Governor Mike Parson announced a $750,000 interest-free loan to the city of Hannibal to ease the impact of excessive wholesale electricity and natural gas costs associated with the February 2021 extreme weather event. The loan was made possible through the Municipal Utility Emergency Loan Program. “The Municipal Utility Emergency Loan Program provides municipal utilities and […]
Tag: facilities
Three million Missourians complete COVID-19 vaccination as MO VIP drawings conclude
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced that more than three million Missourians have completed their COVID-19 vaccine series. Missouri reaches this milestone upon the successful conclusion of the COVID-19 vaccine incentive program, MO VIP, that Governor Mike Parson announced on July 21, 2021. In total, more than 66,500 adults and minors were vaccinated and […]
Department of Natural Resources awards $339,559 grant to Ludlow
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources awarded $339,559 in financial assistance through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Regionalization Incentive Grant program to the village of Ludlow. The funding will be used to construct a connection between Ludlow’s wastewater treatment system and the Southwest Livingston County R-1 School. This grant will fund 100% of the […]
USDA Invests $15 million to construct a regional water distribution system in Northwest Missouri
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced that the USDA is investing an additional $15,018,000 to Great Northwest Wholesale Water Commission for the development of a regional water distribution system. This funding brings USDA’s total investment for this project to $46,945,210. “Some areas of rural Missouri suffer significantly […]
Judge blocks residency rule for Missouri medical marijuana licenses
(Missouri Independent) – A federal judge last week permanently blocked Missouri from enforcing a requirement that medical marijuana licenses go to businesses owned by residents of the state. Following a bench trial Thursday, U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey agreed to grant a permanent injunction. Her written order has not yet been filed. News of the injunction […]
Newtown-Harris Board of Education to meet on Tuesday
A facilities and grant update will be given at the Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education meeting next week. The board will meet in the high school Family and Consumer Science Classroom October 12th at 7 o’clock at night. Other items on the agenda include the FFA National Convention, parent-teacher conferences, and reports from Kindergarten Teacher […]
Public Service Commission sets deadline in territorial agreement case between Grundy Electric and Galt
Grundy Electric Cooperative and the City of Galt, Missouri have filed a joint application with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking Commission approval of a territorial agreement between the two electric service providers. According to the application, the purpose of the agreement is to allow Grundy to purchase Galt’s electric facilities and provide electric service […]
Lawmakers seethe at Missouri agency over failure to report missing foster kids
(Missouri Independent) – Exasperated lawmakers slammed leaders of the Missouri Department of Social Services on Tuesday, accusing them of passing off blame for a federal review that found the state fails to adequately report missing foster children. Tuesday’s hearing of the House Children and Families Committee was spurred by a report issued last week by the U.S […]
USDA to launch loan guarantee initiative to create more market opportunities, strengthen food supply chain
As part of the Administration’s efforts to address food systems challenges arising from the pandemic as well as those going back decades, United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA plans for another $100 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The funding would leverage hundreds of millions more in […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to murder for hire scheme
A Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to hire an undercover law enforcement agent to murder the victim in a pending statutory sodomy case. Jon Mark Wilson, 57, of Sedalia, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps Jr. to one count of the use of interstate facilities (the use of […]
Who will get a booster shot? A Question and Answer about what the feds are saying
(Missouri Independent) – Booster shots soon will begin rolling out to some Americans who received the two-shot vaccine made by Pfizer—after a contentious and confusing federal approval process that isn’t over yet. Determining who exactly should be rolling up their sleeves for an additional dose was tricky. The Biden administration had leapfrogged federal regulatory panels […]
USDA and HHS launch resource guide to help rural communities increase access to child care services
United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson and Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development Katie Hamm today unveiled a joint resource guide (PDF, 3.5 MB) to help people in rural and Tribal communities increase access to child care services. “Access to quality, affordable […]
$6.8 million from state’s medical marijuana program transferred to veterans fund
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has made the second transfer of funds from Missouri’s medical marijuana program to the Missouri Veterans Commission. The total amount transferred is $6,843,310. Missourians voted in November 2018 to adopt Constitutional Amendment 2, known now as Article XIV. The amendment includes a provision requiring that fees and taxes […]
USDA launches resource guide to assist rural communities seeking disaster and recovery assistance
United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson today unveiled a resource guide as part of National Preparedness Month to help rural communities seeking disaster resiliency and recovery assistance. This guide follows the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement of the American Jobs Plan, which targets investments to support infrastructure in communities that are most physically […]
Missouri lawmakers look to undermine Biden COVID vaccine mandate
(Missouri Independent) – Members of the Missouri House on Wednesday floated the idea of pursuing legislation to undermine a mandate from the Biden administration meant to increase vaccination rates in the U.S. The House Judiciary Committee held what Rep. David Evans said was the first in a series of discussions about vaccine mandates, including an executive order […]
Audio: Federal worker vaccine mandate expected to drive nursing home workers out the door
The Biden Administration is expected to require nursing home workers to get their COVID-19 vaccination. In Missouri, about 50-percent of nursing home employees have been vaccinated, one of the worst rates in the country, according to federal data. Nikki Strong with the Missouri Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes across the state, says a […]
USDA invests $464 million in renewable energy infrastructure to help rural communities, businesses and ag producers reduce energy costs
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Department is investing $464 million to build or improve renewable energy infrastructure and help rural communities, agricultural producers, and businesses lower energy costs in 48 states and Puerto Rico. “USDA continues to prioritize climate-smart infrastructure to help rural America build back better, stronger and more […]
Parson’s rationale for removing LGTBQ exhibit from Missouri Capitol called into question
(Missouri Independent) – Fireworks, this week over the sudden removal of an LGBTQ history exhibit from the museum in the Missouri Capitol caught the attention of John Cunning. For 24 years before he retired in 2018, Cunning oversaw the museum as part of his job at Missouri State Parks. So when he read Gov. Mike […]