The Missouri Legislature is getting to work on Governor Parson’s 47-billion dollar state budget proposal for the next fiscal year. State Senator Lincoln Hough has a problem with an item in the fellow Republican’s wish list that would create a 250-million-dollar reserve of funding. Hough represents the Springfield area in southwest Missouri. Hough, […]
Tag: problem
As Missouri looks to legalize recreational marijuana, expungement gets renewed attention
(Missouri Independent) – The push to legalize recreational marijuana use in Missouri is coming from multiple directions, with a handful of proposed initiative petitions and at least one bill, and potentially more, backed by Republican lawmakers. Each hopes to place the issue on the 2022 ballot for voter approval. And each proposal also includes a […]
Military medical team heads to St. Louis to support COVID care at Christian Hospital
(Missouri Independent) – St. Louis hospitals straining to keep up with a record-breaking number of COVID-19 cases will get some relief in the form of a military medical team. A 40-member team will begin arriving at BJC-Christian Hospital in North St. Louis County on Wednesday, a news release from BJC HealthCare stated. The St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic […]
With voting rights stalled, some senators mull an update to the Electoral Count Act
(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. […]
Agriculture secretary pressed about pandemic relief funds for farmers
(Missouri Independent) – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack faced questions on how his agency is doling out emergency pandemic aid and fostering collaboration with historically Black colleges during a Thursday hearing before the House Agriculture Committee. Committee Chairman David Scott, a Georgia Democrat, asked Vilsack for “critical updates on the implementation of pandemic relief programs, including […]
Missouri inmate, freed after serving more than 40 years, sues over medical care in prison
(Associated Press) – A Kansas City man released from prison after serving more than 40 years for a wrongful conviction is suing the company that provides medical care for Missouri prison inmates. Kevin Strickland alleges in his lawsuit that medical care provided by Corizon LLC officials left him dependent on a wheelchair and able to […]
Caldwell County Health Department to offer free TSH blood test
The Caldwell County Health Department in Kingston will offer a free thyroid-stimulating hormone blood draw test to recognize January as Thyroid Disease Awareness Month. The TSH screenings will be available on January 31st by appointment. The health department explains the TSH test can determine if someone’s thyroid gland is working correctly. The test can tell […]
Graves, Huffman introduce “Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act”
Congressman Sam Graves and Congressman Jared Huffman introduced the bipartisan Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act to rescue rural hospitals on the brink of bankruptcy and help put these critical care providers back on solid ground. “This isn’t a new problem. Our rural hospitals have been struggling to keep their doors open to patients for years,” said […]
Task force recommends ways to help Missouri small businesses with workforce, supply chain and other problems
A statewide task force is recommending a variety of ways intended to help small businesses in Missouri with a workforce, supply chain, funding, and broadband problems. The suggestions include improving childcare access and affordability, expanding hospitality industry apprenticeships, updating the Fast Track workforce grant program, and enhancing help for women and minority-owned businesses. […]
Missouri Attorney General joins others in working to stop international scam calls
The Missouri Attorney General urged the Federal Communications Commission to put in place measures that will help stem the tide of foreign-based illegal robocalls that attempt to scam Americans. “Combating annoying, and sometimes dangerous, robocalls is an important mission of the Attorney General’s Office. Using the latest technology and working with telecom partners to control […]
Audio: Missouri lawmaker expects several proposed bills that would limit local tax increases
A Missouri lawmaker expects several legislative bills proposed this session that would make it harder for cities to ask their voters for tax increases. State Representative Bill Falkner is chairing the state House Local Government Committee. Falkner tells Brent Martin he will focus on helping municipalities address their biggest need, recruiting and retaining quality workers. […]
Gallatin Board of Aldermen discuss 2022 budget and approve an agreement with Allstate Consultants
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen on December 13th approved an ordinance involving an agreement with Allstate Consultants LLC. The ordinance authorized the city to enter into an engineering service agreement for street and drainage improvements. City Administrator Lance Rains reported the City of Gallatin has received notice that D. A. Davidson and Company is willing […]
Missouri schools must comply with COVID ruling to win treasurer approval of bond deals
(Missouri Independent) – If school districts want to take advantage of a lower interest rate on bonds, Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is requiring them to certify compliance with a recent court ruling targeting local health orders before his office will approve of the deal. Fitzpatrick detailed the decision he described as “unprecedented” in an interview Wednesday […]
Missouri cattle producers say more competition needed to stay profitable
Meat prices have been on the rise, but family-farm advocates say higher profits haven’t been making their way to smaller cattle producers. Four companies control 85% of the beef supply, noted Darvin Bentlage, a cattle rancher and farmer in southwest Missouri. He said the executive order on promoting competition that President Joe Biden signed last summer is a […]
Trenton R-9 Board of Education hears presentation on implementation of SafeDefend system
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 […]
North Missouri Center for Youth and Families awarded grant for after school program
State Representative Rusty Black announces that the North Missouri Center for Youth and Families in Chillicothe has been selected to receive federal funding for comprehensive afterschool programs. Twenty grants were awarded through 21st Century Community Learning Center Cohort 12 Grant Program this year, with a total of 44 sites being selected to receive the funding. […]
Bipartisan Missouri legislation aims to provide a year of health care for new moms
(Missouri Independent) – Faced with over a year’s delay from the state social services department on implementing extended mental health care for new moms, a bipartisan effort now aims to expand health care coverage more broadly for low-income pregnant women. Legislation filed last week by Sens. Elaine Gannon, R-De Soto, and Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, would extend […]
Women would sign up for the military draft under defense bill in Congress
(Missouri Independent) – As the Senate works to finalize a major annual defense measure, there is a bipartisan push to include a requirement that all young Americans — including women — for the first time register for the military draft. The $777.9 billion measure, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022, also would allocate millions to […]
Mercer County Area Development Corporation receives grant
The MFA Oil Foundation has awarded a grant to the Mercer County Area Development Corporation to assist with purchasing electricity, lighting, and signage for the bandstand area. The MFA Oil Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations that are working to improve communities where MFA Oil has a significant concentration of members and employees. Since it […]
Groups identify barriers to rental assistance in Missouri
Groups working to keep Missouri residents in their homes since the pandemic began are trying to identify the barriers to receiving emergency rental assistance. As of September, the state had given less than 20% of the funds it was allocated from the American Rescue Plan, despite many Missouri renters facing financial hardships and eviction notices. Katherine Fenerson, […]