Missouri’s hospitals and a coalition of individuals and organizations supporting Medicaid expansion announced the launch of a campaign to let Missouri voters decide the future of expanded coverage to low-income individuals caught in the “coverage gap.” “Missouri is among only a handful of states to not expand Medicaid. As a result, approximately 200,000 citizens of […]
Tag: increase
West Nile virus season is not over yet
Though mosquitoes often become a nuisance in early summer, the danger of catching a mosquito-borne illness continues into the late summer months. As long as temperatures remain warm, mosquitoes will continue to be a pest and a potential danger to one’s health. So while Labor Day marked the unofficial end of summer, the Missouri Department […]
Grain crop review for August 2019
Volatility seems to be the theme for the last several months. Weather forecasts, overseas trade relations, and harvest predictions have been large contributors for the past month. There has been plenty of moisture this year throughout the Corn Belt. However, the excessive moisture paired with the cooling temperatures have raised some concern over potential yields. […]
MU School of Medicine receives nearly $5 million in grants to train more rural Missouri doctors
The University of Missouri School of Medicine has received two Health Resources and Services Administration grants totaling nearly $5 million to increase the number of doctors in Missouri and address the physician shortages in rural parts of the state. A Missouri Hospital Association study last year predicted a shortage of up to 49,000 primary care […]
MoDOT planned road work in northern Missouri for the week of September 2, 2019
The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in northern Missouri for the week of September 2 – 8. MoDOT will halt temporary lanes closures throughout the state to accommodate an increase in traffic due to the Labor Day holiday. Most temporary lane closures […]
MoDOT to replace 40 rural northern Missouri bridges
The Missouri Department of Transportation will be able to replace 40 bridges in northern Missouri as a result of an announcement by Congressman Sam Graves that Missouri has received a $20.7 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Competitive Highway Bridge Program. The bridges, all located north of I-70, are in poor condition, […]
Kinloch Fire Protection District fails to improve after $100,000 is misspent, state auditor says
State Auditor Nicole Galloway released her follow-up review of the Kinloch Fire Protection District, located in St. Louis County, after an audit last year detailed how nearly $100,000 in public funds was missing or spent inappropriately. The follow-up review found that while some of the audit recommendations are implemented or in progress, many were either only […]
Dozens of Missouri legislative bills become law today
Historically, most of the bills passed during the Missouri Legislature’s regular session become law on August 28. Of the roughly 2,100 measures filed this year, 144 proposals made it across the finish line. Dozens of proposals become official today. Here is a snapshot of 10 key measures taking effect: Education funding In the fiscal year […]
Students will be safer as required background checks on school volunteers becomes state law
A new state law will help protect children at their schools as beginning August 28, school volunteers will be required to undergo criminal background checks before being left alone with children. Auditor Galloway pushed for the new law after her audit of the state’s sexual offender registration program found background checks were mandatory for school employees, […]
Missouri Department of Conservation to increase prices for nonresident permits starting in 2020
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will increase the prices for some nonresident hunting and fishing permits starting in 2020. According to MDC, permit prices have not been raised in over a decade and adjustments are needed to help keep up with increasing costs of providing conservation programs and services around the state. The price […]
Camden County audit recommends increased oversight, better operations throughout Camden County government
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit of Camden County that detailed lack of oversight and failure to follow policies to ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars throughout county government. Auditor Galloway also released a separate audit of the Camden County Collector’s Office, which is required by law when a vacancy occurs in […]
Trenton R-9 Board of Education to open construction bids on August 30
The deadline for construction bids for the Trenton R-9 School District building project was Thursday. Building Project Liaison Dennis Gutshall reports the district received four bids which will be reviewed by Gutshall and Ellison-Auxier Architects of Saint Joseph as well as Trenton R-9 Superintendent Mike Stegman, Director of Supportive Services Kris Ockenfels, and administration. Gutshall […]
Spickard Board of Education increases tax rate
The Spickard R-2 Board of Education approved the proposed tax rate during a hearing this week. Superintendent Jonnie Beavers reports the rate was set at 461.16 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, which is an increase of 36.19 cents. During the regular meeting, Shelby Griffin was sworn in as a new board member. She was […]
Trenton R-9 Board of Education votes against tax rate ceiling at special meeting
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education unanimously voted against a tax rate ceiling adjustment at a special meeting on Wednesday morning. The tax rate ceiling adjustment would have raised the incidental fund rate to $329.66 cents and the total tax levy to $419.66 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The debt service levy is 90 […]
Hundreds of fugitives arrested, firearms and illegal drugs seized during “Operation Triple Beam”
Operation Triple Beam, an initiative led by the U.S. Marshals Service to track down some of the metropolitan area’s most violent and persistent offenders, resulted in hundreds of arrests and the seizure of dozens of firearms and illegal drugs. Results of the 10-week initiative were announced today by U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison, U.S. Marshal Mark […]
Princeton Board of Education approves tax rate, rolls back debt service levy
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education approved the proposed tax rate as presented at a hearing Monday evening. The tax levy for 2019-2020 was set at $5.0974 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, which is an increase of two point two seven cents from last year. The 2019-2020 tax levy includes $3.96.42 cents for the […]
Briggs & Stratton to expand in Poplar Bluff, create 130 new jobs
Briggs & Stratton, a gasoline engine manufacturer, today announced the expansion of its current facility in Poplar Bluff, creating 130 new jobs over the next 12 months with an average salary of $36,531 and additional hiring in 2021. The project represents a capital investment of $15 million to help streamline production and increase the utilization […]
Pleasant View Board of Education accepts resignation, hires new paraprofessional
The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education voted to increase the district’s tax rate at a hearing on Tuesday evening. The rate was set at 480.94 cents or $4.80.94 which is up four-point seven-eight cents from the previous year. During the regular meeting, the board approved the resignation of board member Luke Gibson due him […]
Brad Griffin promoted to TMU Electric Distribution Supervisor
In an executive session on Monday night, the Trenton City Council promoted a city employee to Electric Distribution Supervisor. City Administrator Ron Urton reports the council unanimously agreed to promote foreman Brad Griffin to the position, effective September 1st. Griffin will fill the Electric Distribution Supervisor position currently held by Mark Newton who will retire […]
Trenton City Council approves third-party company to handle billing and mailing of TMU services
While all eight agenda items were eventually approved, several were decided by split votes last night of the eight-member Trenton City Council. By the end of this year, Trenton Municipal Utilities will have transitioned to having an Olathe, Kansas company provide the billing and mailing services. The change is seen by TMU officials as saving […]