Columbia police expect human remains found at Rock Bridge State Park to be identified this week. Investigators in central Missouri think those remains belong to missing Columbia woman Mengqi Ji, but the Boone-Callaway County Medical Examiner’s Office will have to confirm the ID. A forensic odontologist is working with a local forensic anthropologist […]
Tag: hike
Audio: Missouri House signs off on budget to include bigger pay raise for some corrections jobs
The Missouri House has passed a 34-point-one billion-dollar state operating budget that includes a big pay raise for some hard-to-fill Department of Corrections jobs. On top of the requested two-percent salary boost for all state workers, some Corrections food service workers, officers, sergeants, and lieutenants would get anywhere from a nearly six percent to an […]
Audio: Human remains believed to be Mengqi Ji discovered in Missouri’s Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
Human remains believed to be those of a missing Columbia woman have been found in a mid-Missouri state park. Columbia resident Mengqi Ji has been missing since October 2019, and authorities have searched a river near Boonville for her remains several times. During a Thursday evening press conference, Columbia Police announced that a […]
Audio: Bill in Missouri Legislature would delay full increase of minimum wage hike
In 2018, 62-percent of Missouri voters approved a gradual minimum wage hike of $12.00 an hour by 2023. A state House committee is considering a bill that would delay the full increase by three years. During a committee hearing, Representative Allen Andrews of northwest Missouri’s Grant City says he supports the bill. He says his […]
Trenton City Council sets salaries and adopt budgets at Monday meeting
Without discussion, the Trenton City Council on Monday night adopted budgets for the city and Trenton Municipal Utilities for the year beginning May 1st. Members of the finance committee have met several times with city officials in recent weeks in developing the two budgets. Salaries have been established by city ordinance for the 2021-22 fiscal […]
Audio: Parson proposes even bigger pay raise for some Missouri Department of Corrections jobs
Governor Parson is proposing an even bigger pay raise for some Missouri Department of Corrections jobs. On top of the requested two-percent salary boost for all state workers, some Corrections food service workers, officers, sergeants, and lieutenants will get anywhere from a nearly six-percent to an almost 15-percent pay hike. In a staff […]
Audio: Missouri Senate gives initial approval to proposed gas tax hike with a rebate
The Missouri Senate has given initial approval on Wednesday to a proposed gas tax hike with a rebate. The vote comes after the upper chamber spent about eight hours Tuesday on the plan before eventually pulling the bill from debate. Senate President Dave Schatz of Sullivan is proposing to boost the tax by 12-and-a-half cents […]
Audio: Missouri gas tax hike proposal pulled from debate
The Missouri Senate spent about eight hours Tuesday working on a proposed gas tax increase that would also offer a rebate. Two Conservative Caucus members, Senators Bill Eigel and Andrew Koenig blocked a vote on the bill, eventually leading to the proposal getting pulled from debate. Senate President Dave Schatz of eastern Missouri’s Sullivan, says […]
Video Interview: Senator Hawley wants separate minimum wage hike and immediate tax credit for blue-collar workers works
Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley voted Friday against adding a minimum wage hike to the current COVID-19 relief bill in the Senate but is calling for a higher minimum wage — and a tax credit for some blue-collar workers. Hawley, in a stand-alone bill, would require companies that make more than $1 billion annually to […]
Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge to open on March 6, 2021
The Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge south of Sumner will open to the public on March 6th. The refuge is closed annually from late October to the first Saturday of March to allow for undisturbed habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl. The visitor center will be closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Only the main office […]
Senator Josh Hawley introduces alternative to minimum wage hike, a pay raise through tax credits
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced he will introduce new legislation to give blue-collar workers a pay raise. For nearly four decades, workers making below the median wage have experienced stagnant wages, and this past year, the problem has been made worse by unprecedented layoffs, reduced hours, and income disruptions due to the government shutting down […]
Missouri Department of Conservation to offer free guided birding hike at Pershing State Park
Winter is a good time for birding because foliage doesn’t hamper the viewing. The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer a free guided birding hike from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at Pershing State Park west of Laclede in Linn County. Hikers will explore the boardwalk near Locust Creek and the trail […]