Broadband Internet Access graphic

USDA invests nearly $5 million in high-speed broadband access for rural Missouri

The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $4,924,245 to deploy broadband infrastructure in rural areas of Missouri without sufficient access to high-speed internet. “Access to high-speed internet is vital to stay connected with one another and expands opportunities for employment, education, healthcare, […]

Governor Mike Parson

Missouri to accept Medicaid expansion applications; DSS to begin processing applications on October 1

(Missouri Independent) – Missourians who qualify for benefits under Medicaid expansion can begin enrolling. Still, it may take up to two months until they will find out if their eligibility has been verified and their application has been approved. In a news release Wednesday, Gov. Mike Parson announced that in response to a Cole County […]

Network cables (RJ45 ) connected to a switch

Missouri lags behind other states in broadband access and adoption

Missouri lags behind many other states in broadband access and adoption, limiting people’s ability to participate in the emerging digital economy, digital learning, and even telemedicine. The trillion-dollar bipartisan infrastructure bill, which passed the Senate this week, includes $65 billion to boost high-speed internet access, along with other funds for roads, bridges, airports, and Amtrak. Tim […]

Missouri State Highway Patrol Website New 2021 (MSHP)

Patrol arrests Iowa man in Harrison County

The Highway Patrol reports the arrest of a Des Moines, Iowa man in Harrison County Wednesday, August 11 on multiple allegations. Twenty-six-year-old Bennie Curtis was accused of felony possession of marijuana of more than 35 grams with the intent to distribute, having drug paraphernalia, and speeding. He was taken to the Harrison County Law Enforcement […]

Medicaid

Lawmakers say special session likely unneeded to fund Missouri Medicaid expansion

(Missouri Independent) – Legislative leaders of both parties said Tuesday that a special session is likely not needed to appropriate additional funds following a court order to begin covering Missourians who are eligible under voter-approved Medicaid expansion. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence, and Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis and […]

Cole County Judge Jon Beetem (Screenshot courtesy KRCG-TV)

Judge orders state to immediately allow Missourians to enroll in expanded Medicaid

(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri Department of Social Services must allow newly eligible residents that qualify for benefits under voter-approved Medicaid expansion to enroll and cannot impose greater restrictions on them, a Cole County judge ruled Tuesday. Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem sided with the plaintiffs who urged him to allow Medicaid expansion to take […]

Hunter David Krawitz Booking Photo

Spickard man charged with domestic assault

A Spickard man accused of causing physical pain to a relative has been charged with felony third-degree domestic assault. The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports 21-year-old Hunter David Krawitz was arrested on August 8. Bond is $5,000 cash only, and he is scheduled for the Associate Division of Circuit Court on August 24. Court documents […]

Desks in classroom of school or education or student

Missouri agency begins implementation of new law to regulate unlicensed boarding schools

(Missouri Independent) – Unlicensed youth residential facilities across Missouri are expected to submit materials notifying the state of their existence by mid-October, but background checks for facility staff required under a new law likely won’t be completed by that time. That’s because the Department of Social Services (DSS) is still working to make hires in […]