Buddy Hannaford Final

Obituary: Buddy “Edward Gaines” Hannaford

Buddy “Edward Gaines” Hannaford, age 78, died peacefully after a brief illness April 5, 2022, in The Living Center in Marshall, Missouri. A Celebration of Buddy’s Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 14, 2022, at First Christian Church, 130 N. Jefferson Ave., Marshall, MO  65340.  Rev. Randal DeMasters will officiate.  Burial will […]

State Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern makes a plea for increased funding for public schools during Thursday’s House Budget Committee markup session. (Rudi Keller - Missouri Independent)

House Budget Committee rejects adding surplus revenue to Missouri public schools, colleges

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri’s record general revenue surplus was off-limits for spending plans as the House Budget Committee worked Thursday, defeating Democratic efforts to give boost money for public schools and state colleges. The only significant addition to education budgets approved by the committee was to restart the teacher Career Ladder program, providing $21 million to give experienced […]

Demonstrators stand outside of the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City (Photo by Tessa Weinberg - Missouri Independent).

Medicaid enrollment backlog persists as advocates say Missouri could be doing more

(Missouri Independent) – Applying for health insurance through Medicaid expansion took Raven Cole just 10 minutes. But the wait to see if she’s approved has dragged on for months. The 23-year-old legal assistant applied for coverage, “well over two to three months ago.” “And I haven’t heard anything back,” Cole said. Cole is one of […]

Kids Heart Challlenge

Students at Rissler Elementary School raise over $6.500 through Kids Heart Challenge

Students from Rissler Elementary School in Trenton raised $6,629.54 this year for the American Heart Association through the Kids Heart Challenge. Physical Education Teacher David Sager reports the grade that raised the most money was first with $2,749.15. The class that raised the most money was Alexandria Neighbors’ first-grade class with $1,359.10. The top student […]

Generic City Water

Experts say federal funds for lead pipe replacement needed in Missouri

Missouri has roughly 330,000 lead service lines, the pipes connecting water mains to buildings including people’s homes, and federal funding could help speed up the process of removing and replacing them. The bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress last year includes $15 billion for lead-pipe replacement, building on funds from the American Rescue Plan. Erik D. Olson, senior strategic director at […]

Donald Kauerauf, the director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, speaks during a press conference at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on July 21, 2021

Before ouster, Missouri health director drafted a letter to senators that was never sent

(Missouri Independent) – On the Friday before a drawn-out confirmation battle ended with his ouster from office, Missouri state Health Director Donald Kauerauf wrote an impassioned letter meant to convince conservative legislators who were on the fence about his appointment.  The message: While he believed in vaccines and data and science, he didn’t believe in vaccine […]

Screenshot of USDA or United States Department of Agriculture website

United States Department of Agriculture pledges $1B for ‘climate smart’ ag products

(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to spend up to $1 billion to foster the creation of climate-friendly agricultural and forestry products by offering grants to facilitate their production and the markets to sell them. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon in those industries. “Agriculture is such […]

Kids Heart Challenge 2022 Website

S.M. Rissler physical education students to host “Kids Heart Challenge”

The physical education program at S.M. Rissler Elementary School is hosting its annual Kids Heart Challenge event to raise money for the American Heart Association, which funds lifesaving heart and stroke research and community and educational programs for our youth. The students will start asking for donations starting this week. Rissler school students will be accepting […]

Food Desert News Graphic

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 […]

Marijuana leaf

U.S. House advances marijuana banking bill, though final passage uncertain

 (Missouri Independent) – Cannabis dispensaries throughout the country came one step closer to using banks the way many other businesses can when the U.S. House on Friday cleared a bill with sweeping changes to banking regulations. Colorado Democrat Ed Perlmutter and Ohio Republican Dave Joyce, co-sponsors of the legislation, said Friday their proposal would allow […]

Task force rescues 57 dogs from “horrific conditions” at Missouri site

The Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force rescued 57 dogs, including Corgis, German Shepherds, Border Collies, and several other large and smaller breeds from a property in Newton County, Missouri. The rescued dogs are being transported to HSMO’s Macklind headquarters in St. Louis, where the animals will receive health evaluations and emergency veterinary […]

Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy + Health Center

Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy + Health Center announces new Family Services Manager

Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy + Health Center announces Michelle Stark as their Family Services Manager. Stark oversees and facilitates all of the Education Programs Life Options provides in this role. According to Stark, one of her long life’s desires was to work with pregnant mothers and their babies. Being passionate and skilled in teaching, […]

Hy-Vee Hy-Vee storefront

Hy-Vee dietitians hosting events in January focused on healthy habits for the new year

Throughout January, Hy-Vee’s registered dietitians will host events focused on healthy habits and nutrition to begin the new year. The dietitian team will host educational events, including virtual store tours and cooking classes, as well as an in-person health fair at select locations. Virtual Wellness Wednesdays Hy-Vee dietitians will cover trending nutrition topics and share […]

Missouri Governor Mike Parson

Governor Parson makes appointments to various boards; Cameron man appointed to Missouri State Fair Commission

 Governor Mike Parson announced five appointments to various boards and commissions and filled two-county office vacancies.  Robert Connell, of Troy, was appointed to the Amber Alert System Oversight Committee.  Mr. Connell has been with the City of St. John Police Department since 2002 and has continuously advanced through the ranks to his current position as Police Chief. […]