School buses wait Tuesday outside Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School in Columbia (Photo Credit Rudi Keller Missouri Independent

Confusion around COVID ruling swirls as two Missouri school districts end semester early

(Missouri Independent) – As a growing number of Missouri school districts drop COVID mitigation measures under threat from Attorney General Eric Schmitt, at least two closed the doors on their fall semester early due to large numbers of staff and students out sick. Meanwhile, local public health departments said Tuesday they still have not heard […]

SafeDefend Website

Trenton R-9 Board of Education hears presentation on implementation of SafeDefend system

The Trenton R-9 Board of Education on December 14th heard about the implementation of the SafeDefend system for the district. Superintendent Mike Stegman reported employee training for the system was December 6th. Law enforcement and fire and rescue members were also invited to participate. On-site employees were fingerprinted into the system, and it is now […]

Newtown-Harris School Website

Newtown-Harris Board of Education approves changes to COVID-19 policy at Monday meeting

The Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education approved changes to the COVID-19 policy on December 13th. The changes specifically involved shorter quarantine periods. The board also reapproved the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan. The 2020-2021 audit was approved. Superintendent Doctor Lucas McKinnis reports there were no findings or recommendations, and the […]

Roy Blunt Reservoir

North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission recommends names for roads near East Locust Creek Reservoir

At the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission meeting, the Commissioners took up the issue of adopting a “Naming Convention” that will guide the naming of approximately 113 features at or near the East Locust Creek Reservoir ELCR.  Features include, but are not limited to; roads, bridges, branches, coves, points, the marina, boat launch areas, […]

Employment Opportunity

Livingston County Library has part-time job opening in adult services

Livingston County Library has a part-time circulation clerk position available in the Adult Services Department at the Main Library. Duties include circulation responsibilities, shelving duties, and offering great customer service. Good communication, computer skills, and knowledge are required. The position would be 25-27 hours a week. The schedule has some flexibility, however, availability for evening […]

Senator Dan Hegeman

State Senator Dan Hegeman files Bill 633 regarding election integrity and reform

State Senator Dan Hegeman has pre-filed Senate Bill 633 regarding election integrity and reform. While it contains some familiar language, Hegeman said it also embraces new technology, with what he called “voter safety” in mind. The legislative proposal would allow a local election official to oversee ballot-counting machines and ensure these machines are not connected […]

Milan Survey Graphic

Milan C-2 School District asking residents to take survey regarding district possibly going to 4-day school week

The Milan C-2 School District is planning for the 2022-2023 school year and is seeking feedback on the potential of implementing a four-day school week. A survey is available on the school’s website in English, Spanish, and French. The survey in English is available by clicking HERE, The survey in Spanish is available by clicking […]

United States Supreme Court (Phot credit Laura Olson - States Newsroom)

U.S. Supreme Court considers new limits on abortions in Mississippi case

(Missouri Independent) – The Supreme Court is weighing potentially sweeping changes to the right to an abortion, after two hours of arguments Wednesday morning on a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court’s conservatives, who hold a 6-3 majority, appeared through their questions to be sympathetic to Mississippi’s arguments […]

A gavel and a name plate with the engraving Lawsuit

Missouri Attorney General files lawsuit against Moberly Public Schools for public records on IEP recording policy

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against the Moberly Public School District for alleged Sunshine Law violations for requests for public records from the Attorney General’s Office related to their policy on parents recording Individualized Education Plan meetings. “Parents have a right to know exactly what is being taught to the children and […]

Audit Graphic

Greene County taxpayers footed a $25,000 legal bill in connection with 2017 ballot measure ethics probe

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released the audit of the Greene County Commission that included the involvement of a former Greene County commissioner in a 2017 sales tax ballot measure campaign. Among its findings, the audit found that taxpayers paid more than $25,000 in legal invoices sent to the personal address of now-former Presiding Commissioner […]