Mentally disabled woman and nurse or caretaker wearing a surgica

Missouri launches apprenticeships for direct-support professionals

Missouri is launching an apprenticeship program to expand talent pipelines for Direct Support Professionals, who work with people with developmental disabilities. The Show-Me State, like many others, is facing a serious direct-care workforce shortage. To answer the need, the program Missouri Talent Pathways was recently approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. Duane Shumate, the state coordinator […]

Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

Republicans push work requirements for coverage under Missouri Medicaid expansion

(Missouri Independent) – When the Good Samaritan Care Clinic opened in 2006 in Mountain View, only about 5% of the free clinic’s clients were eligible for Medicaid. When it closed late last year, that number had risen to 70%, Dr. John Roberts, one of the clinic’s founders, told the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday.  Medicaid […]

Desks in classroom of school or education or student

Audio: Missouri bill would create grant program to incentivize K-12 learning based on mastery of skills

Missouri’s current K-12 education system goes by chronological age and time in class. State Representative Doug Richey, a Republican from western Missouri’s Excelsior Springs, wants to award grants to eligible school districts to provide competency-based learning. This type of learning is based on students showing that they have learned the knowledge they are expected to […]

Emily Hartley photo courtesy Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council

Emily Hartley appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Advisory Committee for Missouri

Emily Hartley, Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council Deputy Director, was appointed to the Missouri Advisory Committee by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, effective Feb. 18, 2022.   Advisory Committees have recently examined water affordability, school discipline disparities, policing practices, mental health and the criminal justice system, legal financial obligations, fair housing, hate crimes, voting rights, maternal […]

Jewett Norris Library

Audio: Grundy County Jewett Norris Library staff announces building improvements, readies for Summer Reading Program

Grundy County Jewett Norris Library Director Theresa Hunsaker says a lot has been done at the library in Trenton since it was closed due to the pandemic and now that it has reopened. One of those things was replacing elevator boards, which took about six weeks and another was the addition of curbside service, which […]

Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson

Governor Parson to embark on trade mission to United Kingdom and Ireland promoting Missouri

From March 11 – 19, Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson will travel to the United Kingdom and Ireland for their third international Trade Mission. The U.K. and Ireland are key trade partners for Missouri, with nearly $354 million and more than $130 million in exports in 2021, respectively. Consistent with Governor Parson’s […]

Broadband Internet Access

Missouri receives $42.2 million federal grant through the NTIA’s Broadband Infrastructure Program

The Department of Economic Development (DED) announced today that Missouri has been awarded a $42.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for broadband expansion. The funds received through the NTIA’s Broadband Infrastructure Program will be used for projects benefiting more than 13,000 households in 12 Missouri counties: […]

Wright Memorial Hospital

Wright Memorial Hospital Foundation seeking donations for charity auction

The Wright Memorial Hospital Foundation will be hosting their second annual virtual charity auction, with proceeds going to support the Oncology Nurse Navigator Program, as well as the Foundation’s general fund, which supports Wright Memorial Hospital in a variety of ways. The event is scheduled to take place from May 4 through May 16, with […]

Federal Student Aid or FAFSA website

Audio: Missouri could require high schoolers to fill out FAFSA before graduating

Missouri could require high school students to fill out a free application for federal student aid, known as the FAFSA, before graduating. The FAFSA is used to consider eligibility for federal grants, federal loans, and state grants. The Missouri Senate Education Committee is considering the requirement proposed by State Senator Karla Eslinger.     The […]

Second Amendment Preservation Act Graphic Version 2

U.S. Department of Justice sues Missouri over law blocking enforcement of federal gun regulations

(Missouri Independent) – A controversial Missouri gun law that penalizes police for enforcing federal gun laws is facing a new legal challenge from the U.S. Justice Department. On Wednesday, the department filed suit to prevent Missouri from enforcing its Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA), a law that allows citizens to file suit for up to […]

Voting Rights

With voting rights stalled, some senators mull an update to the Electoral Count Act

(Missouri Independent) – A bipartisan group of senators is exploring legislation to overhaul how Congress counts Electoral College votes, but backers of stalled voting rights legislation are lukewarm on the effort as a substitute. The Electoral Count Act is an obscure law that has come under recent scrutiny, a year after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. […]

Princeton R-5 School District website 2021 -2022

Princeton Board of Education approves extended COVID-19 leave; evaluating possibility of participation in Grand River Conference

The Princeton R-5 Board of Education approved a resolution to extend COVID-19 leave through June 2022 during a closed session on January 10th. The resolution supports the extension of paid leave for all employees instructed not to report to work and who did not exhaust the former Emergency Paid Sick Leave. The Families First Coronavirus […]

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 […]

Accident Graphic

Man from Hale injured at railroad crossing after colliding with railroad equipment

The Highway Patrol reports a Hale man sustained serious injuries when a ballast regulator struck a sport utility vehicle at a railroad crossing three miles northeast of Hale on Friday afternoon, December 3rd.  A ballast regulator (also known as a ballast spreader or ballast sweeper) is a piece of rail transport maintenance of way equipment used […]