(Missouri Independent) – President-elect Joe Biden’s coronavirus response plan seeks to put a national mask mandate in place by calling on all governors to require face coverings in their states. It’s a move that public health experts say could dramatically reduce the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths. But putting wider mask laws in place […]
The Missouri House voted Tuesday to give preliminary approval to a proposed $1.27 billion supplemental budget, a supplemental that is the reason for the special session. The supplemental budget includes funding for school nutrition programs, job training grants, $1 million for witness protection funding, and money for child support payments. Governor Mike Parson (R) called […]
Balloting for the general election in Grundy County was heavier than it was four years ago in terms of the percentage who voted, but it was nearly the same on the headcount. Including those who voted in person Tuesday, plus those who voted in advance via an absentee or mail-in ballot, a total of 4,467 […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri Democrats had another disappointing night in legislative elections Tuesday, losing in two state Senate districts crucial to their hopes of cracking the Republican supermajority in the upper chamber. Republicans held a key Senate seat by re-electing Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden of Columbia in the 19th District in central Missouri. As […]
If the number of people who’ve already voted is any indication, the general election will likely have a record turnout of voters in Grundy County. The absentee vote has exceeded those of the past three presidential elections in 2016, 2012, and 2008. A steady flow of voters went to the Grundy County courthouse on Monday […]
(Missouri Independent) – Across Missouri, local election officials have received 628,395 mail-in and absentee ballots, according to the Secretary of State’s Oct. 27 report. Already, that’s more than twice the total absentee ballots counted in the November 2016 election. While many Missourians have already voted by mail or in-person absentee, many more will head out […]
There were 80 people who voted absentee for Tuesday’s General Election during special hours on Saturday morning at the Grundy County Clerk’s office in Trenton. Another 20 people voted absentee early Saturday afternoon after making reservations with the Grundy County Clerk’s Office to vote at curbside. The clerk’s office previously had announced it would allow […]
(Missouri Independent) – A Missouri family that was denied a license to grow medical marijuana alleged in court this week that outside groups and individuals had undue access to top state officials — and that access led to an opaque process and contributed to the decision to cap the number of licenses granted. To buttress […]
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says he expects about a 70% voter turnout for the general election. In 2016, Missouri had about a 67% voter turnout. Local election authorities project their jurisdiction’s voter turnout and then Ashcroft’s office compiles a statewide estimate. And this year, at best, it’s going to be a guess because […]
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees approved multiple personnel-related items on Tuesday evening, October 27th. Hirings included Shiann Campbell of Edgerton as full-time Campus Store Associate—Retail at $11.01 per hour. She began the position on October 19th. Zane Robinson of Trenton was hired as a full-time IT Helpdesk Specialist at $14.65 per hour. […]
The Chillicothe City Council on Monday evening, October 26th approved a recommendation for the appointment of a Third Ward Councilman. Josh Fosdick will be sworn into office on the evening of November 9th at 6:30. Chillicothe City Clerk Roze Frampton reports Fosdick will take the place of Michael Smith, who resigned as the Third Ward […]
At Monday nights’ closed session for legal purposes, the Trenton City Council voted eight to nothing to authorize the city administrator to execute an agreement with what he called “a replacement contractor” to install the temporary shoring for the 17th Street Bridge project. Administrator Ron Urton said this action would be taken only if the […]
Trenton’s’ Building and Nuisance board on Monday evening advanced five properties of concern while releasing another from consideration. The board was told work requested by the city has been completed at 812 Grant Street. It then voted to remove the location from further review. Owners are listed as Steven and Serenity Leivan. Two locations were […]
Missouri’s junior senator is praising the newest U.S. Supreme Court Justice, who was sworn-in Monday after being confirmed by the Senate on a 52-48 vote. GOP Senator Josh Hawley, who serves on the Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, was impressed with Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s testimony at hearings. Senator Hawley describes Barrett as […]
At Trenton, Gabe Chrisman, a property owner presented what she called a revised plan last night to the city council involving a proposed outdoor theater on land she owns at 22nd and Stature. After questions and discussions, the council voted to return the request for a conditional use permit back to the Planning and Zoning […]
(Missouri Independent) – Two minutes into our interview, I counted five yawns as the young teacher from southwest Missouri caught herself, and apologetically assured me that my questions weren’t dull. “I just feel like I am working all the time,” she added. “I don’t know how I am going to keep doing this for the […]
The Farmers’ Electric Cooperative Board of Directors voted unanimously at its September meeting to return capital credits totaling about $1,400,000 to member-owners of the cooperative. The checks issued this year will retire all of 1997 and 23% of 1998 capital credits allocations. The checks are scheduled to be mailed to current and former members around […]
State Auditor Nicole Galloway made a stop in southwest Missouri’s Joplin Monday afternoon. Galloway, a Democrat who is running for governor, criticized her opponent, Republican Governor Mike Parson, about his stance on making Missouri a right-to-work state. In 2018, voters overwhelmingly opposed passing such a law that would ban mandatory union fees in the workplace. […]
During historically divisive times, one Missouri city could be moving toward a nonpartisan way of electing its leaders. St. Louis voters will decide on Proposition D on the November 3 ballot. It would create a nonpartisan primary system, and implement what’s known as “approval voting” in municipal elections. Mallory Rusch, campaign manager for STL Approves, the group […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which provides annual rental payment for land devoted to conservation purposes. “CRP is one of the many ‘tools’ that USDA offers to producers and private landowners to […]
