U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced that agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, including Hurricane Dorian, can apply for assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). Signup for this U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program began Sept. 11, 2019. “U.S. agriculture has been dealt a hefty […]
Governor Mike Parson recently announced $2.4 million from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) to provide for the creation of disaster-relief employment of eligible individuals in eight Missouri counties impacted by severe storms and flooding earlier this year. The initial grant release of $806,667 will assist affected counties with […]
While dam construction for the East Locust Creek Reservoir project cannot begin until environmental and construction permitting actions are complete, there has been a great deal of progress leading up to heavy construction activity. The list below represents some of the more significant activities in progress or completed. Land acquisition for the reservoir completed in […]
The Joplin School District has built 14 safe rooms since 2011, when a deadly tornado killed 161, to shelter students and community residents when the next tornado strikes. The safe rooms, constructed to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency specifications, provide near-absolute protection against injury or death in extreme weather events. Made of reinforced concrete and […]
The Department of Health and Senior Services has issued a health advisory to providers and partners regarding severe lung disease associated with vaping. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there have now been 193 potential cases of severe lung illness associated with vaping in 22 states from June 28-August 20. The CDC is […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will increase the prices for some nonresident hunting and fishing permits starting in 2020. According to MDC, permit prices have not been raised in over a decade and adjustments are needed to help keep up with increasing costs of providing conservation programs and services around the state. The price […]
The Missouri Department of Transportation will have a COMPLETE CLOSURE of Interstate 70 in both directions between I-435 and I-470/Route 291 beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, September 6, until approximately 5 a.m. on Monday, September 9. This closure is for the demolition of the directional ramps from southbound I-435 to eastbound I-70 and northbound […]
In response to flooding in Missouri and across the country this year, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing the availability of $9 million to fund conservation easements in 69 Missouri counties damaged by flooding and other natural disasters. Funds are available through the floodplain easement component of the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP-FPE). […]
The National Association for the Self-Employed, the nation’s leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-business community, announced today that Trenton, MO-based small business, Little Farm Organics has been awarded a $4,000 first quarter 2019 Growth Grant to help expand business operations. Last year, NASE awarded $48,000 in grants to small businesses across the country and expects to […]
The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has awarded two more emergency flood repair contracts this week. Route 111 (Holt County) Contract for debris removal and roadbed and shoulder repair from Spur 111 in Craig to Route 118 was awarded to Phillips Hardy, Inc. in the amount of $2,401,987.90. Work could begin as soon as Tuesday, […]
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit of Camden County that detailed lack of oversight and failure to follow policies to ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars throughout county government. Auditor Galloway also released a separate audit of the Camden County Collector’s Office, which is required by law when a vacancy occurs in […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol Commander, Captain James E. McDonald of Troop H, St. Joseph, has announced the results of a DWI saturation conducted in Troop H of northwest Missouri. The saturation was held from 7 p.m. on August 17, 2019, to 3 a.m. on August 18, 2019. During the enforcement operation, 10 officers patrolled every […]
The warm hum of guitar amplifiers and the sweet, smoky smell of barbecue will be wafting through the wavering late summer air the last weekend of September. The 13th installment of Columbia’s Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival kicks off for a long weekend of live music, fun, and entertainment, September 27-29. Roots N Blues, […]
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released a regularly scheduled audit of the Missouri State Lottery Commission. The audit did not identify any significant deficiencies in internal controls, any significant noncompliance with legal provisions, or any significant deficiencies in management practices and procedures. The audit, which resulted in no findings, gave the Commission a rating […]
The North Central Missouri Development Alliance and the City of Trenton have announced work with a prospective manufacturing business to locate in the community. A news release says the business “would be a safe and secure cultivation and production facility that would produce pharmaceutical-grade cannabis.” The business is projected to start by creating 30 full-time […]
This past May and June the Grand River had near-record flooding. These floodwaters created major damage to the levee tops and roads at the refuge. Since that time Swan Lake staff have had to make pretty major repairs to the roads and levees, which forced the closure of the refuge until those repairs could be […]
The owner of a Kansas City, Missouri, daycare center was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to fraudulently receive more than $556,000 in federal benefits. Sharif Karie, 41, of Olathe, Kan., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to four years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. […]
The water has finally retreated from U.S. Route 65 south of Carrollton and the roadway to Waverly has reopened. Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation have worked to clear debris and prepared the roadway for reopening as floodwaters receded. With water fully off the road, crews were able to clean off the last bits […]
Troop H of the Highway Patrol has announced the results of a “Hazardous Moving Operation” conducted in Caldwell, Livingston, DeKalb, and Buchanan counties. Five officers patrolled the counties during the operation, which was held Sunday afternoon from 1 to 3 o’clock, with the goal of detecting traffic violations that contribute to traffic crashes. The operation […]
The Missouri Department of Transportation understands the continued road closures due to flooding and flood damage are impacting lives and are working to repair and restore mobility to routes as waters recede. Local maintenance crews are clearing debris and repairing shoulders and minor road surface issues as they are able. More extensive work, including debris […]
