Education and Teachers

Audio: Missouri adults less educated today than nationally

Missouri adults are less educated today than nationally. That’s what state House Budget Committee members learned Wednesday during a hearing about Governor Parson’s next state budget proposal for Missouri’s colleges and universities. Higher Education and Workforce Development Department Commissioner Zora Mulligan says there have been many efforts to change this trend.     Mulligan says […]

Dan Hegeman

Audio: Massive water project in northern Missouri’s Sullivan County pushed by Senator Hegeman

A massive project aimed at developing a long-term water resource reservoir for TEN northern Missouri counties is backed by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Hegeman. The Cosby Republican is urging the Legislature to approve a resolution supporting a long-term commitment of state funding for the project.     Under Hegeman’s resolution, the state’s total annual […]

Coronavirus Stimulus Payment Graphic

Audio: House Budget Committee Chairman says Missourians should NOT be taxed on COVID stimulus checks

The House Budget Committee chairman says Missourians shouldn’t be taxed on federal stimulus checks. Brian Hauswirth spoke with Committee Chairman Cody Smith.     House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith of southwest Missouri’s Carthage says under the state’s tax code, federal stimulus checks related to COVID are subject to personal income tax. Smith says Missourians […]

School Bus

Audio: Governor’s budget proposal underfunds school transportation by $185 million

Missouri can fund up to 75% of school bus transportation costs, which currently total about $278 million. Under the governor’s and the Education Department’s new budget proposal, Missouri underfunds these expenses by about 185 million dollars. During a House Budget Committee hearing, St. Louis Democrat Peter Merideth asked the department’s Kari Monsees why 93 million […]

Coronavirus in Prisons

Audio: Missouri prison system experiences significant drop in COVID-19 cases

In early December, the Missouri Department of Corrections began installing 1,400 air purifying devices and using disinfectant sprayers within the prison system. Since then, department spokesperson Karen Pojmann tells Missourinet the number of coronavirus cases has fallen by 80%. The agency reports 7,612 staff and inmates have been infected with the virus since last spring – 147, or […]

Foster Parent Family

Hawley introduces amendment to transfer federal funds from Planned Parenthood to adoption program

Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced an amendment to Congress’s proposed budget resolution that would transfer federal dollars given to Planned Parenthood to federal adoption and maternal health programs. Senator Hawley said, “Instead of abusing obscure Senate rules and procedures to give handouts to their favored constituents, why don’t Democrats work across the aisle to help mothers […]

Grundy Electric Foundation

GEC Community Foundation awards over $5,000 in grants

The Trustees of the GEC Community Foundation, Inc. met on January 27, 2021, and awarded 8 grants totaling $5,249.00. All grants are funded by member donations called Operation Round Up where members voluntarily round up their utility bills each month to fund grants to eligible entities. Education grants were awarded to North Harrison R-III School […]

Unemployment Graphic

Audio: Mo House Oversight Committee chairman to ensure labor department handling unemployment Issue correctly

The Missouri House oversight committee chairman says the state overpaid more than 100-million dollars in unemployment benefits last year, and he’s hearing that some residents are being told they’ll have to repay up to 12-thousand dollars. House Special Committee on Government Oversight chair Jered Taylor of Nixa tells Missourinet it’s important to find out what […]

Unemployment Graphic

Audio: Missouri House Oversight Committee to hear testimony Tuesday from labor director about unemployment overpayments

We’ll learn new details this week about what caused unemployment overpayments and the Missouri Department of Labor’s subsequent request for reimbursement. Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth has the update.     The Missouri House Special Committee on Government Oversight has called a Tuesday hearing, where they’ll hear testimony from State Labor Director Anna Hui (pronounced hue). The […]