Missouri’s governor is pledging to move forward with Medicaid expansion because voters approved it in August. GOP Governor Mike Parson, who campaigned against Medicaid expansion, emphasized the issue during his State of the State Address. Medicaid is a federal and state program that assists with medical costs for residents with limited incomes. 53 […]
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 […]
Governor Parson has released today a proposed 34.1 billion dollar state operating budget. The governor announced his fiscal outline today in his annual state of the state address. The plan includes a two-percent pay raise on January 1 for Missouri’s roughly 53,000 state workers. Another 2.9 million dollars would boost pay in the Missouri Department […]
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees approved several personnel items on Tuesday evening, January 26th. Former Board Clerk/Secretary Vicki Weaver was granted emeritus status. She was an employee of NCMC for 36 years. She retired at the end of December. President Doctor Lenny Klaver noted in a nomination letter that Weaver “guided NCMC […]
Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn announced that 14 youth groups from across Missouri were awarded grants from the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s 2021 Building Our American Communities grant program. Six local chapters of the National FFA Organization and eight Missouri 4-H clubs statewide have been awarded funds for their community service projects this year. “It’s […]
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden is poised to send a sweeping immigration reform bill to Congress Thursday that would lay out a path for nearly 11 million undocumented people to obtain citizenship within eight years. Immigration has been one of the toughest issues for Congress to tackle, and the legislation’s fate is unclear in […]
A proposed biofuels rule from the EPA is getting criticism from ethanol supporters. The part of the rule ethanol supporters like would address E-15 labeling and infrastructure requirements and not act on 66 petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions. Growth Energy’s Chris Bliley tells Brownfield EPA’s proposed rule is in the middle between good and bad. […]
Two contentious K-12 education topics will be front and center Tuesday at the state Capitol in Jefferson City. The Missouri Senate Education Committee will consider Manchester Republican Andrew Koenig’s proposal that would let parents use tax credits to pay for things like private school tuition, tutoring, and school supplies. Supporters refer to this type of […]
The Chillicothe City Council approved ordinances on January 11th accepting a re-subdivision in the Industrial Park and declaring the Sliced Bread Building a historic landmark. The re-subdivision involves lots of two, four, and five in the Industrial Park. City Administrator Darin Chappell reports the subdivision effort was originally presented to the city more than 20 […]
The North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission has posted a Request for Qualifications for an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract for Phase 1A for timber harvest. This will be, likely, the smallest of multiple phases of timber harvest and tree clearing. It is approximately 90 acres where the future East Locust Creek Reservoir (ELCR) dam […]
The Grundy County Commission approved an employee classification change and accepted a resignation involving Grundy County Ambulance on December 29th. The employee classification change involved Sarah Crosson. She completed her paramedic training/certification to allow for the change. The resignation was from Emergency Medical Technician Lilly Simmons. Ambulance Director Steve Tracy and Billing Clerk Beth Leeper […]
The struggle is real for Missouri when it comes to a constant shortage of K-12 public school teachers. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) wants to ramp up its teacher workforce by seizing the opportunity in a relevant setting. Dr. Paul Katnik, the assistant commissioner of the Office of Educator Quality, says […]
The Fixing Access to Rural Missouri Bridge Program will replace 41 bridges primarily in Northern Missouri. The $26 million design-build project was enabled by receipt of a $20.7 million federal grant under the Competitive Highway Bridge Program. The Missouri Department of Transportation reports design-build is a delivery method that includes hiring one contracting team to […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposes registering pesticide products containing the new active ingredient trifludimoxazin, a vital additional tool in managing resistant weeds. Trifludimoxazin is an herbicide intended for pre-and/or post-emergent control of broadleaf and grass weeds. It can be applied by aircraft on citrus fruits, pome fruits, cereal grain (except rice), tree nuts, peanuts, […]
The Grundy County Commission approved COVID-19 fund allocations on December 15th and received several fiscal year 2021 budget proposals. COVID-19 Relief Fund approved expenses included for the Jewett Norris Library of $6,122.44, Grundy County $19,052.42, the Senior Tax Board $432.37, the Families and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled $9,181.97, the Sunnyview Nursing Home of $103,605.56, […]
U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) are introducing a bipartisan amendment to attach to must-pass legislation to be considered by Congress, which would provide $1,200 in direct payments to working-class adults and $500 to each of their children. This amendment, similar to what was passed in the CARES Act, would be attached to must-pass […]
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education approved a proposal for insurance on the evening of December 9th. The Missouri United School Insurance Council’s insurance will cost $36,206, which is an increase of $1,900 from last year. The board also approved an umbrella policy from MUSIC for an additional $5,000,000 of coverage for $1,533. The […]
The Grundy County Commission approved COVID-19 Relief Fund allocations for eight entities on December 8th. The Spickard R-2 School District was approved for $21,115.04, the Laredo R-7 School District $891.94, the Pleasant View R-6 School District $26,406.85, the Grundy County R-5 School District $30,720.28, Grundy County $8,162.46, the City of Trenton $1,845, North Central Missouri […]
With the Trenton City Council scheduled to vote tonight on whether to enact a face mask ordinance within the city, a discussion is expected on how such an ordinance will be enforced. An announcement was made Friday that the proposed ordinance on wearing a mask will come before the city council. Since then, some of […]
The Grundy County Commission Tuesday morning, December 1st approved allocating funding to repair the Muddy Creek Bridge on 28th Street. The county portion totals $49,510. Trenton City Administrator Ron Urton last week presented a tabulation of bids for repairs. Shannon Howe from the Howe Company and Urton will meet with the commission Tuesday morning, December […]
