Veterans and services news graphic

Audio: Missouri Senator wants full report released about COVID-19 deaths within veterans homes

State Senator Jill Schupp wants the full report released about the COVID-19-related deaths within Missouri’s veterans’ homes.     An independent, external investigation was launched in October into the roughly 154 veterans who have died so far from the coronavirus. Investigators from Armstrong Teasdale law firm were charged with reviewing what COVID-19 safety measures have […]

Audit News Graphic

State auditor says fund transfers, budgeting process in Jackson County left taxpayers in the dark

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released a report on Jackson County government focusing on budgeting and funds transfers which found that more can be done to ensure transparency in county spending. The audit was completed at the request of the Jackson County Legislature and the recommendation of the county executive. “Jackson County taxpayers deserve […]

COVID-19 Fraud graphic

Seven charged in connection with COVID-relief fraud scheme involving at least 80 fraudulent loan applications

Seven individuals across two states were charged in an indictment unsealed for their alleged participation in a scheme to obtain approximately $16 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Amir Aqeel, 52, and Pardeep Basra, 51, both of […]

Audit News Graphic

Missouri State Auditor finds a lack of transparency in how Jackson County spent taxpayer dollars

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released an audit of Jackson County government that found a lack of transparency in how the county spent millions of taxpayer dollars on legal, lobbying, and other professional services. The audit identified $2.7 million in contracts that were not competitively bid and another $1.3 million in contracts that went years […]

Governor Mike Parson

Parson defends out-of-state firm’s role in Missouri’s COVID-19 response

Missouri has paid a consulting firm more than $829,000 so far in federal coronavirus aid to help coordinate the state’s pandemic response. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports payroll records show the McChrystal Group has received federal funding from the state. The contract bypassed the normal bidding process. During a press conference at Washington University in […]

Medicaid Expansion

Missouri’s state Treasurer, Scott Fitzpatrick, is warning against Medicaid expansion

Missouri’s state treasurer and the House Budget Committee chairman will travel across the state on Monday, urging Missourians to vote against Medicaid expansion on the August ballot. Medicaid, which is formally known as MO HealthNet, is a federal and state program that assists with medical costs for residents with limited incomes. House Budget Committee Chairman […]