A federal appeals court has upheld today the temporary blocking of Missouri’s eight-week abortion ban. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis issued the ruling about the regulations passed by the Missouri Legislature in 2019 for abortions around eight weeks of pregnancy. Under House Bill 126, sponsored by O’Fallon Republican […]
A Missouri man who called 911 to aid his mother was charged in federal court after police officers responded to their residence and found evidence of drug trafficking and illegal firearms. Michael Cummings II, 39, of Kansas City, was charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and with possessing firearms in furtherance of […]
An audit by State Auditor Nicole Galloway gives several recommendations to the Greene County Sheriff to improve the office’s accounting controls and procedures. In his responses, the Sheriff committed to implementing the recommendations of the audit, which gave a rating of “good.” “Audits help point out ways government officials can better serve their constituents, and […]
(Sioux City Journal) – A ransomware attack on the world’s largest meat processing company is disrupting production around the world just weeks after a similar incident shut down a U.S. oil pipeline. JBS SA of Brazil notified the U.S. of a ransom demand from a criminal organization likely based in Russia, White House principal deputy […]
In 2008, Congress passed and then-President George W. Bush signed into law a bill requiring health insurance companies to cover mental health the same as any other health problems. Thirteen years after the measure became law, Missouri is the only state not yet enforcing that law. Two bills pass this year would ban insurance companies […]
Linn County Health Department has received notification from the state of Missouri that the Indian variant of COVID-19 is circulating in Linn County. Both variants are highly contagious. B.1.617.2-Indian is labeled a variant of interest by the CDC, seems to take a smaller viral load to infect and may be up to 50 percent more […]
Livingston County Health Center has announced lab confirmation from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services of both U.K. and Indian variants of COVID-19 circulating in Livingston County. B.1.1.7-UK is labeled a variant of concern by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has shown to be 50 percent more contagious than […]
(Missouri Independent) – In the last week of April, the Linn County Health Department signaled that the COVID-19 pandemic had cooled enough that it could discontinue weekly reports on new cases. With only three active cases on April 21, the urgency for frequent updates seemed to have passed. But the coronavirus came roaring back this […]
Several weekly events will be held at Crowder State Park west of Trenton this summer. Explorer hikes, nature games, and evening programs will start May 29th and go through Labor Day weekend. Park staff will guide an explorer hike each Saturday at 10 a.m. The hikes will begin at the campground amphitheater and travel a […]
(Missouri Independent) – From statehouses to Congress, Republicans have launched into a fight against the teaching of “critical race theory,” which just a year ago was a niche academic term. Experts in critical race theory say it’s about acknowledging how racial disparities are embedded in U.S history and society, and the concept is being mischaracterized […]
The Livingston County Health Center on Thursday, May 20th reported another COVID-19-related death, bringing the total to 57. The number of active cases, 99, was also the highest it has been since the beginning of the pandemic. Seventeen cases were added since May 19th for a total of 1,578. The health center noted Livingston County […]
A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of three people who would become eligible for government-funded healthcare on July 1. It seeks an order for the state Department of Social Services to allow them to enroll and receive the same coverage as Missourians currently enrolled in the program. The lawsuit argues there is no legal […]
The next state budget does not include funding to expand Medicaid healthcare coverage to another 275-thousand low-income Missouri adults. The Republican-controlled Missouri Legislature refused to fund the expansion – setting up an expected court battle. John Rizzo, the top Democrat in the Missouri Senate, says the GOP is more concerned about their next office. […]
(Missouri Independent) – Republicans in the Missouri Senate should move to shut off debate if a filibuster blocks anti-abortion lawmakers from putting their stamp on provider taxes that fund Medicaid, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said in an interview with The Independent this week. The advice was not, however, well received by the Senate’s Republican or […]
The Livingston County Health Center reports another death of a resident due to COVID-19, bringing the total to 56. Twenty-two cases were also added since May 18th’s update, which makes that total 1,561. Eighty-four of the cases are active. The Livingston County Health Center asks residents to practice preventive measures and avoid gatherings while the […]
(Missouri Independent) – On Monday morning, Jeremy Cady, state director of Americans for Prosperity, filed paperwork with Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office to begin the process of putting the 12.5-cents a gallon tax increase on a statewide ballot. To succeed in forcing a referendum on the bill, the campaign would have to gather about 110,000 […]
Temperatures during May of this year are averaging several degrees below normal in this area. High temperatures in Trenton have been nearly six degrees cooler than average, while low temperatures have been more than two degrees below normal. High temperatures have averaged 67 degrees and lows nearly 49 degrees. Rainfall is below normal in May […]
Another session of the Missouri Legislature has come and gone. Of the 1,559 House bills and 689 Senate bills filed this time around, 69 bills will make it to Gov. Mike Parson’s desk. Here are some key bills left up to the governor to sign or veto: Missouri lawmakers vote to pump up […]
The Missouri Senate has passed a contentious gun rights bill. The “Second Amendment Preservation Act” attempts to invalidate federal gun regulations. Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo of Independence spoke in favor of an amendment that would have closed a loophole letting convicted domestic violence abusers own a gun. The amendment to the overall bill failed. […]
(Missouri Independent) – As the state of Missouri battles its second year of the novel coronavirus’ spread, lawmakers on Wednesday sent to the governor’s desk a bill that aims to rein in local public health orders and ban vaccine passports. The provisions were included in House Bill 271, which deals with local government transparency. It grew […]
