Patrick McKenna Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation

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

Views: 0(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 […]

Lead Hazard News Graphic

New funds and strategy may boost “massive task” of reducing lead exposure for Missouri kids

Views: 0(Missouri Independent) – It’s clear that lead exposure is a problem for Missouri’s children. An estimated 4.5% have elevated levels of lead in their blood, more than almost any other state in the country. What’s far more difficult is figuring out where children are getting exposed to lead, said Carlton Waterhouse, President Joe Biden’s pick […]

USDA Logo

USDA awards funds to 13 organizations to create livable communities attracting people and jobs

Views: 0U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small announced that USDA is awarding $3 million in cooperative agreements to 13 organizations. These organizations will provide technical assistance to people living in rural and Tribal communities so they can apply for and access government resources for projects that will attract jobs […]

Medicaid

Audio: Close to 13,000 people have been enrolled in expanded Medicaid

Views: 0Close to 13,000 people have been enrolled in expanded Medicaid in Missouri, according to the Department of Social Services.     In 2020, a majority of Missouri voters passed a ballot measure to expand the government-funded health insurance to about 275-thousand low-income adult residents. The benefits include primary and preventive care, emergency services, prescription […]

(Official portrait of President Joe Biden in the White House (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Biden pitches new $1.75 trillion spending blueprint to Democrats that drops paid family leave

Views: 0(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden is meeting with congressional Democrats on Capitol Hill Thursday morning to pitch lawmakers on a new slimmed-down framework for what would be included in a massive social reform package, according to senior administration officials. The $1.75 trillion blueprint that Biden is presenting to Democrats includes a universal pre-K program for […]

Abortion Graphic

Missouri Attorney General joins suit against Biden Administration to stop federal funding of abortions

Views: 0Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt yesterday joined a lawsuit brought by Ohio and ten other states against the Biden Administration, challenging a federal rule change that would allow taxpayer dollars to be used to encourage and support abortions. The lawsuit, filed yesterday in the U.S. Southern District of Ohio, seeks to reinstate rule changes […]

Network cables (RJ45 ) connected to a switch

USDA to make up to $1.15 billion available to help people living in rural communities access high-speed internet

Views: 0U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a significant expansion of access to high-speed internet, health care, and educational services for millions of rural Americans nationwide. Today’s announcement continues to move forward President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda by prioritizing economic growth in rural America and investing in the backbone of our […]

Audio: United Way is a diverse organization serving your community in ways you probably didn’t know about

Views: 0The United Way of Grundy County supports 10 organizations in the area through fundraising. Spokesperson Edna Foster says the local United Way organizations share a view that the way to improve lives is by mobilizing the caring power of communities.     When monetary donations are given to the United Way of Grundy County, […]

Christmas Assistance

Sullivan County Adopt-A-Child accepting applications from families needing Christmas assistance

Views: 0Sullivan County Adopt-A-Child is accepting applications from Sullivan County families that have children up through 12th grade that need assistance for Christmas. Spokesperson Christine DeRyke says everything is kept confidential. A wish list and clothing size can be submitted for each child. The program is run through the Milan Interfaith Food Pantry, which is […]

Gavel with word indictment news graphic

Three Missouri residents indicted for using identities of deceased people to file hundreds of COVID relief claims

Views: 0Three Missouri residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury in a scheme to use the identities of deceased people to file hundreds of false stimulus claims under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Warren W. Watkins, 39, and Marissia Jackson, 25, both of Kansas City, Mo., and Lamar K. […]