Sex Trafficking

Missouri Attorney General launches new initiative to combat human trafficking in illicit massage businesses

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced earlier today a new, first of its kind initiative to combat instances of human trafficking by targeting illicit massage businesses across the state. The Hope Initiative targets illicit massage businesses that may be engaging in human trafficking and advertising on illicit websites while posing as a legitimate business. The initiative’s […]

Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri Website

Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri to host “Scare Away Cancer—Battle of the Branches Scarecrow Contest”

Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri is hosting a Scare Away Cancer—Battle of the Branches Scarecrow Contest to recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each Farmers Bank branch has decorated its location with pink fall décor. Each is also conducting a fundraiser to support a local cancer awareness group. Marketing Director Cindy Roy says funds […]

USDA Issues $1.68 billion in payments to producers enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which provides annual rental payment for land devoted to conservation purposes. “CRP is one of the many ‘tools’ that USDA offers to producers and private landowners to […]

Gallatin City Hall

Gallatin Board of Aldermen discuss service fee for utilities; hear request for dog breed exception

The Gallatin Board of Aldermen this week discussed setting a cost of service fee for electricity, water, and sewer for apartments and commercial buildings that are currently single-metered properties but have multiple apartments and/or businesses utilizing services. Howard Bailey II and Scott Crose shared concerns with the additional cost of service fees for businesses at […]

Jobs Report

Missouri monthly jobs report for September, 2020

The Missouri labor market’s recovery resumed in September 2020. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 13,000 jobs over the month, and over-the-year job losses from COVID-19 shutdowns dropped below 125,000. Missouri’s smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate went down by 2.1 percentage points in September 2020, decreasing to 4.9 percent from an August 2020 rate of 7.0 […]

Mallinckrodt Pharaceuticals Website

Opioid Manufacturer Mallinckrodt to pay $1.6 Billion in settlement

Attorney General Schmitt announced an update to a global settlement framework agreement between state attorneys general, local subdivisions, and the opioid manufacturer Mallinckrodt (MNK), its subsidiaries, and certain other affiliates. Under the new settlement, MNK will pay $1.6 billion into a trust as described below. MNK is currently the largest generic opioid manufacturer in the […]

Farmer Standing in a Field

A big week for pork and soybean export sales

Pork export sales hit a marketing-year high last week. The USDA says the total for the week ending October 1st of 60,200 tons were up more than 50% from the four-week average, with China buying 29,000 tons, a possible sign of significant demand improvement as Germany remains out of the export market because of an […]

McCloskeys Defending Home in St. Louis

Missouri’s governor releases $133 million in funding; says he’d pardon the McCloskeys

Missouri’s governor has announced that he is releasing about $133 million in funding that was previously withheld, saying the state’s unemployment rate has improved and state revenues outpaced expectations. Governor Mike Parson (R) made the announcement Wednesday afternoon in Jefferson City while addressing Capitol reporters. He’s releasing $95 million in CARES Act funding and $40 million […]

Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission website

Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to require annual de-escalation and implicit bias training

The Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission has voted to require annual training in de-escalation techniques and recognizing implicit bias for all Missouri law enforcement officers. Missouri officers will take a one-hour course in each area as part of their required 24-hours of annual continuing education training. “At its June meeting, I challenged the […]

Student Loans or graduation cap on money

Missouri Congressman says college athletes should make money: “They are used”

Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver is heading up a bipartisan bill that would let college athletes profit from endorsement deals. It would only restrict sponsors involving alcohol, tobacco, controlled substances, adult entertainment, and gambling. Cleaver, a Democrat from Kansas City, says the plan would ban universities from putting restrictions on athletes seeking control of their name, […]

Road Work graphic

Missouri Department of Transportation planned road work in northern Missouri for the week of October 5, 2020

The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in north Missouri for the week of October 5 – 11. All road closures and planned roadwork may be viewed on the Traveler Information Map at http://traveler.modot.org/map/. Inclement weather may cause schedule changes in some of […]

Missouri Corn Website

Missouri Corn Growers Association announce new slate of officers

The Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and Missouri Corn Growers Association have announced their new slate of officers, the appointment of recently elected board members, and national committee assignments. The election of the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council officer team took place during an August board meeting. Leaders assumed their new roles Thursday, October 1st. Those officers […]