(Missouri Independent) – A bipartisan group of senators is exploring legislation to overhaul how Congress counts Electoral College votes, but backers of stalled voting rights legislation are lukewarm on the effort as a substitute. The Electoral Count Act is an obscure law that has come under recent scrutiny, a year after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. […]
Tag: Porter
Governor proposes record $47.3B Missouri budget as he taps surplus and federal aid
(Missouri Independent) – Gov. Mike Parson proposed massive new spending on infrastructure and college buildings, and still found money to set aside for pensions and future revenue shortfalls, in the budget submitted Wednesday to lawmakers. Missouri will enter the new fiscal year with nearly $3 billion in surplus general revenue, an anticipation of record future tax collections, […]
Online orders for free at-home COVID tests to begin January 19
(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration on Friday launched a new website for Americans to request up to four free COVID-19 tests per household. The administration is buying 1 billion at-home rapid COVID-19 tests, and Americans will be able to begin ordering the tests online on Jan. 19 at COVIDtests.gov. This is part of the administration’s effort […]
Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Scholarship deadline is February 1
The Missouri State Fair and the Youth in Agriculture Committee are accepting applications for Youth in Agriculture scholarships for Missouri high school seniors graduating in 2022. The application form can be found on the Fair’s website. Applications should be submitted to the Missouri State Fair and must be postmarked by February 1, 2022. Applicants must submit […]
U.S. Supreme Court considers new limits on abortions in Mississippi case
(Missouri Independent) – The Supreme Court is weighing potentially sweeping changes to the right to an abortion, after two hours of arguments Wednesday morning on a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court’s conservatives, who hold a 6-3 majority, appeared through their questions to be sympathetic to Mississippi’s arguments […]
Federal vaccine mandate for health care workers in 10 states blocked by judge
(Missouri Independent) – Enforcement of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for millions of health care workers was blocked in 10 states on Monday, after a ruling by a federal judge in Missouri. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp affects the states involved in the lawsuit, including Missouri. The others are Iowa, Kansas, New […]
Missouri agriculture awards presented during 49th Governor’s Conference on agriculture
Six agriculture leaders from across Missouri were recognized by Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe and Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn during the 49th Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture. The award recipients were honored at the Missouri Agriculture Awards Luncheon for their commitment, service, and impact on Missouri agriculture. “It is a privilege to recognize these individuals […]
2021 Schedule for Holiday Hoops at Ketcham Community Center in Trenton set for tip-off on December 18
The schedule is set and the countdown is on for the 17th annual North Central Missouri College Foundation sponsored High School Holiday Hoops. The 2021 edition of Holiday Hoops will tip-off at the Ketcham Community Center in Trenton with a total of 79 teams representing 41 Missouri high schools. Games will begin on Saturday, December […]
Climate funds in infrastructure bill aimed at drought, wildfires, floods
(Missouri Independent) – The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure bill isn’t just about roads and bridges — it also spends billions to address wildfire, drought, flooding, and other effects from climate change, Interior Department officials said Wednesday. The $1.2 trillion measure, which is awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature after the House cleared it last week, includes pay […]
Missouri to provide credit monitoring for teachers after reporter found security flaw
(Missouri Independent) – Nearly a month after a reporter identified a security flaw in a state website that exposed teachers’ social security numbers, the state announced Wednesday it was offering a year of credit monitoring services to hundreds of thousands of teachers whose personal information was put at risk According to the Department of Elementary […]
White House says “Easing of supply chain problems to start with backed-up seaports”
(Missouri Independent) – The first seaport to improve its facilities following passage of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill could be in Savannah, Ga., a senior Biden administration official said Tuesday. President Joe Biden has yet to sign the measure, which Congress sent to Biden’s desk late last week, funding improvements in highways, transit, ports, waterways, airports, […]
Agriculture Secretary: Biden Administration ‘protecting animal agriculture’ with methane reduction plans
(Missouri Independent) – Reducing the number of livestock will not be a priority for the Biden administration as it seeks to drastically cut methane emissions to stem climate change, according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Instead, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “climate-smart” initiatives will focus on new types of animal feed and manure […]
Audio: Missouri’s longest standing police chief speaks against Second Amendment Preservation Act
Missouri is making national news once again, this time regarding a controversial gun law. You may remember back in June when Governor Mike Parson signed into law the Second Amendment Preservation Act. Missourinet’s Joey Parker recaps what the act means and why it has some pro-gun rights supporters speaking out against it. The […]
Audio: Seventh District State Representative Rusty Black on legislation, vaccine mandates and schools
Seventh District State Representative Rusty Black is finishing his fifth year in the legislature. He says he has gotten into a niche with a group of people who work with him on legislation. He is on the Missouri State Employee Retirement System Board of Trustees. He reports there is a piece of legislation he has […]
Missouri’s governor continues attack on reporter who found security flaw in state website
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri Gov. Mike Parson once again on Sunday took aim at a reporter who notified the state of a security flaw in one of its websites, questioning the journalist’s motives and noting he’d support the prosecution of any state employee found to have assisted the reporter. In a TV interview with Scott Faughn, […]
ALPLA to build new facility in Kansas City, creating 75 new jobs
ALPLA Inc., North America announced it will break ground on a new manufacturing plant in Kansas City, Missouri, creating 75 new jobs. The new facility will be the company’s fourth site in Missouri and the first dedicated to injection molding. “ALPLA’s decision to grow in Missouri demonstrates our state’s ability to support companies with our highly […]
Cybersecurity expert demands apology from Missouri governor over hacking claims
(Missouri Independent) – A cybersecurity expert targeted for investigation by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is demanding a public apology and payment for his costs for legal help and damage to his reputation. Shaji Khan, an associate professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the director of its Cybersecurity Institute made the demand in a letter sent […]
Governor Parson doubles down on push to prosecute reporter who found security flaw in state site
(Missouri Independent) – Gov. Mike Parson escalated his war with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Wednesday when his political operation published a video doubling down on his attack against a reporter who informed the state that a state website revealed teacher Social Security numbers. The video is produced by Uniting Missouri, a political action committee created by […]
Democrats say Missouri governor inflating cost of fixing website flaw found by reporter
(Missouri Independent) -When Gov. Mike Parson last week angrily called for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to be prosecuted for uncovering security flaws on a state agency website, he said the newspaper’s actions could “cost Missouri taxpayers up to $50 million.” That amount, two Democrats on the House Budget Committee said Tuesday, is an estimate for providing […]