(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration announced Thursday steps to expedite asylum cases at the U.S.-Mexico border in an attempt to resolve a years-long backlog, but policy advocates worry the streamlined process could prevent asylum seekers from obtaining legal representation if their cases are denied. “If somebody is not approved in the first instance, they’re […]
Tag: grants
Audio: Missouri bill would tie college funding to graduate earnings
A bill in the Missouri Legislature would tie state funding for public universities and colleges to student earnings after enrollment. The University Rewarding Workforce Readiness Act would give more money to schools that deliver higher earnings for their graduates. Missouri’s nine universities and 13 community colleges would receive a performance score based on […]
Audio: Missouri bill would create grant program to incentivize K-12 learning based on mastery of skills
Missouri’s current K-12 education system goes by chronological age and time in class. State Representative Doug Richey, a Republican from western Missouri’s Excelsior Springs, wants to award grants to eligible school districts to provide competency-based learning. This type of learning is based on students showing that they have learned the knowledge they are expected to […]
As CAFO lawsuit heads to Missouri Supreme Court, counties weigh options
(Missouri Independent) – As a fight over who can regulate industrial hog and cattle operations awaits action by the Missouri Supreme Court, counties that sought more stringent protections against them wait in limbo. The Missouri Supreme Court is expected to hear an appeal by county commissioners who sought to regulate concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, […]
Audio: Princeton Board of Education votes to remain in the Grand River Conference East, will play 11-man football
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education on March 14th voted six to one to remain in the Grand River Conference East and to continue to play 11-man football. Board Member Marcie Davis voted no. Superintendent Jerry Girdner says discussion about the potential change to the GRC West and to eight-man football came after Head Football […]
St. Louis jail inmates file class action lawsuit alleging guards torture them with mace
(Missouri Independent) – Inmates at St. Louis’ primary jail filed a federal class-action lawsuit Tuesday accusing guards of torture with mace and depriving them of water for days. The inmates are represented by a team of attorneys from the MacArthur Justice Center, ArchCity Defenders, the SLU Law Legal Clinics, and Rights Behind Bars. “They spray chemical agents […]
Pressure ramps up to halt Trump-era policy that expels migrants at the border
(Missouri Independent) – Senate Democrats and immigration advocates are pushing the White House to end a controversial Trump-era immigration policy enacted during the pandemic that allowed U.S. officials to expel migrants and asylum seekers at the border. “I continue to be disappointed, deeply disappointed, in the administration’s response,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York […]
Expanded rural broadband likely a focus of federal farm bill
(Missouri Independent) – The coronavirus pandemic highlighted the need for federal assistance to develop high-speed internet connectivity in all parts of the country, members of a U.S. House subcommittee agreed this week as they reviewed provisions that are likely to be included in the next farm bill. “I represent a largely rural district in north-central, […]
GEC Community Foundation grant application deadline is April 1, 2022
The GEC Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications. The application deadline is April 1, 2022. Qualified applicants may apply for a grant by completing a grant application with supporting information. The grant application is available by logging online at www.grundyec.com or calling the Cooperative at 1-800-279-2249, extension 23. Applications will be reviewed by the […]
11 Missouri school districts receive a total of $535,000 in school bus rebate opportunities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the winners of two school bus rebate opportunities which include the 2021 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Electric School Bus Rebates, and the 2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebates. The $7 million in ARP funding is directed toward school districts in underserved communities to replace old diesel […]
NCMC one of seven universities receiving Nursing Education Incentive Program grant
The Missouri State Board of Nursing recently announced the award of substantial nursing education program grants to seven Missouri universities and colleges. The Nursing Education Incentive Program grants were established in 2011 in order to increase the physical and educational capacity of professional nursing programs in Missouri. The funding, through legislative appropriations, comes from the […]
House grants initial approval to bill that would allow prison nurseries in Missouri
(Missouri Independent) -The House gave initial approval Wednesday to a bill that would allow newborns to remain with their incarcerated mothers for the first year and a half of the baby’s life. The bill would permit the Missouri Department of Corrections to establish nurseries within the state’s correctional facilities, allowing children born to incarcerated women to […]
Governor Parson grants 29 pardons, commutes 1 sentence
On Monday, February 28, 2022, Governor Mike Parson granted 29 pardons and approved one commutation pursuant to Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and are being sent to the individuals. Pardons: Robert Midgyett Jeffrey Bragg Sharr Ford Lawrence Tindall Angela […]
North Central Missouri College celebrates TRIO Day
The North Central Missouri College’s TRIO Department celebrated the series of federal grants that make their programs possible during the week of National TRIO Day (February 26). For millions of students from low-income families who strive to be the first in their families to attend and graduate from college, seven federally funded programs called TRIO […]
Missouri receives $42.2 million federal grant through the NTIA’s Broadband Infrastructure Program
The Department of Economic Development (DED) announced today that Missouri has been awarded a $42.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for broadband expansion. The funds received through the NTIA’s Broadband Infrastructure Program will be used for projects benefiting more than 13,000 households in 12 Missouri counties: […]
Coalition of 13 attorneys general call for resignation of Alejandro Mayorkas’ at Department of Homeland Security
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, along with 13 other attorneys general are calling for U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ resignation. In a letter, citing the continued failure to enforce federal law and secure the southwest border, the coalition of 14 state attorneys general is demanding that Secretary Mayorkas leave office as his […]
EPA announces availability of $20 million to reduce lead in drinking water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $20 million in available grant funding to assist communities and schools with removing sources of lead in drinking water. This grant funding, and additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help make rapid progress on the goal of addressing lead and removing lead pipes across the country. “A […]
Audio: Missouri could require high schoolers to fill out FAFSA before graduating
Missouri could require high school students to fill out a free application for federal student aid, known as the FAFSA, before graduating. The FAFSA is used to consider eligibility for federal grants, federal loans, and state grants. The Missouri Senate Education Committee is considering the requirement proposed by State Senator Karla Eslinger. The […]
Audio: U.S. Supreme Court to review “Remain in Mexico” policy
The U.S. Supreme Court plans to review in April the Biden Administration’s effort to unwind the Trump-era “remain in Mexico” border policy. The program allows U.S. officials to send non-Mexican migrants to Mexico to await their U.S. immigration court hearings. Lower courts have rejected the president’s attempts to stop the program, forcing the […]