(Missouri Independent) – Americans may be tempted to view the war in Ukraine as an unfortunate, but far away, crisis. As an economist, I know the world is too connected for the U.S. to go unaffected. On Feb. 22, 2022, President Joe Biden warned Americans that a Russian invasion of Ukraine – and U.S. efforts to thwart or […]
Tag: energy
Milan woman charged with assaulting clerk at convenience store
Milan Police say a woman was arrested for her alleged involvement in a reported assault on Friday afternoon at a convenience store in Milan. Chief of Police Gail Hayes said Ebony Marie Tolliver of Milan was a customer at the 7th Heaven Convenience Store when a dispute occurred with a cashier. Tolliver was attempting to […]
Wife of nuclear engineer pleads guilty to espionage-related offense; will serve 3-years in federal prison
A woman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to communicate Restricted Data related to the design of nuclear-powered warships. Her husband pleaded guilty to the same offense on Monday, Feb. 14. Diana Toebbe, 46, of Annapolis, Maryland, was arrested on Oct. 9, 2021, for knowingly and voluntarily joining a conspiracy with her husband, Jonathan Toebbe, to communicate […]
Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors review bids
The Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors reviewed bids for repairs to a walk-in cooler and a new walk-in freezer on Tuesday. Eskew Mechanical Contractors, Incorporated’s bid was accepted for the repairs to the walk-in cooler for $9,250.38. A proposal from Eskew Mechanical Contractors was also selected for a new system of a […]
USDA unveils resource guide to help rural entrepreneurs start and grow businesses
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small today unveiled a resource guide to help people in rural America start and grow businesses, create good-paying jobs in their communities and strengthen America’s economy. “America’s rural entrepreneurs are critical to the success of our nation’s economy,” Torres Small said. “They create jobs […]
Video: Senator Hawley demands accountability on Afghanistan, Objects to DoD Nominees
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) objected to the unanimous consent of several Department of Defense nominations, followed by remarks that outlined the Biden administration’s failures and lack of accountability in the aftermath of the botched Afghanistan withdrawal last summer. He also reiterated how the administration is on the brink of another disaster, this time with […]
Audio: Prices for nearly every thing costs more in Missouri, but it could be worse
You’ve likely noticed just about everything is more expensive these days, but it could be worse. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Info Center, the most expensive areas to live in were Hawaii, Alaska, the Northeast, and the West Coast. The least expensive areas were the Midwest and Southern states. The U.S. […]
Federal funds coming to Missouri to plug abandoned oil and gas wells
Missouri is among the states set to receive infrastructure funding for plugging what are known as an orphan, or abandoned, oil and gas wells. Uncapped orphan wells release methane, which is 80 times more potent at trapping heat than carbon dioxide over its first 20 years in the atmosphere. Amber Steele, geological survey program director of […]
Audio: Missouri lawmakers and residents argue the future of Grain Belt Express
The Grain Belt Express is again bringing out passionate arguments at the statehouse. Republican Representative Mike Haffner’s bill makes it more difficult for the electricity transmission project to traverse Missouri. The measure would require county commissions’ approval before the line can cross that county. It’s another effort to keep Invenergy from using its public service […]
Sunnyview Nursing Home and Apartments Administrator resigns
Current Sunnyview Nursing Home and Apartments Administrator Jerry Doerhoff has resigned and plans to retire. He says he will stay on as the administrator until the position is filled. Doerhoff has been the administrator at Sunnyview since October 2019. The Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors interviewed candidates for the administrator position on […]
Senator Dan Hegeman sponsors re-appointment to State Fair Commission
State Sen. Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, is proud to sponsor a resident of the 12th Senatorial District who will serve on the Missouri State Fair Commission. Byron Roach of Cameron has spent the past 11 years as vice president of public relations and special projects at the Northwest Power Cooperative in Cameron and has been employed […]
Evergy customers to see increase in monthly electric bills
The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a request filed by Evergy Missouri West, Inc. d/b/a Evergy Missouri West to adjust the Demand Side Programs Investment Mechanism (DSIM) charge on customer bills. The DSIM charge, which appears as a separate line item on customer bills, allows Evergy Missouri West to recover demand-side management program costs […]
USDA provides additional pandemic assistance to hog producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new program to assist hog producers who sold hogs through a negotiated sale during the period in which these producers faced the greatest reduction in market prices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP) is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative and addresses […]
USDA to make up to $800 million available to provide economic relief to biofuel producers
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA will make up to $800 million available to support biofuel producers and infrastructure. The announcement includes $700 million to provide economic relief to biofuel producers and restore renewable fuel markets affected by the pandemic. The Department will make the funds available through the new Biofuel Producer […]
Evergy files request with Missouri Public Service Commission for increase in monthly electric bills
Evergy Missouri West and Evergy Metro have filed applications with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking to adjust the demand side mechanism charge on customer bills. The charge appears as a separate line item on customer bills and allows Evergy to recover demand-side management program costs and incentives under the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act. […]
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 […]
Trenton Utility Committee receives information on issues with clarifier basins and pump station
Information was presented on several topics during a meeting Monday night of Trenton’s Utility Committee that oversees TMU. Allstate Consultants continues to work on designs for modifications at the water treatment plant clarifier basins as well as the pump station. Utility Director Ron Urton said the crew found pieces of metal in the bottom of […]
Warren County, Missouri selected as location for planned beef processing facility creating 1300 jobs and $1 billion in economic impact
Warren County has been selected by American Foods Group as the planned location for a new state-of-the-art beef processing facility, pending final approval. Once established, the facility would create more than 1,300 new jobs and generate $1 billion in economic impact in the state of Missouri. “Missouri is able to compete for projects of this […]
Critics say Spire Missouri’s warning of natural gas outages a “manufactured crisis”
(Missouri Independent) – As federal energy regulators prepare to decide the fate of a St. Louis natural gas pipeline, Spire Missouri is warning customers their gas service could fail this winter. Business industry groups and the utility maintain their responsibility to keep customers informed. But environmental groups and some local elected officials — who note federal regulators seem […]
Winter Weather Preparedness Week is November 15 – 19
In addition to frigid temperatures and snow and ice, winter brings dangerous driving conditions and the potential for damaging and deadly storms. That’s why the National Weather Service, the State Emergency Management Agency, and Missouri’s local emergency managers are teaming up to promote Nov. 15-19, 2021, as Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Missouri. “Most Missourians have […]