(Missouri Independent) – As a growing number of Missouri school districts drop COVID mitigation measures under threat from Attorney General Eric Schmitt, at least two closed the doors on their fall semester early due to large numbers of staff and students out sick. Meanwhile, local public health departments said Tuesday they still have not heard […]
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Missouri’s unemployment rate drops two-tenths of a percentage point in November to 3.5%
Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from October 2021 to November 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 7,600 jobs over the month, with job gains in both the goods-producing and service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November […]
Missouri’s largest counties seek to appeal ruling overturning local health orders
(Missouri Independent) – Jackson and St. Louis Counties requested Monday that they be permitted to intervene and appeal a recent court ruling that they argue has “upended the longstanding public health framework” in Missouri. In a filing submitted Monday afternoon and obtained by The Independent, the two counties asked Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel […]
Kimberly Meeker receives Administrative Professional Award at MCCA
Kimberly Meeker, Financial Aid Director, was recently recognized for her service to North Central Missouri College and community colleges. Kimberly received the Administrative Professional at the statewide MCCA convention held in Branson, Missouri. This selective award is given to outstanding administrative professionals from community colleges in Missouri for their exceptional work in their field. “Kimberly […]
Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Scholarship deadline is February 1
The Missouri State Fair and the Youth in Agriculture Committee are accepting applications for Youth in Agriculture scholarships for Missouri high school seniors graduating in 2022. The application form can be found on the Fair’s website. Applications should be submitted to the Missouri State Fair and must be postmarked by February 1, 2022. Applicants must submit […]
Kelly Claycomb receives Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at MCCA
NCMC nursing faculty and Director of PN to ADN Program Kelly Claycomb was recently recognized for her service to North Central Missouri College and community colleges. Kelly received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at the statewide MCCA convention held in Branson, Missouri. This award is given annually to outstanding faculty from community colleges […]
Three area health departments report on new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday afternoon
Twelve COVID-19 cases have been added for Grundy County since the health department’s update on the morning of December 1st. Health Department Administrator Elizabeth Gibson reports a total of 1,859 cases through December 1st. There have been 30 new cases this week. The number of active cases increased by nine to 36. Grundy County’s positivity […]
Jeanie Griffin receives Missouri Community College Association Senior Service Award
Jeanie Griffin, WDB Fiscal Manager of Trenton, Missouri, was recently recognized by the Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) for her service to North Central Missouri College and community colleges. Jeanie received the 2021 Senior Service award at the statewide MCCA convention held in Branson, MO. This award is given annually to outstanding community college employees […]
Judge Daniel Green: Local health orders tied To COVID-19 are illegal
(AP) — A Missouri judge ruled that local health orders imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state are illegal and should be lifted. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled that orders such as quarantines and business closures violate the Missouri Constitution’s separation of powers clause affecting the executive, legislative and judicial […]
Walgreens to build new $30 million fulfillment center in Liberty, creating 200 new jobs
Walgreens retail and wholesale pharmacy announced it will open a new $30 million, high-tech fulfillment center in the Kansas City metro area. The new operation, located in a 65,000-square-foot space in Liberty, is expected to create 200 new jobs. “When you combine our state’s top talent in health care with our strategic location in the […]
Nearly half of abortions in Kansas are for Missourians. A vote next year could change that
(Missouri Independent) – Patients who arrive at an abortion clinic in Overland Park, Kansas, have often traveled long distances. Many began their journeys in Missouri, sometimes driving hours to their appointment. “We’ve heard these stories from Missourians and other people in our region for years,” said Emily Wales, interim president of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. “They […]
2021 Schedule for Holiday Hoops at Ketcham Community Center in Trenton set for tip-off on December 18
The schedule is set and the countdown is on for the 17th annual North Central Missouri College Foundation sponsored High School Holiday Hoops. The 2021 edition of Holiday Hoops will tip-off at the Ketcham Community Center in Trenton with a total of 79 teams representing 41 Missouri high schools. Games will begin on Saturday, December […]
Smithfield Foods settlement with feds can’t be used in COVID lawsuits
(Missouri Independent) – Smithfield Foods agreed this week to pay the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration $13,494 to settle a citation for failing to protect its meatpacking employees in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from exposure to the coronavirus last year, but the company didn’t admit it did anything wrong. As such, the settlement can’t […]
Graves announces RAISE grant to replace Grand River Railroad Bridge near Brunswick
Congressman Sam Graves, (MO-06), Ranking Member for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced that the Grand River Bridge Resiliency Project has received a RAISE Transportation Discretionary Grant. The RAISE Grant program was previously called the BUILD Grant program before being renamed earlier this year. This funding was approved by Congress last year and signed […]
Billions headed to Missouri transportation fund from gas tax hike, infrastructure bill
(Missouri Independent) – With $6.5 billion on the way from the federal infrastructure bill and a newly increased gas tax, Missouri is ready to take a big bite out of $4.5 billion in unfunded highway needs, Patrick McKenna, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, said this week. But that doesn’t mean the state is ready to tackle […]
Climate funds in infrastructure bill aimed at drought, wildfires, floods
(Missouri Independent) – The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure bill isn’t just about roads and bridges — it also spends billions to address wildfire, drought, flooding, and other effects from climate change, Interior Department officials said Wednesday. The $1.2 trillion measure, which is awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature after the House cleared it last week, includes pay […]
New funds and strategy may boost “massive task” of reducing lead exposure for Missouri kids
(Missouri Independent) – It’s clear that lead exposure is a problem for Missouri’s children. An estimated 4.5% have elevated levels of lead in their blood, more than almost any other state in the country. What’s far more difficult is figuring out where children are getting exposed to lead, said Carlton Waterhouse, President Joe Biden’s pick for […]
Database shows Missouri residents what contaminants are in their drinking water
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri and Kansas residents may be drinking unsafe amounts of arsenic, nitrates, and other chemicals — even if their provider is meeting federal drinking water requirements, according to data published Wednesday by an environmental group. The Environmental Working Group released its most up-to-date tap water database, compiling testing information for water utilities across the […]
After cold snap upended markets, natural gas could be pricey this winter
(Missouri Independent) – After a historic cold snap depleted natural gas reserves in February, prices for heating could be as much as 30% higher this winter, prompting concerns about increasing bills for Kansas and Missouri customers. Kansas is already grappling with the $1 billion fallout from this winter’s cold snap when natural gas prices rose by […]
National prescription drug Take Back Day brings in nearly 745,000 pounds of unneeded medications
The Drug Enforcement Administration, along with its law enforcement partners, has removed close to 745,000 pounds of unneeded prescriptions from medicine cabinets across the country as part of DEA’s ongoing commitment to turn the tide against the U.S. opioid epidemic. Following last month’s 21st National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, the program has removed more than […]