(Missouri Independent) -The U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of the Biden administration’s last-ditch effort to extend a federal ban on evictions has put hundreds of thousands of American renters at risk of losing their housing — and is increasing pressure on states and localities to get rental assistance dollars distributed faster. In an eight-page majority opinion […]
Tag: residential
Missouri Public Service Commission sets deadline in Empire District Gas rate case
The Missouri Public Service Commission has established the deadline for those wishing to intervene and participate in a natural gas rate case filed by The Empire District Gas Company d/b/a Liberty. Applications to intervene and participate in this case must be filed no later than September 27, 2021, with the Secretary of the Missouri Public […]
Empire District Gas Company files request to increase natural gas charge
On August 23, 2021, The Empire District Gas Company (d/b/a “Liberty”) filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to adjust natural gas base rates. The new rates would take effect in 2022 and reflect Liberty’s efforts to maintain a safe, reliable natural gas system, enhance the customer experience, and expand support for limited-income […]
Highway Patrol provides a summary of new laws related to public safety, transportation, watercraft, & protection of children
The abbreviated descriptions below are intended to make the public aware of some of the new legislation enacted by the Missouri General Assembly, which is related to crime and motor vehicles. The listed legislation has been signed into law. Unless otherwise noted, these laws will go into effect on August 28, 2021. SB 26 PROVISIONS […]
U.S. House Democrats unveil new voting rights bill named for John Lewis
(Missouri Independent) – At the base of the bridge in Selma, Ala., where the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia almost died while marching for civil rights, congressional Democrats announced Tuesday the introduction of legislation that aims to protect voting rights across the country. Rep. Terri Sewell, an Alabama Democrat, unveiled what will be […]
Missouri agency begins implementation of new law to regulate unlicensed boarding schools
(Missouri Independent) – Unlicensed youth residential facilities across Missouri are expected to submit materials notifying the state of their existence by mid-October, but background checks for facility staff required under a new law likely won’t be completed by that time. That’s because the Department of Social Services (DSS) is still working to make hires in […]
Trenton Building and Nuisance Board adds two locations to list of nuisances
Trenton’s Building and Nuisance Board on Monday evening added two locations to the list of nuisances. One location is the fire-damaged house at 208 East 10th Street belonging to Michael Airey. Building Inspector Wes Barone described damages to a wall and roof as extensive enough that the structure needs to be torn down. The other […]
Trenton City Council defeats proposed electric rate increase; rejects designation of downtown historic district
The Trenton City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to reject the designation of the downtown historic district as currently written, which would have created a new section in the city code. On a split vote, the city council defeated a proposed increase in the electric system base rate. Narrow approval was given on another […]
Authorities respond to domestic violence call involving a gun; burglary investigation leads to arrest of Trenton man
Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox reports no one was arrested after officers responded to a call of an alleged domestic violence in progress the night of July 22, in which a male was reportedly pointing a handgun at a victim. The Highway Patrol and a Chillicothe Police officer also responded to a home in the north […]
Trenton City Council to look at increasing base electric rate to $21.00
While no official recommendation was made due to the lack of a quorum Tuesday night for the Trenton Utility Committee, the City Council will take a look at increasing the base electric rate by seven dollars for residential customers in Trenton. This is primarily a monthly charge for having an electric meter. The current rate […]
Evergy customers to see slight decrease in monthly electric bills
The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a request filed by Evergy Missouri West and Evergy Missouri Metro to adjust the Demand Side Investment Mechanism (DSIM) charge on customer bills. The charge is a separate line item on customer bills. The charge is designed to allow Evergy Missouri West to recover demand-side management program costs […]
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 […]
Trenton City Council responds to concerns over residential trash pickup
Much of the discussion during Monday night’s Trenton City Council meeting involved discussion on trash service complaints. City administrator Ron Urton provided a list of recent complaint calls received by city hall detailing addresses that experienced issues. Two members of the public, Larry Huffstutter and Gaylon McCorkle voiced their concerns. Responses were provided by Rapid […]
Bob Griffin, longest-serving Missouri House speaker, has died at age 85
(Missouri Independent) – Bob F. Griffin, who served as speaker of the Missouri House for 15 years until he was forced to resign in the face of a federal criminal investigation, died Wednesday in Columbia. He was 85. Griffin was the longest-serving speaker in the state’s history. During his tenure as speaker from 1981 to 1996, the […]
USDA invests $910,000 to improve rural water infrastructure in Jackson County
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $910,000 to modernize rural drinking water infrastructure in Jackson County, benefitting nearly 3.000 rural Missourians. “Every community, large and small, needs safe, reliable access to necessities like clean water,” Thomas said. “Rural Development congratulates Public Water Supply […]
Trenton City Council addresses complaints on residential trash pickup, approve bid for water plant
After discussing trash service complaints received by councilmen and the staff of Trenton City Hall, the Trenton City Council on Monday night requested the owner of Rapid Removal Disposal to attend an upcoming meeting of the council. Administrator Ron Urton, who brought up the topic, said the city does the residential billing for Rapid Removal […]
House destroyed by fire in Chillicothe
Chillicothe firefighters were sent to 904 Trenton Street Sunday evening for a fire at a one-story residential structure. Heavy smoke and fire was seen coming from all the windows when the fire department arrived at the scene at 7:10 pm. The house was considered a total loss. Fire Captain Derrick Allen reported approximately two thousand […]
Biden-Harris administration extends moratorium of residential evictions in USDA multifamily housing communities
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended through July 31, 2021, the moratorium on evictions of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who live in multifamily housing communities supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “The United States is recovering from a nationwide housing affordability crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s […]
Missouri Attorney General obtains $150,000 Medicaid fraud settlement
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has obtained a $150,000 settlement against a former Poplar Bluff Medicaid provider for falsely billing services that weren’t provided. “My Office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit works tirelessly to root out, investigate, and prosecute instances of Medicaid fraud across the state of Missouri,” […]
After winter cold snap drove up natural gas prices, utilities grapple with who should pay
(Missouri Independent) – Penalties that Spire Missouri issued to suppliers who failed to provide natural gas during a February cold snap that forced power outages across the Midwest could drive bills for hospitals, schools, and businesses to astronomical levels, according to a trio of complaints pending before state regulators. During the worst of the cold snap in February, […]