CRC or Cooperative Response Center website

Cooperative Response Center to expand to Kirksville, investing more than $1 million and creating 87 new jobs

Cooperative Response Center, a nationwide contact and alarm monitoring center, announced it will open a new facility in Kirksville, investing more than $1 million and creating more than 87 new jobs. The new facility will be CRC’s first Missouri location and allow the company to meet the increasing demand for its services. “This company’s new […]

Missouri Governor Mike Parson delivers State address in Missouri House January 19, 2022 (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel - Missouri House Communications)

Governor Mike Parson touts Missouri’s COVID-19 response in annual State of State address

(Missouri Independent) – Gov. Mike Parson praised his administration’s handling of the still-unfolding COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday, telling a joint session of the Missouri General Assembly that the state has emerged ready to make long-term investments in its future.  “The bottom line is Missouri’s economy is strong,” Parson said in his annual State of the State […]

Maximize Northwest Missouri Website

Community leaders celebrated for commitment to learning

Community leaders in six northwest Missouri counties were part of Maximize Northwest Missouri’s 2021 Regional Learning Collaborative that wrapped up late last summer.  “Some of the keywords that participants used to describe their learning experience include: enlightening, motivating, empowering, informative, inspiring, insightful, and team-building,” shared Mary Hinde, president of The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri. […]

Winter Weather News Graphic

Winter storm to roll through northern Missouri on Friday and Friday night

The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill has provided new information Friday morning on the upcoming storm that will track through northern Missouri Friday and Friday night. The weather service on Thursday had originally issued a Winter Weather Advisory for counties along the Iowa/Missouri border; however, on Friday morning the Winter Weather Advisory has shifted […]

Biofuel Graphic

USDA to make up to $800 million available to provide economic relief to biofuel producers

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA will make up to $800 million available to support biofuel producers and infrastructure. The announcement includes $700 million to provide economic relief to biofuel producers and restore renewable fuel markets affected by the pandemic. The Department will make the funds available through the new Biofuel Producer […]

Senator Dan Hegeman

State Senator Dan Hegeman files Bill 633 regarding election integrity and reform

State Senator Dan Hegeman has pre-filed Senate Bill 633 regarding election integrity and reform. While it contains some familiar language, Hegeman said it also embraces new technology, with what he called “voter safety” in mind. The legislative proposal would allow a local election official to oversee ballot-counting machines and ensure these machines are not connected […]

American Foods Group website

Warren County, Missouri selected as location for planned beef processing facility creating 1300 jobs and $1 billion in economic impact

Warren County has been selected by American Foods Group as the planned location for a new state-of-the-art beef processing facility, pending final approval. Once established, the facility would create more than 1,300 new jobs and generate $1 billion in economic impact in the state of Missouri.  “Missouri is able to compete for projects of this […]

USDA Sign

USDA to launch loan guarantee initiative to create more market opportunities, strengthen food supply chain

As part of the Administration’s efforts to address food systems challenges arising from the pandemic as well as those going back decades, United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA plans for another $100 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The funding would leverage hundreds of millions more in […]

Dr. David Russell appointed President of Columbia College

Dr. David Russell appointed President of Columbia College

The Columbia College Board of Trustees unanimously named Dr. David Russell the college’s 18th president on Friday afternoon. Russell has served as interim president since January 2021, and the promotion to president is effective October 1, 2021. Russell’s appointment will add three years to his current contract, which will now run through 2025.              “This […]

Dreamer photo courtesy of Unsplash

Biden administration rolls out new rule to bolster DACA as lawsuit continues

(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration on Monday unveiled a proposed new rule that would strengthen the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to protect undocumented people in the program from legal challenges. The proposed rule, announced by the Department of Homeland Security, would “preserve and fortify” the DACA program, an Obama administration-era initiative that protects […]