Intelligance Community News Graphic

Coalition of lawmakers introduce Intelligence Community Workforce Agility Protection Act

Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, helped introduce the Intelligence Community Workforce Agility Protection Act of 2021. Currently, active-duty members of the military can deduct certain moving expenses from their federal taxes, but that benefit does not extend to intelligence community professionals. The bipartisan bill would expand the […]

Chicken CAFO (Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash)

While Cedar County, Missouri awaits ruling in CAFO lawsuit, a large chicken operation moves in

(Missouri Independent) – When the attorney general’s office asked a judge in 2019 to lift a temporary restraining order blocking a Missouri law pre-empting county regulations on concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, that were stricter than the state’s, the argument was straightforward. No one was trying to build a large animal feeding operation in Cedar […]

Video: Rhonda Vincent to perform in Trenton

One of the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville who was inducted this spring, Rhonda Vincent, will perform in early October in Trenton. The organizer of the concert, Ron Dougan, reports it will be a fundraiser for the Northwest Missouri Chapter of the Dream Factory. The mission of the non-profit organization is […]

Coronavirus Update

Linn and Caldwell counties report another COVID-related death; new cases of COVID-19 in Livingston County

An additional COVID-19-related death has been reported for Linn County since July 6th. The health department noted the afternoon of July 13th there had been 42 deaths. Eight cases had been added since July 9th, bringing the total to 1,705. Twenty-two cases were active. There were four COVID-19-related hospitalizations. Linn County had a 33.2% fully […]

The Missouri Supreme Court hears arguments Tuesday over Medicaid expansion. (Screenshot from pool video provided by KMIZ-TV)

Fate of Missouri Medicaid expansion in the hands of the state Supreme Court

(Missouri Independent) – After an eight-year fight over Medicaid expansion, the arguments are over.  The question of whether 275,000 people will receive state-paid health care coverage is in the hands of the Missouri Supreme Court. Oral arguments took place Tuesday in an expedited appeal. The seven judges must decide whether Medicaid eligibility will expand, as directed by the […]

Fiber Optic Internet Access

University of Missouri Broadband Initiative outlines community-driven process for local expansion

Adoption of broadband has the potential to boost a community’s economic growth and quality of life. But in much of Missouri, especially rural areas, the high-bandwidth wirelines to connect households and businesses don’t exist. Helping more Missouri communities become digitally connected was the topic of a recent webinar by the University of Missouri System Broadband […]

Jobs Report

Jobs report for May 2021 shows slight increase in Missouri unemployment numbers

Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from April 2021 to May 2021, but the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by a tenth of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 6,000 jobs over the month, with job gains in both goods-producing and service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in May […]

Coronavirus News Graphic

Sullivan County reports another COVID-related death; Putnam County to hold vaccine clinic

The Sullivan County Health Department reports another COVID-19-related death, bringing the total to 17. One additional case was also confirmed, making that total 893. Seven cases are active.  Twenty-nine point one percent of Sullivan County residents have completed COVID-19 vaccination. Five COVID-19 cases have been added in Linn County since June 29th. The health department […]