Doctor with Stethascope

Lawmakers introduce legislation to protect rural health clinics from added financial strain during COVID-19 crisis

U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Mark Warner (Va.) introduced legislation to prevent further financial instability for rural health clinics and safeguard the care they provide to underserved communities. The bipartisan Strengthening Rural Health Clinics Act of 2021 would make a technical fix to protect existing rural health clinics from a sudden and unexpected Medicare […]

President Joe Biden Photo Courtesy of the White House

Biden calls on U.S. Senate to act on background checks after Colorado mass shooting

(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged the U.S. Senate to immediately pass legislation to close loopholes on background checks for guns and to ban assault weapons, following a mass shooting that killed 10 at a Colorado supermarket. “This should not be a partisan issue,” Biden said. “This is an American issue.” Biden’s […]

StationMD website

Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities extend partnership with StationMD

The Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities launched a partnership with StationMD to ensure that all 15,000 Missouri residents with disabilities who are on a Medicaid Waiver have 24/7 access to a doctor anytime they need it. After nine months of successful utilization of StationMD’s specialized telehealth service across the state, the […]

Pigs at a factory

Rural Iowa communities urge more factory-farm regulations

Advocates for family farms, rural neighborhoods, and the environment are asking Iowa lawmakers to find a more equitable balance between the interests of factory farms and of the communities they’re in.  Research has shown higher levels of nitrates and phosphorus in the water, as well as air quality issues, in communities with nearby concentrated animal feeding […]

Sad and lonely old senior woman sitting alone in living room, concept of lonely retirement or retirement home

Women’s wage gap correlates with retirement gender gap

This Wednesday is Women’s Equal Pay Day, the average date it would take a woman working full-time to earn what a man did in 2020. Most women earn less than men throughout their careers, which translates to less financial security in retirement.  According to the National Institute on Retirement Security, median household retirement incomes for women are […]

Candidates Forum

Audio: Candidates introduce themselves to begin our series on the Trenton Board of Education forum

Five of seven candidates for the Trenton R-9 Board of Education answered questions during a forum in the Trenton High School Commons on March 18th. Mindy Walker with the Missouri State Teachers Association moderated the event. Candidates first introduced themselves, explained why they were running for the two open positions, and shared their qualifications. Melissa […]

FCCLA and STAR news graphic

Trenton Middle School students participate in FCCLA State Leadership Conference

Several Trenton Middle School students participated in the annual Missouri Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America State Leadership Conference, which was held virtually this year. Some of the competitors in Students Taking Action with Recognition events will compete at the National Leadership Conference STAR Event virtually June 27th through July 2nd. Those students include […]