Starting in the 2020 tax season, more rural Missourians in need will be able to learn about their eligibility for the federal earned income tax credit (EITC), one of the nation’s largest anti-poverty tools targeting low- and moderate-income working families. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health has awarded $1.35 […]
Missouri’s junior senator is praising the newest U.S. Supreme Court Justice, who was sworn-in Monday after being confirmed by the Senate on a 52-48 vote. GOP Senator Josh Hawley, who serves on the Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, was impressed with Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s testimony at hearings. Senator Hawley describes Barrett as […]
State officials began shipping thousands of antigen test kits to public and private schools across the state today. Nearly 330 districts/schools applied to participate in Missouri’s BinaxNOW Antigen Testing Program for K-12 Institutions, requesting a total of nearly 583,000 test kits for use among symptomatic students and school personnel. These minimally invasive nasal swab tests […]
(Missouri Independent) – Two minutes into our interview, I counted five yawns as the young teacher from southwest Missouri caught herself, and apologetically assured me that my questions weren’t dull. “I just feel like I am working all the time,” she added. “I don’t know how I am going to keep doing this for the […]
FFA members and supporters from across the country will log on to their smart devices next week to celebrate agricultural education and agriculture during the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo. The event, which is traditionally the largest student convention in the country, will be held virtually this year, allowing even more people to participate […]
Governor Mike Parson has called another special session – this time to focus on getting extra federal coronavirus funding made available to the state. The federal aid includes funding for school meals, grants for homelessness prevention and job training, child support payments, among others. “COVID-19 has had an overwhelming impact on our state, and while […]
Scott Hoad was at a low point this spring, trying to piece together a decent living after being laid off from a job painting commercial aircraft. Then Hoad crossed paths with Amy Patillo, a University of Missouri Extension labor and workforce development specialist based in Springfield. Hoad’s brother owns the ranch where Patillo boards her […]
The Missouri Board of Education discussed Tuesday the obstacles and additional workload that teachers and other school workers are dealing with this year. Member Don Claycomb said he expects a much greater number of teachers to leave the profession due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Apparently some feel pushed to the wall,” he said. Missouri already […]
For the second year in a row, Missouri ranks second in the nation for completed apprenticeships. Missouri saw 3,388 Registered Apprenticeships completed in FY 2020, more than any other state except California. Missouri currently has more than 13,560 active apprenticeships, participating in 489 registered programs. Through Registered Apprenticeships, workers obtain on-the-job training through a paid […]
Former Trenton High School student Aiden Mcatee received his Eagle Scout award during a service Sunday morning at the First Christian Church in Trenton. The Maryville High School senior is a member of Boy Scout Troop 97 earning 24 merit badges and the World Conservation Award. For his Eagle Scout project, Mcatee revitalized the landscaping […]
During historically divisive times, one Missouri city could be moving toward a nonpartisan way of electing its leaders. St. Louis voters will decide on Proposition D on the November 3 ballot. It would create a nonpartisan primary system, and implement what’s known as “approval voting” in municipal elections. Mallory Rusch, campaign manager for STL Approves, the group […]
The Trump Administration, along with the Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Missouri Jeff Case, today announced that the USDA is investing $254,621 in Rural Community Development Initiative grant funds to bolster rural housing, community programs, and economic development. “The USDA Rural Development RCDI program capitalizes on public/private partnerships to provide training and […]
A statement released Thursday night by the Missouri Veterans Commission confirms there have been three deaths among residents of the Cameron Veterans Home during the last few days. A spokesman for the Veterans Commission, Jamie Melchert, provided a written statement. It noted that the Cameron Veterans Home has 21 active cases among the residents there. […]
Five indictments in three different states were unsealed indicting a total of twenty-four defendants, including alleged Aryan Circle (AC) gang members and associates, on charges of racketeering conspiracy, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, drug conspiracy, and unlawful firearms trafficking. The indictments were announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice […]
Combating violent crime has been a priority for Governor Mike Parson and his administration. Over the past year alone, he and his administration have taken several steps to address the issue, invest state resources, and protect the safety of Missourians. “As Governor and a former law enforcement officer for more than 22 years, protecting the […]
About 96% of people incarcerated in Missouri eventually return home to our communities. More than 15,000 Missourians are released from state prisons each year. To help boost their chances of success, the Missouri Department of Corrections partners with fellow state agencies and community nonprofit organizations to build a network of support in areas such as […]
The Trump Administration, along with the Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Directors for Missouri Jeff Case, for Iowa Grant Menke, and for Nebraska Karl Elmshaeuser, today announced the USDA is investing $41,967,000 to build and improve critical electric infrastructure. The funding, made possible through the Electric Loan Program, will benefit more than 77,000 rural […]
The Missouri Association of School Nurses says school nurses are playing an even more critical role during the COVID-19 crisis. The state had about 1600 school nurses among Missouri’s more than 500 K-12 public school districts. Linda Neumann (pronounced newman), executive director of the association, says school nurses have been going above and beyond the […]
Missouri’s two major gubernatorial candidates clashed during a Friday afternoon debate in Columbia on numerous issues, including Clean Missouri, COVID, Medicaid expansion, and valet parking at the Capitol. The debate, which took place at the Missouri Theatre in Columbia, was sponsored by the Missouri Press Association. Missouri voters approved Clean Missouri in November 2018. It had […]
The Trump Administration, along with the Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Missouri Jeff Case, announced eight rural electric cooperatives will receive a total of $5,552,000 to create jobs and increase economic opportunities throughout the state. Rural electric cooperative partnerships are critical in working with rural communities to increase economic development and providing […]
