The Missouri legislative session is underway and Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh is already feeling it. Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh says she’s tired of Republicans trying to reverse ballot measures passed by voters. Walsh opposes possible Republican plans to overturn a lobbyist gift ban, campaign donations limits and legislative redistricting.
Tag: TN
Audio: Early interest in Missouri’s legalized medical marijuana is robust
Early applications for medical marijuana facilities in Missouri are rolling in fast. The state’s received 250 applications and more than $2 million in fees in the first four days of pre-filing that began January 5. The application fee for cultivation is $10,000 while it’ll cost $6,000 for those applying to manufacture or sell […]
Audio: Heavy winter storm developing in Missouri
A winter snow storm is developing in Missouri that’ll leave substantial accumulations across the state. Ben Herzog with the National Weather Service in St. Louis says the system will have an extensive reach. The storm is predicted to leave 1-2 inches of snow in southern Missouri and roughly six inches in the northern […]
Grundy County Local Emergency Planning Committee holds lengthy meeting
The Grundy County Local Emergency Planning Committee approved the budget as proposed at a meeting Tuesday. Secretary Kelli Hillerman reports anticipated expenses for the local emergency planning committee include nearly 26 hundred dollars ($2,565) for Hazardous Materials dues, $200 for training, and $100 each for meetings and Tier 2 (II) notices, for a total of […]
Trenton funeral homes merge; Slater funeral home to close
Trenton funeral home businesses have merged to form a new partnership that will operate under the name Resthaven Mortuary, Incorporated. Vince and NiCole Neal and Dwayne and Janet Slater are the owners of the partnership, which includes the Slater and Whitaker-Eads funeral homes and the Resthaven Mortuary. The merger went into effect January 1st. The […]
Audio: Storm spotter training scheduled for Grundy and Livingston counties
The National Weather Service and Grundy County Emergency Management will host a Storm Spotter Training next month. Meteorologist Jared Leighton with the National Weather Service says a variety of topics will be discussed at the courthouse in Trenton the evening of February 7th from 6 o’clock to 7:30. Children interested in learning about […]
Audio: Separation of church and state group lodges 2nd Missouri complaint in the last month
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has lodged its second complaint in the last month against biblical displays in the state. The group claims two paintings in the Camden County Clerk’s Office in south-central Missouri violate the Constitution. The Foundation’s Joe Poor says the artwork is a clear breach of the separation of church and state […]
Audio: Will Missouri Legislature pass a ‘Right to work’ bill this year? Senate leader is not convinced.
Missouri Senate President Dave Schatz does not think a Right-to-work proposal will make it to the governor’s desk this year. In 2017, the legislature passed a right to work bill quickly, but voters overturned the law in a referendum last August. Senator Eric Burlison, a Republican from Springfield, has filed a Right-to-work proposal […]
Audio: Outnumbered Democrats in Missouri legislature to defend progressive ballot victories, seek bipartisan criminal justice changes
Minority leaders in the Missouri legislature believe they’re taking a realistic approach to the upcoming session. New House Democratic Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield says her party will focus on defending progressive ballot measures passed by voters, noting the new laws are already under threat. Senate Democratic Leader Gina Walsh of Bellefontaine Neighbors […]
Governor Mike Parson makes appointments to commissions and offices in area counties
Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced Wednesday appointments to various commissions and offices. Those appointments included Randy Huffman of rural Galt as the Sullivan County Western District Commissioner. Huffman replaces Danny Busick who resigned from the commissioner position and was to be sworn in today (Wednesday) as the Second District State Representative for Mercer, Sullivan, and […]
Audio: Salvation Army reports on food pantry collection
The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune supports a Food For the Needy program to help the Salvation Army of Chillicothe with its food pantry and food distribution during the Christmas season and into January and February. Salvation Army Social Worker Lynda Snuffer says red bins for the program were placed in several Chillicothe locations in the first part […]
Audio: $50 million renovation in progress to spruce up 100-year-old Missouri Capitol
Work continues on $50 million in renovations of the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City. Dana Rademan Miller chairs the State Capitol Commission which is charged with the preservation of the structure. She says the building has been in urgent need of repair after state revenue declines led to 15-years of deferred maintenance. Rademan […]
Audio: Eastern Missouri prosecutor unveils plan to address opioid crisis
The state Department of Health says 951 Missourians died from a prescription drug overdose in 2017. St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell has unveiled a plan for his region that partners with the community and expands diversion programs for nonviolent offenders with addiction and mental health issues. The state Department of Health says […]
Audio: Study says most neighboring states pay their teachers more than Missouri
Niche.com ranks Missouri 39th in the nation in teacher pay. Paul Katnik, Assistant Commissioner of Missouri’s Office of Educator Quality, says the state’s school teachers make roughly 49,000-dollars annually. A Vanderbilt University study says teacher merit pay for student performance has merit. During Tuesday’s State Board of Education meeting, Katnik discussed the study […]
Audio: Bill in legislature would change Missouri’s voting method
A bill in the state legislature would implement Instant Runoff Voting in Missouri. It calls for voters to rank candidates in order of preference in a process of elimination until one candidate achieves a 50 percent-plus-one majority. Republican state Representative Dan Stacy of Blue Springs says his proposal would ensure a majority winner when three […]
Burns and McDonnell recommend no sewer rate increases in Trenton until 2021
While no official action was taken, information was presented yesterday to city officials on a study of sewer rates and the progress of the improvements at the sewer plant in Trenton. Attending the workshop were representatives of the Burns and McDonnel engineering firm plus six members of the city council, the mayor, and other city […]
Audio: Missouri Congress members back or oppose President Trump’s border wall demand to end shutdown on party lines
Missouri Congress members are sharply divided along party lines over support for President Trump’s demand for a border wall to end a government shutdown. Republican Representative Vicky Hartzler says she was against a bill passed by a voice vote in the GOP controlled Senate in December to temporarily fund the government without wall funding. […]
Audio: Missouri Congressman thinks shutdown could last for several weeks
East-central Missouri Republican Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer thinks the federal government shutdown could last several more weeks. He says both sides are not budging. Luetkemeyer says the legal immigration system should be fixed. Congress is expected to get back to work about funding the federal government. East-central Missouri Republican Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer thinks […]
Audio: Counties continue to warn Missouri lawmakers against transferring road maintenance to local governments
Local county officials continue to push back against any effort on the state level to transfer maintenance of roads to them. Opposition to any transfer of the “lettered roads” to local governments is reflected in unbending comments by Randolph County Commissioner Wayne Wilcox in northeast Missouri. Wilcox says handing over those roadways to […]
Audio: Missouri attorney general wants to stop modern-day debtors’ prisons
Missouri’s attorney general has filed a brief in the state Supreme Court aiming to end the practice of modern-day debtors’ prisons. Attorney General Eric Schmitt says he opposes jailing people who cannot pay fines for traffic violations and other minor offenses. In a press release from Schmitt, he says courts should not be […]