Second Harvest Food Bank

Second Harvest Community Food Bank receives $211,000 grant

The Second Harvest Community Food Bank has received a $211,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to assist the food bank with increased expenses due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Rural Health Care Grant will also facilitate mobile food distributions in Northwest Missouri. Emergency Rural Health Care Grants are part of […]

Spickard, Missouri

Spickard Board of Aldermen approve budget for 2022-2023

The Spickard Board of Aldermen approved the 2022-2023 budget at the Monday evening meeting. Total income for April 1st, 2022 to April 4th, 2023 is estimated to be $135,145.56. Total expenses are anticipated to be $115,514.23. The totals include American Rescue Plan Act, general sewer, and water funds. Spickard anticipates $24,516.95 in ARPA funds and […]

Budget Graphic

Record Missouri surplus likely to grow under $46.5B House budget plan

(Missouri Independent) – The biggest state budget in Missouri history could also leave the biggest surplus in state history when the next fiscal year ends. The Missouri House on Thursday sent 15 appropriation bills to the state Senate, one supplemental spending bill for the current fiscal year, and 14 spending $46.5 billion in the coming year. The […]

USDA US Department of Agriculture

USDA extends to May 11 the application deadline for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program funding

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Department is extending to May 11, 2022, the application deadline for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, which provides funding to expand meat and poultry processing capacity. The decision to extend the deadline comes after Rural Development heard directly from applicants about challenges with […]

President Joe Biden - (Official White House photo by Cameron Smith)

Biden urges city leaders to take advantage of billions in federal relief funds

(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden on Monday urged local and city governments to continue to use the $130 billion in funds allocated to them from the American Rescue Plan to help during the pandemic. The president of the National League of Cities, Vince Williams of Union City, Georgia, introduced the president to attendees of […]

Prison Sentence News Graphic

Arkansas man sentenced to 18 years in a Missouri prison for intent to engage in sexual conduct with a minor

An Arkansas man was sentenced to 18 years in prison for traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. On August 12, 2021, Jerrell West, 32, of Forrest City, Arkansas was found guilty by jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.  He was sentenced by […]

White House in Washington DC (Photo by Edoardo Cuoghi on UnSplash)

U.S. Senate Republicans attack Biden on energy costs, regulations after new inflation report

(Missouri Independent) – Nebraska’s Deb Fischer and fellow U.S. Senate Republicans slammed President Joe Biden on Thursday for the sharp rise in consumer prices, calling for policy shifts to increase U.S. energy supply, roll back regulations and curb spending. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday the consumer price index rose nearly 8% in February over the […]

Yellow School Bus Fleet (Licensed Via Envato Elements)

11 Missouri school districts receive a total of $535,000 in school bus rebate opportunities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the winners of two school bus rebate opportunities which include the 2021 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Electric School Bus Rebates, and the 2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebates.  The $7 million in ARP funding is directed toward school districts in underserved communities to replace old diesel […]

Delaney Embree and Jordan Jenkins participate in Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum

Delaney Embree and Jordan Jenkins participate in Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum

Delaney Embree and Jordan Jenkins were two of 60 collegiate students nominated to represent North Central Missouri College during the 37th Annual Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values held February 25-27, 2022, in Jefferson City, Missouri. The forum challenges students’ character development by encouraging them to reflect on their decision-making skills, values, […]

Life Flight Helicopter

Linn County crash sends one to hospital via Life-Flight helicopter

A two-vehicle accident involving pickup trucks on Thursday afternoon in eastern Linn County injured one driver. The crash happened on Highway 11 two miles west of New Boston. Seventy-one-year-old Robert Long of Kirksville received moderate injuries and was flown by a medical helicopter (Life Flight) to University Hospital in Columbia. The driver of the other […]

Broadband Internet Access

Missouri receives $42.2 million federal grant through the NTIA’s Broadband Infrastructure Program

The Department of Economic Development (DED) announced today that Missouri has been awarded a $42.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for broadband expansion. The funds received through the NTIA’s Broadband Infrastructure Program will be used for projects benefiting more than 13,000 households in 12 Missouri counties: […]

Generic City Water

Experts say federal funds for lead pipe replacement needed in Missouri

Missouri has roughly 330,000 lead service lines, the pipes connecting water mains to buildings including people’s homes, and federal funding could help speed up the process of removing and replacing them. The bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress last year includes $15 billion for lead-pipe replacement, building on funds from the American Rescue Plan. Erik D. Olson, senior strategic director at […]

Jamesport Missouri Website

Jamesport City Council approves building of new post office; review applications for city superintendent

The Jamesport City Council on February 14th approved moving forward with plans for sidewalk drains on the new building construction of a post office. John Kramer with Kramer Contracting presented blueprints describing the plans. The new post office is to be built where the previous post office was at Route F and Broadway Street. The […]

City of Trenton Website

Trenton City Council completes financing on water treatment plant improvements

The Trenton City Council Monday night adopted two ordinances and accepted three bids. Financing is complete on $2,500,000 to make improvements at the Trenton water treatment plant. The council voted six to nothing to enter into a lease-purchase transaction with Central Bank of the Midwest at Kansas City as the lessor and Missouri Association of […]

Network cables (RJ45 ) connected to a switch

Audio: Missouri on track to expand broadband internet access

Governor Mike Parson has announced plans to use more than $400 million to increase internet access to more Missourians. That money is from the American Rescue Plan Act (or ARPA) to increase broadband internet access, adoption of new programs and offer statewide assistance. BJ Tanksley is the director of the Missouri Office of Broadband Development […]