4-H clubs across Missouri have raised more than three-quarters of a million meals to feed hungry families over the last three years. The third annual 4-H Feeding Missouri food drive, in partnership with Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids, ran from Jan. 1 through April 30. Even though COVID-19 limited in-person drives, fundraising, volunteer […]
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Wright Memorial Hospital and Hedrick Medical Center revise visitor guidelines due to increase in COVID-19 cases
Saint Luke’s top priority is to care for patients and staff and keep everyone as healthy as possible. As the continued spread of COVID-19 has increased in the region, Wright Memorial Hospital and Hedrick Medical Center have revised their visitor guidelines to ‘Level 4 Restricted’ visitation, starting June 3. Wright Memorial and Hedrick were previously […]
Bethany Police Department seeks public’s help in locating woman missing since May 10
The Bethany Police Department is seeking help in finding a woman reported missing from Bethany on May 10, 2021. Twenty-three-year-old Jacqueline “Jacy” Deaver reportedly left her assisted facility on foot with little property. She is said to be disoriented and confused, be street smart, and keep mostly to herself. Deaver is described as having dark […]
Lillian DesMarias Youth Library to begin summer reading program
The Livingston County Library’s Lillian DesMarias Youth Library will begin a summer reading program next month. “Tails and Tales” is the theme, and the program will include animal-themed stories and activities. Youth Department programs are open to children up to age 12. There will be special projects and programs for teens. The summer reading program […]
USDA to begin loan payments to socially disadvantaged borrowers under American Rescue Plan Act
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency published the first notice of funding availability announcing loan payments for eligible borrowers with qualifying direct farm loans under the American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005. The official NOFA will be published in the Federal Register early next week and USDA expects payments to begin in early […]
Judge sentences bookkeeper who defrauded Plattsburg Special Road District
The former secretary/treasurer of the Plattsburg Special Road District has been ordered to pay restitution of more than $100,000 for defrauding taxpayers. Ava L. Langner was sentenced on the charge of theft brought by the U.S. Attorney. After receiving a whistleblower complaint, a 2019 audit by Auditor Galloway’s office detailed how Langner defrauded the district in […]
Audio: Missouri Veteran Commission Chairman says veterans homes need to keep their guard up
The Missouri Veterans Commission last held a special meeting to look deeper into its finances because they are in a deficit. Much of its money comes from unpredictable sources, like gaming and medical marijuana revenue, and the latter, medical marijuana, is paying for lawsuits over its licensing. Kelly McClelland is the new MVC Commissioner and […]
Iowa program aims to usher in next generation of farmers
Iowa farmers have been busy with the spring planting season. As operations hire workers for the summer, a nonprofit connects them with aspiring ‘ag’ professionals who could represent the industry’s future labor force. For nearly a decade, the group Practical Farmers of Iowa has carried out its Labor-4-Learning initiative, where participating farms provide on-site training for […]
Legislation introduced that would improve reporting of child abuse deaths, prevent future fatalities
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio) introduced bipartisan legislation to require states to report data on all child abuse-related deaths and develop recommendations to prevent child abuse deaths from occurring in the first place. The senators’ bill would provide policymakers and public health officials with a clearer picture of the number of […]
Spickard Board of Education approves addition to handbook pertaining to out-of-school suspension
The Spickard R-2 Board of Education on May 17 approved an addition to the 2021-2022 student handbook involving out-of-school suspension. The addition says that when a student has OSS as a consequence, he or she is not eligible for any after-school events on the same day as the OSS. The student must remain off of school […]
Lawmakers introduce legislation to protect adopted children
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, announced that they have reintroduced the Safe Home Act to protect adopted children from unregulated custody transfers. This legislation would add UCTs to the federal definition of child abuse and neglect under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. […]
Carroll County Memorial Hospital expands visitor policy for inpatient Care
Carroll County Memorial Hospital announces, effective Wednesday, May 19, will expand the Inpatient Care Visitor Policy to one person at a time with expanded hours. “The mental health of our patients is very important to us. Visitors help boost patients’ morale and healing process,” said Emily Braun, CCMH Director of Nursing Services. “This expanded visitor […]
National FFA announces in-person convention with a virtual program for 2021
The National FFA Organization announced that they would hold their annual in-person convention this fall in the city of Indianapolis. The event, which traditionally brings more than 65,000 attendees, will take place Oct. 27-30. Expected in-person events during the convention include the American FFA Degree Ceremony; Career Success Tours; competitive events; delegate business sessions; entertainment; […]
Free testing aims to curb STIs that went unchecked as COVID spread in Missouri
(Missouri Independent) – As the case counts of the novel coronavirus began to tick up last March across Missouri, providers who offer tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) found their resources were being pulled in two directions. Swabs were in short supply as they became needed for COVID-19 testing. Contact tracers, who reach out to […]
Missouri eases rules for building CAFOs despite outcry about potential pollution
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri regulators on Tuesday eased the rules governing the design of massive industrial hog facilities in a move critics claim was meant to help one controversial facility. The state’s Clean Water Commission voted 5-1 to narrow the definition of groundwater in the state’s rules governing the construction of “concentrated animal feeding operations” […]
Advocates fear homeless crisis with federal eviction moratorium on shaky legal ground
(Missouri Independent) – At least once a day, housing advocate Melissa Pashia speaks to someone living in a car. Once the situation gets to this point, it’s hard to get people back into stable housing, said Pashia, a housing resource specialist for the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council. “Landlords don’t want to […]
Audio: Conservative group wants to send gas tax hike to Missouri voters
(Missouri Independent) – On Monday morning, Jeremy Cady, state director of Americans for Prosperity, filed paperwork with Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office to begin the process of putting the 12.5-cents a gallon tax increase on a statewide ballot. To succeed in forcing a referendum on the bill, the campaign would have to gather about 110,000 […]
Audio: Missouri Legislature fails to pass fix for 46,000 Missourians given too much in unemployment aid
The state Legislature did not end up passing a bill this session that would let about 46,000 Missourians keep extra unemployment relief the state mistakenly gave them. Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden of Columbia says a fix could be part of a special session. Early on, Governor Parson supported the idea of the […]
Audio: Key bills passed in the final day or days of the Missouri Legislature’s session
Another session of the Missouri Legislature has come and gone. Of the 1,559 House bills and 689 Senate bills filed this time around, 69 bills will make it to Gov. Mike Parson’s desk. Here are some key bills left up to the governor to sign or veto: Missouri lawmakers vote to pump up […]