The Missouri House Speaker is asking a fellow GOP House member to resign her seat after she was indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield for an alleged stem cell fraud scheme. The indictment was unsealed and made public on Monday. House Speaker Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, announced Wednesday that he’s removed State Rep. Tricia Derges, […]
Tag: Missouri House
Audio: Mo House Oversight Committee chairman to ensure labor department handling unemployment Issue correctly
The Missouri House oversight committee chairman says the state overpaid more than 100-million dollars in unemployment benefits last year, and he’s hearing that some residents are being told they’ll have to repay up to 12-thousand dollars. House Special Committee on Government Oversight chair Jered Taylor of Nixa tells Missourinet it’s important to find out what […]
Missouri State Lawmaker indicted for stem cell fraud scheme, illegally distributing prescription drugs
An elected Missouri State Representative has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a fraud scheme in which she made false claims about a supposed stem cell treatment marketed through her clinics in southern Missouri, and for illegally providing prescription drugs to clients of those clinics. Derges, a Republican, represents Christian County (District 140) […]
Audio: Missouri House Oversight Committee to hear testimony Tuesday from labor director about unemployment overpayments
We’ll learn new details this week about what caused unemployment overpayments and the Missouri Department of Labor’s subsequent request for reimbursement. Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth has the update. The Missouri House Special Committee on Government Oversight has called a Tuesday hearing, where they’ll hear testimony from State Labor Director Anna Hui (pronounced hue). The […]
Audio: Missouri House approves $324 million to help struggling renters and landlords
The Missouri House has unanimously approved today designating 324 million dollars in federal emergency aid for renters and landlords. The plan could help with some rent and utility costs. Under the bill, renters and landlords could apply for funds through the Missouri Housing Development Commission. The measure, House Bill 16, heads to the Senate for […]
Audio: Missouri House Budget Committee to take up Medicaid expansion sometime after state of state
The Missouri House Budget Committee will hold its first meeting of 2021 this week in Jefferson City. Brian Hauswirth reports Medicaid expansion discussion won’t happen until after the governor’s State of the State address. The Missouri House has added a technical session on Friday, which will allow the Budget Committee to meet that […]
Missourians who receive food stamps to have 15% increase through June
Missourians who get food stamps will have their benefit amount increased through June. The state Department of Social Services says federal legislation signed into law last month includes a 15% increase in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit. The chart below shows the new maximum monthly SNAP amount, including the 15% increase Missouri households […]
Effort to stop charging 17-year-olds as adults has stalled in Missouri
(Missouri Independent) – Khadijah Wilson had a bully during her junior year at Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles. She told her principal and teachers about the name-calling, and how the other girl constantly threatened to beat her up. But no one intervened. It went on for several months. “I reported it more […]
Audio: Missouri House votes to censure member for allegedly having sex with an intern
For the first time in state history, a Missouri House member has been censured. The House voted 140-3 to publicly condemn St. Louis Democratic state Representative Wiley Price, who is accused of having sex with a capitol intern. Representative Jered Taylor, a Republican from southwest Missouri’s Republic, failed to get two-thirds of members to support […]
Audio: Missouri Capitol heightens security after FBI warning of armed protests; House discusses emergency plans
The Missouri Capitol has extra law enforcement keeping an eye on the building after reports of possible “armed protests” at all 50 state capitols and the U.S. Capitol. The increased presence follows an FBI warning of threats of an “uprising” in the days leading up to the January 20 inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden. During […]
Governor Parson makes five appointments to various boards and commissions; fills seven county office vacancies
Governor Mike Parson announced five appointments to various boards and commissions and filled seven-county office vacancies. Governor Parson also named the new Acting Director of the Division of Professional Registration. Samuel Adams, of Ferguson, was appointed to the State Board of Mediation. Mr. Adams has served as business representative and organizer for the St. Louis – Kansas City […]
Audio: Secretary of State Ashcroft says Missouri conducted four safe, secure elections in 2020
Missouri’s Secretary of State is praising poll workers across the state, for their assistance with four major elections in 2020. Republican Jay Ashcroft notes those elections included Missouri’s presidential preference primary, the August primary, and November. The General Assembly in May approved bipartisan legislation expanding absentee voting to those 65 and older or […]
Audio: Missouri foster care and adoption bills moving forward
The new Missouri House Speaker is moving quickly on his top priority of foster care and adoption legislation. Arnold Republican Rob Vescovo was sworn-in Wednesday at the Capitol in Jefferson City and focused on both issues during his address. He wants the Legislature to expand Missouri’s adoption tax credit. The Missouri House Children […]
Audio: New Missouri House Speaker focusing on education, foster care and adoption
The Missouri House on Wednesday elected the first Speaker in state history from eastern Missouri’s Arnold. House Speaker Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, was elected Speaker on his 44th birthday, with his wife Amanda and their five children in the chamber in Jefferson City. Education was a primary theme during Vescovo’s address to the House. He says he was […]
Green Hills Regional Planning Commission announces new Executive Director
The Green Hills Regional Planning Commission Board of Directors announces the next Executive Director of the commission. Corrine Watts plans to assume her duties in the first week of March. She is currently the Director of Workforce Services for the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council in Olympia, Washington. She will replace Randy Railsback who was […]
Missouri families face added pressure to meet basic needs
The ability to meet basic needs is out-of-reach for many Missouri families because of the pandemic. The challenges facing households with children are detailed in a new national report. This week, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released findings for all states, using weekly Census survey data on such topics as food insecurity and housing instability. One […]
Audio: $76 Million in to be deployed to Missouri’s K-12 schools, once Governor signs supplemental budget
About $76 million in federal money will be heading to Missouri’s k-12 schools, once Governor Mike Parson signs the supplemental budget bill. House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, says the $1.27 billion supplemental budget includes $75.6 million for school nutrition services. “i.e., paying for meals in k-12 education,” Smith says. “So this […]
Census survey reveals COVID-19’s devastating impact in Missouri
(Missouri Independent) – Hundreds of thousands of Missourians are struggling to get by during our coronavirus public health emergency, including children, according to the recently released U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey. While 40.8 percent of Missouri households report losing income since March, families with children under 18 have been especially impacted, with 51.4 percent reporting […]
Missouri lawmaker: State employees and teachers should receive pay raises, not elected officials
A veteran state lawmaker from southeast Missouri will file a resolution this week, aimed at blocking proposed pay increases for state lawmakers and for statewide elected officials. State Rep. Andrew McDaniel, R-Deering, was first elected to the Missouri House in 2014 and will be a senior member in January during his final House term in […]