(Missouri Independent) – As the Senate works to finalize a major annual defense measure, there is a bipartisan push to include a requirement that all young Americans — including women — for the first time register for the military draft. The $777.9 billion measure, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022, also would allocate millions to […]
Tag: maintain
Governor Parson recommends wage increase for all state employees
Governor Mike Parson announced that he will recommend a 5.5 percent Cost of Living Adjustment and $15.00 per hour minimum base pay standard for all state employees across state government. “With many positions across state government facing turnover rates anywhere from 10-100 percent and vacancy rates from 30-100 percent, it is past time for us […]
Two defendants indicted in Missouri during nationwide ‘Money Mule Initiative’
Defendants involved in a romance fraud scheme that victimized a Taney County, Missouri, woman and an email hacking scheme that targeted a program at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., were indicted in federal court in the Western District of Missouri as part of the Department of Justice’s fourth annual Money Mule Initiative. The Money Mule Initiative […]
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 […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol arrests woman from Iowa in Sullivan County
An Iowa woman was arrested Wednesday night during a traffic stop in Sullivan County. Twenty-eight-year-old Sarita Gettings of Ottumwa, Iowa has been accused of driving while intoxicated as well as failure to maintain to the right half of the road, no driver’s license, no insurance, and no seat belt. Gettings was transported to the Sullivan […]
USDA announces December 2021 lending rates for agricultural producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced loan interest rates for December 2021, which are effective Dec. 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment, and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs. Operating, Ownership, and Emergency Loans FSA offers farm […]
Missouri State Auditor hands Harrison County a rating of “Good”
State Auditor Nicole Galloway released today her regularly scheduled audit of Harrison County, located in northwest Missouri. The report, which rated county operations as “good,” is the first audit of the county since a November 2015 audit, which resulted in a rating of “fair.” The audit found that the procedures for complying with the Sunshine Law […]
Federal vaccine mandate for health care workers in 10 states blocked by judge
(Missouri Independent) – Enforcement of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for millions of health care workers was blocked in 10 states on Monday, after a ruling by a federal judge in Missouri. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp affects the states involved in the lawsuit, including Missouri. The others are Iowa, Kansas, New […]
Missouri State Auditor gives Wayne County “fair” rating, identifies several concerns in county government
An audit of Wayne County released by State Auditor Nicole Galloway has identified several concerns with county government operations and has given a rating of “fair.” Wayne County is located in southeast Missouri. “Government officials are responsible for safeguarding taxpayer dollars. In Wayne County, our audit found several instances where safeguards were not in place, […]
Missouri State Auditor releases audit of Sullivan County with “Fair” rating; audit identifies several areas needing improvement
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit of Sullivan County, located in northern Missouri. The report gave a rating of “fair” and highlighted several controls and procedures in county offices that need improvement. The rating is an improvement from the previous audit, which gave the lowest possible rating of “poor.” “While this audit showed […]
Kansas City area advisor & firm consent to $40,000 payment to settle allegations of securities violations
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Securities Division issued a consent order against investment advisor representative, Douglas W. Coe, and his firm, Moody Reid Financial Advisors, L.P. for violations of the Missouri Securities Act stemming from the respondents’ failure to comply with reporting requirements to the Missouri Securities Division. During a routine examination of Moody Reid […]
Missouri gives nursing homes a way to temporarily close in face of federal vaccine rule
(Missouri Independent) – With over 40% of Missouri’s nursing home staff still unvaccinated, the state health department is giving long-term care facilities a route to avoid losing their license if they shut down due to staffing shortfalls after a federal vaccine requirement kicks in next month. On Friday, the Department of Health and Senior Services […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 6 additional arrests over the weekend
Highway Patrol troopers made additional arrests this weekend in several area counties. Early Sunday morning, 47-year-old Cheryl Branch of Milan was arrested in Sullivan county for allegedly driving while intoxicated. 62-year-old Kerry Cochenour of Milan was arrested early Saturday morning for alleged felony driving while intoxicated as well as failure to maintain a vehicle to […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the arrest of three over the weekend
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the arrest of three over the weekend. Sixty-two-year-old Kerry Cochenour was arrested early Saturday in Sullivan County and accused of felony driving while intoxicated, and failure to maintain the right half of the road. Cochenour was held by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department. An Independence resident, 59-year old Phillip […]
Critics say Spire Missouri’s warning of natural gas outages a “manufactured crisis”
(Missouri Independent) – As federal energy regulators prepare to decide the fate of a St. Louis natural gas pipeline, Spire Missouri is warning customers their gas service could fail this winter. Business industry groups and the utility maintain their responsibility to keep customers informed. But environmental groups and some local elected officials — who note federal regulators seem […]
Audio: Evidence hearing grew tense during testimony in Kevin Strickland case
An evidence hearing grew tense about a man convicted of killing three people in Missouri in 1978. Day three of Kevin Strickland’s hearing continues in western Missouri’s Jackson County. Strickland has maintained his innocence and has said he was not at the crime scene. Jackson County prosecutors say a woman shot during the murders later […]
Winter Weather Preparedness Week is November 15 – 19
In addition to frigid temperatures and snow and ice, winter brings dangerous driving conditions and the potential for damaging and deadly storms. That’s why the National Weather Service, the State Emergency Management Agency, and Missouri’s local emergency managers are teaming up to promote Nov. 15-19, 2021, as Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Missouri. “Most Missourians have […]
Audio: Convicted Missouri triple murderer takes the stand in hearing that could lead to exoneration
After more than 40 years in prison, a man convicted of a 1978 triple murder in Missouri headed to court for a hearing in which he maintained his innocence. Kevin Strickland took the stand for his first-ever hearing since being convicted. Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, who says the man is innocent, questioned Strickland […]
Hale man charged with multiple offenses after arrest on Friday
A Hale man arrested by the Highway Patrol in Grundy County on November 5 faces multiple charges. The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports 40-year old Robert Joe Singer has been charged with felony driving while intoxicated as a chronic offender as well as the misdemeanors of possession of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid of 10 grams or […]
Man from Hale arrested on multiple allegations
The Highway Patrol reports the arrest of a Hale man in Grundy County the evening of November 5th on multiple allegations. Forty-year-old Robert Singer was accused of driving while intoxicated and being a chronic offender, possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also accused of operating […]