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Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issues COVID “hot spot” advisory for 7 counties in NW Missouri

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has issued a COVID-19 hot spot advisory for seven northwest Missouri counties due to rising case totals from November 1st through 15th. Marshall Griffin files this report.     Thirty-eight cases were added in Harrison County in the two-weeks time. Forty cases were added in Gentry County. […]

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt speaks to a gathering of Missouri Highway Patrol officers in April 2021 (photo courtesy of the attorney general’s office)

Missouri Attorney General sues Springfield schools in quest to find critical race theory documents

(Missouri Independent) – Attorney General Eric Schmitt alleges in a newly filed lawsuit that Springfield Public Schools wants to avoid scrutiny of its curriculum and training materials — and is violating the Missouri Sunshine law to do it. The district improperly demanded a deposit of more than $37,000 to search its records for instances where it incorporated elements […]

Missouri Western State University via social media

Audio: Missouri Western State University requiring masks again, effective immediately

A Missouri University is requiring masks again, effective immediately.     Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy announced the decision in a message to everyone on the St. Joseph campus. Kennedy says the decision was made after the university COVID-19 response team reviewed the coronavirus data for the greater St. Joseph area, observing increases in case […]

Nurse assisting patient in wheelchair in nursing home

Missouri gives nursing homes a way to temporarily close in face of federal vaccine rule

(Missouri Independent) – With over 40% of Missouri’s nursing home staff still unvaccinated, the state health department is giving long-term care facilities a route to avoid losing their license if they shut down due to staffing shortfalls after a federal vaccine requirement kicks in next month. On Friday, the Department of Health and Senior Services […]

City of Chillicothe Website

Downtown historic area survey to be discussed at Chillicothe Historic Preservation Commission meeting

A Chillicothe expanded downtown historic area survey is to be discussed during a meeting of the Chillicothe Historic Preservation Commission. Paula Mohr of Bettonsport Preservation LLC will give a presentation, and then will be available to answer questions. The informational meeting is Wednesday, November 17 at 6 p.m.in the Chillicothe Municipal Utilities meeting room, 920 […]

Patrick McKenna Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation

Billions headed to Missouri transportation fund from gas tax hike, infrastructure bill

(Missouri Independent) – With $6.5 billion on the way from the federal infrastructure bill and a newly increased gas tax, Missouri is ready to take a big bite out of $4.5 billion in unfunded highway needs, Patrick McKenna, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, said this week. But that doesn’t mean the state is ready to tackle […]

Plane or airplane fighting a wildfire

Climate funds in infrastructure bill aimed at drought, wildfires, floods

(Missouri Independent) – The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure bill isn’t just about roads and bridges — it also spends billions to address wildfire, drought, flooding, and other effects from climate change, Interior Department officials said Wednesday. The $1.2 trillion measure, which is awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature after the House cleared it last week, includes pay […]

Spire Natural Gas Company Van

Critics say Spire Missouri’s warning of natural gas outages a “manufactured crisis”

(Missouri Independent) – As federal energy regulators prepare to decide the fate of a St. Louis natural gas pipeline, Spire Missouri is warning customers their gas service could fail this winter.  Business industry groups and the utility maintain their responsibility to keep customers informed. But environmental groups and some local elected officials — who note federal regulators seem […]