Chicken CAFO (Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash)

While Cedar County, Missouri awaits ruling in CAFO lawsuit, a large chicken operation moves in

(Missouri Independent) – When the attorney general’s office asked a judge in 2019 to lift a temporary restraining order blocking a Missouri law pre-empting county regulations on concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, that were stricter than the state’s, the argument was straightforward. No one was trying to build a large animal feeding operation in Cedar […]

Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety or Save More Lives website

Video Contest: Enter the “Buckle Up Phone Down” public service announcement competition

Here’s your chance to release your inner Spielberg as the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety seeks your help in creating their next Buckle Up Phone Down public service announcement. “We know that Missouri has a lot of talented individuals,” said Nicole Hood, Missouri Department of Transportation state highway safety and traffic engineer. “We’re asking you […]

Video: Rhonda Vincent to perform in Trenton

One of the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville who was inducted this spring, Rhonda Vincent, will perform in early October in Trenton. The organizer of the concert, Ron Dougan, reports it will be a fundraiser for the Northwest Missouri Chapter of the Dream Factory. The mission of the non-profit organization is […]

Grants Graphic

Secretary of State announces grants awarded to local governments for records management, electronic records and preservation projects

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Local Records Division is pleased to announce 23 grants totaling $283,584.  These awards include 17 Local Records Grant Program awards totaling $144,809 and 6 Electronic Records Grant Initiative grants worth $139,775.   “My office is pleased to help local communities in our state with records preservation,” Secretary Ashcroft said.  “It’s a […]

Linn County Prosecuting Attorney Shiante McMahon speaks during an April 23 mock trial of the Big Bad Wolf put on for students in local schools. (Photo courtesy Linn County Prosecuting Attorney's Office via Facebook)

Linn County roiled by prosecutor’s charge of racism, sexism in Marceline Police Department

(Missouri Independent) – When Linn County Prosecuting Attorney Shiante McMahon saw a photo of one of her campaign shirts defaced with obscene, racist, and sexist writing — and learned it had been on display in the headquarters of the Marceline Police Department — she decided a complaint with the city wouldn’t do any good. So she posted the photo […]

City of Trenton Website

Trenton City Council responds to concerns over residential trash pickup

Much of the discussion during Monday night’s Trenton City Council meeting involved discussion on trash service complaints. City administrator Ron Urton provided a list of recent complaint calls received by city hall detailing addresses that experienced issues. Two members of the public, Larry Huffstutter and Gaylon McCorkle voiced their concerns. Responses were provided by Rapid […]

Broadband Internet Access graphic

Audio: Missouri county considering whether to use federal aid to boost broadband access

The U.S. Department of Economic Development estimates that more than 400,000 Missourians do not have reliable internet access. The American Rescue Plan passed by Congress earlier this year includes giving 16.9-million dollars to Buchanan County in northwest Missouri. Presiding Commissioner Lee Sawyer says at the forefront of his and his commissioner’s minds are using the […]

Missouri House of Representatives

Governor Parson makes appointments to House and Senate Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commissions

Governor Mike Parson announced 40 appointments to the House and Senate Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commissions. On April 26, 2021, the United States Census Bureau delivered the 2020 Census Apportionment Results to the President of the United States. Consistent with the Missouri Constitution, this started the 60-day window for the Democrat and Republican state and congressional […]

Man filling water bottle from rural spigot

Biden-Harris Administration invests $307 million in rural water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in 34 states

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the United States Department of Agriculture is investing $307 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in 34 states and Puerto Rico (PDF, 224 KB). The investments being announced follow President Biden’s announcement last week of a Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework that will make the largest investment in clean […]

Parson signing new legislation

Governor Parson signs SB 51 into law giving healthcare providers and others protections against COVID-19 related civil action

Governor Mike Parson signed SB 51 into law, which protects health care providers, businesses, religious organizations, and others from being held liable in COVID-19 exposure civil actions.  “When COVID-19 first struck Missouri, health care providers, manufacturers, businesses, churches, schools, and other entities quickly altered their operations to protect public health and accommodate the needs of […]

Fiber Optic Internet Access

University of Missouri Broadband Initiative outlines community-driven process for local expansion

Adoption of broadband has the potential to boost a community’s economic growth and quality of life. But in much of Missouri, especially rural areas, the high-bandwidth wirelines to connect households and businesses don’t exist. Helping more Missouri communities become digitally connected was the topic of a recent webinar by the University of Missouri System Broadband […]

Grundy County Commission Sign

Grundy County to request bids to replace radio equipment for fire department and ambulance

Grundy County is requesting formal qualifications-based competitive sealed proposals from qualified, licensed, and experienced providers for a turnkey project to provide the county a new Conventional Project-25 700/800 Megahertz digital simulcast radio network. Emergency Management Director Glen Briggs reports the radio system is a proposed replacement system for the current fire and ambulance system. The […]