(Missouri Independent) – Missouri children would be better protected from lead poisoning under a state legislative bill to require schools to nearly rid their drinking water of the dangerous toxin. The bill, heard Monday by the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, would require schools to test drinking water, remove old coolers and filter water where […]
Tag: FEC
Missouri Attorney General joins multistate action to end CDC’s mask mandate on public transportation
The Missouri Attorney General joined 20 other states in a multistate action against President Biden’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s continued use of the unlawful mask mandate on public transportation. The attorneys general argue that the mandate exceeds the authority of the CDC. The Biden administration continues to use a failed interpretation of a […]
Rapid Removal announces temporary closure of facility north of Trenton, and phone line issues
The Rapid Removal Disposal facility in north Trenton is closed to the public on March 29th due to a shortage of trailer space. A spokesperson says there is a trailer shortage and that the closure will not affect trash pick-up. The phone lines are also down at Rapid Removal on March 29 as work is […]
Missouri Senate congressional redistricting plan stalls on return to the House
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri House members are not ready to accept the congressional redistricting map approved by the state Senate. The House met Monday without voting on the Senate plan, approved Thursday at the end of a Senate session that lasted almost 24 hours. State Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial and chairman of the House Redistricting Committee, […]
Trenton City Council addresses employee raises, animal welfare committee and more at Monday meeting
A variety of topics came to the Trenton City Council Monday night for a meeting that had to be moved due to lack of electricity at city hall while TMU spent much of Monday replacing a power pole at the parking lot and getting electricity back on. The council, as the Building and Nuisance Board […]
Supreme Court to hear case against Proposition 12 by National Pork Producers Council and American Farm Bureau Federation
The U.S. Supreme Court at its Mar. 25 conference agreed to hear a case brought by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation against California’s Proposition 12, which bans the sale of pork from hogs born to sows that weren’t raised according to the state’s “arbitrary” production standards. “We are extremely […]
Audio: Missouri River repairs continue three years after the “Great Flood of 2019”
Repairs continue to and along the Missouri River from the Flood of 2019. The disaster dubbed by the New York Times as “The Great Flood,” affected missions of people and caused serious damage to the Missouri River and its supporting structures. Dane Morris, the program manager for the Missouri River, says the agency’s Kansas City […]
Missouri Department of Conservation approves expansion of furbearer hunting, trapping seasons
The Missouri Conservation Commission gave final approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at its March 25 open meeting on regulation changes that will extend current furbearer hunting and trapping seasons for abundant furbearer species. The extension comes in response to stakeholder requests to provide additional opportunities for the taking of multiple furbearer species. […]
New process for asylum cases at the border unveiled by Biden administration
(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration announced Thursday steps to expedite asylum cases at the U.S.-Mexico border in an attempt to resolve a years-long backlog, but policy advocates worry the streamlined process could prevent asylum seekers from obtaining legal representation if their cases are denied. “If somebody is not approved in the first instance, they’re […]
U.S. to accept 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, levy more sanctions on Russia
(Missouri Independent) – The White House announced a wave of new sanctions against Russia on Thursday while pledging to send more humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and welcome up to 100,000 refugees. The new economic restrictions on Russia and billions more in aid for Ukrainians were detailed as President Joe Biden huddled with the North Atlantic […]
Missouri House approves bill to legalize sports wagering
(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri House gave first-round approval Wednesday to a bill that would allow betting on major college and professional sports. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Dan Houx, R-Warrensburg, is the proposal preferred by the casinos and major sports teams, who would all get a piece of the action. A major part of the […]
Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy and Health Center offers a wide variety of free services
The Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy and Health Center opened its doors at 1433 Lulu Street in Trenton in July 2020. Executive Director Rachael Brothers reports the center saw its first client in the first hour it was open. She believes it is wise to build a strong foundation when starting a nonprofit or business. […]
Ketanji Brown Jackson defends her record under grilling from U.S. Senate Republicans
(Missouri Independent) – Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday sharpened their criticisms of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, probing her work as a public defender on behalf of terrorism suspects, the judicial sentences she has handed down for child pornography offenses, and her views of critical race theory. Jackson defended her […]
Republicans push work requirements for coverage under Missouri Medicaid expansion
(Missouri Independent) – When the Good Samaritan Care Clinic opened in 2006 in Mountain View, only about 5% of the free clinic’s clients were eligible for Medicaid. When it closed late last year, that number had risen to 70%, Dr. John Roberts, one of the clinic’s founders, told the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. Medicaid […]
Missouri State Auditor launches audit of Dent County
State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced that her office has begun a regularly scheduled audit of Dent County, located in south-central Missouri. The county received a rating of “good” from the most recent state audit, issued in July 2019. “Audits can help local officials take steps to make government more efficient and effective for taxpayers,” Auditor […]
Gallatin Board of Education approves salary schedule and health insurance rates
The Gallatin R-5 Board of Education approved the salary schedule and health insurance renewal rates. The 2022-2023 salary schedule has a base of $33,000. Board Secretary Vicki Corwin reports the base was raised from $32,200. Health insurance is through the Missouri Educators Unified Health Plan. The board approved opening a savings account and certificate of […]
Spickard Board of Education adopts new salary schedule
The Spickard R-2 Board of Education on March 21st adopted a new salary schedule. The starting base salary for the next school year was raised to $29,500 from $28,125. The mileage reimbursement was raised to 58 cents and the minimum wage to $11.15, effective immediately. The board accepted an auditing bid from Conrad and Higgins […]
Temporary benefit increase extended through September for Missouri WIC participants
Missouri WIC is extending the temporary increase of the Cash Value Benefit for Fruit and Vegetable Purchases (CVB) through September 2022. The increase will continue to be $24 per month for child participants, $43 per month for pregnant and postpartum women participants, and $47 per month for breastfeeding women participants. Standard CVB values range from […]
As CAFO lawsuit heads to Missouri Supreme Court, counties weigh options
(Missouri Independent) – As a fight over who can regulate industrial hog and cattle operations awaits action by the Missouri Supreme Court, counties that sought more stringent protections against them wait in limbo. The Missouri Supreme Court is expected to hear an appeal by county commissioners who sought to regulate concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, […]
Emily Hartley appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Advisory Committee for Missouri
Emily Hartley, Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council Deputy Director, was appointed to the Missouri Advisory Committee by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, effective Feb. 18, 2022. Advisory Committees have recently examined water affordability, school discipline disparities, policing practices, mental health and the criminal justice system, legal financial obligations, fair housing, hate crimes, voting rights, maternal […]