Missouri Board of Education President Charlie Shields wants the state to check into whether a bonus can be given to K-12 teachers to help keep them next school year. During today’s board meeting, Shields says he wants the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to do some “serious” exploring of what measures the […]
Tag: next year
Audio: COVID-19 relief Bill signed by President specific on how funds can be spent within agriculture
The latest COVID-19 relief Bill passed by Congress and signed by the President includes specific instructions on how the money will be spent within agriculture. Gary Crawford reports for the Department of Agriculture. Net income for farmers was up in 2020, but what about next year? Department of Agriculture reporter Gary Crawford provides […]
Employer survey details employer perspectives on pandemic and skill needs
The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) released new statewide employer survey results to correspond with its 2020 Missouri Economic & Workforce Report, which was published earlier this fall. The Economic & Workforce Report tracks the state’s economy and workforce by fiscal year (July 2019 – June 2020). The corresponding employer survey results focus […]
Department of Conservation foresters suggest ways to recycle those live Christmas trees
A live Christmas tree can give your home a one-of-a-kind ambiance during the holiday season. From the natural suppleness of its needles to that majestic stature, to the unmistakable evergreen aroma. But after the holidays are over, it doesn’t mean that your natural Christmas tree needs to retire. It can find a second career in […]
Audio: Trenton City Administrator, Ron Urton, provides an update on the 17th Street Bridge project
The old 17th Street Bridge in Trenton was torn down in the summer so the location would have a new one, but there have been delays in the construction project which is now not expected to be finished until next year. Trenton City Administrator Ron Urton provided an update on the situation. Delays […]
Missouri’s next shipment of COVID-19 vaccine to be short thousands of doses
Missouri is getting fewer doses of the COVID-19 vaccine next week than expected. The second shipment was supposed to include enough doses to vaccinate about 64,000 health care workers. During a Capitol briefing in Jefferson City, state Health and Senior Services Department Director Randall Williams says the federal government is giving Missouri about 25% to […]
Grundy R-5 Board of Education approves proposal for insurance, reviews yearly audit
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education approved a proposal for insurance on the evening of December 9th. The Missouri United School Insurance Council’s insurance will cost $36,206, which is an increase of $1,900 from last year. The board also approved an umbrella policy from MUSIC for an additional $5,000,000 of coverage for $1,533. The […]
Audio: Missouri K-12 statewide testing to move forward, but results won’t be used for accountability purposes
The Missouri Board of Education voted Tuesday to avoid using 2021 standardized test results for state and federal accountability. Members still want the state’s K-12 public school students to take statewide tests next year, but they do not want the results to count against schools for funding and accreditation purposes. The move might lower the […]
Audio: North Central Missouri Development Alliance calls business retention the foundation of economic development
North Central Missouri Development Alliance Director Micah Landes calls business retention the foundation of economic development. She says it does not make sense for an organization to use time and resources to attract new businesses if the organization is not helping existing businesses. Landes also calls locally-owned businesses the “lifeblood” of a stable economy. Grundy […]
USDA to open signup for the Conservation Reserve Program and CRP Grasslands in early 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the signup periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the CRP Grasslands in 2021. Signup for general CRP will be open from January 4, 2021, to February 12, 2021, and signup for CRP Grasslands runs from March 15, 2021, to April 23, 2021. Both programs are competitive and […]
December 11th is the deadline for dairy producers to enroll in the 2021 Safety-Net program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds dairy producers that the deadline to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for the calendar year 2021 is Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened DMC signup in October to help producers manage economic risk brought on by milk price and feed cost disparities. “2020 has been […]
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 […]
Summit Natural Gas customers to see rate changes effective November 16th
Customers of Summit Natural Gas of Missouri, Incorporated will see rates change under a filing taking effect on November 16, 2020. The change will reflect estimated changes in the wholesale cost of natural gas as well as a change in the company’s actual cost adjustment factor. The ACA factor is a mechanism that tracks any […]
Trenton City Council approves repairs for 19-year old fire truck; approves health insurance rates for 2021
Trenton City Council on Monday night authorized more repairs to a 19-year-old fire department truck. The council also accepted the employee health insurance rates for next year. Fire Chief Brandon Gibler told the council the American LaFrance white fire truck was taken to an Oak Grove business to diagnose repairs that are needed to the […]
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 […]
Plans underway for Christmas parade in Trenton
Plans are being made for what’s likely to be the only “community parade” in Trenton this year. The route has been lengthened for the annual Christmas parade and includes more streets and neighborhoods than before. A committee has announced that entries are being accepted for night time Christmas parade on December 4th. The parade route […]
Gallatin Board of Aldermen to consider purchases in 2021 budget
Gallatin Public Works Director Mark Morey provided various purchases Monday, October 26th for the Gallatin Board of Aldermen to consider in the 2021 budget. Morey talked about purchasing a new dump truck and buckets for the 2003 and blue bucket trucks. The board agreed for Administrator Lance Rains to collect interest rate bids for purchasing […]
Trenton citizen presents revised plan to city council for outdoor theater; council approves six ordinances
At Trenton, Gabe Chrisman, a property owner presented what she called a revised plan last night to the city council involving a proposed outdoor theater on land she owns at 22nd and Stature. After questions and discussions, the council voted to return the request for a conditional use permit back to the Planning and Zoning […]
Missouri Medicaid expansion: Will it bust the budget or pay for itself?
(Missouri Independent) – When Missouri voters approved Medicaid expansion in August, they were told by the ballot language that the price tag was unknown, with possible costs at $200 million stated alongside $1 billion in potential savings. What is known for certain is that about 250,000 Missourians will become eligible for coverage next year — […]