The Missouri Board of Education voted Tuesday to avoid using 2021 standardized test results for state and federal accountability. Members still want the state’s K-12 public school students to take statewide tests next year, but they do not want the results to count against schools for funding and accreditation purposes. The move might lower the […]
Tag: express
Audio: Governor Parson reacts to investigative report into recent COVID deaths at Missouri veterans homes
Missouri’s governor said Thursday in Jefferson City that he wants some answers, after reading a 53-page independent investigation into recent COVID deaths at Missouri veterans homes. Governor Mike Parson ordered the investigation, which was conducted by St. Louis-based Armstrong Teasdale. The governor emphasizes that he’s limited in what he can say because he doesn’t know […]
Winterfest in Unionville set for December 5, 2020
Various activities will be held as part of Winterfest on the Unionville Square on December 5th. The schedule begins with a memorial ceremony at the museum at 3 o’clock. The afternoon will also include a living nativity, a Polar Express train on the courthouse lawn, visits with Santa outside the library, carnival games on the […]
Audio: Wayne Kleinschmidt offers advice to veterans needing assistance with filing VA claims
Veterans Service Officer Wayne Kleinschmidt helps veterans file VA claims and appeals and says having a copy of VA and civilian medical records helps when filing those claims. Kleinschmidt sometimes speaks on behalf of veterans and families about conditions they cannot express themselves. He knows what to ask when dealing with claims. He […]
Trenton City Council approves wage increase for police department; approves preparing ordinance calling for “Use Tax” vote
The Trenton City Council Monday night voted to have an ordinance prepared to call for a public vote on a proposed local use tax within the city of Trenton. The council also approved recommended wage increases for the Trenton Police Department in an effort to attract candidates for police officer. Both topics had gone to […]
Trenton woman elected to Board of Directors of Foundation Trust for Trenton High School
A Trenton woman has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Foundation Trust for Trenton High School/THS Alumni Association. Debbie Harkins Guffey is a 1975 graduate of Trenton High School and the mother of three THS graduates: Jeremy Hudson, Class of ’94, Jessica Hudson Allen, Class of 1998, and Jenna Hudson Stevens – […]
Economic Development Committee to recommend public vote on “use” tax for Trenton
A committee composed of four members of the Trenton City Council has voted to recommend a public vote on enacting a local “use” tax for the city. The Economic Development Committee on Monday evening discussed the possibility before voting to send a recommendation to the full city council to put the issue on next April’s […]
Video: ‘The virus is winning’: Health officials call for statewide mask mandate in Missouri
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri Gov. Mike Parson needs to issue a statewide mask mandate and “safer-at-home” policy to prevent the state’s health system from becoming overwhelmed, Dr. Alex Garza, the incident commander of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force, said Friday. “Unfortunately, as has been painfully obvious to even a casual observer, we are […]
Missouri House gives initial approval to $1.2 billion supplemental budget
The Missouri House voted Tuesday to give preliminary approval to a proposed $1.27 billion supplemental budget, a supplemental that is the reason for the special session. The supplemental budget includes funding for school nutrition programs, job training grants, $1 million for witness protection funding, and money for child support payments. Governor Mike Parson (R) called […]
Trenton Board of Education review policies for inclement winter weather; board presented updates on COVID-19
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education Tuesday evening, November 10th approved a policy involving searches of students and hard surface bus routes in case of inclement weather. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported the policy involving searches of students was actually split in two, and part was adopted at the last board meeting. He explained he discussed […]
Trenton community donates almost 2,500 pounds of food during “Scouting for Food” drive
The “Scouting for Food” drive Saturday in Trenton collected 2,470 pounds of non-perishable food items, paper products, and personal hygiene items for the Grundy County Food Pantry. The donations were from residential areas in Trenton. Spokesman Dean Sager said the community was very generous in donating over 700 pounds more than in 2019. Sager noted […]
Kansas City man sentenced to 20-years in prison for seven armed robberies
A Kansas City, Missouri man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to commit a series of armed robberies at area businesses. Aaron Fisher, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Wednesday, Nov. 4, to 20 years in federal prison without parole. On June 16, 2020, Fisher […]
Missouri redistricting vote on Amendment 3 opens door to an experiment, regardless of outcome
(Missouri Independent) – State governments are unique political bodies that allow for experimentation in how rules and laws affect political outputs. As Justice Louis Brandies pointed out – states are laboratories of democracy. State governments have broad jurisdiction to “tweak” institutional rules and laws. Through this system of government, we can observe the aftermath of […]
EPA announces 2020 Dicamba registration decision
At the Cromley Farm, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced that EPA is approving new five-year registrations for two dicamba products and extending the registration of an additional dicamba product. All three registrations include new control measures to ensure these products can be used effectively while protecting the environment, including non-target plants, animals, […]
Audio: Missouri voters must bring one form of ID to the polls on election day
Missouri voters must bring one form of ID with them to the polls next Tuesday. You’ll need to bring one form of ID with you to your Missouri polling location on November 3. That can include your voter ID card from your county clerk’s office, a government-issued photo ID like a driver’s license, […]
Trenton citizen presents revised plan to city council for outdoor theater; council approves six ordinances
At Trenton, Gabe Chrisman, a property owner presented what she called a revised plan last night to the city council involving a proposed outdoor theater on land she owns at 22nd and Stature. After questions and discussions, the council voted to return the request for a conditional use permit back to the Planning and Zoning […]
New COVID-19 related death reported in Grundy County
The Grundy County Health Department reports another COVID-19-related death, bringing the county total to 14. The health department expresses condolences to the family. Only one new case of COVID-19 is reported for Grundy County, which brings that total to 329. Two hundred forty-three of the cases are confirmed, and 86 are probable. Forty-two cases are […]
Missouri Medicaid expansion: Will it bust the budget or pay for itself?
(Missouri Independent) – When Missouri voters approved Medicaid expansion in August, they were told by the ballot language that the price tag was unknown, with possible costs at $200 million stated alongside $1 billion in potential savings. What is known for certain is that about 250,000 Missourians will become eligible for coverage next year — […]
Trenton Board of Education approve school calendar update, policy involving law enforcement not approved
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education on Tuesday evening, October 13th approved, on a split vote of six to one, a school calendar update involving converting student days to all staff workdays. Board Member Corey Leeper was the only opposing vote. Students will not be in class on October 26th and December 7th, but staff […]