The Missouri Board of Education voted Tuesday to avoid using 2021 standardized test results for state and federal accountability. Members still want the state’s K-12 public school students to take statewide tests next year, but they do not want the results to count against schools for funding and accreditation purposes. The move might lower the […]
Braymer resident Garland Joseph Nelson appeared via Polycom video on Monday in Caldwell County Circuit Court where he waived formal arraignment and pleaded NOT guilty to a felony stealing charge. At the request of the defendants’ attorney, Circuit Court Judge Brent Elliott continued this case until February 9th. A law enforcement officers’ probable cause statement […]
State Senator Cindy O’Laughlin of northern Missouri’s Shelbina wants to limit pay for Missouri’s K-12 public school superintendents. Under a bill she has pre-filed, total compensation could not exceed 3.5 times the average total compensation provided to all certified, full-time teachers employed by the district. Missouri has about 551 public and charter schools. The Missouri […]
(Missouri Independent) – The head of Missouri’s medical marijuana program testified under oath that a grand jury subpoena his agency received late last year was likely connected to an FBI investigation in Independence. The revelation by Lyndall Fraker, director of medical marijuana regulation at the Missouri Department of Health and Seniors Services, is the first […]
Thirteen (13) more CODIS (DNA) “hits” have been returned as untested sexual assault kits continue to be tested and uploaded to CODIS, which stands for Combined DNA Index System. The hits, like the first round of hits, are from the Southwest Missouri extended area. Those untested sexual assault kits were inventoried and shipped to the […]
Missouri’s state health department chief says the state should be able to begin vaccinating this month all hospital and long-term care staff and residents against COVID-19. Dr. Randall Williams says the state is expected to get enough doses this month to begin vaccinating all of Missouri’s roughly 340,000 healthcare workers and long-term care […]
With evictions set to skyrocket after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moratorium ends December 31, a Kansas City tenants’ group is taking an unusual route to delay evictions, by disrupting housing-court hearings being held online. Tara Raghuveer, director of KC Tenants, said research shows online hearings may even violate the rights of renters with […]
Missouri’s governor said Thursday in Jefferson City that he wants some answers, after reading a 53-page independent investigation into recent COVID deaths at Missouri veterans homes. Governor Mike Parson ordered the investigation, which was conducted by St. Louis-based Armstrong Teasdale. The governor emphasizes that he’s limited in what he can say because he doesn’t know […]
North Central Missouri Development Alliance Director Micah Landes calls business retention the foundation of economic development. She says it does not make sense for an organization to use time and resources to attract new businesses if the organization is not helping existing businesses. Landes also calls locally-owned businesses the “lifeblood” of a stable economy. Grundy […]
An independent investigation into the COVID-19 deaths at Missouri veterans homes has found that the Missouri Veterans Commission headquarters failed to recognize the outbreak. Armstrong Teasdale’s report says MVC should have recognized the presence of an outbreak in the Cape Girardeau veteran’s home by September 2. MVC Chairman Tim Noonan says a tremendous amount of […]
A Festival of Trees and Christmas lighting will be part of Christmas on the Square in Mercer on December 5th. Santa will also be at the event that evening from 6 to 9 o’clock. There will also be hot chocolate, hot dogs, chips, and desserts. Admission is free, but non-perishable food items and toys will […]
Nineteen defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $1.2 million insurance fraud conspiracy that involved false claims of injuries suffered in car accidents. Lawrence Courtney Lawhorn, 32, and Latoya Marie Brown, 35, who resided in Columbia and in the Kansas City area; Lauren Courtney Luque, 34, Michael Jadon […]
The Putnam County R-1 School District recently recognized Kaitlyn Rouse as the Career and Technical Education Student of the Month for November 2020. Student winners are chosen by the vocational faculty based on a set of criteria that includes: attendance, grades, cooperation with fellow students and teachers, enthusiasm for subject(s), attitude both in the classroom […]
The Missouri Department of Agriculture is offering 30 high school students representing 4-H clubs and FFA chapters, as well as farm families, throughout Missouri the opportunity to explore careers in agriculture through the 2021 Missouri Agribusiness Academy. MAbA is a competitive program for sophomores interested in pursuing agriculture-related degrees and careers. “With this class, the […]
Kelly Claycomb, Nursing Director of PN to ADN program, from Ridgeway, MO, has been selected as North Central Missouri College’s Outstanding Employee for November. Kelly has been employed at NCMC for thirteen years and holds a Master’s in Nursing Education. Kelly recently worked tirelessly on NCMC’s PN to ADN nursing program review for CNEA (Commission […]
A veteran state lawmaker from southeast Missouri will file a resolution this week, aimed at blocking proposed pay increases for state lawmakers and for statewide elected officials. State Rep. Andrew McDaniel, R-Deering, was first elected to the Missouri House in 2014 and will be a senior member in January during his final House term in […]
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 […]
The Lillian DesMarias Youth Library will be providing “12 days of Christmas Grab & Go Crafts” Monday-Friday starting Tuesday, December 1st through Wednesday, December 16th. This yearly event looks a little different than in past years. With the COVID-19 restrictions still in place, the library will be providing Grab & Go Crafts instead of having […]
The Grundy County Health Department, in a report released Monday morning, says the number of active COVID-19 cases is steady with Saturday’s number after coming down in recent days. As of Monday morning, the health department reports 96 active cases of COVID-19 out of a total of 667 cases for the year to date total. […]
The CDC is in Missouri today to begin a first-ever COVID-19 study within some K-12 schools. Two groups of students who are considered close contacts to someone with COVID-19 will be tested over a 30-day period. The first group includes those wearing masks who are allowed to continue in-person classes. Missouri Department of Health and […]
