(Missouri Independent) – Attorney General Eric Schmitt will not appeal a consequential court ruling that strips powers from local health departments, despite a request from Missouri’s state health director to do so. In an email to The Independent, Schmitt’s spokesman said the attorney general’s office notified the Department of Health and Senior Services of its […]
Tag: decisions
Missouri Attorney General proposes “Parent’s Bill of Rights”
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt proposed a Parents’ Bill of Rights ahead of the next legislative session in January. The Parents’ Bill of Rights would protect parents’ rights to have a well-informed say in their children’s education, strengthen parents’ abilities to take action related to their children’s education, and increase transparency in Missouri’s schools. “A […]
U.S. Supreme Court considers new limits on abortions in Mississippi case
(Missouri Independent) – The Supreme Court is weighing potentially sweeping changes to the right to an abortion, after two hours of arguments Wednesday morning on a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court’s conservatives, who hold a 6-3 majority, appeared through their questions to be sympathetic to Mississippi’s arguments […]
Audio: It’s that time of year, so be on alert for holiday scammers
With all the distractions during this season of giving, the IRS is reminding us to keep a close eye on our gift list because scammers may use your generosity to rip you off. There are more than 30, 000 nonprofit organizations here in Missouri…plenty of choices…but be careful. Scammers sometimes appear to be […]
USDA accepting applications for loans and Grants to assist those in rural areas in obtaining high-speed internet access
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Department has begun accepting applications for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to help people in rural areas get access to high-speed internet. This announcement comes on the heels of the recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides another nearly $2 billion in additional […]
Judge Daniel Green: Local health orders tied To COVID-19 are illegal
(AP) — A Missouri judge ruled that local health orders imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state are illegal and should be lifted. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled that orders such as quarantines and business closures violate the Missouri Constitution’s separation of powers clause affecting the executive, legislative and judicial […]
Empire gas customers in north Missouri to see price of natural gas double
To reflect estimated changes in the wholesale cost of natural gas as well as a change in the company’s Actual Cost Adjustment (ACA) factor, natural gas customers of The Empire District Gas Company d/b/a Liberty (Empire) will see natural gas rates change under a filing that takes effect on December 1, 2021. The ACA factor […]
Carroll County Memorial Hospital expands visitor policy for inpatient care
Carroll County Memorial Hospital announces, effective Wednesday, November 17, it will expand the Inpatient Care Visitor Policy to two visitors per patient with extended hours. “We know how important it is for patients to have access to their family and friends and we are glad to be able to expand the policy,” said Scott Thoreson, […]
Audio: Seventh District State Representative Rusty Black on legislation, vaccine mandates and schools
Seventh District State Representative Rusty Black is finishing his fifth year in the legislature. He says he has gotten into a niche with a group of people who work with him on legislation. He is on the Missouri State Employee Retirement System Board of Trustees. He reports there is a piece of legislation he has […]
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 […]
2021 Farm Service Agency county committee elections underway
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin mailing ballots this week for the Farm Service Agency county and urban county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these committee members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs […]
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 […]
Governor Parson issues Executive Order 21-10 fighting federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates
Governor Mike Parson announced that he has issued Executive Order 21-10 to protect the individual rights of Missourians against overreaching federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Governor Parson released the following statement regarding the Order: “As the Governor of the State of Missouri, I stand with concerned Missourians and will do all I can to stop federal […]
Gallatin Board of Aldermen approve ordinances, choose not to adjust sewer charges for additional water usage
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen on October 25, 2021, approved two ordinances, which amended the city code and entered into a contract. A section of the city code was amended relating to alcoholic beverages. It now says “all opening and closing days and hours for a license issued…shall be in accordance with the provisions of […]
USDA to make up to $1.15 billion available to help people living in rural communities access high-speed internet
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a significant expansion of access to high-speed internet, health care, and educational services for millions of rural Americans nationwide. Today’s announcement continues to move forward President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda by prioritizing economic growth in rural America and investing in the backbone of our country […]
Missouri Livestock Symposium names Dr. David Patterson as inaugural Achievement Award recipient
The Missouri Livestock Symposium will recognize Dr. David Patterson as the inaugural recipient of the Missouri Livestock Symposium Achievement Award. Dr. Patterson will become a member of the Missouri Livestock Symposium Hall of Fame and will be inducted at a ceremony at the Symposium on Friday evening, December 3 in Kirksville, MO. According to committee […]
Lawmakers introduce bill establishing committee to investigate withdrawal from Afghanistan
U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and a group of their Senate colleagues introduced a bill to establish a bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Afghanistan, composed of members of the House and Senate, to conduct a full investigation into President Biden’s failed and tragic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan that stranded hundreds of Americans […]
FBI to investigate threats made against school board members, teachers
(Missouri Independent) – The Department of Justice has directed the FBI to meet with local governments and law enforcement to discuss strategies for dealing with increasing threats to teachers and school board members spurred by a conservative backlash against discussions of race in public schools. “Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to […]
Missouri executes Ernest Johnson by lethal injection
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri carried out the death sentence of Ernest Johnson Tuesday evening, ending his life with an injection of pentobarbital at the state prison in Bonne Terre. Johnson’s case drew national attention in recent weeks, with a range of public figures — from former Gov. Bob Holden to Pope Francis — urging Missouri Gov. […]