The Missouri Legislature’s state budget negotiators are recommending the hiring of 53 attorneys for the state Public Defender System. During negotiations, Senate Minority Floor Leader John Rizzo of Independence says his wife corrects some cases handled at the local level by overworked attorneys. The system has nearly 400 lawyers handling about 90,000 cases […]
Tag: dollar
Trenton Park Board members review staffing needs at swimming pool
The Trenton Park Board discussed pool staffing at a meeting on Wednesday, May 5th. Board President Duane Helmandollar reported six applications have been submitted for lifeguards this season for the Trenton Family Aquatic Center. Park Superintendent David Shockley announced there were three applications for assistant manager, and Taylor Richman has been hired as pool manager. […]
Audio: Missouri Legislature approves bill to let robots on wheels deliver goods to your door
Robots on wheels could soon be strolling down Missouri’s sidewalks and roads to deliver goods to your doorstep. The Missouri Legislature has passed a bill that would allow personal delivery devices to travel up to 10 miles per hour. During the debate, Senator Bill Eigel discusses the bill with the sponsor, Springfield area Senator Lincoln […]
Audio: Legislature passes fee collection to bring DOR computer systems up to speed for car services
The House and Senate passed an add-on to a bill to collect millions in unpaid sales tax on cars to try to update the department of revenues antiquated computer system. Rep Travis Fitzwater of Calloway County fought for the amendment and won. These fees are not always collected by car dealers, but they […]
Commentary: Family farms are the solution, corporate agriculture is the problem
DISCLAIMER: This article is a commentary. The statements and opinions contained in the article are those of the author, Tim Gibbons. The opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of KTTN/KGOZ Radio, staff, management, or webmaster. (Missouri Independent) – Last month, Missouri Rural Crisis Center held a telephone town […]
Audio: Proposed Missouri budget would designate $7 million to veterans home operations
A group of Missouri House and Senate members are expected to work out their state budget differences this week. Currently, the 34-billion dollar budget plan includes seven million dollars for the state’s seven nursing homes caring for veterans. During the Missouri Senate budget debate, Creve Coeur Democrat Jill Schupp, who serves on the Missouri Veterans […]
Missouri State Auditor recommends improvements to financial practices in City of Excelsior Springs
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released a citizen-requested audit of Excelsior Springs, located in western Missouri. The audit, which received an overall rating of “fair,” recommended improvements to several of the city’s financial practices to make sure taxpayer dollars are used effectively. “Taxpayers asked for this audit to ensure the city is utilizing their […]
Audio: Missouri’s Senate president says Medicaid and social services consume 46 percent of state operating budget
Missouri’s Senate leader says the state’s operating budget has grown from 21-billion dollars a decade ago to 34-billion dollars today. Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz tells Sullivan affiliate KTUI that Medicaid expansion is too expensive. He says the state Department of Social Services’ budget continues to grow. The Missouri Senate and House […]
MOST, Missouri’s 529 education plan, reaches major milestone
Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick today announced that MOST, Missouri’s 529 Education Plan, has reached more than $4 billion in assets under management, a major milestone for the state’s 529 plan. “As Treasurer, one of my most important jobs is helping Missourians prepare for their financial future,” Treasurer Fitzpatrick said. “Reaching $4 billion in […]
Deadline to order Kiss Cups for THS “Kiss the Seniors Goodbye” project approaches
Monday, May 3rd, will be the final day to order a kiss cup for the Trenton High School Key Club’s “Kiss the Seniors Goodbye” project. For only $6.00, you can send a 16 oz commemorative cup filled with Hershey kisses and your best wishes for a successful future. The “Kiss ‘Em Goodbye” cups will be […]
Audio: The fight to expand Medicaid coverage is not over yet in Missouri
The fight to expand Medicaid coverage is not over yet in Missouri. The state Senate is expected to work Wednesday and Thursday on the 34-billion dollar state budget, which could include an effort to fund expansion. Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee rejected a compromise proposal that would have funded expansion on a smaller scale. […]
Audio: Missouri House gives initial approval to bipartisan feral hog legislation
Bipartisan legislation increasing penalties for people who knowingly release feral hogs into the wild has received initial approval from the Missouri House. The bill, which is sponsored by Portageville State Representative Don Rone, increases the criminal penalty from a class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The Missouri Department of Conservation, the […]
Livingston County Sheriff’s Department and Chillicothe Police Department to operate from same building
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and Chillicothe Police Department have announced plans to operate out of the same building. Sheriff Steve Cox and Police Chief Jon Maples brought the plans to the city administrator and county commission, and the plans are moving forward. The goal date for moving is May 10th. The Chillicothe Police Department […]
Free soybean cyst nematode tests available to farmers
Missouri farmers can submit two free tests to beat the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) by contacting their county University of Missouri Extension center or the SCN Diagnostics laboratory. Testing soil before planting soybean is vital, says MU Extension plant pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette. SCN is the No. 1 soybean disease in the U.S. and Canada, with […]
Biden infrastructure plan could boost apprenticeship programs
Apprenticeship programs at community colleges are poised for a big investment under President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan. The plan includes $12 billion dollars for community colleges. At a recent congressional hearing, members from both parties expressed support for targeting some of those funds at apprenticeship programs within community colleges. Shalee Hodgson, associate dean for technology, applied […]
Audio: Parson responds to full House and Senate committee rejecting his Medicaid expansion funding request
The Missouri House and the Senate Appropriations Committee have voted against Governor Parson’s request to fund Medicaid expansion. Parson, a Republican, asked for more than 100-million dollars to fund the voter-approved measure that would allow other 275-thousand low-income adults to become eligible for government-funded healthcare. During a press conference at the Missouri Capitol, Governor Parson […]
Groundbreaking ceremony for new House of Prayer facility in Chillicothe set for April 28
The House of Prayer of Chillicothe will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a new facility at 209 Henry Street. The event will be at the fundraising sign southwest of the old Garrison School gym on April 28th at 11 o’clock in the morning. Soft drinks and cookies will be available after the event. The House […]
Audio: Senate committee rejects compromise to fund Medicaid expansion on a smaller scale
On a tie vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee has rejected a compromise proposal that would have funded Medicaid expansion on a smaller scale. The effort, led by Springfield Republican Lincoln Hough, would have designated 60-million dollars in state funding to the expansion. Republican Governor Parson requested more than 100-million dollars and the House chose not […]
Missouri man sentenced to 25 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 2,000 kilos of cocaine
A Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court for his leadership role in a multi-million dollar conspiracy that distributed more than 2,000 kilograms of cocaine in the metropolitan area. “This heavily-armed drug dealer was still on court-supervised release for a prior federal drug-trafficking conviction while he was engaged in this drug trafficking conspiracy,” said […]
Jamesport City Council approves fireworks purchase, sets time frame for sesquicentennial celebration
The Jamesport City Council on April 19th approved purchasing fireworks and set the time for the city’s sesquicentennial celebration. Five hundred dollars worth of fireworks will be purchased for an Independence Day celebration scheduled to be at the city park on July 5th. The city council agreed the best time to hold the sesquicentennial celebration […]