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 […]
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office is suing 45 K-12 public school districts around the state for what it calls illegally enforcing mask mandates. All of Missouri’s charter schools have mask requirements but they are not being sued. Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, cites a recent Cole County Court ruling he […]
A fire damaged a vacant house at 1429 Chestnut in Trenton on Tuesday morning, January 25, 2022. Trenton Fire Department Lieutenant Jeremy Summers reports there was heavy smoke and fire damage to the attic, heavy smoke damage to the entire house, and moderate fire damage to the kitchen. Summers says off-duty Firefighter Dustin Whorton noticed […]
(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 […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt on Monday filed suit against nine more school districts to halt their illegal mask mandate policies. Districts that were sued include Bayless, Jennings, Lexington, Kirkwood, Ritenour, Hancock Place, Special School District of St. Louis, Meramec Valley, and University City. “As we’ve made clear from the beginning, the power to make […]
(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 […]
(Missouri Independent) – Tracie Engelmeyer was among hundreds of bus drivers who were furloughed in St. Louis County in March 2020 because of the pandemic. School-district authorities told them that even though drivers are contracted labor, they would qualify for unemployment benefits and urged them to apply. Engelmeyer recalled the conversation she had with a […]
Carla D. Combs, a former utility clerk for the city of Forsyth, has been charged with one felony count of stealing by the Taney County Prosecuting Attorney for allegedly misappropriating $2,000 in utility deposits from the city. An audit in 2021 by State Auditor Nicole Galloway uncovered that the money was missing between May 2019 and November 2019. […]
(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday dealt a blow to the Biden administration’s fight against the pandemic, blocking a federal mandate that workers be vaccinated or regularly tested for COVID-19 — though the court allowed a separate rule requiring vaccinations for some health care workers. The two rulings represented a split victory for Republican attorneys general […]
The report of a flue fire sent Chillicothe firefighters to 827 Vine Street Tuesday night. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered fire from the chimney Firefighters entered the building and located the woodstove just inside the front door. The blower fan was shut down and metal buckets were used to remove contents of the woodstove. A fire […]
Smoke billowing from the eaves and roof vents sent the Trenton Fire Department to a house at 1806 Bolser Street early Monday morning. Owners were listed as Robbie and Betty Munson of the same address. An occupant was home at the time and noticed smoke but the fire department reported that there were no injuries. […]
A house fire late Saturday night in Trenton caused extensive smoke and fire damage to the basement, and extensive smoke and moderate fire damage to one room upstairs at 1801 Chicago Street. Firefighter Dustin Whorton reported there were no injuries. The owner was listed as Melanie Avery. The report indicated moderate smoke was showing upon […]
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office appeared in front of the United States Supreme Court to deliver oral arguments in Biden v. Missouri, the lawsuit brought by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office that challenges the federal vaccine mandate on health care workers. “Missouri was the first state to file suit against the Biden Administration’s private employer […]
(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared unconvinced Friday of the Biden administration’s authority to impose a vaccine-or-test mandate on private businesses, casting doubt on a key piece of the White House COVID-19 response. The justices seemed potentially more comfortable with another Biden administration rule to fight the virus that requires certain […]
The Chillicothe Fire Department reports a semi-truck is a total loss after a fire the morning of December 17th. Firefighters found the semi-tractor fully involved in the alley behind the residence at 1310 Monroe Street. About 1,000 gallons of water and foam were used on the fire. The cab and engine hood melted into the […]
(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 […]
Members of the Trenton City Council Monday night heard about plans for Rapid Removal Disposal to change the collection date on two of its residential routes beginning in January 2022. A safety concern was expressed by the Jewett-Norris Library Director regarding motorists not halting for the 3 way stop at Main and Crowder, and the […]
(Missouri Independent) – Jackson and St. Louis Counties requested Monday that they be permitted to intervene and appeal a recent court ruling that they argue has “upended the longstanding public health framework” in Missouri. In a filing submitted Monday afternoon and obtained by The Independent, the two counties asked Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel […]
Grass fires Sunday near Chillicothe sent firefighters to two different locations. At approximately 2 o’clock, the Chillicothe Fire Department personnel, a brush truck, and a utility vehicle arrived at 20645 Route Z where a grass fire had been reported. The department noted approximately ten acres of tall grass was on fire. It was extinguished with […]
The Chillicothe Fire Department responded to a brush pile on fire the night of December 10th. A news release reports the fire department had been dispatched for the same brush fire across the street from 889 Shagbark Drive earlier December 10th, but that call was canceled en route. The reporting caller the night of December […]
