On Friday, February 26, 2021, Governor Mike Parson granted 15 pardons and two commutations pursuant to Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official clemency documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and are being sent to the individuals. Governor Parson has instructed his legal team to continue reviewing clemency files […]
(Missouri Independent) – Last week, multiple mass vaccination events in rural areas neared the end of the day with hundreds of doses still on hand — prompting health departments to take to social media and encourage anyone to come for fear doses would be wasted. “We have ample vaccine still available that needs to be […]
Missouri voters could decide who sits on the state board of education – not the governor. Eureka Republican Representative Dottie Bailey is proposing to let voters choose board members during each general election of a presidential election year. A House committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the measure. St. Louis Democrat Ian […]
People with concealed carry permits could be allowed to take firearms into Missouri places like government buildings, polling places, churches, public hospitals, and public colleges. During a Missouri House committee hearing Monday, Representative Jered Taylor of Nixa says he is proposing eliminating some gun-free zones. Taylor says permit holders could help protect the […]
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Ben Cardin (Md.) have introduced a measure to permanently extend the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), which has created jobs and driven investment in neighborhoods with high poverty and unemployment rates. The New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act (S.456) will permanently authorize a 39 percent federal tax credit for […]
The governor’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year includes a two percent pay increase for state workers beginning next January. Trevor Foley, with the Missouri Department of Corrections, says the request is welcomed. Governor Parson’s budget proposal also includes an additional two percent pay increase for three cook classes and an extra […]
Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services signed the standing order for Janssen Biotech, Inc. COVID-19 vaccine administration after a review of preliminary recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “We are incredibly appreciative to be receiving additional vaccines in Missouri, and we remain committed […]
The Missouri Public Defender System has a waiting list of about 2,000 low-income people requesting legal services. Governor Parson’s next state budget proposal attempts to reduce that list by requesting 1.1 million dollars to hire 16 extra attorneys. During a House Budget Committee hearing this week, Director Mary Fox says the office’s caseload is growing […]
A one-point-nine-trillion-dollar pandemic relief package heads to the U-S Senate after approval by the Democratic-controlled U.S. House. The plan featuring $1,400 stimulus checks passed early Saturday with no Republican support. Missouri GOP Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler says it’s “serving as an excuse to spend our tax money on unnecessary things completely unrelated to the […]
The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Spickard man on February 25th. Fifty-three-year-old Richard Tharp was arrested for. failure to appear in court on misdemeanor property damage. Tharp’s bond is $1,045 cash only and he is scheduled for the Associate Division of Circuit Court on March 9th.
Governor Mike Parson granted 15 pardons and two commutations pursuant to Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official pardon documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and are being sent to the individuals. In the interest of privacy, the Governor’s Office will not immediately release the individuals’ […]
(Missouri Independent) – About 137,700 registered voters in Missouri did not have a state-issued identification in 2017, according to an analysis from the Secretary of State’s Office. Another 140,000 voters had expired IDs, and 2,000 more voters had forfeited their driver’s licenses. Under a bill passed Wednesday in the Missouri House, those registered voters would either have to […]
Governor Mike Parson announced that Phase 1B – Tier 3 of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Plan will be activated on Monday, March 15, 2021. “Missouri has had a vaccine plan since October, and this has not changed. We have been very disciplined in following our plan,” Governor Parson said. “With vaccine supply steadily increasing, we […]
Since last week, Spickard R-2 School students have not met at the school due to a frozen water pipe. Superintendent Kristi Weldon notes the pipe is under the road on city property near the school. Classes were not held on February 19th, and school was held at the Spickard First Christian Church on February 22nd. […]
Governor Mike Parson has appointed a Trenton resident to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. C. Phillip Hoffman’s appointment was one of five appointments Parson announced to boards and commissions on February 24th. Hoffman worked for his family’s agriculture input supply business since 1976. GFG Agriservices acquired the family business in 2014. He and his […]
The House moved to ban the use of eminent domain for a large wind-energy power line planned to span from Kansas to Indiana. In a voice vote on Tuesday, lawmakers approved legislation that would prevent the use of private land for the Grain Belt Express power line without property owners’ permission. The high-voltage […]
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced he will introduce new legislation to give blue-collar workers a pay raise. For nearly four decades, workers making below the median wage have experienced stagnant wages, and this past year, the problem has been made worse by unprecedented layoffs, reduced hours, and income disruptions due to the government shutting down […]
The Chillicothe Fire Department was called to extinguished a brush fire. Just past midnight, firefighters arrived at 437 Vine Street and saw a brush pile at the rear of the property and near a house. Approximately 150 gallons of water were used to put out the brush fire with no property damage reported by the […]
(Missouri Independent) – The plan for distributing money directly to Missouri counties in the current version of the $1.9 trillion federal coronavirus relief bill is pretty simple – each gets $195.44 per person. But for cities, instead of a formula based on population, Congress divvies up the money using the method for determining Community Development Block Grant allocations. […]
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees approved multiple personnel matters on Tuesday evening, February 23rd. One personnel matter involved the resignation of the Director of Admissions and Marketing Kristie Cross. Her last day on campus will be March 19th. She will then take vacation time, and her official last day will be May […]
