(Missouri Independent) – Roy Blunt’s announcement that he won’t seek a third term certainly shook up Republican politics in Missouri, sparking nearly every GOP elected official in the state to publicly mull jumping into the campaign. Democrats aren’t immune from the speculation. While any Democrat would face an uphill fight, the chance of a messy […]
Tag: secretary
Senator Hawley calls for emergency Senate hearing on Biden administration’s handling of southern border crisis
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent letters to President Joe Biden and Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, calling for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to testify at a full Senate hearing, to be scheduled as soon as possible on the growing crisis at […]
Roy Blunt is out. So who’s in? A list of possible Missouri GOP senate candidates
(Missouri Independent) – Roy Blunt’s decision not to seek a third term in the U.S. Senate will have cascading effects across Missouri’s political universe. The state has no shortage of ambitious Republican officials, each of whom can make a legitimate claim at being the strongest candidate. So will the 2022 GOP primary turn into a […]
North Central Missouri Development Alliance holds election of officers
The North Central Missouri Development Alliance held an election of officers on March 9th. Cathie Smith was chosen as the board chair, and Phil Hoffman is the vice-chair. Jackie Soptic is secretary, and Doctor Lenny Klaver is treasurer. New board members are Tom Witten with BTC Bank and John Dolan as the City of Trenton […]
State agriculture officials recommend enhancements to USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers to Families Food Box program and recommend adjustments to improve the program’s effectiveness. “The Farmers to Families Food Box program has been a critical tool during the COVID-19 pandemic […]
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt announces retirement and will not seek re-election
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt announced he would not seek re-election to the United States Senate in 2022. The Missouri Republican Party reports it’s grateful for everything Senator Blunt has done for Missouri and The United States. Senator Blunt began his service to Missouri as the Greene County Clerk. This position would lead him to become […]
Audio: State Representative from Carrollton proposes legislation that would eliminate Missouri’s Presidential Preference Primary
Legislation to eliminate Missouri’s presidential preference primary has been heard in a House committee in Jefferson City. The bill is sponsored by State Representative Peggy McGaugh of northwest Missouri’s Carrollton, who says it would save state taxpayers nine-million dollars. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft supports McGaugh’s proposal. Missouri has used the presidential preference […]
Grundy County Commission accepting applications for Public Administrator
The Grundy County Commission on March 2nd approved an amendment to Public Administrator Jill Eaton’s resignation which is effective on March 9th. The commission has restarted the process of appointing an interim public administrator. Applications will be accepted for the position at the county clerk’s office until the position is filled. The county commission will […]
Maggie Fernandez is Putnam County Career and Technical Student of the Month
The Putnam County R-1 School District recently recognized Maggie Fernandez as the Career and Technical Education Student of the Month for February 2021. Student winners are chosen by the vocational faculty based on a set of criteria that includes: attendance, grades, cooperation with fellow students and teachers, enthusiasm for subject(s), attitude both in the classroom […]
Missouri Republicans look to reinstate voter ID requirement
(Missouri Independent) – About 137,700 registered voters in Missouri did not have a state-issued identification in 2017, according to an analysis from the Secretary of State’s Office. Another 140,000 voters had expired IDs, and 2,000 more voters had forfeited their driver’s licenses. Under a bill passed Wednesday in the Missouri House, those registered voters would either have to […]
Farm Bureau asks for more time to apply for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
American Farm Bureau is asking USDA to extend the February 26th deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. In a letter to new Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, AFBF President Zippy Duvall says suspending CFAP3 pending regulatory review has created confusion for farmers and ranchers with respect to eligibility and the application process. The […]
Biden backs reparations study, as House Democrats push for commission
(Missouri Independent) – The White House on Wednesday indicated that President Joe Biden would support studying reparations for slavery, the same day that House Democrats held a hearing on legislation that would set up a reparations commission. But White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stopped short of saying Biden would sign the bill under consideration […]
Glen Briggs steps down as chairman of Local Emergency Planning Committee
Due to a technicality, Glen Briggs reports he’s stepping down as the elected chairman of the Local Emergency Planning Committee for Grundy County, but Briggs says he will continue as the Grundy County Emergency Manager. Due to what was called rule changes implemented by the Missouri Emergency Response Commission, the emergency planning committee chairman can […]
Audio: Missouri bills would move some local races and issues to a later election
Legislation has been filed this session that would move some local races and issues, such as fire department and tax increase proposals, from April to later in the year. During a Missouri House Budget Committee hearing this week, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says he has not taken a position on the idea. However, he […]
Trenton Convention and Visitors Bureau discuss proposed budget
The Trenton Convention and Visitors Bureau discussed a proposed budget on February 10th. It includes $20,000 for digital marketing, such as branding, a website, social media, and online advertising. It also includes $4,000 for print marketing, such as papers, magazines, and billboards. A subcommittee of Vice President Micah Landes, Treasurer Jordan Ferguson, and Member Megan […]
USDA extends general signup for Conservation Reserve Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the Conservation Reserve Program General Signup period, which had previously been announced as ending on Feb. 12, 2021. USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes this opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. Under the previous Administration, incentives and rental payment rates […]
Hawley and colleagues demand answers on Biden’s Department of Homeland Security deportation moratorium
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and eleven Senate colleagues pushed back on a deportation moratorium proposed by President Biden’s Department of Homeland Security, which will prevent the removal of the vast majority of illegal immigrants with final orders of removal–including dangerous criminals–from the United States. The moratorium was proposed in a January 21 memorandum issued […]
Plans for THS Alumni mass mailing changed due to COVID-19 concerns
Due to COVID concerns, the annual mass mailing meeting to assemble the preliminary mailing to nearly 6,000 alums has been changed with plans to be handled as completed last year. Unable to gather in a large group for assembling the tentative schedule and mailing, classes will once again be asked to assist the Association in […]
North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees tackle lengthy agenda including personnel and spring graduation
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees approved several personnel items on Tuesday evening, January 26th. Former Board Clerk/Secretary Vicki Weaver was granted emeritus status. She was an employee of NCMC for 36 years. She retired at the end of December. President Doctor Lenny Klaver noted in a nomination letter that Weaver “guided NCMC […]