(Missouri Independent) – On a recent Tuesday evening in southeastern Missouri, John Freeze stood in front of yet another angry group of constituents. Some here believe the number of COVID-19 deaths are being purposefully inflated for financial gain. Among the culprits, in their mistaken view: Hospitals seeking Medicare reimbursements; The federal government, led by Dr. Anthony […]
Tag: inspection
Missouri state health agency seeks control of Title X funds that go to Planned Parenthood
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri’s state health department has applied to oversee federal family planning funds, a move reproductive health advocates fear would give the state power to cut off funding for providers who refer patients for abortion services. During his confirmation hearing late last month, former Department of Health and Senior Services Director Donald Kauerauf’s […]
Trenton Board of Education hears presentation from Trenton Teachers Association on 4-day school week
Joel Hultman with the Trenton Teachers Association presented preliminary research regarding a four-day school week during the Trenton R-9 Board of Education meeting on February 8th. The board took no action on the matter. Hultman reported a survey of teachers showed many wanted more information on a four-day school week. None of the questions specifically […]
Anti-vaccine protesters rally against Senate confirmation of Missouri health director
(Missouri Independent) – State health director Donald Kauerauf adamantly spoke against mandating face masks and COVID-19 vaccines during a hearing Monday, as anti-vaccination demonstrators protested his confirmation in the halls outside. While protesters chanted outside the Capitol hearing room, senators inside grilled Kauerauf for nearly two hours on his views on how best to mitigate […]
Trenton Building Inspector reports on inspections and permit applications
Trenton Building Inspector Wes Barone has submitted a report of inspections, permit applications, and other matters from December 10, 2021, through January 6, 2022. During that time, there were 21 inspections total. Six of those were rental, and six were pre-permit. There were also five new construction and four right-of-way inspections. There were eight permit […]
Agriculture secretary pressed about pandemic relief funds for farmers
(Missouri Independent) – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack faced questions on how his agency is doling out emergency pandemic aid and fostering collaboration with historically Black colleges during a Thursday hearing before the House Agriculture Committee. Committee Chairman David Scott, a Georgia Democrat, asked Vilsack for “critical updates on the implementation of pandemic relief programs, including […]
Grundy County Commission approves amendment to county budget
The Grundy County Commission on December 14th approved an amendment to the 2021 Grundy County Budget. Grundy County Clerk Betty Spickard reports the amendment involved the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, with revenues of $956,624 and no expenses. Presiding Commission Phillip Ray says the county expects to receive an equal part from the American […]
Iowa man pleads guilty to selling misbranded vitamin B12 injectables
An Iowa man pleaded guilty to a felony charge related to the sale of misbranded vitamin B12 injectable drugs, the Department of Justice announced. Brady Tomlinson, 46, of Des Moines, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa to one count of introducing a misbranded drug into interstate commerce with […]
Trenton Building Inspector reports on inspections and permit applications
Trenton Building Inspector Wes Barone has submitted a report of inspections, permit applications, and other matters from October 20th through November 10th. During that time, there were 32 inspections. The category with the most inspections was new construction with 10. Others involved eight rental, eight right of way, five pre-permit, and one dangerous building issue. […]
Missouri gives nursing homes a way to temporarily close in face of federal vaccine rule
(Missouri Independent) – With over 40% of Missouri’s nursing home staff still unvaccinated, the state health department is giving long-term care facilities a route to avoid losing their license if they shut down due to staffing shortfalls after a federal vaccine requirement kicks in next month. On Friday, the Department of Health and Senior Services […]
White House says “Easing of supply chain problems to start with backed-up seaports”
(Missouri Independent) – The first seaport to improve its facilities following passage of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill could be in Savannah, Ga., a senior Biden administration official said Tuesday. President Joe Biden has yet to sign the measure, which Congress sent to Biden’s desk late last week, funding improvements in highways, transit, ports, waterways, airports, […]
Smithfield withdraws request for CAFO permits environmentalists criticized as too lax
(Missouri Independent) – The global meat producer operating some of Missouri’s largest industrial hog operations has withdrawn requests to convert 10 of its permits to what environmental groups say would be more lenient ones. Smithfield Foods Inc., which has a history of environmental violations in Missouri, operates some of the largest concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, in the […]
Spickard Board of Education declines the use of “Test to Stay” COVID protocol
The Spickard R-2 Board of Education voted October 18, 2021, to DECLINE the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education COVID-19 Test to Stay option for students and staff. The board accepted a bid from Ace Roofing for cafeteria roof repairs for $11,172. A Princeton bus mechanic proposal was approved. Superintendent Erica Eakes reports the Princeton […]
Planned Parenthood wants feds to block Missouri rule targeting its Medicaid funding
(Missouri Independent) – Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri is calling for the Biden administration to intervene to block the state’s new emergency regulation that abortion advocates contend could cut off Medicaid funding for its clinics around the state. Without federal action, Planned Parenthood said it may need to turn to the courts. […]
COVID-19 outbreak at Smithfield plant in Milan, Missouri likely larger than originally known
(Missouri Independent) – The COVID-19 outbreak at Smithfield Foods’ northern Missouri plant — the focus of a worker safety lawsuit that garnered national attention last year — resulted in two worker deaths and was worse than previously thought, according to newly obtained federal documents. Early on in the pandemic, the Sullivan County Health Department told local […]
Planned Parenthood wants feds to block Missouri rule targeting its Medicaid funding
(Missouri Independent) – Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri is calling for the Biden administration to intervene to block the state’s new emergency regulation that abortion advocates contend could cut off Medicaid funding for its clinics around the state. Without federal action, Planned Parenthood said it may need to turn to the courts. […]
Pearls of Production conference offers hands-on biosecurity training
The Pearls of Production: Women in Agriculture program focuses on leadership and hands-on training for women in livestock production in Missouri. This year’s event, coordinated by the University of Missouri Extension, is Nov. 5-6 in Callaway County and on the MU campus. On Nov. 5, attendees will have a rare opportunity to visit a farrow-to-finish […]
MoDOT planned road work in North Missouri for the week of September 27, 2021
The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in North Missouri for the week of September 27 – Oct. 3. All road closures and planned roadwork may be viewed on the Traveler Information Map, Inclement weather may cause schedule changes in some of the […]
Princeton R-5 Board of Education approves Newtown-Harris School District to transportation coop
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education September 13th approved the addition of the Newtown-Harris School District to its transportation coop. Newtown will pay the Princeton School District for access to a mechanic. The annual fee of $8,000 will provide preventative maintenance, oil changes, bus inspections, computer diagnostics, and routine repairs. Grundy County R-5, Spickard, and […]