(Missouri Independent) – A controversial Missouri gun law that penalizes police for enforcing federal gun laws is facing a new legal challenge from the U.S. Justice Department. On Wednesday, the department filed suit to prevent Missouri from enforcing its Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA), a law that allows citizens to file suit for up to […]
Tag: Ford
Audio: North Central Missouri College Scholarship Reception, held on Wednesday evening, featured speakers from staff and students
North Central Missouri College employees spoke at the scholarship reception on the campus in Trenton February 16th. Student Support Services Assistant Director Tocarra Williams talked about intangible things that scare us, like being the first person in a family to attend college. Williams, herself, was a first generation college student, and she attended NCMC. Student […]
Free Family Movie Night to be held in Chillicothe
The Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce will host a free Family Movie Night on February 20th. Clifford the Big Red Dog will be shown in the Family Life Center of the Calvary Baptist Church of Chillicothe at 6:30 that evening. There will also be homemade ice cream and games. Contact the Calvary Baptist Church for […]
Why millions on Medicaid are at risk of losing coverage in the months ahead
(Missouri Independent) – This story was originally published by Kaiser Health News. The Biden administration and state officials are bracing for a great unwinding: Millions of people losing their Medicaid benefits when the pandemic health emergency ends. Some might sign up for different insurance. Many others are bound to get lost in the transition. State Medicaid […]
Audio: Missouri trucking industry expert says carriers reject thousands of loads weekly due to driver shortage
A Missouri task force is working to address the state’s supply chain slowdowns. More than 70-percent of Missouri communities rely solely on the trucking industry to get their goods delivered to them. During this week’s task force hearing, Tom Crawford of the Missouri Trucking Association said the ongoing truck driver shortage cannot keep up with […]
Kansas man pleads guilty to racially motivated federal hate crime targeting black man
The Justice Department announced that Colton Donner, 27, pleaded guilty in federal court to threatening an African American man with a knife because of the man’s race, and in order to intimidate and interfere with the man’s right to fair housing. According to documents filed in connection with the plea, on Sept. 11, 2019, Donner […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl
United States District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk accepted a plea of guilty from Jarvis L. Fields for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri previously indicted Fields in December 2020. Judge Pitlyk set sentencing for May 3, 2022. According to the plea agreement, on April 10, […]
Missouri bills would offer incentives for grocery stores, urban farms to eliminate food deserts
(Missouri Independent) – The closure of Save A Lot in Pagedale left a hole in northern St. Louis County. Beyond Housing, a community-building group that serves about two dozen cities in the area had worked through the Great Recession to bring a grocery store closer to low-income residents in a part of the St. Louis area dotted with […]
Trenton Park Board to submit Recreational Trail Program application
The Trenton Park Board February 2nd voted to move forward with and submit a Recreational Trail Program grant application. Twenty-six thousand dollars will be allocated for the matching portion. The Missouri State Parks grant would be used to repair and replace part of Trenton’s walking trail and requires a 20% match. Park Superintendent David Shockley […]
Missouri Groups to Lawmakers: Don’t limit citizen-led ballot petitions
Some lawmakers in Jefferson City are pushing forward bills that would limit citizens’ ability to put constitutional amendments on the ballot. The proposed legislation would double the number of signatures required to get on the ballot and raise the thresholds to pass them from a majority to two-thirds. Benjamin Singer, CEO of the group Show-Me Integrity, noted […]
Federal Communication Commission’s Affordable Internet Connectivity Program provides assistance to qualifying households
GRM Networks is promoting consumer awareness about the Affordable Connectivity Program, a new program from the Federal Communications Commission. This benefit will help lower the cost of broadband Internet service for eligible households. The $14 billion Affordable Connectivity Program provides a discount of $30 per month toward broadband Internet service for eligible households. A household […]
20 participants begin Leadership Northwest Missouri program
Twenty women and men make up the 2022 class of Leadership Northwest Missouri, an annual series of sessions that bring together existing and emerging leaders from throughout a 19-county region to discover and sharpen their leadership skills, explore regional issues, and build a network of contacts throughout Northwest Missouri. The 2022 class began with a […]
Missouri State Auditor begins citizen requested audit of city of Cuba
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced her office has begun an audit of the city of Cuba, located in Crawford County. City residents requested the audit through the petition process. “The petition audit process allows citizens to be engaged and ensure accountability with their local government,” Auditor Galloway said. “I look forward to conducting this […]
Matt Wright elected to lead Missouri Soybean Association
This week Missouri Soybeans hosted the Missouri Soybean Association board in Jefferson City, MO for their annual meeting. During the meeting, the Association unanimously selected several farmer-leaders to step up in leadership positions to serve Missouri’s soybean growers. To lead MSA, Matt Wright was voted to serve as the president for 2022. Wright is a […]
Missouri woman sentenced to 9 years in federal prison without parole for illegal firearm
A Missouri woman who was arrested with 19 firearms and quantities of illegal drugs in her home was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm. Robin A. Graham, 38, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to nine years in federal prison without parole. On June 22, 2021, Graham […]
Missouri Senate hears bipartisan push to forgive mistakenly overpaid unemployment benefits
(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 […]
Spickard Board of Education approves changes to COVID-19 Contingency Plan
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 […]
Show-Me Strong Recovery Task Force releases final report of recommendations
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 […]
Task force recommends ways to help Missouri small businesses with workforce, supply chain and other problems
A statewide task force is recommending a variety of ways intended to help small businesses in Missouri with a workforce, supply chain, funding, and broadband problems. The suggestions include improving childcare access and affordability, expanding hospitality industry apprenticeships, updating the Fast Track workforce grant program, and enhancing help for women and minority-owned businesses. […]