Gallery View of Missouri Senate

Missouri Senate passes $4.6B spending bill with pay raises, federal school funds

(Missouri Independent) – With a deadline looming that could cost Missouri almost $2 billion in federal education aid, the bill to distribute the money passed the state Senate on Wednesday after Democrats slammed a zero-dollar funding line as a partisan attack on Planned Parenthood. The $4.6 billion spending bill approved on a 25-7 vote is the first legislation requiring […]

Shades of Us exhibit flyer at Cultural Corner Art Guild

Audio: Cultural Corner Art Guild and Gallery features Black History Month exhibit “Shades of Us”

The Cultural Corner Art Guild and Gallery at 424 Locust Street in Chillicothe currently has a Black History Month art exhibit featuring Black artists. Shades of Us will be on display until March 19th. Cultural Corner Board President Margaret Vance says Cultural Corner was approached by a local African American woman who wanted to have […]

Gallatin Missouri High School FInal

Gallatin Board of Education approves calendar for 2022-2023; board accepts superintendent’s resignation

The Gallatin R-5 Board of Education on February 16th voted to offer the superintendent position to the current Gallatin Middle School principal. Doctor Justin Collins was offered the position with a three-year contract, beginning July 1st. The board accepted the resignation of current Superintendent Doctor Bryan Copple in December. His resignation will become effective June […]

Donald Kauerauf, the director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, speaks during a press conference at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on July 21, 2021

Before ouster, Missouri health director drafted a letter to senators that was never sent

(Missouri Independent) – On the Friday before a drawn-out confirmation battle ended with his ouster from office, Missouri state Health Director Donald Kauerauf wrote an impassioned letter meant to convince conservative legislators who were on the fence about his appointment.  The message: While he believed in vaccines and data and science, he didn’t believe in vaccine […]

Medical Marijuana

Criticism of Missouri medical marijuana system seeps into initiative petition debate

(Missouri Independent) – A handful of Republican lawmakers lashed out at the state’s medical marijuana industry Thursday, lobbing accusations of corruption into a Missouri House debate over whether to make it harder to amend the state’s Constitution.  On a mostly party-line 98-53 vote, the Missouri House signed off on legislation Thursday that would require a two-thirds […]