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 […]
The Cooper County Circuit Court ruled in favor of five out of six of Senate Bill 391’s regulations Tuesday, limiting local ordinances from being stricter than state law. The ruling comes after local ordinances were attempted to be put in place against Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Cooper and Moniteau Counties in 2019. Missouri Farm […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and a coalition of 13 other attorneys general urged President Biden to reconsider his unilateral revocation of the 2019 Presidential Permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and advised him that the states that signed on to the letter are reviewing available legal options to protect their citizens and interests. “The […]
The Grundy County Commission approved a Second Amendment Perseverance Ordinance on Tuesday morning, February 9th. The ordinance installs protections in Grundy County on federal acts, laws, orders, rules, and regulations, which infringe on rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 1, Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution. Presiding Commissioner […]
Light snow and periods of freezing drizzle create slippery road conditions through the evening hours. Though minimal accumulation is anticipated, the Missouri Department of Transportation warns that glazing of the pavement along with bitterly cold temperatures could impact travel along the I-44 and I-70 corridors today especially during the evening peak traffic times in the […]
The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says an adult in northeast Missouri’s Marion County has the state’s first confirmed case of a COVID-19 variation initially detected in the United Kingdom. A press release from DHSS says the version, known as B.1.1.7, was identified in a sample from the individual. The […]
Missouri’s governor is downplaying news reports of tension between him and House Speaker Rob Vescovo, saying there’s been hype in the media. Governor Mike Parson says he’ll move forward with the House and the Senate. The governor wrote a recent three-page letter, criticizing House GOP leaders for disrupting last week’s plans to hold the State […]
Missouri’s governor announced Thursday in Jefferson City that there have been issues with the COVID vaccine distribution process, and warns that there will be consequences for vaccinators that allow people to jump the line. Governor Mike Parson briefed Capitol reporters during a Statehouse press conference, emphasizing that his administration will vaccinate the most vulnerable and […]
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and eleven Senate colleagues pushed back on a deportation moratorium proposed by President Biden’s Department of Homeland Security, which will prevent the removal of the vast majority of illegal immigrants with final orders of removal–including dangerous criminals–from the United States. The moratorium was proposed in a January 21 memorandum issued […]
Just east of Interstate 35 in Clinton County, near Lathrop, approximately 5,000 motorists drive through the intersection of Route 116 and U.S. Route 69 each day. Despite enhanced safety features, four fatal crashes have occurred there since 2011. After multiple studies, a roundabout has been proposed in an effort to further improve the safety of […]
Governor Mike Parson and the Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Health and Senior Services, and Social Services announced the consolidation of several early childhood programs across state government into a single Office of Childhood. The new office will be housed by DESE and provide a comprehensive approach to early childhood care and education, […]
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 […]
The Grundy County Commission unanimously adopted a deficit budget for 2021 the morning of January 26th. The budget estimates total revenues of $5,736,634 and expenditures of $6,928,813. A balance deficit of $1,192,179 is expected for 2021. The county begins the year with carryover funds of $3,910,220.81. The projected ending balance is $2,718,041.81. Grundy County Clerk […]
Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased again in December 2020, but a large increase in the civilian labor force sent unemployment higher. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 10,400 jobs over the month, and over-the-year job losses from COVID-19 shutdowns fell below 100,000. However, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by 1.3 percentage points from November […]
The Great Northwest Day at the Capitol will go virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Great Northwest Live Event will advocate regional priorities with state legislators from February 1st through 3rd. Participants are encouraged to ask questions on the Great Northwest Day at the Capitol Facebook page. The schedule includes a legislative […]
Carroll County Memorial Hospital announces the addition of Dr. Jeremy Stayton as General Surgeon on staff at CCMH. “We are so excited to expand our General Surgery program and add a skilled doctor like Dr. Stayton,” said Jeff Tindle, CCMH Chief Executive Officer. “We have been examining the community’s need for additional general surgery care. […]
The Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division is warning taxpayers about a new wave of COVID-19-related scams as the agency delivers the second round of Economic Impact Payments. For more than half a year, IRS-CI has seen a variety of Economic Impact Payment scams and other financial schemes designed to steal money and personal information […]
Public-interest groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency over the agency’s re-approval of products containing dicamba, a herbicide controversial for its tendency to drift into neighboring fields and damage farmers’ crops and homeowners’ gardens. Last fall, the EPA green-lighted dicamba use for five years, the third time the agency registered dicamba products. George Kimbrell, legal director at […]
As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) extensive efforts to address PFAS, the agency is making new information available about EPA testing that shows PFAS contamination from fluorinated containers. Through a coordinated effort with both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a pesticide manufacturer, the agency has determined that fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers that are used to […]
A winter storm with accumulating snow and high winds will make driving hazardous starting around midnight and continuing most of the day on Friday, affecting both morning and evening commutes. Forecast snow totals vary with the possibility of blizzard conditions in the northwestern part of the state with the combination of snow and high winds. […]
