On August 23, 2021, The Empire District Gas Company (d/b/a “Liberty”) filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to adjust natural gas base rates. The new rates would take effect in 2022 and reflect Liberty’s efforts to maintain a safe, reliable natural gas system, enhance the customer experience, and expand support for limited-income […]
Tag: merge
Finalists announced for the Missouri National Guard Hall of Fame
The new Missouri National Guard Hall of Fame was formed by a group of Missouri Veterans in 2020. The new Hall of Fame will be physically located in Kirksville, MO. Missouri National Guard Hall of FamChairman John J. Sastry, Esq., CFP® announces a list of 10 Finalists for the Hall of Fame inaugural class. From […]
Deadline for entries for second “MO VIP” drawing is Wednesday
To date, more than 540,000 vaccinated Missourians have entered the MO VIP, Missouri’s COVID-19 vaccine incentive program, for a shot at $10,000. Governor Mike Parson announced the launch of the statewide program on July 21. Approximately 45,000 Missourians have entered to win since the date of the first drawing–winners of this drawing will be announced Wednesday, […]
FDA gives full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
The U.S. has its first fully approved vaccine against COVID-19, with federal health officials announcing Monday the approval of Pfizer-BioNTech’s two-dose vaccine. The green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to move Pfizer’s vaccine from emergency use to full approval is a milestone in the national pandemic response, and one that comes as the […]
As Missouri students head back to class, state launches new COVID testing program
(Missouri Independent) – Monday marks the first day of school for thousands of students across Missouri and it’s also when schools can begin enrolling in a new federally-funded testing program aimed at helping facilitate a safe return to the classroom. The Department of Health and Senior Services announced Friday evening that Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc., a […]
Carbon monoxide exposure aboard boat at Lake of the Ozarks claims one life, sends one from Cameron to hospital
Two Cameron residents were present when a man from St. Charles died due to drowning, with carbon monoxide exposure indicated as a contributing factor. The incident happened Saturday night at 9:45 pm at a Lake of the Ozarks location. The highway patrol identified the victim of drowning as 66-year-old Steven Sutton of St. Charles. Sutton […]
Wright Memorial Hospital and Hedrick Medical Center revise visitor guidelines
St. Luke’s Health System, including Wright Memorial Hospital and Hedrick Medical Center, have adjusted level three visitor guidelines in emergency departments. One visitor will be allowed per patient in the emergency departments. Previously two visitors were allowed. Elsewhere, there’s a continuation of level three visitor guidelines, allowing two visitors per patient per day in the […]
Highway Patrol provides a summary of new laws related to public safety, transportation, watercraft, & protection of children
The abbreviated descriptions below are intended to make the public aware of some of the new legislation enacted by the Missouri General Assembly, which is related to crime and motor vehicles. The listed legislation has been signed into law. Unless otherwise noted, these laws will go into effect on August 28, 2021. SB 26 PROVISIONS […]
Missouri unemployment rate drops to 4.2 percent in July
Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from June 2021 to July 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by a tenth of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 15,000 jobs over the month, with job gains in both goods-producing and service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in July […]
Spickard R-2 Board of Education sets tax rate, votes to designate school employees as essential
The Spickard R-2 Board of Education on August 16th set the tax rate and voted to deem school employees as essential. The tax rate was set at $4.6604 per $100 of assessed valuation. Deeming school employees essential means if an employee has a known COVID-19 exposure and does not exhibit symptoms, he or she may […]
Afghan evacuees to arrive in the U.S. through Virginia and Wisconsin military bases
(Missouri Independent) – The first U.S. stop for the nearly 2,000 Afghan interpreters and other refugees evacuated so far amid the collapse of the Afghan government has been central Virginia’s Fort Lee military base. Tapped for its East Coast location and its ability to quickly ramp up to serve as a temporary host installation, the Army […]
Sullivan County Health Department reports new cases of COVID-19, seven breakthrough cases
The Sullivan County Health Department August 17th reported two additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 1,086. Thirty-eight of the cases were active. Health Department Administrator Deborah Taylor reports about .6% of the total cases have been breakthrough cases. She says cases are milder for vaccinated residents than those who were not vaccinated. The health […]
Missouri requests federal disaster declaration to receive reimbursements for damage to public infrastructure
Governor Mike Parson requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency approve a major disaster declaration for Missouri to provide federal assistance to a total of 21 counties in response to severe storms and flooding that began on June 19 and continued through July 1. “Due to extremely heavy rains and significant flash flooding in late June, Missouri experienced […]
Biden-Harris Administration announces $500 million in rural health care funds under the American Rescue Plan
The Biden-Harris Administration announced that the United States Department of Agriculture is making up to $500 million available in grants to help rural health care facilities, tribes, and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services, and nutrition assistance. President Biden’s comprehensive plan to recover the economy and deliver relief to the American people […]
Smithfield’s natural gas project implements manure-to-energy technology across northern Missouri’s hog farms
Monarch Bioenergy, a joint venture between Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Roeslein Alternative Energy, has finished installing manure-to-energy technology on nearly all of Smithfield’s Northern Missouri hog finishing farms. The new technology captures methane emissions and converts them into carbon-negative renewable natural gas to power homes, vehicles and businesses. “We are delighted to reach this exciting milestone, which is a significant step toward […]
Head-on crash in Saline County injures three
The Highway Patrol reports area residents sustained injuries in a head-on collision in Saline County on the afternoon of August 11. The driver of one vehicle, 51-year-old Steven Standley of Chillicothe, and his passenger, 76-year-old Paul Standley of Tina, were taken to the Carroll County Memorial Hospital by a private vehicle. The driver of the […]
Pleasant View Board of Education reviews reopening plan; first day of school is August 25
The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education set the annual tax rate at a hearing on August 10, 2021. The rate was increased by $.0136 to $4.9644. During the regular meeting, the board approved the American Rescue Plan and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief. The plan entails how Pleasant View will spend the COVID-19 […]
Trenton Board of Education discusses COVID-19 protocols during lengthy meeting
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education on August 10th discussed COVID-19-related matters for the upcoming school year. Superintendent Mike Stegman began by going over a list of protocols. They included staff and students attending school in person and using social distancing. Masks will be optional for staff and students inside district facilities. It is “highly […]
Senator Hawley announces 15 amendments to budget, calls to pass parent tax credit, hire 100,000 new police, and reopen schools
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced he will introduce 15 amendments to the Democrats’ newly-proposed $3.5 trillion budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2022. Senator Hawley’s amendments would allow for the hiring of 100,000 new police officers, restrict federal funding for K-12 schools that refuse to fully reopen, fight back against critical race theory, and protect the […]
Missouri agency begins implementation of new law to regulate unlicensed boarding schools
(Missouri Independent) – Unlicensed youth residential facilities across Missouri are expected to submit materials notifying the state of their existence by mid-October, but background checks for facility staff required under a new law likely won’t be completed by that time. That’s because the Department of Social Services (DSS) is still working to make hires in […]