This Wednesday is Women’s Equal Pay Day, the average date it would take a woman working full-time to earn what a man did in 2020. Most women earn less than men throughout their careers, which translates to less financial security in retirement. According to the National Institute on Retirement Security, median household retirement incomes for women are […]
Tag: House
Audio: Missouri House Committee to hear proposed Constitutional Amendment on Monday involving pre-existing conditions
A proposed constitutional amendment involving preexisting conditions will go before a Missouri House committee in Jefferson City on Monday afternoon. The Missouri House Health Committee will hold a public hearing on the proposed constitutional amendment from GOP House Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher of Des Peres. If lawmakers approve his proposal, you’ll be […]
Audio: Missouri Department of Conservation backs legislation keeping registered sex offenders away from conservation areas
The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri support legislation aimed at keeping registered sex offenders away from state Conservation areas. House Bill 1090 is sponsored by State Rep. Barry Hovis (R-Whitewater), a former law enforcement officer with more than 30 years of experience. The House Public Safety Committee approved the bill 8-0, and it’s […]
Audio: Missouri House gives initial approval to open enrollment bill
The state House of Representatives has given initial approval to a bill that would make Missouri an open enrollment state. Representative Brad Pollitt, a Republican from west-central Missouri’s Sedalia, is sponsoring the plan. He served in the public school system for about 34 years, including as a teacher and a former School Superintendent in Sedalia. […]
Audio: Missouri Attorney General says federal pandemic package could prevent states from carrying out any tax cuts
Missouri’s Attorney General says language in the latest pandemic package could prevent states from carrying out any tax relief. Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Republican attorney generals from 20 other states have fired off a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. They are questioning why the 1.9-trillion dollar plan bans states from […]
Grundy R-5 Board of Education approves employee health insurance plan and four-day week calendar
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education has approved a health insurance plan and a four-day week calendar. The district will work with Missouri Educators Trust for the insurance. The plan will provide all full-time staff a $3,000 health savings account for $549.91. Staff will have an option to buy up to three other plans […]
Senate confirms Haaland as first-ever Native American to serve in the Cabinet
(Missouri Independent) – U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland made history on Monday when she became the first Native American to ever be confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold a position in a president’s Cabinet. In a narrow 51-40 vote, senators confirmed Haaland, a New Mexico Democrat, to serve as secretary of the interior, where she […]
Pre-trial conference set for May 2, murder trial set for June 6 in case involving death of Diemel brothers
Braymer resident Garland Joey Nelson will have his murder trial sooner than previously scheduled. At a hearing on Tuesday in Johnson County Circuit Court in Warrensburg, a three-week jury trial is now set to begin June 6, 2022. The trial was previously was listed for February of next year. Online information shows a case review […]
Audio: Missouri’s Senate President Pro Tem praises Senate passage of gasoline tax legislation
Missouri’s Senate leader is praising senators in both parties for approving his legislation to increase the state’s gasoline tax by 12 cents per gallon, by 2025. Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz (pronounced like shots) says the state transportation system has billions of dollars in maintenance needs. The bill now heads to the […]
Missouri state parks and historic sites prepare for 2021 camping season
Missouri state park and historic site campgrounds are preparing for the 2021 camping season, which typically begins April 1. On-season begins earlier at some campgrounds than others. Visit mostateparks.com/activity/camping for opening dates at specific campgrounds. To help guarantee a safe and enjoyable camping experience, the following new and updated procedures have been implemented. To ensure […]
Audio: Missouri House attempts to ban judges from changing ballot language written by Legislature
The Missouri House has given initial approval to a bill that would ban judges from changing ballot language written by the Legislature. The proposal follows two Missouri courts rewriting language for a controversial legislative redistricting measure passed by voters last fall. Bill sponsor John Wiemann, a Republican from O’Fallon, and Hillsdale Democrat Kevin Windham debated […]
A breakdown of eligible voters and polling locations in Grundy County for the April 6 election
More than 5,800 people from Grundy County will be eligible to vote in the April 6th election, with a total of 5,859 certified by the county clerk’s office. That’s the same number as those eligible for last November’s general election. There will be eight polling locations in Grundy county for April 6th in-person voting, with […]
States question whether new federal stimulus law rules out tax cuts
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden’s massive pandemic stimulus law pumps a welcome infusion of federal aid into state and local government coffers — but one brief section is raising questions about whether states are barred from cutting their own taxes if they accept the federal help. The Senate added language to the COVID-19 relief package […]
Audio: Missouri Public Defender System handles about 6,000 child support criminal cases annually
Missouri law makes it a crime when a parent fails to pay child support. The Missouri Public Defender System handles roughly 6,000 of these cases annually. During a House Budget Committee hearing, System Director Mary Fox says handling those cases in civil court, instead of criminal court, could have a significant financial impact on her […]
Lawmakers reintroduce U.S. military Right to Carry Act
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Congressman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) reintroduced legislation in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to ease the burden active-duty military service members face when renewing concealed-carry licenses while stationed outside of their state of residency. The U.S. Military Right to Carry Act allows service members to renew their permits by […]
Trenton Park Board approves building of carport; discuss construction of new shelter
The Trenton Park Board, at a special meeting on March 12th, approved the building of an 18 by 20-foot carport at Van Meter Park not to exceed $2,500. The structure would replace a smaller shelter house taken down after its roof was damaged by hail. Board President Duane Helmandollar reported he got a quote from […]
Missouri State Auditor issues latest report on Missouri’s use of stimulus dollars received through CARES Act funding
State Auditor Nicole Galloway released her ninth monthly report detailing the state government’s use of federal stimulus dollars intended for the COVID-19 response. Last year, Auditor Galloway announced that her office would examine the state’s distribution and spending of funding received under the CARES Act and other federal assistance programs passed by Congress. The most […]
Grundy County Commission to meet with multiple agencies on Tuesday
The Grundy County Commission will meet with representatives of various entities next week. The agenda for the meeting at the courthouse in Trenton on March 16th includes Grundy County Ambulance at 9 o’clock in the morning, Granite phone service calling in at 9:15, Tusa calling in at 10 o’clock regarding 911 radios, the Families and […]
Audio: Circle of Hope owners in Missouri, charged with 102 felonies, plead “NOT guilty” in court appearance
The owners of the now-defunct Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in southwest Missouri’s Humansville remain jailed without bond on Thursday morning, after pleading NOT guilty in Cedar County Court. Boyd and Stephanie Householder are from Nevada, near Humansville. Attorney General Eric Schmitt had to stop speaking at one point during his Wednesday press conference, to […]