(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 […]
The Spickard R-2 Board of Education approved changes to the COVID-19 Contingency Plan on January 17th. Regarding a COVID-19 positive or household COVID-19 positive case, the contingency plan says students and staff should refrain from attending school for five days. If they are symptomatic, the positive case time frame may be extended five more days […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri is continuing to see record daily coronavirus infections, near-peak COVID-19 caseloads in hospitals, and threats from Attorney General Eric Schmitt that he will sue school districts that require masks or send students home when they are infected or exposed to the virus. In a statement issued Tuesday morning, Schmitt said school mask rules […]
Governor Mike Parson announced that the Show-Me Strong Recovery Task Force has released its final report of recommendations to support small businesses across the state. In the report, the Task Force summarizes its findings and provides potential solutions related to workforce, supply chain, access to resources, broadband, and support for minority- and women-owned businesses. “As […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt released the following statement addressing school districts that continue to illegally enforce mask mandates and quarantine orders despite the recent Cole County ruling. “School districts have never been given the authority by the legislature to enact public health orders like mask mandates or quarantine orders – the recent […]
Missouri’s 2021-2022 deer-hunting season ended Jan. 15 with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reporting a preliminary total deer harvest for the season of 293,670. Of the deer harvested, 143,049 were antlered bucks, 26,599 were button bucks, and 124,022 were does. Top harvest counties for the overall deer season were Franklin with 6,392 deer harvested, […]
The EPA is issuing seven-year registrations for two herbicide products, Enlist Duo and Enlist One, to ensure growers have access to effective pesticide tools for the 2022 growing season. The new product labels, which incorporate robust control measures to protect non-target plants and animals, meet Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act standards and comply with […]
The Jamesport Tri-County R-7 Board of Education on January 10th approved a bid from Perkins for the demolition of a house and construction of a parking lot near the school. Secretary Heather Turner reports it is unknown how much the final price will be for the project because the board cut out some things in […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced loan interest rates for January 2022, which are effective Jan. 3. USDA’s Farm Service Agency loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment, and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs. Operating, Ownership, and Emergency Loans FSA offers farm […]
A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy that distributed more than 2,600 kilograms (5,732 pounds) of cocaine in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Jesus Salvador Campoy-Estrada, also known as “Chava” and “Chavita,” 27, of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 12 […]
The Gallatin R-5 Board of Education approved new COVID-19 protocols December 16th. The protocols include continuing to notify close contacts when a positive case occurs in a classroom. Any individual who has possible COVID-19 symptoms should stay at home until they have proof of a negative COVID-19 test, an alternate diagnosis from a physician, or […]
“Ebenezer Scrooge” made an appearance at the Trenton Rotary Club meeting on Thursday, Dec. 16 at the BTC Bank community room. Brian Upton presided at the meeting and was the sergeant at arms. Jackie Soptic gave the prayer. Tara Walker was the program chairman. Scrooge, aka Scott Washburn, was part of the recent Art’s Alive […]
Four judges selected Jacob Hall, of Marshall, and Jessica Janorschke, of St. Joseph, as 2022 Missouri Farm Bureau Ambassadors during the organization’s 107th annual meeting on Dec. 5 at the Lake of the Ozarks. The MOFB Ambassador Program selects a male and female student 17-to-22 years of age to represent agriculture and Farm Bureau for […]
(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 […]
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education on December 14th approved an insurance quote for Missouri United School Insurance Council general liability coverage for the district. The cost for the standard policy is $37,804. A $4 million umbrella policy was also approved at $1,536. The board approved the Return to Instruction Plan and the test […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education on December 14th heard about the implementation of the SafeDefend system for the district. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported employee training for the system was December 6th. Law enforcement and fire and rescue members were also invited to participate. On-site employees were fingerprinted into the system, and it is now […]
At the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission meeting, the Commissioners took up the issue of adopting a “Naming Convention” that will guide the naming of approximately 113 features at or near the East Locust Creek Reservoir ELCR. Features include, but are not limited to; roads, bridges, branches, coves, points, the marina, boat launch areas, […]
(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 […]
The Missouri Conservation Commission gave initial approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation at its December 10. 2021, open meeting on proposed regulation changes that would extend current furbearer hunting and trapping seasons for abundant furbearer species. Furbearers are mammal species that have traditionally been trapped or hunted for their fur, such as coyotes, raccoons, […]
The Chillicothe City Council will hold a public hearing and have a resolution to consider multifamily housing revenue bonds not to exceed $15,000,000. The hearing will be held in the Chillicothe Municipal utility meeting room on Monday, December 13, 2021, at 5:30 pm. Ordinances on the agenda would approve and accept a final plat of the […]
