(Missouri Independent) – Gov. Mike Parson praised his administration’s handling of the still-unfolding COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday, telling a joint session of the Missouri General Assembly that the state has emerged ready to make long-term investments in its future. “The bottom line is Missouri’s economy is strong,” Parson said in his annual State of the State […]
Tag: schools
Missouri attorney general renews threat to sue schools over masks, quarantine rules
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri is continuing to see record daily coronavirus infections, near-peak COVID-19 caseloads in hospitals, and threats from Attorney General Eric Schmitt that he will sue school districts that require masks or send students home when they are infected or exposed to the virus. In a statement issued Tuesday morning, Schmitt said school mask rules […]
Audio: Missouri House committee releases report on ways to boost broadband internet access
A Missouri House committee has released its report about ways to boost broadband internet access across the state. The Special Interim Committee on Broadband Development says 2020 FCC data shows about 400-thousand Missourians do not have access to broadband internet access. The committee report says Missouri is ranked 32nd in the nation in […]
Online orders for free at-home COVID tests to begin January 19
(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration on Friday launched a new website for Americans to request up to four free COVID-19 tests per household. The administration is buying 1 billion at-home rapid COVID-19 tests, and Americans will be able to begin ordering the tests online on Jan. 19 at COVIDtests.gov. This is part of the administration’s effort […]
University of Missouri President Choi won’t ask curators to reconsider vote against mask rule
(Missouri Independent) – The University of Missouri’s Columbia campus will begin the spring semester as planned Tuesday with no option for online classes, masking, or vaccination requirements, UM System President and campus Chancellor Mun Choi wrote to faculty leaders Friday. Choi’s response to concerns raised in a letter from the Executive Committee of the campus […]
Missouri budget proposal includes dispersing federal funds for child care
More than half of Missouri families report paying more than $500 a month for child care, and child-care providers have been struggling to keep their doors open. Advocates for children say there are some promising actions the Legislature could take to improve both ends. Craig Stevenson, director of policy and advocacy with Kids Win Missouri, noted […]
Missouri Attorney General obtains $53 million settlement from student loan servicer Navient
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that Navient, one of the nation’s largest student loan servicers, entered into a civil settlement agreement with his office and 38 other states for abuses originating in predatory student loans. The agreement resulted in a $53 million settlement for Missourians: $2.5 million in restitution and $51 million in private […]
Missouri businesses oppose ban on COVID vaccine mandates, argue it’s their choice
(Missouri Independent) – Proposals that would bar COVID-19 vaccine mandates and provide greater exemptions for vaccinations more broadly faced a wave of opposition from Missouri business groups Wednesday. Representatives for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Associated Industries of Missouri, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and other business associations made clear to lawmakers […]
Governor Mike Parson to be keynote speaker at Great Northwest Day at the Capitol event
Missouri Governor Mike Parson will kick off the Great Northwest Day at the Capitol event as the keynote speaker during a luncheon at the 20th Annual Great Northwest Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City, Tuesday, February 1. As legislators begin a new session in Jefferson City, citizens of Northwest Missouri have been preparing to […]
Scholarships available for service members and veterans
The VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” provides service members and veterans with the financial assistance they need to complete their educational goals without incurring excessive student loan debt. Scholarship Details: Scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded to qualified applicants. Awarded scholarships are limited to one per family per semester. […]
Chillicothe authorities have plans in place should TikTok challenge to harm school students appear in Chillicothe
The Chillicothe Police Department has received information from a school resource officer about a nationwide TikTok challenge to make threats to harm students at school. Police Chief Jon Maples reports the Chillicothe Police work closely with schools, and school resource officers are in place for reasons like this. He notes the police have plans in […]
Missouri schools must comply with COVID ruling to win treasurer approval of bond deals
(Missouri Independent) – If school districts want to take advantage of a lower interest rate on bonds, Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is requiring them to certify compliance with a recent court ruling targeting local health orders before his office will approve of the deal. Fitzpatrick detailed the decision he described as “unprecedented” in an interview Wednesday […]
Audio: Missouri to get federal money to strengthen crops
The Missouri Department of Agriculture says nine projects across Missouri will receive grant funding. The money is from the USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant program. It’s to strengthen the market for Missouri-grown specialty crops. More than $428,000 in federal funds will be used to build relationships between Missouri schools and local farmers. The […]
Missouri’s largest counties seek to appeal ruling overturning local health orders
(Missouri Independent) – Jackson and St. Louis Counties requested Monday that they be permitted to intervene and appeal a recent court ruling that they argue has “upended the longstanding public health framework” in Missouri. In a filing submitted Monday afternoon and obtained by The Independent, the two counties asked Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel […]
USDA provides additional pandemic assistance to hog producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new program to assist hog producers who sold hogs through a negotiated sale during the period in which these producers faced the greatest reduction in market prices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP) is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative and addresses […]
Grundy Electric Cooperative Community Foundation grant application deadline is January 1, 2022
The GEC Community Foundation, Inc. is currently accepting grant applications. The application deadline is January 1, 2022. Qualified applicants may apply for a grant by completing a grant application with supporting information. The grant application is available by visiting the Grundy Electric website or calling the Cooperative at 1-800-279-2249, extension 23. Applications will be reviewed […]
Missouri Attorney General asks parents for help in identifying school districts continuing to violate Cole County court order
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is asking parents for help in identifying school districts that are continuing to violate a recent Cole County Circuit Court order. Parents are urged to reach out directly to the Attorney General’s Office if their school district is continuing to enforce mask mandates, quarantines, and other similar COVID-19 public health […]
USDA to make up to $800 million available to provide economic relief to biofuel producers
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA will make up to $800 million available to support biofuel producers and infrastructure. The announcement includes $700 million to provide economic relief to biofuel producers and restore renewable fuel markets affected by the pandemic. The Department will make the funds available through the new Biofuel Producer […]
Audio: Bible classes could be taught in Missouri public schools under proposed bill
Public school students in Missouri would be able to study the Bible as an elective if a pre-filed bill (SB684) in the State Senate becomes law. Democrat Karla May of St. Louis is sponsoring the proposal. A summary of the bill on the Senate’s website says the courses would not “endorse, favor, promote, […]