build back better, stronger and more […]

Trenton High School

Trenton High School announces candidates for Homecoming

Homecoming candidates have been announced for Trenton High School. Seniors Lilly Berti, Jenna Reeter, Jillian Simpson, Trager Leeper, Tayler Morton, and Kaden Owen. Attendants are freshmen Kenzie Lynch and Walter (Remi) Olmstead, sophomores Morgan Foster and Gabe Stark, juniors Maurissa Bonta and Sam Gibson. THS Homecoming Week is September 13th through 17th. A pep rally […]

Mask Mandate News Graphic

Missouri Attorney General sends letter to KC Mayor and Jackson County executive providing “legal direction” on mask mandates

While litigation over the mask mandates continues, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sent a letter to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Jackson County Executive Frank White noting the exceptions to the City and County’s mask mandates and providing “legal direction” to the public on these important exceptions, specifically for those with disabilities or those […]

Bridge Work

Bridge work scheduled for Route 36 in Macon County

MoDOT crews will be doing bridge work on U.S. Route 36 in Macon County. Please see the dates and locations below. All work will be completed between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. each day. U.S. Route 36 (eastbound) – Sept. 7, one-lane traffic at Chariton River Bridge, located three miles west of Route UU, for bridge maintenance. U.S. Route […]

Mask Mandate News Graphic

Biden administration opens civil rights investigation into states banning school mask mandates

(Missouri Independent) – Federal education officials have launched civil rights investigations in five Republican-led states that have prohibited school districts from mandating mask-wearing, saying those policies could amount to illegal discrimination against students with disabilities. The Biden administration notified the education chiefs in Iowa, Tennessee, South Carolina, Utah, and Oklahoma of the investigations through formal letters Monday. The new investigations will examine […]

Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Audio: Missouri pediatricians group responds to attorney general’s lawsuit about school masking requirements

The Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is responding to Attorney General Eric Schmitt suing to block mask mandates in Missouri’s K-12 public schools. Schmitt, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, says a mask mandate “flies in the face of science, especially given children’s low risk of severe illness and death and their […]

Missouri School Boards Association

Audio: Missouri School Board Association leader responds to attorney general’s lawsuit challenging school mask requirements

State Attorney General Eric Schmitt is suing Columbia Public Schools and any Missouri K-12 public school requiring students and staff to wear masks. Schmitt, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, says a mask mandate “flies in the face of science, especially given children’s low risk of severe illness and death and their low risk of […]

Hospital Bed (Photo by Frederic Köberl on Unsplash)

Missouri ICUs filling as Delta variant wave moves into northeast, southeast regions

(Missouri Independent) – New cases from the Delta variant wave that has killed more than 1,150 Missourians since June 1 have plateaued, but hospital ICUs continue to fill — and small, rural hospitals are among the hardest hit. There were 690 patients in ICU beds across the state on Tuesday, the most recent day reported by the state Department of Health […]

Human Trafficking Graphic

Multi-state human trafficking operation, originating in Missouri, rescues 47 victims including 2 minors and leads to 102 arrests across 12 states

A 12-state human trafficking operation led by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol has led to 102 arrests and the rescue of 47 victims and sex workers including 2 minor victims. Operation United Front entailed simultaneous state-level human trafficking operations throughout the night on Thursday and into the early morning […]