United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh today announced that USDA is investing $1 billion to build and improve critical community facilities in 48 states, Puerto Rico and Guam (PDF, 449 KB). This infrastructure funding will increase access to health care, education, and public safety while spurring community development and building sound […]
Tag: facilities
Parson pay raise plan in limbo as $5.4 billion spending bill awaits vote
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri state employees counting on seeing a big raise in their February paychecks may be disappointed, as lawmakers fiddle with a $5.4 billion spending bill pushed by Gov. Mike Parson. When the Republican governor in December proposed a 5.5 percent pay raise for all state workers, he said he wanted it in effect by […]
Military medical team heads to St. Louis to support COVID care at Christian Hospital
(Missouri Independent) – St. Louis hospitals straining to keep up with a record-breaking number of COVID-19 cases will get some relief in the form of a military medical team. A 40-member team will begin arriving at BJC-Christian Hospital in North St. Louis County on Wednesday, a news release from BJC HealthCare stated. The St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic […]
Director of Agriculture announces grants for 4-H and FFA service projects
Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn announced that 16 youth groups from across Missouri were awarded grants from the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Building Our American Communities grant program. Eight local chapters of the National FFA Organization and eight Missouri 4-H clubs statewide have been awarded funds for their community service projects this year. “We […]
Governor proposes record $47.3B Missouri budget as he taps surplus and federal aid
(Missouri Independent) – Gov. Mike Parson proposed massive new spending on infrastructure and college buildings, and still found money to set aside for pensions and future revenue shortfalls, in the budget submitted Wednesday to lawmakers. Missouri will enter the new fiscal year with nearly $3 billion in surplus general revenue, an anticipation of record future tax collections, […]
Graves, Huffman introduce “Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act”
Congressman Sam Graves and Congressman Jared Huffman introduced the bipartisan Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act to rescue rural hospitals on the brink of bankruptcy and help put these critical care providers back on solid ground. “This isn’t a new problem. Our rural hospitals have been struggling to keep their doors open to patients for years,” said […]
Trenton Convention and Visitors Bureau to prepare a request for proposal on photography
The Trenton Convention and Visitors Bureau on January 12th voted to have a request for proposals for photography to start as soon as possible for a website gallery. Bureau Member Jordan Ferguson will work on the RFP for review. The vote was taken after a discussion on the hiring of a photographer to fill missing […]
Department of Natural Resources to host six free pesticide pickups in 2022
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will provide six free waste pesticide collection events in 2022. All of the events will be open from 8 a.m. to noon and are open to all Missouri farmers and households. March 12 – Fisher Delta Research, Extension, and Education Center, 147 W. State Highway T, Portageville March 26 […]
Missouri businesses oppose ban on COVID vaccine mandates, argue it’s their choice
(Missouri Independent) – Proposals that would bar COVID-19 vaccine mandates and provide greater exemptions for vaccinations more broadly faced a wave of opposition from Missouri business groups Wednesday. Representatives for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Associated Industries of Missouri, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and other business associations made clear to lawmakers […]
FEMA approves Governor Parson’s federal disaster declaration request for December 10 severe storms and tornadoes
Governor Mike Parson announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved his request for a major disaster declaration in response to severe storms and tornadoes in Missouri on December 10. Seven Missouri counties will receive federal assistance as a result of the Governor’s December 28 request, which included $27 million in identified qualifying disaster-related expenses. […]
USDA announces January 2022 lending rates for agricultural producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced loan interest rates for January 2022, which are effective Jan. 3. USDA’s Farm Service Agency loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment, and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs. Operating, Ownership, and Emergency Loans FSA offers farm […]
Missouri schools must comply with COVID ruling to win treasurer approval of bond deals
(Missouri Independent) – If school districts want to take advantage of a lower interest rate on bonds, Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is requiring them to certify compliance with a recent court ruling targeting local health orders before his office will approve of the deal. Fitzpatrick detailed the decision he described as “unprecedented” in an interview Wednesday […]
MU Extension to hold two-day feedlot school in Trenton
The University of Missouri Extension will hold a feedlot school on January 13 and January 14, 2022, at North Central Missouri College in Trenton. MU Extension beef nutritionist Eric Bailey says MU Extension specialists will present the “ins and outs of feeding cattle in Missouri.” There is renewed interest in feedlots due to new packing […]
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 […]
USDA announces December 2021 lending rates for agricultural producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced loan interest rates for December 2021, which are effective Dec. 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment, and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs. Operating, Ownership, and Emergency Loans FSA offers farm […]
Federal vaccine mandate for health care workers in 10 states blocked by judge
(Missouri Independent) – Enforcement of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for millions of health care workers was blocked in 10 states on Monday, after a ruling by a federal judge in Missouri. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp affects the states involved in the lawsuit, including Missouri. The others are Iowa, Kansas, New […]
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 […]
Hawley, Blunt press VA for plan to protect veterans in long-term care facilities from impact of vaccine mandate
Missouri Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley today sent a letter to the Veterans Administration demanding answers on how veterans in long-term care facilities will be impacted by the COVID-19 federal vaccination mandate and what is being done to protect them. “We are concerned that implementation of these federal vaccine mandates will cause Missouri’s long-term […]