The Spickard R-2 Board of Education this week adopted new certified and support staff salary schedules and amended the policy on unused sick leave compensation. Superintendent Erika Eakes reports the certified base salary was raised to $28,125. Support staff hourly wages were raised based on position and years of service. The dollar amounts per day […]
Tag: final
Missouri State Auditor releases audit of Clay County Sheriff’s Office
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released a report covering the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. The report is part of a comprehensive review of the Clay County government initiated by citizens through the petition audit process. “The taxpayers that initiated this audit of Clay County made it clear they wanted a thorough, independent review of […]
Audio: Missouri’s FRA special session begins today at noon in Jefferson City
The governor has called a special legislative session to extend a key funding mechanism for Missouri’s Medicaid program, warning that failure to extend the FRA would cost Missouri 591-million dollars in the fiscal year 2022. The FRA is the state’s Federal Reimbursement Allowance. Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz says lawmakers have been working on […]
Governor Parson offers up detailed list of funding on the chopping block if FRA stalemate is not resolved
During a press conference at the State Capitol, Governor Mike Parson warned of the detrimental consequences to Missourians if the Federal Reimbursement Allowances (FRA) and related programs were not extended. The FRA and related programs provide critical funding to MO HealthNet and must be extended before cost-savings measures are needed on July 1. “If political […]
Parson gives Missouri Legislature deadline of high noon Tuesday to reach deal on healthcare tax proposal
(Missouri Independent) – Gov. Mike Parson gave lawmakers a deadline of noon Tuesday to strike a deal to renew medical provider taxes vital to funding Medicaid or accept responsibility for more than $700 million in cuts from the state budget that takes effect July 1. If not, the governor says he will freeze funding in Missouri’s […]
Missouri prison healthcare contract won by a company accused of bid-rigging in Tennessee
(Missouri Independent) – The long-time contractor for medical services in Missouri’s prisons is protesting the state’s decision to award the business to a company that will charge more than lawmakers appropriated and is accused of bid-rigging to obtain a contract in Tennessee prisons. Centurion Health, a Virginia subsidiary of St. Louis-based managed care company Centene, beat […]
Grundy County Public Housing Agency to hold public meeting on June 22
The Grundy County Public Housing Agency will review the agency’s annual plan update and administrative plan revisions to be submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for review and final approval. A public meeting will be at the agency office at 1506 Oklahoma Avenue in Trenton on June 22, 2021, at 9:30 in the […]
Missouri 4-H’ers flock to new American Sign Language project
Aynsley Harmon, a 12-year-old from Kahoka, Missouri, wanted to be able to talk with a deaf relative she sees at family reunions. So she did what any resourceful 4-H’er does: She looked for a project to help her accomplish her goal. With a lot of support and collaboration along the way, her determination resulted in […]
Gallatin Board of Education finalizes 2020-2021 budget, approves 2021-2022 budget
The Gallatin R-5 Board of Education finalized 2020-2021 expenditures and approved the 2021-2022 budget on June 17. The Teachers Fund was zeroed out with the estimated amount of transfer of $395,000 from General Fund 1 to the Teachers Fund 2. Student accounts were zeroed out for athletics, basketball, football, golf, softball, track, and wrestling. A […]
Missouri hospitals sue to block changes in Medicaid payments
(Missouri Independent) – After obtaining some relief from lawmakers for revenue cuts likely from a change in the way Medicaid pays for outpatient services, Missouri hospitals are asking the courts for relief from a coming change in payments for inpatient care. The Missouri Hospital Association on Friday filed a lawsuit in Cole County alleging the Department of […]
Princeton Board of Education approves bids, presented update on summer maintenance projects
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education on Monday evening, June 14, approved a bid for a passenger vehicle pending availability and final approval of a facility grant. The approved bid was from Suburban Chevrolet of Tulsa, Oklahoma for $45,695. Pettijohn Auto Center of Bethany also submitted a bid for $44,414. Pettijohn’s bid was lower, but […]
Trenton City Council informed 17th Street Bridge to open by late June or July 4th weekend
Work is progressing on the 17th Street Bridge project in Trenton with City Administrator Ron Urton telling the council Monday night that if weather conditions allow, he anticipates the new bridge can be opened by late this month or by the July 4th weekend. In his report, Urton noted base rock and curbing have been placed […]
Missouri lawmakers passed a host of reforms aimed at keeping kids out of jail
(Missouri Independent) – Retired St. Louis Judge Evelyn Baker once sentenced a 16-year-old Black boy to 241 years in prison for two armed robberies. No one was seriously injured in the robberies, but the boy “didn’t express any remorse,” Baker said, remembering the sentencing hearing. Now, when she thinks back, Baker deeply regrets the sentence […]
Trenton Middle School student eliminated in first round of Scripps National Spelling Bee
Trenton Middle School student Titus Kottwitz participated in one round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Saturday. The 13-year old misspelled Puchero, which is a type of stew. Two hundred nine students ranging in age from nine to fifteen qualified for the national bee. The first three rounds were held virtually on Saturday in […]
Audio: Trenton student to compete in national spelling bee on Saturday
The word “volition” comes from Latin and French roots meaning “wish” or “will.” Titus Kottwitz, a seventh-grader at Trenton Middle School in northwest Missouri, got his wish when he spelled the word “volition” correctly to earn a spot in this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee. “I’m excited that I got this far because […]
Trenton Planning and Zoning Commission to recommend approval of use permit for bed and breakfast in former funeral home
The Trenton Planning and Zoning Commission voted June 7 to recommend to the city council final approval of a conditional use permit for a bed and breakfast facility. The commission also voted to pass on a report to recommend the designation of the Downtown Historic District as a historic district within the meaning of Trenton […]
Audio: Missouri’s Governor to sign prescription drug monitoring program on Capitol lawn in Jefferson City
The governor will sign prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) legislation into law Monday (today) in Jefferson City, making Missouri the 50th and final state to have the PDMP program. Governor Mike Parson (R) plans to sign bipartisan PDMP legislation from State Sen. Holly Rehder (R-Scott City) and State Rep. Travis Smith (R-Dora) Monday afternoon, on the Missouri Capitol lawn […]
Audio: Missouri’s Governor says there was no path forward for Medicaid expansion, without legislative funding
Missouri’s governor says there was no path forward for Medicaid expansion without legislative funding and that the courts will decide the issue. Governor Mike Parson says he never supported Medicaid expansion because he didn’t think the state could afford it. The governor says he called for its implementation because voters approved it in August: […]