(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday dealt a blow to the Biden administration’s fight against the pandemic, blocking a federal mandate that workers be vaccinated or regularly tested for COVID-19 — though the court allowed a separate rule requiring vaccinations for some health care workers. The two rulings represented a split victory for Republican attorneys general […]
The Livingston County Health Center reports 10 COVID-19 cases have been added since January 10th, bringing the total to 2,729. There are 114 active cases. The Sullivan County Health Department on January 11th confirmed 10 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 1,429. There were 43 active cases. The Linn County Health Department reports it […]
Due to the increase in demand for COVID-19 testing, the Department of Health and Senior Services and partners are continuing to bring additional free community testing sites to St. Louis and Kansas City. At this time, these are scheduled as drive-through testing events. Some sites require pre-registration and scheduling; others allow walk-ins. The schedule of […]
(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared unconvinced Friday of the Biden administration’s authority to impose a vaccine-or-test mandate on private businesses, casting doubt on a key piece of the White House COVID-19 response. The justices seemed potentially more comfortable with another Biden administration rule to fight the virus that requires certain […]
Milan Police Chief Gail Hayes reports a Milan man has been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance after a traffic stop on January 4th. Rosauro Hernandez is being held at the Sullivan County Jail, and his bond is $15,000 cash only. Hayes says the Milan Police Department stopped Hernandez at the intersection of […]
The Gallatin R-5 Board of Education approved new COVID-19 protocols December 16th. The protocols include continuing to notify close contacts when a positive case occurs in a classroom. Any individual who has possible COVID-19 symptoms should stay at home until they have proof of a negative COVID-19 test, an alternate diagnosis from a physician, or […]
Christmas and the New Year are almost here and everyone at the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department wants you to have the best time ever. They also want you to be safe and think ahead. Sheriff Cox and his staff ask you to consider the following: Traffic safety is a priority. The highways will be jammed […]
(Missouri Independent) – As a growing number of Missouri school districts drop COVID mitigation measures under threat from Attorney General Eric Schmitt, at least two closed the doors on their fall semester early due to large numbers of staff and students out sick. Meanwhile, local public health departments said Tuesday they still have not heard […]
Landowners who purchased Missouri property in 2021 paid more for land than buyers who purchased land in 2020, according to the latest Missouri Farmland Values Opinion Survey report from the University of Missouri Extension. Agricultural economist Ray Massey, who led the survey, projects the upswing in land values will continue. He says higher land values […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education on December 14th heard about the implementation of the SafeDefend system for the district. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported employee training for the system was December 6th. Law enforcement and fire and rescue members were also invited to participate. On-site employees were fingerprinted into the system, and it is now […]
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education approved the renewal of liability and property insurance December 13th. The insurance is through CPSK and the Missouri Public Entity Risk Management Fund for $77,762 total. That is an increase of $4,275 from the previous year. The board approved the annual auditor’s reports from Conrad and Higgins. A revised […]
The Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education approved changes to the COVID-19 policy on December 13th. The changes specifically involved shorter quarantine periods. The board also reapproved the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan. The 2020-2021 audit was approved. Superintendent Doctor Lucas McKinnis reports there were no findings or recommendations, and the […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new program to assist hog producers who sold hogs through a negotiated sale during the period in which these producers faced the greatest reduction in market prices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP) is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative and addresses […]
The Grundy County Health Department reports two additional COVID-19-related deaths. That brings the total to 56. Fifty-seven cases have been added since December 1st, making that total 1,904. There are 44 active cases. The Putnam County Health Department reports it has been made aware of 17 new COVID-19 cases since December 2nd. Two of those […]
The South Harrison R-2 School District issued a notice on December 7, 2021, regarding protocols for quarantining students due to COVID-19. The district reported that effective immediately, staff will contact trace a positive student upon being notified of the positive case, and district personnel will call parents and guardians about the possible exposure. Parents and […]
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA will make up to $800 million available to support biofuel producers and infrastructure. The announcement includes $700 million to provide economic relief to biofuel producers and restore renewable fuel markets affected by the pandemic. The Department will make the funds available through the new Biofuel Producer […]
(Missouri Independent) – The omicron variant of COVID-19 has made its way to Missouri, with the first case announced Friday. In a news release, the Department of Health and Senior Services said it was notified by public health partners of a presumed positive case for the variant that came from a St. Louis resident who […]
Twelve COVID-19 cases have been added for Grundy County since the health department’s update on the morning of December 1st. Health Department Administrator Elizabeth Gibson reports a total of 1,859 cases through December 1st. There have been 30 new cases this week. The number of active cases increased by nine to 36. Grundy County’s positivity […]
Amid cries of “Book Ban,” the North Kansas City School District is reversing its decision to ban two books from its library. The Missouri division of the American Civil Liberty Union wrote a letter to district officials Monday asking for the LGBTQ-positive books to be returned to the shelves. Students had also petitioned […]
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $358,270 to improve equitable access to safe housing for rural Missouri homeowners. USDA Rural Development has long partnered with various organizations, together making a larger impact in rural Missouri, Thomas said. The Housing Preservation Grant Program is […]
