Missouri Department of Social Services

Furious lawmakers demand answers from Missouri DSS for undercount of abuse reports

(Missouri Independent) – Lawmakers slammed the Department of Social Services on Thursday for underreporting the number of substantiated cases of abuse and neglect at youth residential facilities during a previous legislative hearing. For nearly an hour-and-a-half on Thursday, the House Special Committee on Government Oversight pressed DSS officials on why the number of findings of […]

Missouri WIC or Women Infant Children Logo

Missouri WIC to see temporary benefit increase

Missouri WIC is temporarily increasing the Cash Value Benefit for Fruit and Vegetable Purchases (CVB) to $35 per month for eligible women and children. WIC is the Department of Health and Senior Services Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The American Rescue Plan Act gave USDA authority to temporarily increase the CVB […]

WIC Women Infant Children

Missouri WIC income guidelines updated for 2021-2022

Missouri WIC announces the release of the updated Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) effective April 1, 2021. WIC is the Department of Health and Senior Services Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) releases annual adjustments to the IEGs used in determining eligibility […]

Steven Dale Lawrence

Pattonsburg man facing multiple sex-related charges granted change of venue

A change of venue was sustained in Division One of Daviess County Circuit Court on May 6th for a Pattonsburg man facing multiple sex-related charges involving minors. Seventy-three-year-old Steven Dale Lawrence’s case was transferred to Caldwell County. Lawrence faces first-degree felony charges of sodomy or attempted sodomy, second-degree, third-degree, and two counts of fourth-degree child […]

Grand River Networks

GRM Networks begins fiber-to-the-premise construction in rural exchanges of Princeton, Bethany and Spickard

During the month of April, GRM Networks kicked off fiber-to-the-premise construction in three rural exchanges. Contractors working on behalf of GRM Networks began fiber construction in the rural exchanges of Bethany and Princeton, while GRM Networks’ own construction department began work in the rural Spickard exchange. “Our employees and board of directors have worked hard […]

Road Work

Utility work will narrow Route 136 near Bethany

Utility work will impact traffic on U.S. Route 136 in Harrison County beginning late next week. PAR Electric Company, working under a permit obtained through the Missouri Department of Transportation, will alternate closing the eastbound and westbound lanes of U.S. Route 136 from West 185th Avenue to Route 13 in Bethany in order to replace […]

Meat and Poultry Processing Grants

Missouri meat and poultry processors awarded nearly $17 million toward food supply expansions

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has awarded $16,716,406 million in CARES Act funding to nearly 150 small and medium-sized businesses. As a direct result of the reimbursement grant, more than 40 businesses were assisted in initiating or expanding their level of meat processing through a new grant of inspection or custom exempt inspection status. “As a […]

Desks in School Room

Groups say slate of school bills would undermine public education

Advocates for public schools are urging the Missouri Legislature to bolster funding for public education rather than shift resources towards charter schools and school voucher programs. A bill pending in the House would provide tax credits for paying for private school tuition.  Another would change school funding formulas to give more resources to charter schools, specifically […]

Child Porn

Former paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School pleads guilty to producing child pornography

A former paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School pleaded guilty in federal court to producing and distributing child pornography. Steven B. Allen, 45, of Independence, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to two counts of producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography over the internet. Allen, who has been […]

USDA Sign

USDA awards MDC two partnership projects to enhance cropland acres, restore and protect sand prairies

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will continue initiatives to integrate conservation with agriculture practices and help restore and manage sand prairies after being awarded two partnership projects through the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Through RCPP, conservation partners work in collaboration with NRCS to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners throughout […]