(Missouri Independent) – The dispute over the $1.4 billion contract to provide prisoner health care in Missouri is moving into the courts. Corizon Health, which has held the Department of Corrections contract since 1992, filed a lawsuit Monday in Cole County alleging that unfair treatment and improper scoring gave the contract to Centurion Health, a Virginia subsidiary of […]
Tag: needs
Governor Parson ends existing State of Emergency by terminating Executive Order 2002
Governor Mike Parson terminated Executive Order 2002 ending the State of Emergency that had been in effect since March 13, 2020. “In the nearly 18 months we operated under this Executive Order, we have responded to the COVID-19 crisis by providing unprecedented levels of resources and support,” Governor Parson said. “This Order enabled us to respond to the […]
Volunteers needed for Serve Mercer County projects
Volunteers are still needed to work on projects during Serve Mercer County on Saturday. Spokesperson Lori Kiehl says anyone wanting to volunteer can come to the Princeton United Methodist Church on August 28th at 8:30 in the morning. Projects are set, and work will be done in teams. The event will focus on helping elderly […]
Missouri State Auditor releases audit of Macon County
State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released an audit of Macon County, located in north-central Missouri. The report, which gives a rating of “fair,” makes several recommendations to improve efficiency in county government operations. “Audits help local governments better serve citizens by pointing out areas where taxpayer dollars can be more effectively used,” Auditor Galloway said. […]
Department of Natural Resources awards $24,000 grant to Sullivan County Public Water Supply District No. 1
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $24,000 Drinking Water Engineering Report Grant to the Sullivan County Public Water Supply District No. 1 to evaluate the district’s drinking water system. The grant offers funding to qualified small communities to help cover engineering costs for evaluating drinking water system improvements. The district will use […]
State of Missouri expands access to COVID-19 treatment for high-risk individuals
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has activated a state contract with SLSCO of Galveston, Texas, to provide monoclonal antibody (mAb) infusion treatment for 30 days at sites in the following counties: Jackson, Pettis, Scott, Butler, and Jefferson. This contract follows Governor Mike Parson’s August 11 announcement that $15 million would be committed to staffing, equipment, and […]
NCMC Board of Trustees set tax levy, hear reports on various matters, and hire new employees
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees heard reports on housing and other matters on August 24. Resident Life Director Donnie Hillerman reported one new residence hall is open, and he hopes the other new residence hall will open September 1st. There are some displaced students currently staying in Selby Hall in the wing […]
Missouri State Auditor finds improvements needed in data security for Missouri WIC Information Network System
State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released an audit of the Missouri WIC Information Network System. This system manages data for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — better known as the WIC program — which provides nutritional benefits to more than 90,000 participants. The report made recommendations for improvements in several […]
Missouri Attorney General files class action lawsuit against school districts forcing masks on kids
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt today filed a class-action lawsuit against school districts forcing a mask mandate on schoolchildren and teachers. The lawsuit, which is a reverse class action that was filed earlier this morning, names Columbia Public Schools, the Board of Education for the School District of Columbia and their board members, and the […]
Empire District Gas Company files request to increase natural gas charge
On August 23, 2021, The Empire District Gas Company (d/b/a “Liberty”) filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to adjust natural gas base rates. The new rates would take effect in 2022 and reflect Liberty’s efforts to maintain a safe, reliable natural gas system, enhance the customer experience, and expand support for limited-income […]
USDA accepts 2.8 million acres for the Conservation Reserve Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has accepted 2.8 million acres in offers from agricultural producers and private landowners for enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Program in 2021. This year, almost 1.9 million acres in offers have been accepted through the General CRP Signup, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency has accepted over 897,000 acres for enrollment […]
Second annual report published by Missouri’s Medical Marijuana program
The Department of Health and Senior Services has published its second annual report of the Missouri Medical Marijuana Regulatory Program. DHSS is required to annually submit a report to the Governor regarding the efficient discharge of its responsibilities under Article XIV Section 1 of the Missouri Constitution. Reported activities are based on the program year […]
Spickard R-2 Board of Education sets tax rate, votes to designate school employees as essential
The Spickard R-2 Board of Education on August 16th set the tax rate and voted to deem school employees as essential. The tax rate was set at $4.6604 per $100 of assessed valuation. Deeming school employees essential means if an employee has a known COVID-19 exposure and does not exhibit symptoms, he or she may […]
Trenton Utility Committee presented report regarding improvements to water treatment plant
Trenton’s Utility Committee got the first look Tuesday evening at a preliminary engineering report regarding proposed improvements and probable costs for major improvements at the 55-year-old water treatment plant. Committee members also recommended bids be accepted for lime sludge removal and tree trimming services. Each of the three recommendations will advance to a meeting of […]
Afghan evacuees to arrive in the U.S. through Virginia and Wisconsin military bases
(Missouri Independent) – The first U.S. stop for the nearly 2,000 Afghan interpreters and other refugees evacuated so far amid the collapse of the Afghan government has been central Virginia’s Fort Lee military base. Tapped for its East Coast location and its ability to quickly ramp up to serve as a temporary host installation, the Army […]
Tax rate set by Newtown-Harris Board of Education; meal prices increased by ten cents
The Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education set the tax rate and approved meal prices on August 13th. The tax rate was set at $6.6331 per $100 of assessed valuation. That is $.0726 higher than last year’s. Meal prices were increased by 10 cents for all categories. Prices for breakfast will be $1.70 for kindergarten through […]
Study finds children returning to school 4-5 months behind
A new study from the consulting firm McKinsey finds that American kids are returning to school on average 4 to 5 months behind in their education – and 5 to 7 months behind for children from low-income areas and communities of color. As a result, many non-profits have stepped in to help, providing meals, school supplies, […]
Carroll County Memorial Hospital recognizes employees with awards ceremony
Carroll County Memorial Hospital honored employees with a special event, highlighting memorable moments throughout 2020 and 2021. Samantha Schlueter, Amanda Riley, Karlie Reynolds, and Misty Kemble-Williams were each selected as Employee of the Quarter over the course of 2020. After an all-staff vote, Misty Kemble-Williams was named 2020 CCMH Employee of the Year during the […]
Audio: Missouri legislator’s federal court trial delayed
A Missouri State Representative’s federal court trial has been moved to June 2022. The trial for Nixa Republican Tricia Derges was scheduled to begin Monday at a federal courthouse in southwest Missouri’s Springfield. Don Ledford, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Missouri, says a witness suffered a stroke and […]
Serve Mercer County event set for August 28
Serve Mercer County is an opportunity for neighbors to help neighbors. The event is on August 28, 2021, with a rain date of September 11. Civic groups and school groups of all ages are encouraged to participate. Register online at servemercercounty.com or by calling the Princeton Methodist church. Meet at Princeton United Methodist Church at […]