Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority website or MSASBDA

Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority announces funding of projects

The Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority announced it has invested more than $2 million in projects that increase the distribution and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel in the State of Missouri. Expenses incurred during the construction, installation, upgrade, or retrofit of fuel dispensers/pumps, storage tanks, and other infrastructure located in Missouri […]

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 […]

Bird Flu News Graphic (Photo credit Danganhfoto on Pixabay)

University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine tracking the spread of bird flu, one test at a time

Throughout the country, an extremely infectious disease called highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been circulating rapidly among flocks of chicken and turkeys. While the disease poses little risk to humans, it presents a serious threat to infected birds as well as the nation’s poultry industry, which is already facing supply chain disruptions. At the […]

Budget news graphic

Missouri House signs off on $46.2 billion budget, leaves most of huge state surplus untouched

(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri House gave first-round approval Tuesday to a package of budget bills spending $46.2 billion, with Republicans defeating repeated Democratic efforts to tap the state’s record surplus. The budget includes boosts to higher education funding, both for institutions and scholarships, as well as funding one of last year’s most controversial issues, Medicaid […]

Preferred Family Healthcare

Preferred Family Healthcare to pay more than $8 million in fines related to embezzlement, bribery investigation

Springfield, Missouri-based nonprofit Preferred Family Healthcare will pay more than $8 million in forfeiture and restitution to the federal government and the state of Arkansas under the terms of a non-prosecution agreement announced, which acknowledges the criminal conduct of its former officers and employees. “Preferred Family Healthcare must relinquish the illegal profits it garnered from […]

North Central Missouri College Website V2 (NCMC)

NCMC Board of Trustees approve increases in tuition and fees, as well as, room and board

The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees on March 22nd approved increases in tuition and fees as well as room and board. Tuition for NCMC district students will stay the same at $92 per credit hour for the 2022-2023 academic year. However, there is a $5 per credit hour increase for other Missouri residents, […]

Josh Hawley Courtesy of Missourinet

Hawley introduces bill to strengthen investigations of fraud in COVID-19 relief programs

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced new legislation to continue to fund and restore the jurisdiction of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery so that it can investigate fraud within the Treasury Department’s pandemic programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This anti-fraud legislation comes as the Biden Administration is lobbying for more federal […]

Brookfield Main Header Photo

Fire on Wednesday destroys two buildings in downtown Brookfield

Two downtown Brookfield buildings were among properties destroyed by fire on Wednesday. Joining Brookfield in fighting the blaze were fire departments from Marceline and Chillicothe. The fire was reported around 7:30 am at 305 North Main Street in Brookfield.  A space heater is suspected as the cause of the fire. One of the buildings was […]

armed robbery News Graphic

Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in prison without parole for armed robbery conspiracy

A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a series of armed business robberies in Kansas City and Independence, Mo. Henry Simmons, 22, Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 1, 2021, Simmons pleaded guilty to one count […]

Prison Sentence

Judge sentences Missouri man to 11 years in prison for robbery and weapon violations

A Missouri man appeared before United States District Court Judge Henry E. Autrey, and based on a previous plea of guilty, Collis Lee, age 25, of St. Louis County, was sentenced to 135 months (11.25 years) in federal prison for the armed robbery of the O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Jennings, Missouri.   According to the […]

Wild duck (waterfowl) (Photo courtesy David Waite on Unsplash)

Waterfowl auctions, shows and swap meets suspended due to avian influenza

To help prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the Missouri Department of Agriculture has suspended all domestic waterfowl and waterfowl egg auctions, shows, and swap meets through the end of May. Federal officials have confirmed cases of HPAI in Stoddard, Bates, Jasper, and Lawrence Counties. HPAI is known to be deadly for […]

Swan Lake Wildlife Refuge

Public comments sought on Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge headquarters and visitor facility relocation

A draft Environmental Assessment for Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Sumner, Missouri is available for public review on March 4, 2022.  The comment period will extend until April 4, 2022.  The Environmental Assessment provides an environmental analysis and cumulative impacts of alternatives for the new headquarters office at Swan Lake NWR.  During the floods […]