Black residents of Evanston, who lived in the city between 1919 and 1969 or are direct descendants of someone who did, can start receiving what the City Council calls reparations in early to mid-summer, in the form of housing grants. The plan is to provide $25,000 grants for home repairs, mortgage assistance, or down payments, to […]
Tag: housing
Women’s wage gap correlates with retirement gender gap
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 […]
USDA invests $15 million to improve and modernize electric infrastructure in rural Missouri
U.S.Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $15 million to build and improve electric infrastructure in Missouri through its Electric Loan Program. “For nearly 85 years—since the inception of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936—USDA has played a role in bringing electricity to rural areas,” […]
Lawmakers propose permanent tax credit to stimulate development in nation’s underserved areas
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Ben Cardin (Md.) have introduced a measure to permanently extend the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), which has created jobs and driven investment in neighborhoods with high poverty and unemployment rates. The New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act (S.456) will permanently authorize a 39 percent federal tax credit for […]
Missouri cities, counties in line for millions from federal COVID relief bill
(Missouri Independent) – The plan for distributing money directly to Missouri counties in the current version of the $1.9 trillion federal coronavirus relief bill is pretty simple – each gets $195.44 per person. But for cities, instead of a formula based on population, Congress divvies up the money using the method for determining Community Development Block Grant allocations. […]
Audio: Missouri prison system could move officer training from classroom to real-world setting
In 2019, Gov. Mike Parson closed a prison in northwest Missouri’s Cameron. Most staff and inmates transferred to the other prison in town – Western Missouri Correctional Center. Now, Parson wants to reopen the Crossroads Correctional Center and turn it into a training academy for correctional officers. During a House Budget Committee hearing, Trevor Foley […]
Audio: Parson’s budget proposal would close half of housing units within Missouri women’s prison
The women’s prison in northeast Missouri’s Vandalia could have about half of its housing units permanently closed. Trevor Foley, with the state Department of Corrections, says Governor Mike Parson’s new state budget proposal would make the change. Gov. Parson’s proposed $34.1 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning in July includes about $802 million for […]
Biden backs reparations study, as House Democrats push for commission
(Missouri Independent) – The White House on Wednesday indicated that President Joe Biden would support studying reparations for slavery, the same day that House Democrats held a hearing on legislation that would set up a reparations commission. But White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stopped short of saying Biden would sign the bill under consideration […]
Governor Parson signs $324 million emergency package for rent and utility needs
Governor Mike Parson has signed HB 16 into law, a bill giving $324 million in emergency aid to help struggling renters and landlords in Missouri. The plan, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), could cover some rent and utility costs. “HB 16 will provide much-needed assistance to tenants and landlords across the state. COVID-19’s economic […]
Trenton High School Alumni Association Scholarship application now available
Applications for the Trenton High School Alumni Association Scholarship are now available in the THS Counselor’s office. The $300.00 scholarship will be awarded at the conclusion of the current school year and may be used for tuition, books, fees, or college housing at any college, university, or technical school. It is a one-time award payable […]
Audio: Missouri House approves $324 million to help struggling renters and landlords
The Missouri House has unanimously approved today designating 324 million dollars in federal emergency aid for renters and landlords. The plan could help with some rent and utility costs. Under the bill, renters and landlords could apply for funds through the Missouri Housing Development Commission. The measure, House Bill 16, heads to the Senate for […]
Missouri Department of Higher Education releases report on response of postsecondary institutions during COVID-19
The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) released an addendum to its third COVID-19 After-Action Report, which was published in December 2020. Much like last December’s report, the addendum focuses on the initial institutional response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As colleges and universities quickly transitioned to online courses, three major problems […]
Audio: Congressman Emanuel Cleaver gains power, to be named housing panel chairman
KC-area Congressman Emanuel Cleaver will have more power in the new Congress, as a senior Democrat. He will soon become the chairman of the subcommittee of the House Finance Committee, one that oversees Housing and Insurance. Cleaver supported Biden early– and in return, Biden held a major rally in Kansas City at the […]
North Central Missouri College begins construction on new residence halls
North Central Missouri College begins construction on two new residence halls planned to be open for the fall 2021 semester. The new residence halls are apartment suite-style and will be available to full-time, enrolled NCMC students with other criteria to be determined. Each unit will be two floors and house 16 beds with eight on […]
Governor Parson makes five appointments to various boards and commissions; fills seven county office vacancies
Governor Mike Parson announced five appointments to various boards and commissions and filled seven-county office vacancies. Governor Parson also named the new Acting Director of the Division of Professional Registration. Samuel Adams, of Ferguson, was appointed to the State Board of Mediation. Mr. Adams has served as business representative and organizer for the St. Louis – Kansas City […]
Community Resource Center in Chillicothe receives grant to reduce homelessness in 6 north Missouri counties
The Community Resource Center in Chillicothe has received a grant for up to $500,000 to reduce homelessness in six counties, including Livingston, Linn, Caldwell, Daviess, Grundy Carroll. The grant will enable the resource center to provide help to eligible persons or families in those counties. Funding is through the CARES Act Coronavirus Emergency Solutions Grant […]
Lack of adequate funding has left county taxpayers bearing incarceration costs of state prisoners
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released an audit of the County Reimbursement Program, which reimburses county governments for certain costs for housing and transporting state prisoners. The program is administered by the Missouri Department of Corrections. The audit found that a combination of delayed reimbursements due to lack of state funding and increasing incarceration […]
Missouri families face added pressure to meet basic needs
The ability to meet basic needs is out-of-reach for many Missouri families because of the pandemic. The challenges facing households with children are detailed in a new national report. This week, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released findings for all states, using weekly Census survey data on such topics as food insecurity and housing instability. One […]
Owner of hospice companies sentenced to 20-years in prison for $150 million health care fraud and money laundering scheme
A corporate executive has been ordered to serve 20 years in prison after his conviction related to falsely telling thousands of patients with long-term incurable diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, they had less than six months to live and subsequently enrolling them in hospice programs. A federal jury in McAllen, Texas, convicted Rodney […]
Trenton residents to decide in April election on enacting a local “Use Tax” for online out-of-state purchases
City of Trenton voters will get to decide next April on whether to enact a local “Use Tax” involving online purchases from out-of-state vendors which primarily involves the dot com and dot net vendors. The eight-member council voted unanimously on Monday night to let the voters decide. The rate is to be no more than […]