The Missouri Department of Agriculture, working in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and Missouri State University, has confirmed the first finding of an Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in Missouri. Missouri becomes the 16th state with a presence of the tick species, following the first confirmed report of the Asian […]
Tag: protect
State task force invites Missourians to complete survey on rights of sexual assault victims and survivors
A new state task force is seeking comments and suggestions from the public on how to strengthen protections and services for Missouri sexual assault victims. Comments and suggestions are being gathered through an online survey at this link. The survey closes on September 30, 2021. The Missouri Rights of Victims of Sexual Assault Task Force […]
Grundy County reports 15 new cases of COVID-19; Livingston and Mercer Counties report new cases as well
The Grundy County Health Department reports 15 new COVID-19 cases have been added since July 21st, bringing the total to 1,309. Of the 36 active cases, 14 involve residents between the ages of 40 and 64, 12 involve those from 20 to 39, eight involve those 19 or younger, and two involve residents at least […]
Twenty-two charged in connection with more than $11-million Paycheck Protection Program fraud scheme
Seventeen more individuals have been charged in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain approximately $11.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and to use those funds to purchase luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other personal items. According to court documents and statements made in court, between May and August 2020, the defendants submitted or […]
Coalition of lawmakers urge Biden administration to drop proposed tax hike on farm families
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), along with the entire Senate Republican caucus, sent a letter to President Biden urging him to abandon his effort to impose a capital gains tax increase on family-owned businesses, farms, and ranches. Repealing this part of the tax code would have a devastating effect on multi-generation operations, which could lead […]
Adair County becomes “COVID-19 Hotspot” according to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry have created COVID-19 Hotspot Advisories in light of the rapidly rising case counts in north-central and southwest Missouri, including Adair County which confirmed another 11 cases bringing their case count to 2670. The Hotspot Advisories are designed to keep […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to assaulting postal carrier
An Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to assaulting a postal carrier who was delivering his mail. Peter Harrington, 55, of Ozark, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to one count of assaulting an employee of the United States. By pleading guilty, Harrington admitted that he assaulted a U.S. Postal carrier […]
Blunt sponsors bipartisan senate effort to protect wildlife
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Martin Heinrich (N.M.) introduced the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) of 2021 to invest in proactive, on-the-ground conservation work led by states, territories, and Tribal nations to support the long-term health of fish and wildlife habitat all across America. “Missouri is home to some of the best hunting, […]
Governor Parson launches “MO VIP” campaign, giving vaccinated Missourians a chance at $10,000
Governor Mike Parson announced the launch of a statewide COVID-19 vaccination incentive program, MO VIP, to encourage vaccination among all Missourians age 12 and up. Over the next three months, 900 Missourians who have or will choose to be vaccinated will win cash or education savings account prizes in the amount of $10,000. “We understand […]
Securities division orders medical marijuana company to pay back Missouri investors
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Securities Division issued a consent order against Green Clinic, LLC, after selling unregistered, non-exempt securities to Missouri residents. Green Clinic was established in response to the November 2018 Missouri constitutional amendment creating the Missouri Medical Marijuana Program. From November 2018 to November 2019, Green Clinic sold $520,000 of unregistered securities […]
Missouri Attorney General joins coalition of 26 states in defending second amendment and right to self-defense in SCOTUS
Missouri Attorney General joins a coalition of 26 states to protect Americans’ right to self-defense at the United States Supreme Court. The states filed an amicus brief in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, urging the justices to declare New York’s subjective-issue, or “may issue,” firearm license regime unconstitutional and reverse the […]
Firefighters respond to house fire on Jasmine Road south of Princeton
Early Sunday morning, the Mercer County Fire Protection District responded with Spickard Fire and Rescue to a report of an electrical fire at a structure on Jasmine Road, south of Princeton. Upon arrival about 2:00 in the morning, smoke was coming from the eaves and attic vents of the residence. Firefighters were able to quickly […]
Stop Ransomware website: Government launches first one-stop ransomware resource
As part of the ongoing response, agencies across the U.S. government announced new resources and initiatives to protect American businesses and communities from ransomware attacks. The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, together with federal partners, have launched a new website to combat the threat of ransomware. The Stop Ransomware […]
Coalition of lawmakers introduce Intelligence Community Workforce Agility Protection Act
Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, helped introduce the Intelligence Community Workforce Agility Protection Act of 2021. Currently, active-duty members of the military can deduct certain moving expenses from their federal taxes, but that benefit does not extend to intelligence community professionals. The bipartisan bill would expand the […]
While Cedar County, Missouri awaits ruling in CAFO lawsuit, a large chicken operation moves in
(Missouri Independent) – When the attorney general’s office asked a judge in 2019 to lift a temporary restraining order blocking a Missouri law pre-empting county regulations on concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, that were stricter than the state’s, the argument was straightforward. No one was trying to build a large animal feeding operation in Cedar […]
Audio: Parson responds to Chicago travel restrictions on Missouri; says Missouri is not in COVID-19 crisis mode
Chicago has reinstated its COVID-19 travel order for Missouri. The windy city is requiring any unvaccinated people traveling from Missouri to get a negative coronavirus test result no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago or quarantine for a 10-day period upon arrival. During an event Tuesday in Jefferson City, Governor Parson weighed […]
Woman arrested for fake COVID-19 immunization and vaccination card scheme
A California-licensed homeopathic doctor was arrested for her alleged scheme to sell homeoprophylaxis (the controversial use of homeopathy as a preventive against serious infectious diseases) immunization pellets and to falsify COVID-19 vaccination cards by making it appear that customers had received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Moderna vaccine. Juli A. Mazi, 41, of […]
Missouri Attorney General obtains $26,000 in restitution for victims of Buchanan County contractor
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that Kansas-City-area contractor Brian S. Pummell will pay back over $26,000 in restitution to Missourians who paid Pummell for work he never performed. “Protecting consumers is an important duty of the Attorney General’s Office, and the dedicated investigators, hotline operators, and attorneys in the Consumer Protection Section of my […]
Governor Parson signs 13 remaining pieces of legislation into law
Governor Mike Parson has signed 13 remaining pieces of legislation into law, concluding bill singings for the 2021 legislative session. SB 26 – Public Safety Modifies several provisions related to public safety, including providing taxpayers with the ability to obtain injunctive relief if a local government decreases its police department’s budget by a prescribed amount […]
Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District responds to vehicle fire west of Trenton
The Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District responded to a vehicle fire two miles west of Trenton on Highway 6 the night of July 13th. Firefighter Derek Hert reports that, upon arrival, firefighters found light smoke coming from under the vehicle’s hood. The hood was opened, and a water extinguisher was used to put out […]