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 […]
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released an audit of the state’s sales and use tax collection processes, which are administered through the Department of Revenue. The report found inefficiencies affecting citizens at license offices throughout the state, especially in rural counties. “Taxpayers should not have to provide the same documentation time and time again just […]
(Missourinet) – The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a 200-million dollar transportation funding shortfall. The department is considering a proposed budget that would ask for more money over a nine-year period to fully fund the expenses, which is 75-percent of a district’s transportation costs. During a State Board of Education meeting in […]
(Missourinet) – A court has dismissed a lawsuit claiming a ballot measure that would increase the state’s motor fuel tax violates the Missouri Constitution. The decision means voters will determine the fate of the tax which would make $400 million a year available for roads. Spokesperson Scott Charton says the motor fuel tax would speed up […]
Local and state leaders will join citizens groups and unions today to establish ways to build on the momentum gained after the defeat of Proposition A. A town hall meeting at Oppenstein Brothers Park in Kansas City will discuss how to increase wages to at least $15 an hour for low-wage workers. Jessica Podhola, director […]
Ducks Unlimited and Nestlé Purina PetCare Company have partnered to protect and improve 1,600 acres of wetland and grasslands across Iowa over the next three years through Ducks Unlimited’s Living Lakes Initiative, promoting healthy soil, healthy crops, and healthy wildlife habitat. Purina, which operates three pet food manufacturing facilities in Iowa (in Clinton, Fort Dodge […]
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced the availability of $20 million for construction of a lake that will serve 10 north-central Missouri counties. State Conservationist J.R. Flores made the announcement at a location near Milan that will be at the bottom of East Locust Creek Reservoir when the reservoir is completed. The 2,352-acre […]
State Treasurer Eric Schmitt has announced his Missouri FIRST initiative has increased agriculture investments through the state’s linked deposit program by 136%. Since the launch of Missouri FIRST in March, the total volume of active agriculture linked deposits has risen from $29.3 million to $69.3 million. Schmitt will visit the State Fair in Sedalia today […]
On Tuesday, August 14th at 10:00 AM at “the bottom of the lake” in Boynton, Missouri J.R. Flores, State Conservationist, Natural Resource Conservation Service, will be making a major announcement that will advance the East Locust Creek Reservoir project significantly. NRCS is the federal sponsor of the Reservoir project. Flores and NRCS have been critical […]
(Missourinet) – The move by Republicans in the Missouri Legislature to switch Proposition A from November to August in hopes of a favorable turnout has backfired. Right-to-work opponents, including Jack Cardetti, have strongly defeated the measure that would have banned forced union membership or dues as a condition of employment. Dan Mehan with […]
A Green Castle couple has won one million dollars through the Missouri Lottery. Barbara and Lonnie Johnson won the prize after Barbara purchased a $300,000,000 Golden Ticket at the Ayerco station at 301 North Pearl in Milan. The couple plans to pay off some bills and share the prize money with their children and grandchildren. […]
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Ducks Unlimited will conduct a tour of the construction site at the Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge south of Sumner. Refuge Manager Steve Whitson and Ducks Unlimited Engineer Ryan Conley will lead the project tour for the public and media to provide them an opportunity to see […]
Voters will determine if Missouri becomes a right to work state in Tuesday’s election. Matt Panik with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, which supports the measure, says his side is being vastly outspent by pro-union organizations who oppose the proposal. He estimates opposition groups have spent $17 million while proponents have raised only $2 million […]
(Missourinet) – Ameren Missouri is the first of the two largest utilities in the state to drop customer rates based on savings it’s receiving from a tax reduction. Congress cut the nation’s corporate income tax rate from 35%-to-21% last December with the reduction taking effect January 1st. Ameren’s drop of customer rates to […]
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $97 million in 12 projects to provide or improve rural broadband service in 11 states, including Missouri. “A person’s location should not determine whether he or she has access to modern communications infrastructure,” Secretary Perdue said. “That is why USDA […]
AgriVision Equipment Group, a locally owned and operated farming equipment company with 17 locations across southern Iowa, has added its support to Northwest Missouri State University’s School of Agricultural Sciences and a planned Agricultural Learning Center at the University’s R.T. Wright Farm, pledging $100,000 toward the project. “We are so grateful and appreciative of the […]
“USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities in building their futures,” Hazlett said. “All people – regardless of their zip code – need modern, reliable infrastructure to thrive, and we have found that when we address this need, many other challenges in rural places become much more manageable.” Eligible rural communities […]
(MissouriNet) – A criminal investigation has been launched into the Duck Boat mishap near Branson that killed 17 out of 31 aboard and has triggered two lawsuits. Mary Compton of Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley’s Office confirmed to Missourinet that a probe is underway over the accident in which a Duck Boat sank […]
Attorneys for family members who lost relatives in the Duck Boat mishap on Table Rock Lake near Branson have filed a $100 million lawsuit. Jason Taylor with the MissouriNet reports. The suit filed in federal court in Kansas City for family members handling the estates of two people who died in the accident, […]
In Missouri, 70 percent of college graduates leave school with debt, and navigating the payback process for their loans isn’t easy. That could change with a bill introduced in Congress this month that has gotten support from numerous higher education and consumer groups. The Aim Higher Act (HR 1772) is intended to make institutions more accountable and […]
