The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $20 million in available grant funding to assist communities and schools with removing sources of lead in drinking water. This grant funding, and additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help make rapid progress on the goal of addressing lead and removing lead pipes across the country. “A […]
Tag: least
Beef processing facility near KC in violation of Missouri regulations for polluting waters
(Missouri Independent) – A beef processing facility 40 miles southeast of downtown Kansas City polluted at least a mile of nearby streams and allowed septic tanks of sewage and entrails to overflow, state regulators found this month. The facility, the former site of a beef operation that neighbors felt threatened a nearby botanical garden, was referred […]
Wright Memorial Hospital Foundation seeking donations for charity auction
The Wright Memorial Hospital Foundation will be hosting their second annual virtual charity auction, with proceeds going to support the Oncology Nurse Navigator Program, as well as the Foundation’s general fund, which supports Wright Memorial Hospital in a variety of ways. The event is scheduled to take place from May 4 through May 16, with […]
State judges across the U.S. face growing GOP pushback against rulings in election cases
Missouri Independent) – In mid-December, Texas’ highest criminal court revoked the state attorney general’s ability to use his office to prosecute election-related cases without the request of a district or county attorney. In an 8-1 opinion, the all-Republican court weakened Attorney General Ken Paxton’s power to independently go after perpetrators of voter fraud, a problem he says […]
Twenty six women from Mercer County receive scholarships
Twenty-six women from Mercer County are the latest recipients of Gene Kauffman Scholarships. Collectively, the female graduates of North Mercer and Princeton High School received $141,539 in the Kauffman scholarships for the spring semester. Of the 26 recipients, ten are enrolled at North Central Missouri College. Each student provided signed statements that they met the […]
Disability advocates say to focus on accessibility in voting reforms
Experts say Missouri ranks low among states when it comes to steps it has taken to improve accessibility in voting. Denise Lieberman, director and general counsel of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, which has a disability-rights committee, said people with disabilities face barriers at all stages of the voting process, from registering to vote to […]
Misinformation fuels false belief that Missouri COVID death figures are being inflated
(Missouri Independent) – On a recent Tuesday evening in southeastern Missouri, John Freeze stood in front of yet another angry group of constituents. Some here believe the number of COVID-19 deaths are being purposefully inflated for financial gain. Among the culprits, in their mistaken view: Hospitals seeking Medicare reimbursements; The federal government, led by Dr. Anthony […]
Missouri takes months to process Medicaid applications — longer than law allows
(Missouri Independent) – This story was originally published by Kaiser Health News. Aneka French applied for Medicaid in October, not long after Missouri became the 38th state to expand eligibility for the program. But her application sat for months in a backlog with tens of thousands of others. While she waited, French, 45, an uninsured medical […]
Grand jury indicts Missouri woman linked to fentanyl overdose investigation
On February 16, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Chuny Ann Reed, age 46, for distribution of crack cocaine (cocaine base) and fentanyl, and distribution of cocaine base and fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury to another person. These charges were a result of an investigation that began after a series of fatal overdoses that […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole for $4 million meth conspiracy and illegal firearms
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a $4 million drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed more than 520 kilograms of methamphetamine over three years. Christapher Dean Parton, also known as “Big Baby,” 32, of St. Joseph, was sentenced by United States District Judge Greg Kays to 15 years in federal prison […]
Why millions on Medicaid are at risk of losing coverage in the months ahead
(Missouri Independent) – This story was originally published by Kaiser Health News. The Biden administration and state officials are bracing for a great unwinding: Millions of people losing their Medicaid benefits when the pandemic health emergency ends. Some might sign up for different insurance. Many others are bound to get lost in the transition. State Medicaid […]
COVID vaccine for kids under 5 delayed until at least April
(Missouri Independent) – A COVID-19 vaccine for young children will be delayed by at least two months as Pfizer and BioNTech gather more information on a three-dose regimen. The disappointing news for many parents came after the Biden administration earlier had announced it was preparing to get the vaccines out to states as soon as […]
Livingston County Preservation Society announces next Chillicothe Hall of Fame inductee
The Livingston County Preservation Society has announced the next Chillicothe Hall of Fame inductee, R. Warren Roberts. Roberts was an architect and designed many buildings throughout Chillicothe and the state. Representative Rusty Black is the sponsor for this inductee. A ceremony is scheduled for February 18th in the courtroom (top floor) of the Livingston County […]
Audio: Prices for nearly every thing costs more in Missouri, but it could be worse
You’ve likely noticed just about everything is more expensive these days, but it could be worse. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Info Center, the most expensive areas to live in were Hawaii, Alaska, the Northeast, and the West Coast. The least expensive areas were the Midwest and Southern states. The U.S. […]
Missouri man charged in 26-count indictment, for multi-million dollar conspiracy, to sell stolen catalytic converters
A Missouri, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for selling millions of dollars in stolen catalytic converters to companies in Missouri, Texas, and Louisiana. James Spick, 56, of Independence, was charged in a 26-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on Tuesday, Feb. 8. The indictment […]
Missouri House refuses to accept Governor Parson’s plan for $15 base pay for state jobs
(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri House approved a $4.6 billion supplemental spending bill Wednesday that would give all state workers a pay raise. But lawmakers refused to go along with Gov. Mike Parson’s plan for a $15 an hour base wage for all state employees, instead offering that salary only to select workers. The bill would also […]
Federal charges filed against Missouri woman linked to multiple overdose deaths
On February 8, 2022, federal charges were filed against Chuny Ann Reed, age 46. Reed is accused of the distribution of crack cocaine (cocaine base) and fentanyl. These charges were a result of an investigation that began after a series of fatal overdoses that occurred at 4451 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri on February […]
Missouri feral hog elimination partnership removes more than 9,800 feral hogs
The Missouri Feral Hog Elimination Partnership (the Partnership) removed 9,857 feral hogs from the landscape in 2021, making the total number of feral hogs eliminated more than 54,000 since 2016. The Partnership is made up of 13 federal and state agencies along with numerous agriculture and conservations organizations. “I’m really proud of the progress that […]