Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

Senate committee approves bill that could overturn Missouri Medicaid expansion

(Missouri Independent) – A constitutional amendment asking Missourians to let lawmakers decide year-to-year whether the state will offer Medicaid to working-age adults moved closer to passage on Wednesday. By an 8-5 vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee sent the House-passed proposal to the full Senate for debate. Only Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, voted with Democrats to oppose the measure, which […]

Moberly Park Swimming Pool

Trenton Park Board approves pay scale for Trenton Aquatic Center employees

The Trenton Park Board approved pool staff pay on April 11th. The pay was set at $10 per hour for first-year certified lifeguards. That is $1 per hour more than last year. Employees returning for their second year, including those who were non-certified staff members last year, will receive $10.25 per hour. Returning employees will […]

Budget Graphic

Record Missouri surplus likely to grow under $46.5B House budget plan

(Missouri Independent) – The biggest state budget in Missouri history could also leave the biggest surplus in state history when the next fiscal year ends. The Missouri House on Thursday sent 15 appropriation bills to the state Senate, one supplemental spending bill for the current fiscal year, and 14 spending $46.5 billion in the coming year. The […]

Democrats block Hawley’s bill to get tough on child sex offenders

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) went to the Senate Floor on Tuesday to call for unanimous consent to pass his “Protect Act of 2022” which protects children from sexual exploitation by enhancing the penalties for possessing child pornography and preventing judges from sentencing offenders below federal guidelines. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) objected and blocked the […]

Gas Pumps News Graphic (Photo via Envato Elements)

Biden OKs release of 1 million barrels of oil a day from reserve, calls for supply boost

(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden called Thursday for U.S. energy companies to do their part in lowering gasoline prices by boosting supplies of oil, saying the industry should plow record profits back into increased production. Biden also said he would release 1 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve daily for the […]

Josh Hawley Courtesy of Missourinet

Hawley introduces “PROTECT Act of 2022” which will toughen sentences for child porn offenders

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the PROTECT Act of 2022, which protects children from sexual exploitation by enhancing the penalties for possessing child pornography and by preventing judges from sentencing offenders below federal guidelines. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Representative Ken Buck (CO-4) is […]

Meth with police banner

Missouri man pleads guilty to meth trafficking and an illegal firearm

A Missouri man who was arrested after he drove two victims of an accidental shooting to the hospital emergency room has pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and to illegally possessing firearms. Jason Ruben Breedlove, 40, of Independence, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Monday, March 28, […]

Bank Robbery

Missouri man who shot at police chief after failed bank robbery, found guilty at trial, faces 27 years in prison

A Missouri man has been convicted after shooting at law enforcement officers while fleeing a failed bank robbery. Jacob Allen Monteer, 30, of Drexel, was found guilty following a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Monday, March 21, of one count of bank robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during […]

Grain Belt Express News Graphic

Audio: Missouri House gives initial approval to eminent domain legislation for utility purposes

The Missouri House of Representatives has given initial approval to eminent domain legislation for utility purposes. Lawmakers have been working for years to pass a plan like this due to a high-voltage power transmission line project planned across eight northern Missouri counties. Under the bill, in eminent domain proceedings, just compensation for agriculture or horticulture […]

National Corn Growers Association

Area residents place in 2021 state National Corn Yield Contest

Area residents placed in the state in the 2021 National Corn Yield Contest, sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association. Aaron Landes of Jamesport won first place in the Conventional Non-Irrigated Class with a field entry that yielded more than 321 bushels per acre. He used a hybrid from the Pioneer brand. Jim Schreiner of […]

Grundy County Commission Sign

Grundy County Commission accepting bids on VHF radio system

The Grundy County Commission is accepting proposals to purchase and install a turnkey analog VHF radio system to improve existing system coverage with an option for P25 upgrades in the future. The existing system is used for Fire and EMS dispatch and currently consists of 2 separate repeaters and a remote receiver. The FCC Callsign […]

Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

Republicans push work requirements for coverage under Missouri Medicaid expansion

(Missouri Independent) – When the Good Samaritan Care Clinic opened in 2006 in Mountain View, only about 5% of the free clinic’s clients were eligible for Medicaid. When it closed late last year, that number had risen to 70%, Dr. John Roberts, one of the clinic’s founders, told the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday.  Medicaid […]

Livingston County Library

Livingston County Library to begin loaning wi-fi hotspots to patrons

The Livingston County Library recently received an LSTA Technology Mini-grant grant for the library’s Technology Reboot Project that included the purchase of 10 new hotspots that will be available to the public beginning April 1, 2022. Mobile wi-fi hotspots are portable and allow up to 12 devices to connect to the internet at the same […]

Child Porn Charges

Missouri man pleads guilty after being caught discussing plans online to sexually abuse a child

A Kansas City, Missouri, man who was caught discussing plans online to sexually abuse a child pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing child pornography. Joshua Evan Lilley, 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to one count of distributing child pornography and one count of receiving child pornography over the internet. […]