Feb. 20
Proposed budget encourages staff in Department of Mental Health
As part of his proposed $46 billion budget for 2022-23, Gov. Mike Parson included massive investments in the state's health and mental health efforts.
His record budget included millions of dollars in support for veterans homes, autism centers, behavioral health centers, community health centers and community-based services. It also included millions of dollars to support agencies on aging and organizations serving the developmentally disabled.
One of its largest investments sets aside $955 million to standardize health care and mental health care provider rates and incentivize them to earn value- based payments.
Standardization and value-based payments are closely tied, said Valerie Huhn, director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH).
Through standardization, the state is getting all its providers equalized in terms of rates paid to them. Once that is done, the state can incentivize providers to produce good outcomes.
For years, Huhn said, the Division of Developmental Disabilities has been working to get rates standardized. The proposed budget includes money that finishes that process for providers. The budget also raises rates for providers up to $15 per hour for direct care.
"We've got them where they need to be to deliver a very good base service," Huhn said. "Now, we want to reward those providers that are doing more -- that are taking those extra trainings."
Ameren to invest $8.4B in grid modernization
Ameren Missouri told regulators this week it plans to upgrade its aging infrastructure and invest in smart technology across the state during the next five years.
Ameren filed its updated Smart Energy Plan with Missouri's Public Service Commission (PSC) this week, pledging to put $8.4 million toward replacing equipment, some of which is up to 50 years old, and putting new technology into practice to improve service and resiliency for its customers.
A state law passed in 2018 requires energy providers to draft a blueprint for how it would implement these plans. Ameren quickly committed to grid modernization and more efficient technology, including smart switches and more resilient poles and equipment. Jefferson City was the first area to receive a smart grid upgrade under Ameren's plan in 2019, with a $1.2 million operation installing smart equipment underground throughout the downtown area.
The smart switch gears included in the installation can communicate with one another to identify an outage, isolating it and rerouting power to aid customers quickly.
The upgrades were also touted as a way to combat outages due to weather.
Feb. 21
Some school systems pause diversity programs amid pushback
Conservative takeovers of local school boards have already altered lessons on race and social injustice in many classrooms. Now some districts are finding their broader efforts on diversity, equity and inclusion are also being challenged.
As her Colorado school district's equity director, Alexis Knox-Miller thought the work she and a volunteer team were doing was on solid ground, especially with an audit in hand that detailed where the district was falling short in making sure all students had the same opportunities.
But in December, Knox-Miller reluctantly disbanded the equity leadership team after more than a year of meetings. New conservative members had won a majority on the school board after voicing doubts about the work, and she worried the efforts might not lead anywhere.
The new board said it will take up the issue in the spring.
"Around the time that the equity audit was being released, I realized that the tide had changed around diversity, equity and inclusion efforts," Knox-Miller said. "People were conflating the definition of equity with critical race theory, and the absurd accusations that we were teaching critical race theory in classrooms to kindergartners began."
Since issues of diversity, equity and inclusion can thread their way through every part of a school system -- including recruitment, services and equipment -- the debate carries implications for hiring and spending.
Federation of Blind offers its legislative agenda
Members of the National Federation of the Blind will present their legislative agenda to the Missouri General Assembly early this week.
Several dozen members of the NFB Missouri chapter are expected to visit with lawmakers beginning Tuesday and continuing Wednesday.
Rita Lynch, a member of the Jefferson City chapter, said one of the goals is to get the Legislature to support universal teaching of Braille (and other skills) for all blind learners.
Lynch, who learned to read Braille early, was able to work for the Rehabilitation Services for the Blind for about 23 years, she said.
"We need to receive proper education, just like other people do," Lynch said. "We have been trying to work on the education of blind children for a really long time."
NFB, which is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind, released its legislative agenda before meeting with lawmakers.
The organization said only about 10 percent of blind children receive the benefit of learning to read Braille.
Acknowledging learning to read is one of the greatest accomplishments of man, if blind people are to succeed, literacy must be a part of their skill set, an NFB news release said.
Braille is the "finger equivalent" of what most people read with their eyes.
Feb. 22
Filing opens for Callaway County elections
Callaway County voters will have a choice to make on the Aug. 2 ballot for a presiding commissioner.
Filing opened Tuesday for nine Callaway County elected officials, including presiding commissioner.
The other positions are: Callaway County auditor, circuit clerk, collector of revenue, county clerk, prosecuting attorney, two associate circuit court judges and the recorder of deeds.
Current Presiding Commissioner Gary A. Jungermann filed for re-election and county resident Dustin Craighead filed against him. Both filed as Republicans.
The two will face off in the Aug. 2 election to be the party's candidate for the position.
One person filed for each of the other positions. All filed as Republicans.
Incumbent Karen Rentschler filed for county auditor. Megan Morse filed for re-election as the clerk of the circuit court.
Collector of Revenue Sarah Gladman and Clerk of the County Commission Ronda Miller filed for re-election.
180 new Eagle Scouts honored in Capitol ceremony
Wearing their scouting uniforms covered in badges, more than 180 new Eagle Scouts from across Missouri gathered at the Capitol to be recognized for earning the highest rank in Scouts BSA.
The 2021 class of Missouri Eagle Scouts was recognized Monday at the annual Missouri State Eagle Scout Recognition Day.
