The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency published the first notice of funding availability announcing loan payments for eligible borrowers with qualifying direct farm loans under the American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005. The official NOFA will be published in the Federal Register early next week and USDA expects payments to begin in early […]
State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced that her office has begun a regularly scheduled audit of Ray County, located in western Missouri. The most recent state audit of the county, issued in July 2015, resulted in a rating of “fair.” “Audits are useful tools to ensure that government uses taxpayer dollars in a way that is both efficient […]
The University of Missouri Extension and Show-Me Farm Safety recently released a new Together We Can toolkit to help rural Missourians access mental health resources. “Missourians are strong and resilient in the face of the challenges and uncertainty that can come with farm life,” says Marshall Stewart, MU vice chancellor for extension and engagement and […]
This past year, the global pandemic forced many to cope with situations never before imagined, and many individuals struggled with mental health as a result. The good news is that there are tools and resources available to support the well-being of individuals and communities. The month of May is recognized as Mental Health Month. This […]
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program with higher payment rates, new incentives, and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation. Additionally, USDA is announcing investments in partnerships to increase climate-smart agriculture, including $330 million in 85 Regional Conservation Partnership Program […]
The Biden administration has taken the first steps in the regulatory process to eliminate the domestic gag rule, which forced more than 900 reproductive-health clinics nationwide to leave the Title X family-planning program and lose major amounts of funding. Rachel Fey, vice president for policy and strategic partnerships at the contraceptive-access advocacy group Power to Decide, said the […]
Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), along with U.S. Representatives Sam Graves (Mo.) and Emanuel Cleaver II (Mo.), led a bipartisan, bicameral letter urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to quickly and fully utilize the tools and resources Congress provided in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020 and the FY2020 Energy and Water […]
The Chillicothe Fire Department responded to a structure fire at a two-story apartment building the night of April 16th. Captain Derrick Allen reports firefighters saw heavy flames and smoke coming from second-story apartment number 3 when they arrived at 444 Jackson. A transitional attack was used, and the fire was knocked down from the outside. […]
Volunteers will lend a “helping hand” this Saturday when Serve Mercer County works on projects on behalf of the elderly, those who are ill, or unable to do the work themselves. First Baptist Church Pastor Abner Neill said that Serve Mercer County allows several organizations and individuals to work together on projects to benefit the […]
March 2020 would have been the fifth year of Camp CaPow—College Access-Planning Our Way. Held at the University of Missouri’s Family Impact Center in Columbia, Camp CaPow is a weeklong opportunity for middle school students to explore career and postsecondary education options through workshops, tours of Missouri college campuses, meetings with professionals from a range […]
The Chillicothe Police Department has acquired new tools as part of a community safety initiative that started last year after receiving the law enforcement tax. Police Chief Jon Maples reports the department now has the LexisNexis Community Crime Map and four radar speed display trailers. The Community Crime Map connects law enforcement with the community […]
Dr. Beth Ann Caldarello, Library Director from Trenton, MO, has been selected as North Central Missouri College’s Outstanding Employee for April. Beth Ann, an NCMC Alumni, has been employed at NCMC for eight years and holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and a Masters in Library Science. Dr. Caldarello, along with her team Shellee, […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency announces the availability of $2 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The funding was made possible by USDA’s new Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, an effort to distribute resources more broadly and to put greater […]
The death of a Kansas man whose body was found in a creek in La Cygne, Kansas, in 2004 was a homicide, according to a new report by a federal forensic examiner. As part of a continuing federal investigation of Alonzo Brooks’ death, his body was exhumed and transported to Dover Air Force Base for […]
In partnership with Sallie Mae and the MOST 529 Education Plan, Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick will host a webinar focused on providing information about saving for higher education and finding scholarship opportunities. How to Find Free Money and Save for College will take place on Wednesday, April 7 at 6 p.m. “Helping Missourians make […]
Citing possible public perceptions, and not wanting to see a budget document that has a $600,000 spending deficit for the next year, the Trenton City Council Tuesday evening voted to reject the proposed amended budget and requested another revision that can be voted on at the next meeting. On a separate matter, approval was given […]
Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 21-06 establishing the Show Me Strong Recovery Task Force. “COVID-19 had an overwhelming impact on businesses and communities across the state, but our economy continues to come back strong,” Governor Parson said. “We have made great progress in a short amount of time, and we must remain vigilant in our efforts […]
A dual U.S.-Mexican citizen pleaded guilty today to willfully engaging in financial dealings with Mexican companies that had been identified as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). According to court documents, Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, 34, of Guadalajara, Mexico, violated the criminal penalties of […]
Serve Mercer County will take place this year on Saturday, April 17, with a rain date of Saturday, April 24, if needed. It is an opportunity for neighbors to help neighbors with civic groups, and school groups of all ages are encouraged to participate. Those interested in helping should register online by Friday, April 9. […]
(Missouri Independent) – Last week, multiple mass vaccination events in rural areas neared the end of the day with hundreds of doses still on hand — prompting health departments to take to social media and encourage anyone to come for fear doses would be wasted. “We have ample vaccine still available that needs to be […]
