U.S.Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $15 million to build and improve electric infrastructure in Missouri through its Electric Loan Program. “For nearly 85 years—since the inception of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936—USDA has played a role in bringing electricity to rural areas,” […]
A dual U.S.-Mexican citizen pleaded guilty today to willfully engaging in financial dealings with Mexican companies that had been identified as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). According to court documents, Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, 34, of Guadalajara, Mexico, violated the criminal penalties of […]
The Wright Memorial Hospital Foundation will be hosting a virtual charity auction, with proceeds going to support the Oncology Nurse Navigator Program and the Foundation’s general fund, which supports Wright Memorial Hospital in a variety of ways. The event is scheduled to occur from April 15 – 24, with the bidding all taking place online. […]
The University of Missouri System today launched Missouri Online, a new unified resource and administrative structure that supports online certificate and degree programs at all four UM System universities. The launch represents the culmination of strategic priorities made by the UM Board of Curators and UM President Mun Choi over the last three years to […]
Campus Compact, a Boston-based non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has announced the 290 students who will make up the organization’s 2021-2022 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. Alyssa Olson, a North Central Missouri College student, will join 212 students from 39 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico to form the 2021 […]
Missouri lawmakers in both parties were surprised to learn Wednesday that absentee ballots cast by voters who later died should NOT have counted, under current state law. The issue came up numerous times during a Missouri House elections committee hearing on Wednesday. Carrollton GOP State Representative Peggy McGaugh and her colleagues in both parties […]
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 […]
Legislation aimed at protecting Missouri health care employees against a growing number of assaults is backed by the 110-thousand member Missouri Nurses Association. State director Heidi Lucas testifies incidents are happening all the time. Lucas also testifies that her brother, who works in the health care field, has already suffered three concussions this […]
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Ben Cardin (Md.) have introduced a measure to permanently extend the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), which has created jobs and driven investment in neighborhoods with high poverty and unemployment rates. The New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act (S.456) will permanently authorize a 39 percent federal tax credit for […]
After about twelve hours of debate, the Missouri Senate refrained from voting overnight on a contentious K-12 public education package. There was some confusion towards the end that appeared to ultimately lead to the plan getting shelved – at least for now. Several changes were made over the course of the day and night. As […]
(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 […]
Missouri is working to develop a statewide plan to help meet the social and emotional needs that K-12 public school students are struggling with. At a Missouri Board of Education meeting, member Kim Bailey says the coronavirus pandemic has intensified these problems. Bailey, a licensed mental health and trauma specialist, says the plan would build […]
Missouri could allow robots to deliver goods to your home. A bill sponsored by state Senator Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, aims to let robots cruise mainly along sidewalks and crosswalks to deliver items around the state. During a state Senate Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety Committee hearing today, Hough says the effort is a work in […]
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 […]
Legislation changing the delinquency date of real and personal property taxes from January 1 to March 1 has been heard today (Wednesday) by a Missouri House committee. O’Fallon GOP State Representative Tony Lovasco supports the bill. The Missouri Association of School Administrators has testified against legislation changing the delinquency date of real and […]
A proposed biofuels rule from the EPA is getting criticism from ethanol supporters. The part of the rule ethanol supporters like would address E-15 labeling and infrastructure requirements and not act on 66 petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions. Growth Energy’s Chris Bliley tells Brownfield EPA’s proposed rule is in the middle between good and bad. […]
The Grundy County R-5 Board of Education approved an extension of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act on Wednesday evening, January 13th. The act provides employees 80 hours of paid sick leave if the employee is quarantined with COVID-19. The board approved the purchase of a new curriculum for the elementary school. Math Expressions will […]
GRM Networks has awarded a total of $3,750 as part of the company’s Community Improvement Grant program. Organizations receiving funding in the semiannual distribution included the Bethany Kiwanis Club, Lamoni Community Center, Newtown Ball Association, and the Harrison County Council on Aging. The Bethany Kiwanis Club received a $500 grant used to purchase winter clothing […]
The Cameron Food Pantry and Clothes Closet reports $200 cash as well as clothing, jewelry, shoes, and handbags are missing after a break-in the night of January 7th. The Cameron Police Department is investigating. The clothes closet supports food pantry operations, and the organization notes stealing money and clothing makes the group’s job harder. The […]
Missouri’s rural counties lack mental health services despite growing financial stress and suicide rates with all of Missouri’s 99 rural counties facing a shortage of mental health professionals; 57 of them have none. The University of Missouri Extension hopes to change that through a multistate project to help farmers, ranchers, and farm families find affordable […]