Missouri State Eagle Scout Recognition Day began in 2006 with just Eagle Scouts from Central Missouri. In 2010, it became a statewide event.
John Fabsits, scout executive/CEO of Scouts BSA Great Rivers Council, said the importance of the event is to recognize the Eagle Scouts for the time and dedication it took to achieve the ranking.
To become an Eagle, scouts must earn at least 21 merit badges, be a field-tested peer leader in a Scout troop and lead an extensive service project that benefits a community organization. It can be achieved in two years, but for many it takes about four to seven, Fabsits said.
After picking up their certificates, the Eagle Scouts and their families gathered in the House chambers to hear remarks from Rep. Michael O'Donnell and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe.
Feb. 23
Mid-Missouri's political races officially begin with candidate filing
Callaway County will be represented by a new face in the Missouri House of Representatives after this year.
The Secretary of State's Office began registering candidates at 8 a.m. Tuesday for the August primary election. Candidates who make it past the primary will then run in the November general election this year.
Rep. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, is leaving because of term limits, which means somebody else needs to fill the seat.
Throughout the morning and into the early afternoon, candidates reported a smooth process.
After drawing a number to determine their place on the ballot, candidates filed required documentation with the Secretary of State Office and left the building as official candidates.
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, the state's top election official, said he was encouraged to see the number of people filing to run for office on the first day.
"When you see this many citizens that are willing to try to make a difference and go through the hard work of doing it, it makes me feel better about the future of our state," he said.
Council votes done COVID-19 testing site
Based on a belief the area has enough available COVID-19 testing locations, the Fulton City Council declined using city property to open another one.
The Council voted 6-1 Tuesday night against accepting a contract with Curative, Inc. to open a testing location at the Legends Rec-Plex.
Ward 4 Councilman Bob Washington voted in favor of the contract and Ward 1 Councilman Mike West was not in attendance.
Had it been approved, Curative wanted to open a six-day-a-week COVID-19 testing clinic in a room on the south side of the Rec-Plex. It would have opened March 1 and remained open until no longer needed. The lab test would have been free with results in one to two days.
The contract presented to the Council included a 30-day written termination requirement. However, City Clerk Courtney Doyle said the company wanted to amend it to a 14-day written termination agreement.
Feb. 24
Snow causes concern for downtown parking
On the cusp of a third mid-week snow of the month, the Fulton City Council discussed concerns Tuesday night about snow accumulation on the sides of the road after getting plowed.
Ward 1 Councilman Ballard Simmons brought up the concern at Tuesday night's meeting. He said the issue is mostly by the curbs and parking spots, particularly downtown.
He said the issue seems to be people living downtown who park in those spots, which means the street crew can't plow it.
"Then when people show up to go to restaurants, they're getting stuck in the snow or having to traipse through the snow to get to the sidewalk," Simmons said. "I don't know that there's anything we can do to fix that."
Mayor Lowe Cannell said it mostly comes down to educating people on the work the city's crews do when it snows.
"Once it's there, it's tough to get it out," he said. "I know the guys went out there on the second and third day this last time and spent literally days cleaning that stuff off. It's just tough."
William Woods announces first chief student experience officer
William Woods University will have an additional face in its presidential cabinet next month.
The university named Ted Blashak as its first Chief Student Experience Officer on Wednesday. He will take office March 14.
"Dr. Blashak's more than 25 years of experience, focusing on academic quality, operational excellence, market expansion and organizational change in both online and traditional campus-based higher education, will be an asset to our University leadership team as we pursue excellence at William Woods," WWU President Jeremy Moreland said.
Blashak will guide student affairs, admissions and marketing. He will also work closely with academic affairs and "functional areas at the university, working together to ensure excellence both in and out of the classroom," according to a news release.
Feb. 25
Gov. Parson signs supplemental budget, including state worker pay plan
Gov. Mike Parson signed off on an emergency supplemental budget bill including a state employee wage increase shortly after the Missouri Legislature gave its final approval of the bill Thursday.
The supplemental budget bill will see state workers paid at or above $15 an hour as well as a 5.5 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA). The bill also accounts for wage compression for those employees already making above $15 an hour. Other sections of the bill appropriate funds for education and the state's Medicaid program.
"We are happy to sign the supplemental budget bill into law today," Parson said in a statement. "This bill not only gives our dedicated state team members a long overdue pay increase, but also appropriates critical funding to our K-12 schools and child care system. We thank the General Assembly for working to get this important piece of legislation passed and to my desk."
The Senate passed the measure back to the House on Wednesday evening by a vote of 25-7, and the lower chamber gave its final stamp of approval Thursday morning 133-12.
Council votes down study to expand sewer services
The Fulton City Council voted down a proposal to study a change to the sewer system focused on improving conditions of Stinson Creek because of too many questions.
The study would have looked into allowing the Christopher Two subdivision just outside city limits hook up to the city sewer system rather than continuing with a lagoon system.
Christopher Two includes Sharon and Elaine drives off Route F to the west of the city proper.
Interim Director of Administration Darrell Dunlap said Elaine Drive receives city electric, but that's the only city utility that reaches the subdivision.
He said the home owner's association approached the city with the idea because of issues with its lagoon. In discussions with the Department of Natural Resources, he realized a benefit could be less contamination of Stinson Creek.
The creek is on the state's 303(d) list, which means it's impaired because of pollution.
Fulton is in discussion with DNR about what needs to be done to improve the creek's condition.