It was a somewhat complicated weather story in the month of May. Trenton officially had measurable rainfall on 17 of the 31 days including 14 straight days from May 15th through May 28. The amount of precipitation on several of those dates was very little or relatively small. As a result, rainfall for the entire […]
Tag: official
Governor Parson grants 36 pardons
Governor Mike Parson granted 36 pardons under Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official pardon documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and are being sent to the individuals. In the interest of privacy, the Governor’s Office will not immediately release the names of the individuals granted […]
COVID-19 surge in north Missouri creates worries for summer as vaccinations decline
(Missouri Independent) – In the last week of April, the Linn County Health Department signaled that the COVID-19 pandemic had cooled enough that it could discontinue weekly reports on new cases. With only three active cases on April 21, the urgency for frequent updates seemed to have passed. But the coronavirus came roaring back this […]
Attempts to ban teaching on ‘critical race theory’ multiply across the U.S.
(Missouri Independent) – From statehouses to Congress, Republicans have launched into a fight against the teaching of “critical race theory,” which just a year ago was a niche academic term. Experts in critical race theory say it’s about acknowledging how racial disparities are embedded in U.S history and society, and the concept is being mischaracterized […]
Missouri Governor says federal unemployment programs have given public incentive to stay out of the workforce
Saying that there’s a labor shortage across Missouri, Governor Mike Parson (R) has issued a directive to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to end all federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits. Missouri’s House Democratic Leader is blasting the decision. Governor Parson made the announcement during a Tuesday afternoon briefing at the Statehouse in Jefferson […]
Missouri State Treasurer joins coalition to oppose Biden Administration’s attacks on fossil fuel industry
Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick announced he has joined a coalition of 15 State Treasurers to speak out against apparent attempts by the Biden Administration to pressure banks and other large financial institutions to divest from coal, oil, and natural gas companies. “While the pursuit of more renewable sources of energy is a noble cause, […]
USDA to begin loan payments to socially disadvantaged borrowers under American Rescue Plan Act
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency published the first notice of funding availability announcing loan payments for eligible borrowers with qualifying direct farm loans under the American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005. The official NOFA will be published in the Federal Register early next week and USDA expects payments to begin in early […]
Judge sentences bookkeeper who defrauded Plattsburg Special Road District
The former secretary/treasurer of the Plattsburg Special Road District has been ordered to pay restitution of more than $100,000 for defrauding taxpayers. Ava L. Langner was sentenced on the charge of theft brought by the U.S. Attorney. After receiving a whistleblower complaint, a 2019 audit by Auditor Galloway’s office detailed how Langner defrauded the district in […]
Gallatin Board of Aldermen approve electric rate change proposal
Toth and Associates presented an electric rate change proposal at a special Gallatin Board of Aldermen meeting on May 19th. City Clerk Hattie Rains reports the board voted to approve the proposal, and an official ordinance will be presented on May 24th. She notes the proposal involved changing from a multi-tier rate structure to a […]
Legislation introduced that would improve reporting of child abuse deaths, prevent future fatalities
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio) introduced bipartisan legislation to require states to report data on all child abuse-related deaths and develop recommendations to prevent child abuse deaths from occurring in the first place. The senators’ bill would provide policymakers and public health officials with a clearer picture of the number of […]
Audio: North Central Missouri Development Alliance hires new Executive Director
The North Central Missouri Development Alliance has hired a new executive director. Scott Sharp accepted the position on May 17th. He will officially begin on June 14th and work out of the office at the Plaza Apartments in Trenton. He succeeds Micah Landes who resigned earlier this year. Sharp currently works for Pepsi in Chillicothe […]
“Point of No Return” to perform at bandstand in Princeton
Local rock-n-roll band Point of No Return will be performing Saturday, May 29, on the Princeton Bandstand from 7 until 9:30 pm. Event officials say to bring your friends, family, and lawn chairs and come kick off summer fun at this free open-air concert. The Princeton Chamber of Commerce will be serving fresh popcorn and […]
Trenton officials working on plans for water and sewer system improvements; 500 old water meters to be replaced
Trenton officials are working on getting plans in place for water and sewer system improvements that Administrator Ron Urton says are likely eligible to be funded through the American Recovery Act. While he told the Trenton Utility Committee on Tuesday evening, he had no details; the city of Trenton portion of the federal funding remains […]
Missouri eases rules for building CAFOs despite outcry about potential pollution
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri regulators on Tuesday eased the rules governing the design of massive industrial hog facilities in a move critics claim was meant to help one controversial facility. The state’s Clean Water Commission voted 5-1 to narrow the definition of groundwater in the state’s rules governing the construction of “concentrated animal feeding operations” […]
Trenton Utility Committee meets with engineer to review plans for water-related projects
Trenton’s Utility Committee met Tuesday evening with an engineer to review preliminary plans for water-related projects. The committee reviewed details and saw cost estimates for work at the reservoir pump station and the river pump station. Members also learned costs would be forthcoming from a specialized company regarding upgrades or rehabilitation of the clarifier basins […]
Advocates fear homeless crisis with federal eviction moratorium on shaky legal ground
(Missouri Independent) – At least once a day, housing advocate Melissa Pashia speaks to someone living in a car. Once the situation gets to this point, it’s hard to get people back into stable housing, said Pashia, a housing resource specialist for the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council. “Landlords don’t want to […]
Missouri State Auditor begins audit of Carter County government
State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced today that her office has begun a regularly scheduled audit of the Carter County government. The county, located in southern Missouri, received a rating of “good” from the most recent state audit, issued in September 2016. “Audits can help local officials take steps to make government more efficient and effective […]
Livingston County experiences surge in COVID-19 cases; 42 cases reported in May, 2021
The Livingston County Health Department reports it has added 35 new cases of COVID-19 last week. So far in May 2021, there have been 42 positive cases. According to the health department, the cases involve individuals of all ages, the biggest age group being adults 30 to 40. The Livingston County surge in cases hasn’t […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol: “Every available trooper to be out enforcing traffic laws during Memorial Day weekend”
The Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) during the long holiday weekend. This means every available trooper will be on the road enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists. Over the 2020 Memorial Day holiday weekend, 10 people died, and 444 were injured in 1,081 traffic crashes. Last year, troopers made […]
Prison official pleads guilty to accepting bribes to smuggle contraband to inmates
A North Carolina man pleaded guilty to a bribery and smuggling scheme. He abused his position as a prison official to funnel drugs and other contraband into Caledonia Correctional Institution. According to court documents, Ollie Rose III, 62, of Pleasant Hill, worked as a case manager at Caledonia Correctional Institution, a state prison in Halifax […]