The Jamesport City Council voted Monday evening to raise Jamesport water company rates. The base rate for zero to 1,000 gallons of water will increase from $23.00 per month to $24.00 per month. Each additional 1,000 gallons will increase from $11.00 to $11.75. The increase in water rates will take effect on the April 2020 billing […]
Missouri’s governor will release his budget blueprint today (Wednesday) in Jefferson City. Governor Mike Parson signed a 29-point-seven billion-dollar state operating budget into law last summer, which included a three percent pay raise for state employees. State Budget Director Dan Haug will unveil the Parson administration’s budget blueprint this afternoon, before the State […]
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen took action on various matters Monday evening. Certificate of deposit rates from Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri and BTC Bank were reviewed. The board approved cashing out the sales tax CD that matures January 27th for $65,199.06 and purchasing a 36-month CD at the highest interest rate between Farmers and […]
The Chillicothe City Council will consider an ordinance calling for a special election to be held to propose a quarter of a percent general sales tax increase to support the police department. The council will meet at the Chillicothe City Hall on the evening of January 27th at 6:30 to consider the ordinance. The special […]
A Camdenton, Missouri, man who was scheduled to go to trial on Tuesday, instead pleaded guilty to a $78,000 fraud scheme in which he used his victim’s credit cards without authorization. Ivan Joseph Stark, Jr., 47, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Monday, Jan. 6, to one count of bank fraud […]
This month retired Missouri residents will see a 1.6% cost of living adjustment in their Social Security benefits. About 75% of the increase is paid out to beneficiaries listed as retired workers, and about 13% is paid to disabled workers. According to the most recent Social Security Administration data, there are 1,293,897 Missourians […]
Following her leadership in 2017 on parental leave, State Auditor Nicole Galloway has issued a letter to Gov. Mike Parson calling on him to enact updated family-friendly policies. Specifically, she called for action to allow state workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child. These […]
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education approved the renewal of liability and property insurance on Monday evening. The insurances are with CPSK and the Missouri Public Entity Risk Management Fund for a total of $57,155, which is an increase of $825 from the previous year. The board approved the annual auditor’s report from Conrad and […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week that it will resume signups for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) under both general and continuous enrollment beginning Monday, Dec. 9. Established in 1985, CRP is considered one of the nation’s most successful private lands conservation programs. The general signup is the first held since 2016 […]
Driving down the road in Missouri, you can see most of the fields have been combined and some farmers have applied anhydrous, unlike last year. Everyone still remembers last fall with the muddy conditions and having to push off anhydrous application until the spring, causing a shortage this past year. A notable shortage in some […]
The Missouri State Highway Patrol has launched an upgraded Missouri AMBER Alert system that streamlines the process to get alerts to the public faster. The new system includes wireless emergency alerts, automated social media alerts, and a public website, www.moalerts.mo.gov, which provides the latest information on AMBER Alerts active in Missouri at any time. Under […]
The Gilman City R-4 Board of Education has approved continuing to pay 100% of employees’ health insurance for a deductible of $5,000. Bookkeeper Tori Wideman reports the district will pay $452.03 per employee, which is a 52 cent increase from last year. Employees have an option for a buy-up plan with a deductible of $3,000 […]
With just five members present Monday night, the Trenton City Council decided to let the public vote next year on a proposed five percent lodging tax. If approved by a simple majority in the April 7th election, the additional fee would be imposed on guests who rent sleeping rooms of hotels and motels within Trenton. […]
The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved an application filed by Evergy Missouri West, Incorporated to adjust the renewable energy standard rate adjustment mechanism charge. The charge currently appears as a separate item on customers’ monthly electric bills and is designed to recover costs associated with Missouri’s Renewable Energy Standard. A residential customer using 1,000 […]
The Trenton Utility Committee voted on Tuesday evening to go with ceramic tile for the water treatment plant floor. City Administrator Ron Urton reports the old tile floor was going to have to be sealed, and it had asbestos. The treatment to seal the floor and for vinyl tile would have been more expensive than […]
Sam Graves has announced the Kirksville Regional Airport will receive federal money through the Airport Improvement Program. Graves received notification from the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao that the Kirksville airport will be receiving $3.3 million through the program to rehabilitate both a runway and a taxiway. “Rural airports are incredibly important […]
University of Missouri Extension’s recent land value survey shows that average land prices for non-irrigated cropland across the state increased by about 4% or $204 per acre from last year. The study shows averages of $5,421 per acre for good non-irrigated cropland. Survey respondents rated well-irrigated cropland at $6,148 per acre, $634 more per acre […]
Industrial hemp was once widely grown in Missouri as a fiber crop. The Controlled Substance Act of 1970 made it illegal to produce or possess any form of the cannabis plant. Recent changes in federal and state legislation have increased interest in growing hemp for fiber, grain, and CBD oil. An educational program will be […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is warning Missourians about a recent increase in robocalls purporting to be a Medicare representative. The robocall then states that the person receiving the call is eligible for the top of the line medical braces, and that to receive those braces they should press “1” or press “9” to be […]
The North Mercer R-3 Board of Education was notified Monday evening that health insurance rates will go up 19.9% in January. The new rate will be $665.30 per month per employee. The district previously set a cap at $600 per employee for health insurance. The board approved payment of $48.73 for each of 18 overall […]
