A Missouri native has launched to space on a historic mission. Four astronauts on the space shuttle dubbed “Resilience” are headed to the International Space Station, including southern Missouri native Mike Hopkins. Hopkins, of Richland, is commanding the crew on the first operational space flight of a U.S. commercial spacecraft with astronauts aboard. […]
Tag: national
Missouri now seeing 28,000 cases of COVID-19 per week, 4,000 cases per day
Missouri is now seeing 28,000 new cases per week, or an average of 4,000 new cases per day, on average. The week of November 9, 2020, the rate was 2,800 new cases per day, which represents a significant increase. “Like the rest of the United States, Missouri is experiencing an increase in new cases of COVID-19,” said Dr. […]
Area churches to participate in Operation Christmas Child
Several area churches are scheduled to participate in Operation Christmas Child, a project of the international relief fund organization Samaritan’s Purse. The project involves shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items, school supplies, personal notes, and a photo can also be included. An area volunteer, David Hogan, noted items that should not be packed include […]
Police chokeholds, no-knock warrants spark debate in Missouri House committee
(Missouri Independent) – As state lawmakers mull the idea of restricting police use of chokeholds or no-knock warrants, they are facing pushback from law enforcement organizations who contend decisions should be made at the local level. The House Special Committee on Criminal Justice met for three hours on Monday to explore the possibility of passing […]
Biden wants mask mandates nationwide: ‘We can save tens of thousands of lives’
(Missouri Independent) – President-elect Joe Biden’s coronavirus response plan seeks to put a national mask mandate in place by calling on all governors to require face coverings in their states. It’s a move that public health experts say could dramatically reduce the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths. But putting wider mask laws in place […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol Assistant Superintendent, Malik Henderson, to retire after 32-years of service
Lieutenant Colonel Malik A. Henderson, assistant superintendent, will retire effective December 1, 2020, after over 32 years of service. Henderson was appointed to the Patrol on July 1, 1988, as a member of the 60th Recruit Class. Upon graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy in Jefferson City, Henderson was assigned to Troop E, Zone […]
Missouri receives national “Innovation In State Government” award for professional development
The National Association of State Chief Administrators (NASCA) awarded one of four 2020 Innovations in State Government Awards to Missouri, the state’s first time receiving the award. Missouri was recognized for its distinctiveness and innovation in the “Personnel Best Practices” category for its professional development transformation. Criteria included program innovation, transferability to other state governments, […]
Public hearing held on environmental impact of East Locust Creek Reservoir
The National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act required a study be performed on the impacts and alternatives to the East Locust Creek Reservoir. ELCR had an approved Environmental Impact Statement in 2006, however, a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement was needed to update the alternatives analysis to meet the current United States Army […]
Trenton Board of Education review policies for inclement winter weather; board presented updates on COVID-19
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education Tuesday evening, November 10th approved a policy involving searches of students and hard surface bus routes in case of inclement weather. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported the policy involving searches of students was actually split in two, and part was adopted at the last board meeting. He explained he discussed […]
November 9 – 13 designated as Registered Apprenticeship Appreciation & Awareness Week
Governor Mike Parson recognized the importance of Registered Apprenticeship Programs with a proclamation to officially set apart the week of November 9-13, 2020, as Registered Apprenticeship Appreciation & Awareness Week, to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week. Now in its sixth year, National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration that gives businesses, communities, and educators the […]
Audio: Astronaut from Missouri gears up for space
NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins is preparing for Saturday’s scheduled to launch to the International Space Station. Hopkins, of southern Missouri’s Richland, is leading the four-person crew on a mission that will make space their home for about the next six months. They arrived Sunday at the Kennedy Space Center. The mission will be […]
Amazon expands to Republic, Missouri; more than 500 jobs to be created
Seattle-based Amazon has announced that it will open its first fulfillment center in one of the fastest-growing towns in southwest Missouri. Governor Mike Parson made the announcement Thursday afternoon while briefing Capitol reporters in Jefferson City. The governor says the facility will be located in Republic. “The new fulfillment center, which is expected to launch […]
Southeastern Missouri achieves new adoption record for the region
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Missourians in the Southeast region of the state overcame these obstacles to ensure 418 children and youth have a forever family to call their own – an increase of 57 additional adoptions from last year’s numbers. The region as a whole and seven individual counties – Dunklin, Howell, Iron, New Madrid, […]
Mike Parson defeats Nicole Galloway in race for Missouri governor
(Missouri Independent) – Republican Mike Parson has secured a full four-year term as Missouri’s governor, scoring victory Tuesday night over his Democratic challenger Nicole Galloway. Parson, 65, led Galloway, 38, by more than 442,000 votes with over 95 percent of the state’s precincts reporting shortly after midnight, according to the Secretary of State’s unofficial results. The […]
Voters repeal Clean Missouri redistricting plan they enacted in 2018
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri voters on Tuesday repealed a constitutional amendment they enacted in 2018 that would have required legislative districts be drawn to ensure partisan fairness. They replaced it with one that critics contend could forgo the use of total population to draw districts and instead exclude all non-voters, specifically children and non-citizens — tilting the political […]
North Central Missouri College to honor veterans with participation in National Roll Call Event
In honor of Veterans Day, North Central Missouri College will participate in the National Roll Call Event which is taking place at college campuses across the nation. Members of the public are invited to attend. The National Roll Call, which is set for noon on Wednesday, November 11, 2020, will be held outside in front […]
“Heroes to Hives,” beekeeping program that supports veterans begins classes
Missouri has the first state chapter of Heroes to Hives, a program that supports veterans who want to learn beekeeping. New sessions of the free program begin on March 2021, says Karen Funkenbusch, state director of the Missouri AgrAbility Project, which provides education and assistance to farmers and ranchers with disabilities. Enroll at www.heroestohives.com. Army […]
Student loan default rate continues to decrease in Missouri
According to the U.S. Department of Education, Missouri’s three-year loan default rate decreased two-tenths of a percent, keeping Missouri’s rate lower than many of its neighboring states and on par with the national rate. Missouri’s student loan default rate dropped from 9.9 percent to 9.7 percent. The national rate decreased from 10.1 percent to 9.7 […]