(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 […]
(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 […]
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 […]
(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 […]
The Missouri Legislature has passed a proposal that would boost the state’s gas and diesel tax for the first time in about 25 years. The state House of Representatives voted Tuesday night 104-52 in favor of increasing the user fee by 12.5 total cents over five years. The plan would also give most drivers a […]
Missouri voting-rights advocates joined a national call to action Saturday to promote the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act. The Lewis Act would require states with a history of voter discrimination to get approval from the Justice Department before making legal changes to voting rules. Julie Steiger, co-president of the League of […]
Governor Mike Parson directed all state workers to return to their offices for in-person work no later than Monday, May 17, 2021, and that all state buildings be open and accessible to the public during normal business hours. “Since the start of COVID-19, our state team members have gone above and beyond to keep state government running and […]
Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton is the only critical access hospital in the state of Missouri to receive a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The new ratings were released by CMS on April 28. There are 35 critical access hospitals in Missouri. The rating also places Wright Memorial in the […]
Warm temperatures were welcomed in Northwest Missouri this past week, leading to fieldwork progressing rapidly. Summer annual weed emergence picked up, so now is a good time to consider the importance of a residual herbicide in a soybean weed control program. Weeds have uneven emergence, a trait we wouldn’t want in our crops, but that […]
“Learn 2 Paddle” kayaking classes will be offered at selected state parks this summer, including on two different dates at Crowder State Park west of Trenton. The kayak program is for anyone who wants to experience kayaking but is not sure where to start. It is also designed for those who want to get out […]
(Missouri Independent) – As bills expanding charter schools and creating new scholarship accounts for private school tuition make their way through the process, one piece of legislation is trying to give students more options within the public schools that already exist. House Bill 543, sponsored by Rep. Brad Pollitt, R-Sedalia, would establish the “Public School […]
The Mercer County Health Department reports it was notified on April 8th of an active COVID-19 case after several weeks of no new cases. That brings the number of confirmed cases to 168. There have been 174 probable cases and nine COVID-19-related deaths reported for Mercer County. The health department encourages the public to continue […]
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is reporting the first identification in a Missouri resident of the COVID-19 variant, B.1.351, which was first identified in South Africa in December 2020 and began being reported in the United States in late January. The B.1.351 variant was identified in a sample from an adult living […]
Testing has been a pillar of the State’s response to COVID-19 for the past year. The increasingly widespread availability of testing resources and available laboratories made it possible for the State of Missouri to host intermittent testing events in communities throughout the state to provide greater accessibility to testing options and to learn more about […]
(Missouri Independent) – Legislation creating a path to citizenship for undocumented people brought to the U.S. as children face a new border crisis and old partisan objections, diminishing the chances it will become law despite full Democratic control of Congress and the White House. On Thursday, the U.S. House is poised to pass the American […]
(Missouri Independent) – More than 70 million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine — and along with that shot, a small paper card with the CDC’s label detailing the timing and manufacturer of the dose. Those paper cards at the moment are the only proof readily available to Americans of […]
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education has approved a health insurance plan and a four-day week calendar. The district will work with Missouri Educators Trust for the insurance. The plan will provide all full-time staff a $3,000 health savings account for $549.91. Staff will have an option to buy up to three other plans […]
Missouri state park and historic site campgrounds are preparing for the 2021 camping season, which typically begins April 1. On-season begins earlier at some campgrounds than others. Visit mostateparks.com/activity/camping for opening dates at specific campgrounds. To help guarantee a safe and enjoyable camping experience, the following new and updated procedures have been implemented. To ensure […]
