Governor Mike Parson and the Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Health and Senior Services, and Social Services announced the consolidation of several early childhood programs across state government into a single Office of Childhood. The new office will be housed by DESE and provide a comprehensive approach to early childhood care and education, […]
Tag: priority
Video: Governor Parson delivers 2021 State of the State Address
Governor Mike Parson delivered the 2021 State of the State Address to the Missouri General Assembly. Governor Parson highlighted several accomplishments the state has made in combating COVID-19 as well as major successes in infrastructure and workforce development despite the challenges of the past year. Following a recap of 2020, Governor Parson’s speech focused […]
Audio: Four members of Gangster Disciples from Missouri arrested along with three from Kentucky and Illinois
Seven alleged members of the violent Gangster Disciples gang, including top national and state leaders, are in custody after multiple arrests this morning for their alleged participation in a years-long interstate racketeering conspiracy involving multiple murders, drug trafficking, and other crimes. The case was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District […]
Health departments in Missouri fighting a lack of vaccine as new tiers open up on state COVID-19 plan
Wondering where to go to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Missouri? On Friday, the state launched an interactive map detailing where over 1,100 providers are located across the state. But not all locations identified on the map as providing the vaccine, actually have vaccines on hand to administer. And reports that the federal government has already exhausted its […]
Feds tell states to give COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 65 and older in bid to speed rollout
(Missouri Independent) – The Trump administration on Tuesday directed state officials to expand who is getting vaccinated for COVID-19, and announced that all available doses will be distributed to states instead of holding back a reserve of follow-up doses. Under the policy changes outlined by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, states should begin […]
Three-vehicle crash totals highway patrol vehicle on Interstate 35 near Eagleville
A Patrol trooper and another man sustained minor injuries in a three-vehicle accident two miles south of Eagleville on Thursday night, January 7th that involved a patrol emergency vehicle en route to a priority call and a tractor-trailer truck. Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, 29-year-old Dylan Wilburn of Saint Joseph, and the driver of another […]
Audio: Missouri foster care and adoption bills moving forward
The new Missouri House Speaker is moving quickly on his top priority of foster care and adoption legislation. Arnold Republican Rob Vescovo was sworn-in Wednesday at the Capitol in Jefferson City and focused on both issues during his address. He wants the Legislature to expand Missouri’s adoption tax credit. The Missouri House Children […]
Audio: Missouri Director of Agriculture says supporting small processors a priority in 2021
Missouri’s Director of Agriculture says funding for small meat processors will continue to be a priority in 2021. Chris Chinn tells Brownfield roughly $20 million of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding for the state went towards improving existing small and medium processors and building new ones. “We could also see, approximately, maybe […]
Audio: K-12 Education Commissioner says boosting teacher pay remains a top priority
Missouri’s average teacher salary is roughly $42,000 – ranking it about 42nd in the nation. The state’s starting teacher pay of $25,000 has not been changed in 15 years. State Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven (van-DEE-ven) tells Missourinet boosting pay for K-12 educators remains a top priority for her department. Vandeven says her agency […]
Year In Review: Missouri’s Governor highlights successes in 2020
As 2020 comes to a close, Governor Mike Parson highlights the state’s many successes and accomplishments despite the challenges of the past year. “Although 2020 has brought many challenges, we remained committed to serving the people of this state and moving Missouri forward,” Governor Parson said. “We still made great strides in advancing Missouri’s economy, workforce, and […]
No charges to be filed against Cleveland officers over 2014 shooting of Tamir Rice
The Justice Department announced that the career prosecutors reviewing the independent federal investigation into the fatal shooting of Tamir Rice on Nov. 22, 2014, in Cleveland, Ohio, found insufficient evidence to support federal criminal charges against Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) Officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback. The department notified counsel for Mr. Rice’s family […]
Department of Justice files lawsuit against Walmart for Controlled Substances Act violations
A civil complaint filed by the Department of Justice has alleged that Walmart Inc. unlawfully dispensed controlled substances from pharmacies it operated across the country and unlawfully distributed controlled substances to those pharmacies throughout the height of the prescription opioid crisis. The complaint alleges that this unlawful conduct resulted in hundreds of thousands of violations […]
NCMC Foundation announces receipt of “Gifts in Action” donation; campus to close for winter break
The North Central Missouri College Foundation announces it received a Gifts in Action donation from JK Farms to establish the John Kuttler Agriculture Scholarship. The scholarship honors the memory of the local farmer and community leader. The first John Kuttler Scholarship will be awarded in fall 2021. To qualify, NCMC students must be enrolled full-time, […]
Bridge on Highway 190 over Thompson River in Livingston County opens to two-way traffic
The bridge on Highway 190 over the Thompson River in Livingston County reopened to two-way traffic on December 18th. It was the 100th bridge opened through Governor Mike Parson’s Focus on Bridges Program created to repair or replace 250 of the state’s poorest bridges. It was the 21st bridge completed in the Missouri Department of […]
Audio: Rapid COVID-19 tests delivered to 290 Missouri K-12 schools; teachers expected to get vaccinated in February or March
Rapid COVID-19 tests have been delivered to about 290 Missouri K-12 public and private schools. State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Spokesperson Mallory McGowin says an initial shipment of the BinaxNOW antigen tests have been distributed to them – for good reason. Another 95 schools are awaiting a shipment of the tests. […]
Audio: Independent 53-page report on Missouri Veterans Homes shows failure of leadership, response and planning
An independent investigation into the COVID-19 deaths at Missouri veterans homes has found that the Missouri Veterans Commission headquarters failed to recognize the outbreak. Armstrong Teasdale’s report says MVC should have recognized the presence of an outbreak in the Cape Girardeau veteran’s home by September 2. MVC Chairman Tim Noonan says a tremendous amount of […]
NCMC Foundation announces Bill Ausmus Faculty/Staff Mini-Grant Recipient
North Central Missouri College Foundation announces the fall 2020 recipient of the Bill Ausmus Faculty/Staff Mini-Grant. Student Support Service (SSS) Assistant Director Tocarra Williams’s proposal for assistive technology for students with learning barriers has been granted full funding. Mrs. Williams’s grant application requested funding to purchase two digital tools to assist students with dyslexia and […]
North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission confirms receipt of $25 million award from NRCS
The North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission was notified of an award of $25 million from the Natural Resources Conservation Service to fund the design and construction of the East Locust Creek Reservoir. In addition, Senator Roy Blunt announced the approval of an appropriation from the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, […]
Missouri Job Centers move to appointment only openings, require masks at all locations
The Missouri Office of Workforce Development has issued a new policy within all Job Centers across the state to help protect staff and customers from spreading COVID-19. Beginning Friday, Nov. 20, all Job Centers will be open for in-person services by appointment only. Staff have been wearing masks, but now customers will also be required […]