Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 1913, creating the Missouri Health Insurance Innovation Task Force. The Governor’s action aims to curb rising healthcare premiums and increase access and competition in health insurance markets for all Missourians. It is imperative that the State of Missouri develop comprehensive and innovative ways to transform the health insurance market […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri legislature and governor have taken actions to increase penalties for those caught poaching Missouri game animals and other native wildlife species. Missouri Governor Michael Parson signed HB260 into law July 11. Called the Poaching Bill, it significantly raises fines for those convicted of illegally taking Missouri […]
In a letter sent today to Gov. Mike Parson, State Auditor Nicole Galloway asked the Governor to take action to help thousands of Missourians who are still waiting for their tax refunds, often after months of delay. Auditor Galloway referenced recent media reports in which the Department of Revenue stated more than 70,000 Missourians are waiting […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education approved meal prices for next school year Tuesday evening. The price for lunch at Trenton Middle and High schools will increase by 10 cents to $2.50 with all other meal prices increasing by 15 cents. Rissler Elementary School lunch will be $2.35 and breakfast for all district schools will […]
Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick and the Department of Social Services have partnered to launch a newly-automated process that uses unclaimed property held by the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office to pay past-due child support. “Missouri’s kids benefit from this collaborative effort with the State Treasurer’s Office. In the first phase over $2 million has been […]
The approximately 1.4 million children who comprise nearly one-quarter of Missouri’s population are more likely to live in poverty than Missouri’s children in 1990. According to the KIDS COUNT Data Book, released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The 30th edition of the Data Book — a comprehensive annual report on child well-being for […]
The North Mercer R-3 Board of Education approved 2018-2019 budget amendments and adopted the 2019-2020 budget at a meeting Monday evening. Budget amendments included revenues increasing by $101,651 and expenses decreasing by $1,031. The end of the fiscal year budget projects an overall increase of $47,348. The 2019-2020 budget projects revenues at $3,076,880 and expenditures […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation is increasing its efforts to slow the spread of the deadly deer disease called Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) throughout Missouri by proposing new regulations that would change requirements for transporting deer carcasses and add carcass-disposal requirements for meat processors and taxidermists. If approved, the regulations would become effective Feb. 29, […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a memorandum to state agencies (PDF, 156 KB) encouraging them to require Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to cooperate with child support programs. “We want states to take action to ensure that SNAP and child support work together to help children,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “Increasing […]
A Grain Valley, Missouri, man who was already under investigation for distributing child pornography over the internet pleaded guilty in federal court to traveling to North Dakota for illicit sex with a 14-year-old child, who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Andy Earl Crook, 63, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs […]
The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education approved increasing the base pay of certified teachers at its meeting Tuesday evening. The base pay will increase $1,000 to $30,000 and a six percent raise was approved for all non-certified hourly employees as well as a five percent increase on extra duty contracts. The board approved a […]
Acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley announced that USDA is investing $485 million to upgrade rural electric systems and reduce energy costs. The funding includes nearly $7.1 million for smart grid technologies that improve system operations and monitor grid security. “Under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is a proud […]
Kids need both social and emotional tools to be successful in school, and one Missouri school district is doing its best to see that they get both. The Eldon School District is using grant money to educate what they call the “whole child.” That has meant hiring a community health worker as the “point person” […]
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit detailing uncertainty and confusion related to the state’s individual income tax withholding tables. The report found that changes made to withholdings in January 2019 were done unlawfully and will result in over-withholding for the majority of individual Missouri taxpayers. “For more than six months, this […]
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees approved tuition and fees as well as room and board for the 2019-2020 academic year at its meeting Tuesday evening. Tuition and fees increased for everything, except Dual Credit and Early College. Tuition will be $87 per credit hour for NCMC district students, $148 for other Missouri […]
Students at North Central Missouri College along with eight other universities and community colleges in Missouri will soon receive expanded options for mathematics courses that are more aligned to their intended majors. A new initiative, led by the Missouri Department of Higher Education in collaboration with the Charles A. Dana Center at The University of […]
For the third year in a row, more than 900 people were killed in Missouri traffic crashes. Statewide, the preliminary numbers indicate 918 lives were lost in 2018, down slightly from 932 fatalities in 2017. Speed, distraction, impairment, and fatigue continue to be the top causes of fatal crashes. In particular, the number of cell […]
The 2019-20 salary schedule was adopted during a meeting last night of the Trenton R-9 Board of Education. The schedule follows the requests submitted last month by the salary and welfare committee; and endorsed by the superintendent. Superintendent Dan Wiebers reported the increases noted for the salary schedule will cost more than $177,000 which is […]
Central Service and Supply, Inc., an advanced manufacturer headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, has announced the selection of Macon, Missouri, as the location of their new advanced manufacturing facility citing access to talent and logistical advantages as main reasons for their choice. “We are extremely excited to expand into Missouri,” Adam Nolan, Vice President of […]
Missouri’s unemployment rate edged up a tenth of a point to 3.2 percent in January, increasing slightly from 3.1 percent in the final two months of 2018, though the current rate is still three-tenths of a point lower than the year-earlier value. Missouri’s rate has now been at or below the corresponding U.S. rate, which […]
