The Missouri Office of Workforce Development has issued a new policy within all Job Centers across the state to help protect staff and customers from spreading COVID-19. Beginning Friday, Nov. 20, all Job Centers will be open for in-person services by appointment only. Staff have been wearing masks, but now customers will also be required […]
Seven individuals across two states were charged in an indictment unsealed for their alleged participation in a scheme to obtain approximately $16 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Amir Aqeel, 52, and Pardeep Basra, 51, both of […]
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds everyone there may be an increase in traffic over the Thanksgiving holiday. If so, drivers should remain alert to changes along their normal route. Regardless of traffic patterns, safety should remain a priority. “No matter how many vehicles are sharing the road, it’s important to be a courteous and […]
(Missouri Independent) – As state lawmakers mull the idea of restricting police use of chokeholds or no-knock warrants, they are facing pushback from law enforcement organizations who contend decisions should be made at the local level. The House Special Committee on Criminal Justice met for three hours on Monday to explore the possibility of passing […]
Some Missouri policy experts say federal COVID-19 relief money should be allocated to help struggling Missourians and spur local economies. The current supplemental appropriations bill under consideration at the Missouri Statehouse would use federal COVID relief funds to replenish the state’s unemployment trust fund. It would happen at the same time the state decreased the unemployment tax […]
Missouri’s construction industry is busy, and getting busier, but companies don’t have enough skilled employees. Contractors and the state are now reaching out to veterans to join their ranks. Len Toenjes represents hundreds of contractors with Missouri AGC. Toenjes says salaries in construction are well above the median in Missouri. A new grant of […]
North Central Missouri College is working to acquire a property in Savannah, possibly before the end of the year. A Savannah location would enable the college to eventually consolidate programs and services currently offered at several leased locations in Northwest Missouri. The college hopes to offer short-term workforce training at the site as early as […]
The Missouri House voted Tuesday to give preliminary approval to a proposed $1.27 billion supplemental budget, a supplemental that is the reason for the special session. The supplemental budget includes funding for school nutrition programs, job training grants, $1 million for witness protection funding, and money for child support payments. Governor Mike Parson (R) called […]
Missouri schools continue to struggle with having enough teachers available to educate kids in traditional classrooms this year. The Show-Me State has had a chronic problem with teacher shortages, but COVID-19 has made the can of worms open even more. Missouri has about 70,000 pre-K through 12 teachers instructing roughly 900,000 public school students. Many […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education Tuesday evening, November 10th approved a policy involving searches of students and hard surface bus routes in case of inclement weather. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported the policy involving searches of students was actually split in two, and part was adopted at the last board meeting. He explained he discussed […]
The 74th Annual Chillicothe Chamber Holiday Parade “Home for the Holidays”, presented by the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce, is sponsored by Hedrick Medical Center and HyVee. “2020 has been an unprecedented year but being able to carry out one of Chillicothe’s favorite traditions has provided a small bit of normalcy,” stated Crystal Narr, Executive […]
The Director of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division of the Missouri State Highway Patrol invites individuals to take the written test for the position of commercial vehicle officer. Examination dates and locations are as follows: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on December 5, 2020 Troop A Headquarters, 504 S.E. Blue Parkway, Lee’s Summit, MO Troop […]
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation is deploying $6 million in federal funding to create 5,300 new tech industry apprenticeships. During a virtual event Monday, President Dan Mehan calls the investment a game-changer. “There is an apprenticeship revolution going on in Missouri,” he says. “Over the last two years, our state ranks second […]
Governor Mike Parson recognized the importance of Registered Apprenticeship Programs with a proclamation to officially set apart the week of November 9-13, 2020, as Registered Apprenticeship Appreciation & Awareness Week, to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week. Now in its sixth year, National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration that gives businesses, communities, and educators the […]
Seattle-based Amazon has announced that it will open its first fulfillment center in one of the fastest-growing towns in southwest Missouri. Governor Mike Parson made the announcement Thursday afternoon while briefing Capitol reporters in Jefferson City. The governor says the facility will be located in Republic. “The new fulfillment center, which is expected to launch […]
The months of campaigning are over and the fate of each candidate on the Missouri general election ballot today rests in the hands of voters. Here is an overview of some of the top races on today’s ballot: Republican Governor Mike Parson is seeking his first full term as Missouri’s chief executive officer. He faces […]
(Missouri Independent) – A Missouri family that was denied a license to grow medical marijuana alleged in court this week that outside groups and individuals had undue access to top state officials — and that access led to an opaque process and contributed to the decision to cap the number of licenses granted. To buttress […]
The two main gubernatorial candidates are focusing on rural Missouri again Friday and during the final days of the campaign. Governor Mike Parson (R) brings his “Mike works bus tour” to four rural western Missouri towns: his hometown of Bolivar, as well as Clinton, Belton, and El Dorado Springs. He’ll finish Friday evening in Springfield. […]
According to the recent public opinion survey the Missouri State Highway Patrol is fulfilling its mission of service and protection. Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol announced the results of the 2020 Public Opinion Survey. Although the response rate increased with the use of a web-based survey compared to the […]
County unemployment rates are down considerably when comparing the September numbers with August. The Division of Employment Security reports Missouri’s unemployment rate last month dropped to 4.3% compared to an August rate that was 7.1%. For Grundy County, the state report shows 108 unemployed out of a civilian labor force of just over 4,300. That’s […]
