Without discussion, the Trenton City Council on Monday night adopted budgets for the city and Trenton Municipal Utilities for the year beginning May 1st. Members of the finance committee have met several times with city officials in recent weeks in developing the two budgets. Salaries have been established by city ordinance for the 2021-22 fiscal […]
Governor Mike Parson announced that he has authorized a transfer of $300 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Funds from the State Treasury into the state’s UI Trust Fund to help keep the Trust Fund balance above the level that would trigger an increase in contribution tax rates for Missouri businesses. “With over 96 percent of […]
The Gilman City Board of Education has received staff resignations and offered contracts for the next academic year. Resignations were submitted by Aaron Moser as a history instructor and Andrea Walton from part-time art. Contracts were offered to all non-tenured staff at Gilman City School including Melody Prescott, Rebecca Taggart, Kaitlyn Eoff, Keely Waddle, Hailey […]
Governor Parson is proposing an even bigger pay raise for some Missouri Department of Corrections jobs. On top of the requested two-percent salary boost for all state workers, some Corrections food service workers, officers, sergeants, and lieutenants will get anywhere from a nearly six-percent to an almost 15-percent pay hike. In a staff […]
Governor Mike Parson has announced a new coronavirus vaccination phase will open on March 29 – earlier than originally anticipated. During a Capitol press conference today, Parson says Missouri is well ahead of schedule in its vaccination plan. “The federal government has informed us that COVID-19 vaccine allotments to Missouri are projected to increase significantly […]
Governor Mike Parson announced that Missouri will activate Phase 2 of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan on Monday, March 29, 2021, and Phase 3 on Friday, April 9, 2021. “With the progress we are currently seeing and vaccine supply expected to increase significantly in the coming weeks, we are well ahead of schedule with our […]
Weather permitting, in a couple of weeks, crews will begin a project along Baltimore in Kirksville. The project consists of resurfacing, Americans with Disabilities improvements, and drainage improvements. The project will run from just north of Illinois Street to just south of Patterson Street. The contract was awarded to Krupp Construction, of Ellisville, Illinois, in […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt joined 20 other state attorneys general in filing suit on Wednesday, led by Montana and Texas, in United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas challenging President Joe Biden’s cancellation of the permits for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The lawsuit argues that President Biden’s administration […]
A La Nina weather pattern is in motion and Alex Elmore a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis says La Nina could lead to an even greater potential for severe weather. With the potential to have an increased severe weather pattern this spring, Elmore says the flooding risk is also […]
Amid the rapidly escalating crisis along the southern border, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) and dozens of his colleagues joined U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, in sending a letter to Government Accountability Office Comptroller Gene L. Dodaro highlighting President Joe Biden’s suspension of border wall […]
The Spickard R-2 Board of Education increased tutoring pay and approved field trips on March 15th. Secretary Kelli Girdner reports tutoring pay was raised from $20 per hour to $25 per hour. Field trips included one for the end of the year to Hannibal on May 13th and the Positive Behavior Support program to Chillicothe […]
Trenton’s Utility Committee heard details Tuesday evening on the preliminary financial impact for TMU regarding substantially-increased prices for natural gas and the electric market due to the prolonged extreme cold weather last month. Trenton Municipal Utility Comptroller Rosetta Marsh says having a large reserve in the electric department will help Trenton withstand the higher costs […]
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 […]
The Missouri State Board of Nursing recently announced the award of substantial nursing education program grants to three Missouri universities. The Nursing Education Incentive Program (NEIP) grants were established in 2011 in order to increase the physical and educational capacity of professional nursing programs in Missouri. The funding, through legislative appropriations, comes from the Missouri […]
(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 […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education approved salaries for administrators for the next school year in an executive session on March 9th. The superintendent salary will increase by about $4,100 ($4,106) to $117,164. Other administrators will also receive raises. Salaries will include director of supportive services $91,090, Trenton High School principal $77,860, THS assistant principal […]
The state House of Representatives has given first-round approval to an effort that would tax out-of-state businesses selling online to Missourians. The legislation might not result in a significant state revenue increase because it would be offset by lowering the state’s income tax rate. Bill sponsor J. Eggleston, of northwest Missouri’s Maysville, says a so-called […]
Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased in January 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by a tenth of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 5,900 jobs over the month, but over-the-year job losses were back above 100,000 following benchmark adjustments to 2020 estimates. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent […]
As grain prices hit new levels, farmers are considering potential profit in preparing for the 2021 growing season. However, protection is always going to be important. Crop insurance decisions will be critical this year. Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois agricultural economics professor, said 93% of Illinois farmers took some form of Revenue Protection (RP) insurance […]
The Missouri Senate spent about eight hours Tuesday working on a proposed gas tax increase that would also offer a rebate. Two Conservative Caucus members, Senators Bill Eigel and Andrew Koenig blocked a vote on the bill, eventually leading to the proposal getting pulled from debate. Senate President Dave Schatz of eastern Missouri’s Sullivan, says […]
