The first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden is tonight. University of Missouri’s Director of the Political Communications Institute- Dr. Mitchell McKinney says even though polls show MOST viewers have already chosen a side, these debates COULD make a difference: McKinney says the debate could make a difference in a few […]
Tag: today
Operation LeGend results in over 500 arrests, including 37 murder suspects
U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison, at a joint press conference with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith, announced that 518 arrests have been made by local and federal law enforcement officers in Operation LeGend. “On behalf of the team of federal law enforcement agencies involved in this groundbreaking initiative, I […]
Organic certification cost share program available for Missouri farmers
The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced today that funding is available to assist Missouri farmers and food processors in obtaining organic certification for their businesses. Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, producers may be reimbursed for up to $500 of their certification expenses. This year, Missouri received $62,950 in program […]
State of Missouri files suit against KC homeowners associations for failing to remove racially restrictive covenants
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office has filed a lawsuit against Country Club Homes and Crestwood Homes Association for failure to remove racially restrictive covenants from governing documents. The Attorney General’s Office worked to identify racially restrictive covenants across the state, and subsequent letters were sent to a number of different homeowners […]
Decline in overnight call volume prompts Missouri to adjust hours on COVID-19 hotline
State health officials say Missouri’s COVID-19 hotline will reduce its hours, starting in October. The hotline has seen a decline in overnight call volume. The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) established a statewide public hotline on March 11, four days after Missouri’s first case was confirmed. More than 112,000 calls have come […]
Governor activates Missouri National Guard in response to civil unrest
Gov. Mike Parson signed today an executive order activating the Missouri National Guard as a “precautionary measure” in response to demonstrations continuing across the country. Members will aid in the state’s effort to protect people and property from being harmed. On Wednesday, a Kentucky grand jury chose not to charge police officers in the death […]
Audio: Missouri voters can now cast an absentee ballot in person
Some Missouri election authorities have increased foot traffic today. Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says today is opening day for voters to cast an absentee ballot in-person for the November election. Voters must meet one of seven requirements in order to vote absentee, including if you will be out of the county […]
State Auditor issues monthly report on Missouri’s use of federal stimulus dollars received through CARES Act funding
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released her third report detailing state government’s use of federal stimulus dollars intended for the COVID-19 response. In March, Auditor Galloway announced that her office would examine the state’s distribution and spending of funding received under the CARES Act and other federal assistance programs recently passed by Congress. The most […]
Carrollton approved for federal loan and grant that benefits Carrollton Fire Department
Carrollton has been approved for a federal loan and grant totaling nearly $25,000 that will benefit the Carrollton Fire Department. USDA Rural Development for Missouri has announced that the USDA is investing over $2.3 million to modernize fire department trucks, engines, and equipment in eight rural Missouri communities. Funds will be provided to Carrollton Leasing […]
Chillicothe Middle School migrates to virtual learning for two weeks due to COVID-19
Chillicothe Superintendent Dan Wiebers reported the district was notified Sunday that additional students and staff have been reported as positive for corona-virus and will require an even larger number of students and staff to be quarantined. A decision has been made, according to the Wiebers, that the Chillicothe Middle school will transition to all virtual […]
Blunt says vote on Supreme Court nominee different than 2016
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death on Friday has unleashed a political brawl on Capitol Hill ahead of the November General Election. President Donald Trump says he plans to announce a nominee this week to fill the vacancy and vows to choose a woman. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, says Trump’s […]
Missouri extends childcare subsidies for eligible school-aged kids not attending school in-person
The Missouri Department of Social Services is extending full-time childcare subsidy benefits through December 31 for eligible school-aged students who are not attending school in-person. A state press release today says CARES Act funding makes the additional financial aid possible for low-income working families. Acting Director Jennifer Tidball says the state does not want to […]
City of St. Joseph issues emergency order requiring masks or face coverings at all indoor public places
The city of St. Joseph has issued an emergency order requiring individuals to wear masks or face coverings at all indoor public places. The order began today and will be in place for 30 days. St. Joseph Mayor Bill McMurray says the number of COVID-19 patients at Mosaic Life Care is what prompted the expansion of the […]
Marriage is the new game plan for WNBA great Maya Moore and Missouri man she helped free from prison
In July, the day Jonathan Irons had been waiting for finally arrived. He walked out of the Jefferson City Correctional Center as a free man. Waiting for him was a team of supporters, including the woman he now calls his wife. WNBA star Maya Moore and Irons announced Wednesday that they tied the knot. Moore, […]
Governor Parson extends timeframe of Missouri National Guard help with COVID-19 response
Gov. Mike Parson has signed an executive order today to let the Missouri National Guard continue helping the state with COVID-19 response efforts. A press release today from the Governor’s Office says the order will allow soldiers to continue supporting the state in this role through December 30. “The National Guard has played a major […]
Missouri State Auditor makes recommendations on how local government agencies can better safeguard data
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released a summary of the most common cybersecurity risks found by her audits of local governments and courts, along with recommendations those agencies can follow to better safeguard data. Inadequate security controls — and, in some cases, even the lack of controls — put government electronic data at risk of hacking and […]
Missouri Education Department proposes $8.5 billion FY2022 budget
The Missouri Board of Education has voted today in favor of the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) $8.5 billion proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning next July. The plan is a slim increase over the current budget year – about $26.8 million. “FY22 almost certainly will be a challenging revenue year, […]
Missouri Board of Education to decide whether to accelerate MOCAP enrollment decisions
The state Board of Education is expected to vote today on proposed changes to the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program, or MOCAP. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) received hundreds of public comments about the proposal. The part that has garnered the most attention deals with the time it takes […]
31 additional cases of COVID-19 in Grundy County confirmed over weekend; 56 cases active
The Grundy County Health Department Monday morning reported another 15 positive COVID-19 cases from Sunday making the weekend total of 31 cases. Grundy County’s cumulative total since testing began is up to 158, and of that total, 134 are confirmed and 24 are described as probable. The health department today reported 56 cases of COVID-19 […]
Attorney General William P. Barr announces updates on Operation Legend
At a press conference in Chicago today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced updates on Operation Legend, a law enforcement initiative launched in Kansas City, Mo., in July and since expanded to eight more cities. Since the operation’s launch, there have been more than 2,000 arrests, including defendants who have been charged in state and […]