U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) helped introduce the Major Richard Star Act, bipartisan legislation to provide combat-injured veterans with less than 20 years of military service their full benefits. “It’s long overdue that these heroes – who could no longer continue serving due to injuries they sustained in combat – get the benefits they earned,” said […]
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced he will introduce new legislation to give blue-collar workers a pay raise. For nearly four decades, workers making below the median wage have experienced stagnant wages, and this past year, the problem has been made worse by unprecedented layoffs, reduced hours, and income disruptions due to the government shutting down […]
After about twelve hours of debate, the Missouri Senate refrained from voting overnight on a contentious K-12 public education package. There was some confusion towards the end that appeared to ultimately lead to the plan getting shelved – at least for now. Several changes were made over the course of the day and night. As […]
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a major broiler chicken producer based in Greeley, Colorado, has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to pay approximately $107 million in criminal fines for its participation in a conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products, the Department of Justice announced today. According to the plea agreement entered […]
The Missouri Senate spent about two hours today debating a controversial K-12 public education package today. The plan would expand charter schools statewide and let parents use tax credits to pay for things like private school tuition, tutoring, and school supplies. The comprehensive bill would also set up a process to allow school board members […]
A fire at the Circle H Car Wash on Harris Avenue in Trenton on February 18th caused major fire and smoke damage to the control room. Firefighter Derek Hert reports heavy smoke was coming from the car wash control room upon the fire department’s arrival to the structure, owned by Gary Moulen. A one and […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has led a coalition of 18 states in urging President Biden, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Johnson, to reverse the Biden Administration’s last-minute cancellation of Operation Talon. Operation Talon is a nationwide ICE operation that focuses on removing illegally present convicted sex […]
The women’s prison in northeast Missouri’s Vandalia could have about half of its housing units permanently closed. Trevor Foley, with the state Department of Corrections, says Governor Mike Parson’s new state budget proposal would make the change. Gov. Parson’s proposed $34.1 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning in July includes about $802 million for […]
The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman identified as a missing person from the Gladstone area was found deceased in northwestern Caldwell County on Tuesday afternoon, February 16th, by the Highway Patrol and deputies from the sheriff’s department. Major Tony Kirkendoll with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office reports a farmer found 84-year-old Dorothy Parker’s […]
(Missouri Independent) – The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office in a report Monday found a gradual increase to a $15 federal minimum wage by 2025 would reduce poverty, add $54 billion to the deficit over a decade and increase pay for millions of low-income workers. The report could help Democrats make a strong case for including a […]
Getting the state’s Veterans HOmes to ZERO Covid cases was not easy – says Veterans Commission Director Paul Kirchoff. He says the staff is working hard to keep it that way. The homes lost 162 patients in a COVID outbreak in the fall. An independent investigation ordered by the governor revealed the need […]
The Missouri Veterans Homes have fought their way out of a COVID outbreak – with patient cases down to ZERO. The Veterans Commission now must find additional ways to fund the homes – as they struggle with the number of patients down due to COVID restrictions, and other sources drying up. Terressa Sherlock the commission’s […]
You could be voting in 2022 on a proposed constitutional amendment in Missouri, requiring health insurers to cover preexisting conditions. House Joint Resolution 50 is a two-page proposal. It’s sponsored by State Rep. Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, the powerful House Majority Floor Leader. He says the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn the Affordable Care Act this year. […]
You could be voting in 2022 on a proposed constitutional amendment in Missouri, requiring health insurers to cover preexisting conditions. The proposal is sponsored by GOP House Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher of Des Peres, who thinks the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn the Affordable Care Act this year, Plocher describes his proposal […]
The second impeachment trial of now-former president Donald Trump begins today in Washington.— in the U-S Senate. The Democratic majority in the House argues that Trump incited the violence and the attack on the US Capitol on January 6. The former president’s lawyers argue that the trial itself is unconstitutional. Political Science associate professor Kevin […]
Missouri’s transportation director says more than 600 of his employees currently have the coronavirus. State Department of Transportation (MoDOT) director Patrick McKenna testified before the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight on Monday in Jefferson City, delivering MoDOT’s annual report. “As of this moment (Monday afternoon), we’re at about 645 cases of COVID within MoDOT, MoDOT alone,” McKenna […]
Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the following promotion effective March 1, 2021. Captain Scott A. Shipers, commanding officer of Troop A, Lee’s Summit, is being promoted to the rank of major. Major Shipers will transfer to General Headquarters, Jefferson City, where he will serve as the bureau commander […]
The differences between Missouri’s general and optional fence laws will be discussed at a program to be held in person and online via Zoom on February 23rd and March 8th. Sessions will be held at the Harrison County Extension Center of Bethany, Adair County Extension Center of Kirksville, and North Central Missouri College Barton Farm […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his Office and a coalition of attorneys general from 47 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories have reached a $573 million settlement with one of the world’s largest consulting firms, McKinsey & Company. The settlement resolves investigations into the company’s role in working for opioid […]
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and eleven Senate colleagues pushed back on a deportation moratorium proposed by President Biden’s Department of Homeland Security, which will prevent the removal of the vast majority of illegal immigrants with final orders of removal–including dangerous criminals–from the United States. The moratorium was proposed in a January 21 memorandum issued […]
