Man filling water bottle from rural spigot

Biden-Harris Administration invests $307 million in rural water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in 34 states

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the United States Department of Agriculture is investing $307 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in 34 states and Puerto Rico (PDF, 224 KB). The investments being announced follow President Biden’s announcement last week of a Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework that will make the largest investment in clean […]

Audit News Graphic

Missouri State Auditor releases audit of Henry County

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit of Henry County, located in western Missouri. The audit received an overall rating of “good”, an improvement since a 2015 audit that found several reoccurring issues throughout county government. The audit made recommendations to improve financial oversight in the Prosecuting Attorney’s office. The audit also recommended […]

USDA Sign

USDA invests $910,000 to improve rural water infrastructure in Jackson County

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $910,000 to modernize rural drinking water infrastructure in Jackson County, benefitting nearly 3.000 rural Missourians. “Every community, large and small, needs safe, reliable access to necessities like clean water,” Thomas said. “Rural Development congratulates Public Water Supply […]

Fiber Optic Internet Access

University of Missouri Broadband Initiative outlines community-driven process for local expansion

Adoption of broadband has the potential to boost a community’s economic growth and quality of life. But in much of Missouri, especially rural areas, the high-bandwidth wirelines to connect households and businesses don’t exist. Helping more Missouri communities become digitally connected was the topic of a recent webinar by the University of Missouri System Broadband […]

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Missouri seeks joint federal, state, and local damage assessments in preparation for Federal Disaster Declaration Request

Governor Mike Parson announced that Missouri has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency participate in joint Preliminary Damage Assessments in 17 counties in response to severe storms and flooding. The joint teams will survey the damage that began with severe storms on June 19 and continued through July 1 in preparation for the state’s official […]

Special Olympics Missouri 2021 Website

Special Olympics Missouri celebrates 50 years

Special Olympics Missouri is celebrating 50 years this year and kicking off its Sponsor an Athlete campaign. Sponsorships make it possible for Special Olympics North Area to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in 18 Olympic-type sports for individuals with mental disabilities in 27 counties. Those counties include those in the Green Hills area […]

Missouri State Flag

Audio: Census data shows Missouri is slow growth state

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released its 2020 population estimates which examines the population that occurred over the past year and decade. It showed that Missouri has some areas of growth and others of decline. Dr. Mark White is an associate extension professor at Mizzou, and he sorts through data on population, geography, and economic […]

Labadie Energy Center on Missouri RIver in Franklin County Missouri

Endangered fish, leaching ash ponds: Environmental groups oppose Missouri coal plant permit

(Missouri Independent) – For years, Lisa Zerbe said she biked, rode horses, and ran near Ameren Missouri’s largest coal-fired power plant in Franklin County because she “naively believed” state environmental regulators were protecting citizens from pollution.  Now, she won’t.  “It is truly a disheartening feeling of betrayal from an agency in my younger years I […]