After a heated floor debate that included numerous biblical references, the Missouri House voted Thursday afternoon to give final approval to a $34.1 billion state operating budget. The House budget does not contain funding for Medicaid expansion. The operating budget now heads to the Missouri Senate, and Medicaid expansion supporters hope senators will include the […]
The state of Missouri’s final phase of Covid-19 vaccination eligibility opens Friday, April 9 for residents 18 years and older. Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group in Trenton is now scheduling appointments for any established patient, 18 and older, who is interested in receiving the vaccine. Additional details about the final phase vaccination eligibility in the state […]
Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group in Trenton and Saint Luke’s Mercer County Clinic in Princeton are now scheduling COVID-19 vaccination appointments for established patients who fall under the Phase 2 population, as designated by the State of Missouri. Phase 2 opens vaccination eligibility to a much larger group of the population, including faculty and staff of […]
Legislation that requires a photo ID and the use of a paper ballot was given final approval by the Missouri House in Jefferson City on Thursday. The vote, primarily along party lines, was 109-48. House Bill 738 is sponsored by veteran State Rep. Don Rone (R-Portageville), who represents the Bootheel. Rone was unable to make it to the […]
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) could be required to report annually about the number of K-12 students with limited or no access to high-speed internet at home. During a House committee hearing, Representative Louis Riggs, R-Hannibal, said he is proposing to require the department to include the total number of students […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt joined a coalition of thirteen states in filing suit against the Biden Administration for imposing a moratorium on future oil and gas leasing and drilling permits on federal land. The lawsuit contends that the moratorium on leasing through the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and the Mineral Leasing Act […]
(Missouri Independent) – The House Budget Committee will submit its revisions to Gov. Mike Parson’s $34.1 billion state operating budget to the full House this week without the benefit of clear guidelines for spending new infusions of federal cash. The committee must also decide whether and how it will use a record general revenue surplus. The fund’s cash balance […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has announced a multistate settlement with Boston Scientific Corporation (Boston) to resolve allegations of deceptive marketing of its surgical mesh products for women. The settlement requires Boston to pay $188.6 million to 47 states and the District of Columbia to resolve allegations that it deceptively marketed transvaginal surgical mesh devices […]
Update 3/16/2021: According to Jordan Ferguson, the vaccine is only available to established patients of Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group, and Saint Luke’s Mercer County Clinic who fit within the Phase 1B – Tier 3 group, or any of the previously released higher-risk tier groups. Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group in Trenton and Saint Luke’s Mercer County Clinic […]
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Congressman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) reintroduced legislation in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to ease the burden active-duty military service members face when renewing concealed-carry licenses while stationed outside of their state of residency. The U.S. Military Right to Carry Act allows service members to renew their permits by […]
Edinburg will be a location for a blood drive this Friday. Community Blood Center will set up at the Edinburg Baptist Church on March 12th – accepting blood donations from 2 o’clock until 7 o’clock. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment by visiting the Red Cross website and using the four-digit code EH2W Additional […]
Joshlin and Addie Yoder of Leonard, Missouri, located in Shelby County have been selected as the recipients of the 2020 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award®. The award, named for renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, recognizes farmers, ranchers, and foresters who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private land. In Missouri, the $10,000 award […]
After about twelve hours of debate, the Missouri Senate refrained from voting overnight on a contentious K-12 public education package. There was some confusion towards the end that appeared to ultimately lead to the plan getting shelved – at least for now. Several changes were made over the course of the day and night. As […]
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 […]
(Missouri Independent) – Republican state Senators advanced sweeping legislation early Tuesday morning aimed at penalizing protestors who block streets, while also providing further protections for law enforcement under investigation for misconduct or excessive force. The bill also aims to prevent municipalities from decreasing the budgets for law enforcement agencies in Missouri by more than 12 percent over […]
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released a compilation of property seizures made under Missouri’s Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act (CAFA) in 2020. The Auditor’s report shows law enforcement officials seized an estimated $4.2 million worth of property in 502 seizures. In 2019, law enforcement officials seized approximately $5.9 million worth of property in 493 seizures. […]
Missouri adults are less educated today than nationally. That’s what state House Budget Committee members learned Wednesday during a hearing about Governor Parson’s next state budget proposal for Missouri’s colleges and universities. Higher Education and Workforce Development Department Commissioner Zora Mulligan says there have been many efforts to change this trend. Mulligan says […]
Missouri can fund up to 75% of school bus transportation costs, which currently total about $278 million. Under the governor’s and the Education Department’s new budget proposal, Missouri underfunds these expenses by about 185 million dollars. During a House Budget Committee hearing, St. Louis Democrat Peter Merideth asked the department’s Kari Monsees why 93 million […]
Bipartisan legislation aimed at improving safety on duck boats and other amphibious passenger vessels was unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate on Thursday. It was one of the first bills filed by U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) after he was sworn into office in January 2019. Hawley’s bill is very similar to one filed by former […]
The Sullivan County Health Department administered 100 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to residents at the North Central Rural Electric Coop in Milan on February 5th. The residents vaccinated were previously registered and met Phase 1A and Phase 1B Tiers 1 and 2 descriptions. The Moderna vaccine requires a second dose after 28 days […]
