(Official portrait of President Joe Biden in the White House (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Biden pitches new $1.75 trillion spending blueprint to Democrats that drops paid family leave

(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden is meeting with congressional Democrats on Capitol Hill Thursday morning to pitch lawmakers on a new slimmed-down framework for what would be included in a massive social reform package, according to senior administration officials. The $1.75 trillion blueprint that Biden is presenting to Democrats includes a universal pre-K program for 3-and-4 […]

Audio: United Way is a diverse organization serving your community in ways you probably didn’t know about

The United Way of Grundy County supports 10 organizations in the area through fundraising. Spokesperson Edna Foster says the local United Way organizations share a view that the way to improve lives is by mobilizing the caring power of communities.     When monetary donations are given to the United Way of Grundy County, they […]

Bright Futures Website

Audio: Bright Futures Trenton assists over 1500 students in 2020-2021 school year

Bright Futures Trenton plans to start new initiatives and restart others. Co-coordinator Terri Critten highlighted the services and programs to come at the group’s Celebration and Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on October 22, 2021. She explained Bright Futures has received five requests for beds in the district so far this school year. The group usually posts […]

Not Dated Samaritan's Purse Website 2021

Audio: “Operation Christmas Child” provides shoebox gifts to children; You can help locally through area churches

International relief organization Samaritan’s Purse provides partners around the world with shoebox gifts through Operation Christmas Child. The boxes can be filled with items and are given to children in need in countries around the world. National Collection Week is November 15th through 22nd. There are multiple area drop-off locations with varied hours. They include […]

Student Loan Application (Photo by Nick Youngson via Creative Commons)

Democrats’ vision for free community college would boost undocumented students

(Missouri Independent) – The massive economic policy package Democrats are trying to muscle through Congress could open the door to free community college for undocumented immigrants. But that lifeline for many people now denied access to higher education could also reignite controversies in Republican-leaning states over immigration and federal overreach. The provision on immigrants was […]

Dreamer photo courtesy of Unsplash

Biden administration rolls out new rule to bolster DACA as lawsuit continues

(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration on Monday unveiled a proposed new rule that would strengthen the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to protect undocumented people in the program from legal challenges. The proposed rule, announced by the Department of Homeland Security, would “preserve and fortify” the DACA program, an Obama administration-era initiative that protects […]

2021 City of Chillicothe website 2021

Chillicothe City Council amends city code, authorizes agreement for architectural services and amends storage container ordinance

The Chillicothe City Council on September 23rd passed ordinances to amend the city code, authorize an agreement for architectural survey services, and amend the storage container ordinance. A section of city code amended was “Eating Places, Drinking on Premises, Retail Packaged Sales, License Required” regarding alcohol and setting an effective date. The section now says […]

2021 City of Chillicothe website 2021

Chillicothe City Council to meet on Thursday

The Chillicothe City Council will consider ordinances September 23rd involving city code, an agreement for architectural survey services, and storage containers. The meeting will be in the Chillicothe Municipal Utilities meeting room at 5:30 in the evening. The ordinance involving city code would amend the section called “Eating Places, Drinking on Premises, Retail Packaged Sales, […]

Immigration

Immigration reform blocked from reconciliation bill in Congress, but Democrats vow to try again

(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Senate parliamentarian has turned down a plan to include a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented people in the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, a blow for Democrats and immigration advocacy groups when the decision was disclosed late Sunday. “We are deeply disappointed in this decision but the fight to […]

Farm Scene news graphic

Struggle over tax break for inherited farmland churns below surface in reconciliation bill

(Missouri Independent) – Agricultural groups and farm-state lawmakers notched a significant win when U.S. House Democrats chose not to touch a big tax break for inherited property, avoiding, for now, a confrontation. But opponents remain wary that the idea could come back at any time as Democrats shape their massive $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, and […]

Amtrak Missouri River Runner train#313 pulling into Kirkwood Missouri Amtrak Station

U.S. House Democrats add more mass transit, high-speed rail into infrastructure bill

(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. House transportation panel early Wednesday passed along party lines the panel’s $60 billion slice of Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget plan, adding nearly $20 billion for a new transit program and high-speed rail development in the states. Chairman Peter A. DeFazio of Oregon had considered these and other items underfunded in […]