Map of The Border Wall in Arizona & New Mexico July 2021

Group says border wall map reveals damage to landscape and migration routes

A newly-released map identifies portions of the U.S.-Mexico border wall built by the Trump administration, and for conservation groups and wildlife advocates, it is alarming. The Biden administration halted construction and said it will use federal funds to assess the damage caused by the new, higher walls. Myles Traphagen, borderlands program coordinator for the Wildlands Network who created […]

Audio: Starting in August, Missouri’s colleges and universities will no longer have a limit on annual tuition hikes

A new law beginning in August will allow Missouri’s colleges and universities to charge more intuition. Excelsior Springs State Representative Doug Richey sponsored the language that removes a limit on annual tuition increases. He tells Missourinet he does not expect schools to charge unreasonable tuition rates.     Richey says the change will also allow […]

Trenton Missouri Police Department (TPD)

Police report the arrest of Trenton man for spray painting incidents; warrants issued for two others

Trenton Police have investigated spray painting incidents that include the arrest, so far, of one person. 21-year-old Aaron Zachary Wolf-Moffitt of Trenton faces two felony counts of property damage in the first degree. Wolf-Moffitt acted in concert with two others to spray paint the Russ Derry baseball facility belonging to North Central Missouri College and […]

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 […]

Grants Graphic

Secretary of State announces grants awarded to local governments for records management, electronic records and preservation projects

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Local Records Division is pleased to announce 23 grants totaling $283,584.  These awards include 17 Local Records Grant Program awards totaling $144,809 and 6 Electronic Records Grant Initiative grants worth $139,775.   “My office is pleased to help local communities in our state with records preservation,” Secretary Ashcroft said.  “It’s a […]

Sam Graves Sam Graves official photo

Lawmakers successfully push White House to drop proposal that would hurt small cities and rural communities

Lawmakers are celebrating the decision to drop a proposal before the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to redefine a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The proposal would have raised the threshold for an MSA from 50,000 residents to 100,000, which would have eliminated 144 areas from the designation, including St. Joseph. The move to drop […]

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 […]

Linn County Prosecuting Attorney Shiante McMahon speaks during an April 23 mock trial of the Big Bad Wolf put on for students in local schools. (Photo courtesy Linn County Prosecuting Attorney's Office via Facebook)

Linn County roiled by prosecutor’s charge of racism, sexism in Marceline Police Department

(Missouri Independent) – When Linn County Prosecuting Attorney Shiante McMahon saw a photo of one of her campaign shirts defaced with obscene, racist, and sexist writing — and learned it had been on display in the headquarters of the Marceline Police Department — she decided a complaint with the city wouldn’t do any good. So she posted the photo […]

Parson signing new legislation

Governor Parson signs SB 262 into law, increasing transportation funding for critical infrastructure projects

Governor Mike Parson has signed SB 262 into law, which will increase transportation funding for critical state and local infrastructure projects across the state of Missouri.  “With nearly $1 billion in unfunded transportation needs each year, we can no longer wait for another day or another generation. We must change course and address these problems head-on,” Governor Parson said. “SB […]

Spickard, Missouri

Spickard Board of Aldermen address damage to sewer system

Spickard’s Board of Aldermen were told Monday evening that products not meant to be flushed were being flushed down toilets causing damage and additional expenses for the pumping stations. Problems are being experienced at the south lift pump station and it is being recommended that the pumps be replaced along with the electrical panel. Aldermen […]