One of the top GOP lawmakers in the Missouri House is disappointed that voters rejected a ten-cent gasoline tax increase this month. Odessa State Representative Glen Kolkmeyer, who serves as the House Majority Caucus Chair, tells Missourinet talks are happening “behind the scenes”: Kolkmeyer says he’s “very disappointed” that voters rejected a ten-cent […]
Tag: Majority
Audio: Does Missouri have a developing budget problem?
The state Revenue Department has been reworking tax tables after announcing in September that it was under collecting individual income taxes. But fixing the problem midyear means taxpayers could owe more money at the end of the year. Budget Director Haug admitted as much by predicting the state’s budget picture would improve when the majority […]
Trenton Building and Nuisance Board takes action on seven properties
Trenton’s Building and Nuisance Board Monday evening took action on seven properties of concern, granting extensions of time for two locations. Jeremy Hamilton told the board of work that’s been done and his plans for more to do regarding 3726 East 28th Street. While the location had advanced to the status called “findings of fact,” […]
Audio: Missouri becoming more isolated with state’s refusal to expand Medicaid
There’s strong opposition among Missouri Republican lawmakers to expanding Medicaid, even after voters in three red states passed ballot measures to do so in the recent election. Newly elected House Majority Speaker Pro-Tem John Wiemann of O’Fallon told Missourinet earlier this year that more states would be retreating from Medicaid expansion. Missouri Republican […]
Poverty groups in Missouri call for protection of SNAP benefits for Missouri veterans
Poverty fighting groups in Missouri are asking federal leaders to protect those who protect our country. Congress is working on the Farm Bill, which includes funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Jeanette Oxford, executive director of the advocacy group Empower Missouri, explains more than 37,000 veterans in the state rely on the […]
Senator Dan Hegeman to serve as Senate Majority Caucus Chairman
The members of the Missouri Senate’s Majority Caucus Thursday reelected Republican State Senator Dan Hegeman of Cosby to serve as the Senate Majority Caucus Chairman for the 100th General Assembly. Hegeman says it is an honor to be re-elected to continue to serve as chairman and looks forward to working with members of the caucus […]
Audio: Missouri’s ongoing rural-urban voting divide on display in U.S. Senate race
The ongoing urban-rural divide in voting amongst Missouri Democrats and Republicans was reflected in Tuesday’s U.S. Senate race. The high number of ballots cast for Republican challenger Josh Hawley in less populated counties gave him a majority 51% of the votes in Tuesday’s election. The first-term state attorney general won all but four […]
Local election results for November 6, 2018
It was a 61.24% voter turnout for Grundy County in the November 6, 2018 election. Five people last night were elected to Grundy County offices, without opposition. Phillip Ray wins as presiding commissioner. Incumbents winning another term were Associate Judge Steve Hudson, Circuit Clerk and Ex officio recorder Becky Stanturf, County Clerk Betty Spickard, and Prosecuting Attorney […]
Audio: Missouri Supreme Court to hear arguments next week in Kehoe appointment case
The Missouri Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for next week in the case involving whether Governor Mike Parson has the authority to appoint a lieutenant governor. Mike Parson took the oath of office as governor on June 1 and appointed Senate Majority Leader Mike Kehoe as lieutenant governor on June 18. The […]
Missouri Department of Conservation seeks information on elk calf poached weeks after birth
The Missouri Department of Conservation seeks information in the case of an elk calf that was shot. Conservation agents report the calf was born in the Log Yard area of Shannon County July 13 and was fitted with a VFH radio collar July 14 with the identification number 1829. The calf still had its spots […]
Audio: Missouri Supreme Court observer thinks Kavanaugh’s testimony disqualifying
Some Missouri experts who follow the Supreme Court are worried about the confirmation process of current nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Law Professor Greg Magarian of Washington University in St. Louis says Kavanaugh’s presentation last week before the Senate Judiciary Committee did not represent behavior appropriate for a Supreme Court judge. Magarian questions why Senate […]
Livingston County Sheriff reports on moving violation enforcement operation
Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox reports that a recent hazardous moving violations enforcement focused on U. S. Highway 36, U. S. 65, and Highway 190 resulted in 10 vehicle stops. Two deputies made one arrest for driving while suspended or revoked and two for drug law violations. They also involved two speeding citations and six […]
Audio: Lawsuit from liberal group challenging Missouri’s voter ID law being heard in Jefferson City
A lawsuit challenging Missouri’s voter ID law is being heard in a Jefferson City court. Uzoma N. Nkwonta of the Washington law firm Perkins Coie is representing the Democratic-aligned group Priorities USA before the court. He said a constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2016 did not permit the state legislature to pass a restrictive […]
Forage Systems Research Center Field Day tackles drought issues
Drought was the main topic of interest during the annual Forage Systems Research Center field day, which took place on Tuesday, Sept. 11. The event featured eight speakers, the majority of whom were focused on showcasing ways farmers and producers could deal with the drought-like conditions across a good portion of Missouri. Not only did […]
Would Kavanaugh’s SCOTUS nomination endanger Missouri waterways?
Could Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court mean more polluted waterways in Missouri? The state chapter of the Sierra Club believes so, pointing to a ruling Kavanaugh says is one of his “most significant.” In 2014, Kavanaugh argued the EPA should have considered monetary costs when it implemented regulations on mercury and […]
Trenton Building and Nuisance Board takes action on 12 properties
Six members were present Monday night when Trenton’s Building and Nuisance Board took action on a dozen properties of concern. Six locations were given 60-day extensions to allow more time to work on improvements to properties. The process moved forward on seven addresses with the board voting to advance each to the category “certificate of a dangerous building”. […]
Audio: Missouri Auditor’s report says taxpayers on the hook for city projects they didn’t OK
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released a report on Community Improvement Districts (CIDs), which found that lax oversight of taxpayer-funded projects has allowed for spending decisions to be made by those that benefit the most. Taxpayers will be burdened with increased taxes to pay for an estimated $2.2 billion in costs for more than […]
August Primary election results Tuesday, August 7, 2018 for Northern Missouri
Grundy County will have a new Commissioner following balloting in the primary election Tuesday and the upcoming general election in November. Phillip Ray defeated Incumbent Rick Hull and challenger Mark Moore for Presiding Commissioner of Grundy County. The vote count shows Ray with 931 votes, Hull had 603, and Moore 348. Ray wins the majority of the […]
Hospital workforce challenges persist in Missouri
A new report from the Missouri Hospital Association finds increased turnover rates among the majority of hospital-based healthcare positions. Vacancy rates decreased for several employee categories, including registered nurses, between 2016 and 2017. However, combined turnover among all professions surveyed increased statewide from 16 percent in 2016 to 17.7 percent in 2017. “Every Missourian has […]
The Pros and Cons of Right-To-Work and how they might affect you
The term “right to work’ relates to or promotes the right of a worker to be able to obtain employment without being required to join a labor union to do so. When right to work laws are in place, workers cannot be compelled to pay for any cost of union representation, even if the union […]