Governor Parson Gives State of the State Address 2021

Despite massive surplus, Governor Parson vetoes $115 million from Missouri budget

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri will enter the new budget year with a record budget surplus and no restrictions on appropriations. The $35.6 billion budget includes rate increases for some Medicaid providers, higher funding for colleges and universities, and new mental health crisis centers. A few hours after lawmakers passed an extension of provider taxes vital to funding […]

Severe Weather

Grundy County Emergency Manager reports most damage from last week’s storm occurred near Laredo

Grundy County’s Emergency Management Director Glen Briggs says further review shows an area east of Laredo sustained the most significant storm damage from high winds and/or one “possible” tornado in parts of Grundy County last Thursday night. The probable tornado path, which Briggs commented on Monday, has not yet been officially confirmed by the National […]

Pedestrian Fatality News Graphic

Audio: Missouri Department of Transportation worker struck and killed performing flood emergency work

A Missouri Department of Transportation worker was struck and killed on Monday in Platte County. Sixty-one-year-old Lloyd Crawford was listed as a long-time maintenance worker in the Kansas City district of the Missouri Department of Transportation. The incident occurred on northbound Highway 273 near the intersection with Highway 371. MoDOT said Crawford was performing flood […]

CAFO or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation

Some of Missouri’s largest CAFOs are seeking less stringent state regulation

Eleven of Missouri’s largest concentrated animal feeding operations are working to reduce the state’s oversight of their hog facilities despite a record of manure spills and clean water violations.  Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork producer, has 11 CAFOs seeking new state permits.  The facilities, dotted across northern Missouri, combined are capable of raising more […]