Missouri Independent) – In mid-December, Texas’ highest criminal court revoked the state attorney general’s ability to use his office to prosecute election-related cases without the request of a district or county attorney. In an 8-1 opinion, the all-Republican court weakened Attorney General Ken Paxton’s power to independently go after perpetrators of voter fraud, a problem he says […]
Tag: UMB
Disability advocates say to focus on accessibility in voting reforms
Experts say Missouri ranks low among states when it comes to steps it has taken to improve accessibility in voting. Denise Lieberman, director and general counsel of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, which has a disability-rights committee, said people with disabilities face barriers at all stages of the voting process, from registering to vote to […]
Experts say federal funds for lead pipe replacement needed in Missouri
Missouri has roughly 330,000 lead service lines, the pipes connecting water mains to buildings including people’s homes, and federal funding could help speed up the process of removing and replacing them. The bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress last year includes $15 billion for lead-pipe replacement, building on funds from the American Rescue Plan. Erik D. Olson, senior strategic director at […]
Misinformation fuels false belief that Missouri COVID death figures are being inflated
(Missouri Independent) – On a recent Tuesday evening in southeastern Missouri, John Freeze stood in front of yet another angry group of constituents. Some here believe the number of COVID-19 deaths are being purposefully inflated for financial gain. Among the culprits, in their mistaken view: Hospitals seeking Medicare reimbursements; The federal government, led by Dr. Anthony […]
Missouri takes months to process Medicaid applications — longer than law allows
(Missouri Independent) – This story was originally published by Kaiser Health News. Aneka French applied for Medicaid in October, not long after Missouri became the 38th state to expand eligibility for the program. But her application sat for months in a backlog with tens of thousands of others. While she waited, French, 45, an uninsured medical […]
WIC formula manufacturer, Abbott, recalls powdered infant formula
Abbott, the WIC infant formula manufacturer, announced the proactive, voluntary recall of some powdered Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare formulas manufactured in Sturgis, Michigan. Missouri WIC, the Department of Health and Senior Services Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, is working to make participating families aware of the disruption. The powdered formula products […]
Audio: Cultural Corner Art Guild and Gallery features Black History Month exhibit “Shades of Us”
The Cultural Corner Art Guild and Gallery at 424 Locust Street in Chillicothe currently has a Black History Month art exhibit featuring Black artists. Shades of Us will be on display until March 19th. Cultural Corner Board President Margaret Vance says Cultural Corner was approached by a local African American woman who wanted to have […]
Milan woman life-flighted to hospital after head-on crash on Highway 5
A Milan resident was flown to a Columbia hospital Thursday night after being injured in a two-car crash on Highway 5, one mile north of Laclede, in Linn County. Twenty-seven-year-old Kirsten Tharp of Milan received moderate injuries and she was taken by a LifeFlight medical helicopter to University of Missouri Hospital. The car Tharp was […]
Missouri 4-H and University of Missouri Extension launch new crop event
Missouri 4-H youths and volunteers can learn about common Missouri crops, insects, diseases, disorders, weeds, and pesticide safety through a new 4-H Crop Scouting program. The inaugural event is July 19 at the University of Missouri’s Bradford Farm, about 8 miles east of Columbia. “Missouri 4-H is very excited to be bringing state-level opportunities to […]
Two area health departments report on new cases of COVID-19
The Livingston County Health Center on February 16th reported 10 COVID-19 cases had been added since February 14th. That raised the total to 3,326. The number of active cases decreased by 15 to 44. The Sullivan County Health Department February 16th confirmed three additional COVID-19 cases since February 15th, bringing the total to 1,690. The […]
Gallatin Board of Aldermen approve bids for skid loader and roof repairs
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen approved bids for a skid loader and roof repairs on February 14th. The purchase of a Cat skid loader was approved from Foley Equipment for $88,951.15 with an extended warranty and delivery in one week. Three other bids were submitted and ranged in price from $61,000 to $74,538.62 for other […]
Missouri man allegedly scams investors in hazardous and medical waste company
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Securities Division issued an order to show cause why civil penalties, restitution, costs, and other administrative relief should not be imposed against Steri Med Solutions LLC and David Edward Fenton, DVM. Between November 1, 2014, and January 31, 2016, Fenton, a Columbia, Missouri resident, allegedly sold more than $400,000 in […]
Audio: Missouri voters could be asked to let Legislature decide whether to fund Medicaid expansion
Missouri voters could be asked in November to let the Legislature decide whether to fund Medicaid expansion. The Missouri House has given initial approval to the proposed ballot measure. Last year, the Legislature attempted to defund the expansion population, but the Missouri Supreme Court ruled against that move. House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith says […]
KTTN/KGOZ Sports Director inducted into North Central Missouri College Hall of Fame
KTTN/KGOZ Sports Director Tom Johnson was inducted into the North Central Missouri College Hall of Fame on February 15, 2022. The induction ceremony took place during halftime of the Lady Pirates basketball game against Missouri Valley College. Rick Cole with Pirates Digital Media interviewed Johnson and asked what his initial thoughts were about being inducted […]
Major Gregory Smith, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, to retire March 1, 2022
Major Gregory K. Smith, commander of Field Operations Bureau with direct oversight responsibility for all nine troops, the Aircraft Division, and the Water Patrol Division will retire March 1, 2022. Smith was appointed to the Patrol on July 1, 1989, as a member of the 61st Recruit Class. After graduating from the Academy, he was […]
American Farm Bureau Federation claims it’s the ‘voice of agriculture,’ Others beg to differ
(Missouri Independent) – This story was originally published as a collaboration between Investigate Midwest and Watchdog Writers Group. The American Farm Bureau Federation calls itself the “voice of agriculture,” a slogan it trademarked in 2007. But as the divide between agribusiness and small farmers has grown in recent decades, a unified voice of agriculture has become harder to […]
Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge opening Saturday, March 5
The gates at Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge will once again open to the public on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at 6 am. The Refuge is closed annually from late October to the first Saturday of March to allow for undisturbed habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl. Once spring arrives the place becomes a Refuge […]
Trenton City Council completes financing on water treatment plant improvements
The Trenton City Council Monday night adopted two ordinances and accepted three bids. Financing is complete on $2,500,000 to make improvements at the Trenton water treatment plant. The council voted six to nothing to enter into a lease-purchase transaction with Central Bank of the Midwest at Kansas City as the lessor and Missouri Association of […]
“Riding for our Veterans” to hold banquet in March
Volunteers will be recognized and awards presented when an area organization, “Riding for our Veterans” holds a banquet during March in Chillicothe. The event, by reservations only, will be held at 6 pm the night of March 26th at the New Veterans building on Washington Street in Chillicothe. A limited number of tickets remain for […]