The U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy announced USDA has invested $60.9 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-Connectivity for more than 11,000 rural households, 81 farms, 73 businesses, 16 educational facilities, 12 critical community facilities, and two health care facilities in rural Missouri. […]
Tag: Missourians
State of Missouri awards 192 licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries
More than 1,100 applications were submitted to the state from companies interested in selling medical marijuana inside highly-secured retail sites. Of those applicants, only 192 will get licenses. A 2018 ballot measure passed by Missouri voters allows 24 licensed dispensary locations in each of the state’s eight congressional districts. The state says the dispensaries chosen […]
Thousands of Missourians still waiting for 2018 tax refunds
State Auditor Nicole Galloway has demanded answers from the Department of Revenue on the remaining delayed 2018 tax refunds. The Missouri State Auditor’s Office continues to receive complaints from taxpayers who are waiting on last year’s refunds, even as many Missourians prepare to file their 2019 returns. “To date, thousands of taxpayers have reached out […]
Audio: Monthly Social Security benefits to increase in Missouri
This month retired Missouri residents will see a 1.6% cost of living adjustment in their Social Security benefits. About 75% of the increase is paid out to beneficiaries listed as retired workers, and about 13% is paid to disabled workers. According to the most recent Social Security Administration data, there are 1,293,897 Missourians […]
Operation Game Thief offering $20,000 reward for help with elk poaching cases
Missouri’s Operation Game Thief (OGT) is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the poacher/s that shot a female adult elk and left it for dead Nov. 18 on National Park Service property near the end of M Highway in Carter County. No meat or other parts of the animal were […]
Deer hunters reminded that they can “Share the Harvest”
Deer hunters across Missouri are reminded they can donate deer free of charge for inclusion in the “Share the Harvest” program of the Conservation Department. Donations of deer to approved facilities is free thanks to corporate sponsors that pay the deer processing fee. The program allows deer hunters to donate their extra venison to participating […]
Audio: Missouri Governor “3.1 percent unemployment rate is a record Low”
Missouri’s governor says the state’s economy is growing because of legislative actions like “Fast Track” and an emphasis on workforce development. Governor Mike Parson says 37-thousand new jobs have been created in the past year. The state Department of Economic Development says Missouri’s unemployment rate for October was three-point-one percent, remaining unchanged from […]
Second vaping-associated death reported in Missouri
A Missouri woman in her mid-50s died last week with her death being associated with the use of e-cigarettes or vaping products. This is the second vaping-related death in Missouri. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), in discussion with the person’s treating physicians, concluded that vaping was a contributing factor to the female’s […]
Scam: Increase in robocalls claiming to be Medicare representatives hits Missouri
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is warning Missourians about a recent increase in robocalls purporting to be a Medicare representative. The robocall then states that the person receiving the call is eligible for the top of the line medical braces, and that to receive those braces they should press “1” or press “9” to be […]
Report finds Missouri declining in children’s health coverage
Missouri is among states experiencing a serious erosion in children’s health coverage, according to a new report. The findings, released by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, indicated there were 12,000 more uninsured Missouri kids in 2018 than in 2016, a 17% increase. Traci Gleason, vice president for internal affairs at the Missouri Budget Project, […]
Audio: Attorney General Eric Schmitt warns Missouri seniors about scams
Missouri’s attorney general warns that scams targeting seniors are increasing, including the “IRS scam” and sweepstakes scams. Eric Schmitt spoke to dozens of seniors Wednesday (yesterday) at a Jefferson City retirement community, urging them to be on the lookout. Schmitt urges seniors and other Missourians to report these scams to his office’s Consumer […]
Community of Laredo receives loan and grant for nearly $534,000
The City of Laredo will receive funding from the United States Department of Agriculture to assist with making improvements to the city’s wastewater system. The city will receive a loan for $187,000 and a grant for $346,310. The USDA notes Laredo’s wastewater system was constructed in the 1980s and needs upgrades to meet ammonia standards. […]
Earthquake drills scheduled for today
Earthquake drills will be held Thursday as part of the Great Central United States Shakeout. The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance reports nearly 500,000 Missourians will participate in the shakeout at 10:17 in the morning. The department encourages consumers to consider their plan for financial recovery if a major earthquake event occurs in Missouri. […]
Missouri student loan default rates continue to decrease
According to the U.S. Department of Education, Missouri’s three-year loan default rate decreased four-tenths of a percent, keeping Missouri’s rate below the national average and lower than most of its neighboring states. Missouri’s student loan default rate dropped from 10.3 percent to 9.9 percent. The national rate decreased from 10.8 percent to 10.1 percent. More […]
Missouri Lt. Governor says Missourians to decide if gasoline tax increase is needed
The state’s lieutenant governor says Missourians will have to decide whether a gasoline tax increase is needed. Missouri’s 17-cent gasoline tax has remained the same since 1996. Last November, voters rejected a proposed ten-cent gas tax increase. At his campaign announcement, last week at Jefferson City’s Memorial Park, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (R) told the audience […]
Scam calls claiming to be from U.S. District Court targeting elderly citizens
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is issuing a consumer alert to warn Missouri citizens about a potential scam targeting elderly and vulnerable citizens. Recently, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri has reported hundreds of calls from citizens across Missouri and the country who claim to have received calls from the court’s […]
Former CEO of Putnam County Memorial Hospital to plead guilty to health care fraud
Reports indicate the former Chief Executive Officer at Putnam County Memorial Hospital in Unionville, David Byrns has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Charges were filed with the US District Court for Western Missouri, however, it is expected further proceedings will be held in a federal […]
Audio: Missouri House Speaker says Medicaid expansion would “Blow Hole” in state budget
The Missouri House Speaker and House Democrats view the issue of Medicaid expansion differently. GOP Speaker Elijah Haahr of Springfield says Medicaid expansion would hurt education, by taking dollars out of the classroom. Statistics provided by the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) show the number of Missourians on Medicaid has dropped from […]
Missouri reaches milestone of more than 10,000 new Registered Apprenticeships
Missouri has officially reached 10,000 new Registered Apprenticeships, ranking the state second in the nation for new apprenticeships. Missouri also ranks second in the nation for the number of completed apprenticeships – 3,614 for Federal Fiscal Year 2019, ending Sept. 30, 2019. “We are proud to lead the nation in working with employers to create […]
Audio: Although it’s a year away, the TSA is alerting travelers of REAL ID requirements
Although it’s a year away, the TSA is alerting travelers of some new regulations. Beginning October 1st of 2020, all airline passengers will need to have a REAL-ID compliant form of identification to board a commercial flight. Millions of travelers may be affected if they don’t have the proper ID, like a U-S […]