Due to COVID-19, many are choosing to celebrate Thanksgiving in smaller groups this year. That could mean a lot of people will be preparing a turkey and all the trimmings on their own for the first time. “I remember the first time that I prepared a Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey and all the side […]
(Missouri Independent) – President-elect Joe Biden’s coronavirus response plan seeks to put a national mask mandate in place by calling on all governors to require face coverings in their states. It’s a move that public health experts say could dramatically reduce the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths. But putting wider mask laws in place […]
(Missouri Independent) – Across Missouri, local election officials have received 628,395 mail-in and absentee ballots, according to the Secretary of State’s Oct. 27 report. Already, that’s more than twice the total absentee ballots counted in the November 2016 election. While many Missourians have already voted by mail or in-person absentee, many more will head out […]
Attorney General Schmitt announced an update to a global settlement framework agreement between state attorneys general, local subdivisions, and the opioid manufacturer Mallinckrodt (MNK), its subsidiaries, and certain other affiliates. Under the new settlement, MNK will pay $1.6 billion into a trust as described below. MNK is currently the largest generic opioid manufacturer in the […]
The North Mercer R-3 Board of Education the evening of Monday, October 12th set graduation and approved supplemental coaching responsibilities. The graduation is scheduled for the afternoon of May 9th, 2021 at 2 o’clock. Supplemental coaching responsibilities included retired teacher Dave Fuller to continue as the head boys and girls track coach. Fuller has directed […]
U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison, at a joint press conference with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith, announced that 518 arrests have been made by local and federal law enforcement officers in Operation LeGend. “On behalf of the team of federal law enforcement agencies involved in this groundbreaking initiative, I […]
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released an audit of Jackson County government that found a lack of transparency in how the county spent millions of taxpayer dollars on legal, lobbying, and other professional services. The audit identified $2.7 million in contracts that were not competitively bid and another $1.3 million in contracts that went years […]
The city of St. Joseph has issued an emergency order requiring individuals to wear masks or face coverings at all indoor public places. The order began today and will be in place for 30 days. St. Joseph Mayor Bill McMurray says the number of COVID-19 patients at Mosaic Life Care is what prompted the expansion of the […]
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Chillicothe Mayor Theresa Kelly will join other local officials at City Hall on Wednesday, Sept.23, 2020, at 11:00 am to promote the safety of in-person voting and the new 2020 absentee and mail-in voting options. The public is encouraged to attend the event on the front steps of City […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds Missourians ages 16 and older they may obtain their hunter-education certification through an all-online format. The online option allows Missourians ages 16 and older to complete their certification at their convenience at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The all-online format is available at https://www.hunter-ed.com/missouri/. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in-person […]
The Chillicothe City Council did not accept a request the night of Monday, August 31st to repeal an ordinance regarding rezoning. City Administrator Darin Chappell reports 420 Martin Street was rezoned from R-3 to MU-1 about three weeks ago, and neighbors the night of Monday, August 31st night asked for the zoning to be reverted […]
Several bills become law today that the Missouri Legislature passed during the second regular session of the 100th General Assembly. Here is a snapshot of the top bills approved by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Mike Parson: Partial motorcycle helmet law repeal House Bill 1963 is a sweeping transportation bill allowing motorcycle drivers 26 years and […]
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office announced that the Office has reached a settlement with the City of Marshfield after the Office sued the city for allegedly enforcing a traffic ticket quota. The consent judgment, which provides strong injunctive relief, was signed and entered by the judge Thursday afternoon. “As a State Senator, I helped pass […]
On November 6, 2018, Missouri voters passed Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution, establishing a medical marijuana program in Missouri. Article XIV requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to protect the trade secrets of medical marijuana businesses as well as patients’ information by keeping that information confidential. Article XIV Section 1.3.(5) of the […]
The Missouri Legislature’s Joint Committee on Education is drafting a letter to send to Gov. Mike Parson to request temporary removal of school districts serving as the gatekeeper of Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program, or MOCAP. Due to COVID-19, more families are choosing to move their kids to virtual learning. During a committee […]
Missouri’s health director says it’s important to target younger residents with a specific message of the importance of wearing a mask and social distancing. State Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams told Capitol reporters on Tuesday that he had a discussion with White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, […]
A Missouri House committee voted to raise the age of certifying juvenile offenders as adults to a minimum of 16 years old. In an amendment to O’Fallon Rep. Nick Schroer’s H.B. 12, the Republican-led panel upped the age from 14, making the bill more palatable to Democrats. The House Committee on Criminal Justice, led by […]
Cole County Judge Pat Joyce has ordered the ballot summary in a Cleaner Missouri legislative redistricting plan must change. In a judgment issued Monday, Joyce says the Amendment 3 ballot description is “misleading, unfair, and insufficient” and therefore in violation of state law. The Republican-dominated Missouri Legislature passed the proposed Constitutional amendment, SJR38, this year, […]
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education set the district’s tax rate prior to the regular board meeting the evening of Tuesday, August 11th. The proposed property tax rate was approved at $4.4135. That includes $3.5135 for the Incidental Fund and 90 cents for the debt service. This year’s tax levy is 28.65 cents higher than […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a new annual survey of farmers, ranchers, and private forestland owners. The survey will help USDA understand what it is doing well and where improvements are needed, specifically at the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Risk Management Agency. A selection of 28,000 producers will receive […]
