Mentally disabled woman and nurse or caretaker wearing a surgica

Missouri launches apprenticeships for direct-support professionals

Missouri is launching an apprenticeship program to expand talent pipelines for Direct Support Professionals, who work with people with developmental disabilities. The Show-Me State, like many others, is facing a serious direct-care workforce shortage. To answer the need, the program Missouri Talent Pathways was recently approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. Duane Shumate, the state coordinator […]

Drinking Water Fountain (Photo by Sean Musil on Unsplash)

Missouri House bill would cut down on poisonous lead in school drinking water

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri children would be better protected from lead poisoning under a state legislative bill to require schools to nearly rid their drinking water of the dangerous toxin. The bill, heard Monday by the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, would require schools to test drinking water, remove old coolers and filter water where […]

North Central Missouri College Website V2 (NCMC)

North Central Missouri College “Pirate’s Ball” honors three on Saturday evening

The North Central Missouri College Foundation March 26th recognized three individuals who attended Trenton Junior College or North Central Missouri College. Distinguished alumni John Hunolt, Janet Lake, and Nick Sottler were honored at the Pirates Ball. NCMC Athletic Director Nate Gamet introduced each honoree. John Hunolt graduated from TJC in 1971. He worked in Ottumwa, […]

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

Ketanji Brown Jackson defends her record under grilling from U.S. Senate Republicans

(Missouri Independent) – Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday sharpened their criticisms of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, probing her work as a public defender on behalf of terrorism suspects, the judicial sentences she has handed down for child pornography offenses, and her views of critical race theory. Jackson defended her […]

NCMC Distinguished Alumni 2022

North Central Missouri College Foundation announces honorees for the Distinguished Alumni Class of 2021

North Central Missouri College Foundation announces the Distinguished Alumni Class for 2021, John Hunolt, Janet (Boyd) Lake and Nick Sottler.  Honorees will be recognized during the Pirates Ball on March 26, 2022, at the Ketcham Community Center on the campus of North Central Missouri College.  The Pirates Ball is to honor distinguished alumni, Voyage Fund […]

Green Hills Women's Shelter Website 2022

Details released regarding closure of Green Hill’s Women’s Shelter

More information has been released about the Trenton Green Hills Women’s Shelter’s restructuring. Executive Director Lisa Dicks reports one reason for restructuring is because when the shelter moved from the “typical-style residential home” into the new structure, the service delivery model stayed the same. She says that as time passed, needs have changed. Other things […]

Yellow School Bus Fleet (Licensed Via Envato Elements)

11 Missouri school districts receive a total of $535,000 in school bus rebate opportunities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the winners of two school bus rebate opportunities which include the 2021 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Electric School Bus Rebates, and the 2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebates.  The $7 million in ARP funding is directed toward school districts in underserved communities to replace old diesel […]

President Joe Biden Photo provided by White House

Biden in State of the Union urges ‘unmistakable’ support for democracy in Ukraine

(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden used his first State of the Union address on Tuesday night to reassert America as a leading global voice for democracy and condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin for starting an “unprovoked” war in Ukraine. “Throughout our history, we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price […]

Fentanyl Graphic

Missouri man pleads guilty to distribution of fentanyl related to overdose death investigation

United States District Court Judge John A. Ross accepted a plea of guilty from Markquis Bryant for the crime of distribution of a controlled substance related to an overdose death.  Judge Ross set sentencing for June 14, 2022. According to the plea agreement, Bryant knowingly and intentionally distributed a controlled substance on or about March […]

Cutis Cain Superintendent of the Year 2022 (Photo courtesy AASA)

The National Superintendent of the Year, Curtis Cain, is from Missouri

Curtis Cain, superintendent of Wentzville School District, in Wentzville, Mo., has been named the 2022 AASA National Superintendent of the Year. The announcement came at the National Conference on Education, hosted by AASA, The School Superintendents Association. The other National Superintendent of the Year® finalists were:  Quincy Natay, Chinle Unified School District No. 24, Chinle, Ariz. Kamela Patton, Collier County […]

Captain David K. Striegel header photo

Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain David Striegel to retire April 1

 The superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the retirement of Captain David K. Striegel effective April 1, 2022. Striegel was appointed to the Patrol on January 1, 1996, as a member of the 71st Recruit Class. After graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy, his first assignment was to Troop E, Zone 8, […]

Missouri or MO National Guard Apprenticeship Website

Governor Parson announces new Project Eagle Apprenticeship Program

In coordination with the Missouri National Guard and the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development, Governor Mike Parson announced the establishment of the Project Eagle Apprenticeship Program, to qualify military training and experience towards a federally-recognized apprenticeship certification. “We are so proud of our military men and women here in Missouri. This program, […]

Little Otter Creek Reservoir graphic

Public invited to a recreational planning meeting on March 5 at Little Otter Creek Reservoir

Visitors can provide input on outdoor recreation they would like to see offered at the Little Otter Creek Reservoir at a recreational planning event to be held at the Polo Community Center on March 5, 2022, from 2 to 5 pm. The event will include exhibits, interactive displays and games, models, and activities. Missouri Department of […]

Joshua Phillips Booking Photo Courtesy Trenton Police Department

Trenton man charged with arson involving fire on East Crowder Road

A Trenton man has been charged with felony second-degree arson after a fire at 213 East Crowder Road in Trenton on January 29th. Forty-one-year-old Joshua Phillips’s charge came after an investigation by the Missouri Department of Public Safety Division of Fire Safety. A probable cause statement from Fire Safety Investigator Tyler Anderson accuses Phillips of […]

American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall spoke at the organization’s 2022 annual convention in Atlanta, Georgia (photo provided by American Farm Bureau Federation)

American Farm Bureau Federation claims it’s the ‘voice of agriculture,’ Others beg to differ

(Missouri Independent) – This story was originally published as a collaboration between Investigate Midwest and Watchdog Writers Group. The American Farm Bureau Federation calls itself the “voice of agriculture,” a slogan it trademarked in 2007. But as the divide between agribusiness and small farmers has grown in recent decades, a unified voice of agriculture has become harder to […]

Marijuana leaf

U.S. House advances marijuana banking bill, though final passage uncertain

 (Missouri Independent) – Cannabis dispensaries throughout the country came one step closer to using banks the way many other businesses can when the U.S. House on Friday cleared a bill with sweeping changes to banking regulations. Colorado Democrat Ed Perlmutter and Ohio Republican Dave Joyce, co-sponsors of the legislation, said Friday their proposal would allow […]

Vintage Vines Sign via Facebook Page

Trenton Rotary Club hears presentation from Trenton business, Vintage Vines

A Trenton businesswoman presented the program during the Thursday meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club. Sena Arnold is a co-owner of Vintage Vines with her sister, Rachel Arnold. They purchased what had been a vacant building at 805 Main Street, renovated it, and opened the business on Halloween, October 31, 2018. Sena Arnold said she and […]

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer planning to retire from the bench

(Missouri Independent) – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is planning to announce his retirement in the coming days, according to multiple press reports Wednesday. The decision by the 83-year-old justice, who was nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1994, would give President Joe Biden his first chance to nominate a member of the Supreme […]

USDA Logo

Communities and organizations in north Missouri receive project funding from USDA

Area organizations will receive funding from the United States Department of Agriculture to build and improve critical community facilities across rural Missouri. The Putnam County Special Projects Organization, Incorporated will use a $14,700 loan and a $7,800 grant to purchase a fire truck that will be leased to the Liberty Township Fire Protection District. The […]