Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that USDA is hosting listening sessions to solicit feedback on a plan to increase access to capital in rural areas by streamlining regulations for four Rural Development loan guarantee programs. “At USDA, we know that for many rural communities the regulations that govern our […]
Large supplies of meat and dairy, possibly record-setting tons, are coming to U.S. consumers. For consumers, this can be good news with lower prices at grocery cases. For producers of beef, pork, chicken, and milk it doesn’t bode so well. In a mid-year baseline update for livestock and dairy, University of Missouri economist Scott Brown […]
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education approved the proposed tax rate for the 2018-2019 school year at a hearing Monday evening prior to its regular board meeting. The total tax rate was set at $507.48 cents per $100 assessed value, which is an increase of .33 cents from last year. The total tax rate includes […]
The Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education approved price increases for meals at a meeting Thursday evening. The cost of breakfast for kindergarten through sixth grade for the 2018-2019 school year will be $1.50, lunch for kindergarten through sixth grade will be $2.15, seventh through 12th grades, breakfast will cost $1.60 with lunch costing $2.30. Adult […]
Local and state leaders will join citizens groups and unions today to establish ways to build on the momentum gained after the defeat of Proposition A. A town hall meeting at Oppenstein Brothers Park in Kansas City will discuss how to increase wages to at least $15 an hour for low-wage workers. Jessica Podhola, director […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education set its tax levy at a hearing held Tuesday evening before the regular meeting. The levy was set at $4.1405 for 2018-2019, which was an increase of four point three four cents from 2017-2018. That includes $3.2405 for Incidental and $.90 for debt service. The assessed valuation for the […]
The North Mercer R-3 Board of Education set its tax levy at a hearing Monday evening prior to its regular meeting. The levy was set at $4.4696 on the 2018-2019 school year which is a decrease of $0.0347 from the 2017-2018 school year. The district’s assessed valuation increased by $1,634,947 to $19,193,587 due primarily to […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education will hold a tax levy hearing prior to its regular meeting next week. The hearing will start at the district office Tuesday evening at 5:25. The proposed tax levy for the district is $4 and 14 and a half cents for the 2018-2019 fiscal year which is an increase […]
A meeting next week of Families and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled will begin with the annual tax rate public hearing. The meeting Monday, August 13th begins at 6 o’clock at the Grundy County Courthouse and those attending are asked to use the North entrance. The agenda includes a financial review, transportation report, as well […]
A new report from the Missouri Hospital Association finds increased turnover rates among the majority of hospital-based healthcare positions. Vacancy rates decreased for several employee categories, including registered nurses, between 2016 and 2017. However, combined turnover among all professions surveyed increased statewide from 16 percent in 2016 to 17.7 percent in 2017. “Every Missourian has […]
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $97 million in 12 projects to provide or improve rural broadband service in 11 states, including Missouri. “A person’s location should not determine whether he or she has access to modern communications infrastructure,” Secretary Perdue said. “That is why USDA […]
“USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities in building their futures,” Hazlett said. “All people – regardless of their zip code – need modern, reliable infrastructure to thrive, and we have found that when we address this need, many other challenges in rural places become much more manageable.” Eligible rural communities […]
The Missouri Soil and Water Districts Commission has approved the following five actions in response to Governor Parson’s Executive Order 18-05 Drought Alert: Require soil and water conservation districts to move landowners completing the drought practices listed below to the top of waiting lists. Defer the Grazing School Requirement for 12 months after contract approval […]
The Spickard R-2 Board of Education accepted several bids at its meeting this week. Trenton MFA was awarded the bids for propane, gasoline, and diesel fuel with Anderson Erickson Dairy receiving the dairy bid. The board also approved the student handbook with no changes and the faculty handbook with changes to the policy on paying […]
The term “right to work’ relates to or promotes the right of a worker to be able to obtain employment without being required to join a labor union to do so. When right to work laws are in place, workers cannot be compelled to pay for any cost of union representation, even if the union […]
Northwest Missouri State University has announced that Andy Peterson, a former student-athlete, and coach who has served in the University’s athletics administration since 2013, is Northwest’s next director of athletics. Peterson had served as Northwest’s interim director of athletics since Mel Tjeerdsma’s April 30 retirement. His new appointment is effective immediately. “Andy is a Bearcat […]
Grundy County Extension will host an agriculture economist from the University of Missouri at a free public forum about new tariffs later this month. Director of Strategic Partnerships for the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Doctor Scott Brown will discuss the latest tariffs implemented by China and Mexico and their […]
A new state policy in the Medicaid managed care system could threaten hospitals. It allows insurance companies to reimburse providers at 90% of the Medicaid managed care rate if the provider is not “in network” with the insurer. Tim Wolters with Citizens Memorial Hospital in southwest Missouri’s Bolivar says the insurance companies now have an […]
On the surface, “right to work” policy sounds like something beneficial to Missouri workers, but opponents say it’s a misnomer. Contrary to what the name may indicate, the policy does not aim to provide a general guarantee of employment to people seeking work. On August 7, the state’s voters will decide on Proposition A, which […]
Many farmers and ranchers value the opportunity the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) offers to enhance their existing conservation efforts, according to a recent survey by the Center for Rural Affairs. Eighty-seven percent of more than 800 respondents, all living in an area with a strong agricultural presence, said CSP should be supported as a priority in the […]
