Missouri voters have spoken. They want to join 37 other states that have expanded Medicaid. About 53% voted during Tuesday’s primary election in favor of providing Medicaid to another 230,000 low-income adults. Roughly 47% of Missouri voters opposed the ballot measure. The outcome highlights Missouri’s urban and rural divide. Of Missouri’s 114 counties, 105 voted […]
Tag: income
Missouri primary election spotlight: Can the state afford to expand Medicaid?
A Medicaid expansion measure is one of the hot items at the ballot box in Tuesday’s primary election. Missouri voters will be asked whether to expand Medicaid to another 230,000 low-income adults. Currently, about 950,000 Missourians get government-funded healthcare. Under Amendment 2, Missouri adults earning up to $18,000 annually could qualify. The clash between those […]
Eleven defendants indicted for $4.1 million meth conspiracy
Eleven residents in the Kansas City, Missouri, and St. Joseph, Missouri, areas have been added to a federal indictment that now charges a total of 25 defendants for their roles in a $4.1 million drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed more than 520 kilograms of methamphetamine over three years. Bobbie Lynn King, 51, and Patricia Gail Nelson, […]
Audio: Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman opposes Medicaid expansion ballot measure
The Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee chairman is speaking out against an August Medicaid expansion ballot measure, saying it pits the Medicaid population against children. Cosby State Senator Dan Hegeman says Medicaid’s current budget in Missouri is about 12-billion dollars. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Hegeman tells Capitol reporters that Amendment Two doesn’t provide […]
Missouri families receiving food stamps to get benefits extended
The USDA has approved the state’s request to extend the pandemic food stamp program benefits through August. Missouri households receiving SNAP benefits will automatically get the maximum benefits loaded onto their Electronic Bank Transfer card. “I am very pleased Missourians will receive the maximum SNAP benefit for their household size during a month when families […]
Missouri’s state Treasurer, Scott Fitzpatrick, is warning against Medicaid expansion
Missouri’s state treasurer and the House Budget Committee chairman will travel across the state on Monday, urging Missourians to vote against Medicaid expansion on the August ballot. Medicaid, which is formally known as MO HealthNet, is a federal and state program that assists with medical costs for residents with limited incomes. House Budget Committee Chairman […]
Schuyler County teacher named finalist in Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence
An agriculture teacher at Schuyler R-1 Schools in Queen City is one of 50 teachers and teacher teams from the United States named as finalists for the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. Coley Hanes, the other teachers, and their trades programs are in the running for a share of $1 million […]
Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors reviews budget
The Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors reviewed the budget at a special meeting. Sunnyview Nursing Home and Apartments Administrator Jerry Doerhoff reports minor changes were made. Anticipated income remains at $5,624,139. Expenses are now projected to be $5,624,002, which is $7,179 higher than what Doerhoff reported after the budget was approved in […]
Audio: IRS tax deadline approaches for Missourians
Missourians have one week left to file and pay for their 2019 state income taxes. The state Department of Revenue previously announced it was extending the original April 15 deadline to July 15 to provide special tax filing and payment relief during the spread of the coronavirus. To date, the Department has received and processed […]
Missouri business owner pleads guilty to tax evasion
A Jefferson City, Missouri, business owner pleaded guilty in federal court to tax evasion after failing to pay taxes on more than $600,000 in income over three years. Ryan M. Phegley, 39, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps Jr., to one count of tax evasion. Phegley was the owner and operator of […]
Young at Heart Resources to hold regional elections
Young at Heart Resources will hold its regional elections to its Board of Directors August 11th. Young at Heart was formerly the Northwest Missouri Area Agency on Aging. The board is comprised of nine members representing 18 Northwest Missouri counties. Each term is for three years. Current members Kathy Roach, Ruth Rother, and Johnnie Herndon […]
Missouri lawmakers to hear testimony on Medicaid expansion and tax credits
Missouri lawmakers will hear testimony on Tuesday in Jefferson City about potential impacts on the state budget if voters approve Medicaid expansion in August. Medicaid, which is officially called MO HealthNet in Missouri, is a federal and state program that assists with medical costs for residents with limited incomes. Missouri voters will cast ballots on […]
Second Harvest Food Bank to hold pop-up pantry at two area locations
The Second Harvest Community Food Bank of Saint Joseph will hold pop-up fresh mobile pantry visits in the area next month. The general public can receive food at the First Baptist Church at 2421 Oklahoma Avenue in Trenton July 15th. Another visit will be at the Spickard School July 16th and 30th. The visits will […]
Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors approve budget
The Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors has approved its budget. Sunnyview Nursing Home and Apartments Administrator Jerry Doerhoff reports income is anticipated to be $5,624,139, and expenses are anticipated to be $5,616,823. That leaves a surplus of $7,316. The board approved a project involving replacing some asphalt in the parking lot behind […]
Audio: Missouri releases $15 million in additional funding for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
The state Department of Social Services has announced an additional 15-million dollars in funding for the low-income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP). DSS Acting Director Jennifer Tidball tells Capitol reporters that the program assists low-income Missourians with payments for their summer cooling bills through September. Tidball says the additional dollars double the maximum […]
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry backs Medicaid expansion
Missouri’s most influential business group is endorsing a Medicaid expansion issue that will appear on your August ballot. Medicaid, which is formally known as MO HealthNet, is a federal and state program that assists with medical costs for residents who have limited incomes. Missouri’s current Medicaid budget is about $10 billion, accounting for about one-third […]
Audio: Community Action Partnership summer season Low Income Energy Assistance Program underway
Community Action Partnership of North Central Missouri’s summer season of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program began June 1st. Director Christopher Small says the program offers help to low-income families and individuals to prevent utility shut-offs. It also bridges the gap to allow families and individuals to have a consistent source of utility services. […]
Second Harvest Community Food Bank to hold distributions in Spickard and Trenton
The Second Harvest Community Food Bank of Saint Joseph will distribute food at mobile food pantries in area cities this month. One pop-up mobile pantry will be at the Spickard Elementary School June 9th. Another will be at the Trenton First Baptist Church parking lot June 17th. Both will be held from 10 o’clock to […]
Evergy to waive late fees and disconnects
Evergy announced in March it would not disconnect electric service for non-payment and would waive late fees for residential and small business customers in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Evergy announced a flexible payment plan to allow customers to enter a 12-month payment plan toward their past-due balance. That plan included customers who had been […]
Audio: Missouri Department of Revenue Director Ken Zellers says “no tax return backlog this year”
The state has received and completed about 2.5 million individual income tax returns. Missouri Department of Revenue Director Ken Zellers says the figure represents a roughly 358,000 decline compared to this time last year. “I expect it to stay pretty steady. I do not expect a backlog,” says Zellers. “Every year, we process […]