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Speculation is over. Galloway enters Missouri governor’s race

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State Auditor Nicole Galloway wants to be Missouri’s next governor. In a video released today entitled “Every Dollar”, she announced her 2020 bid for the state’s highest office.

State Auditor Nicole Galloway

“Government isn’t doing much to make a difference for you and your family unless you are a well-connected insider. Health care costs are going through the roof and parents are worried about their kids being able to make a good life close to home. I’m one of them,” Galloway says in the video. “It’s hard to trust Jefferson City with our tax dollars. I’ve never settled for things just being the way they are and neither should Missourians. Dark money and insider deals have rigged the system against working families. As Auditor, I’ve fought it. As Governor, I’ll end it.”

The move ends speculation swirling about the Columbia Democrat’s future plans, especially since she started weighing in on the GOP-controlled Missouri Legislature’s passing in May of a bill banning abortions at eight weeks.

Galloway touts her record of exposing fraud at all levels of local and state government.

Her office’s audits have identified more than $350 million in government waste, fraud, and mismanagement. Partnering with law enforcement, her audits have led to 40 criminal counts brought against corrupt public officials, both Democrats and Republicans. In the past year, she uncovered a nationwide medical billing scheme operating through a small rural Missouri hospital that is now the subject of a Department of Justice criminal investigation.

Galloway was appointed to her current position in 2015 by former governor and fellow Democrat Jay Nixon. Before becoming auditor, she worked as the elected treasurer of Central Missouri’s Boone County.

Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, is expected to announce soon that he’s running for the position.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

(AUDIO) Missouri World War II Army veteran honored at annual military event

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Hundreds attended the 10th annual Military Appreciation Day on Sunday at the State Fair in west-central Missouri’s Sedalia. Several uniformed soldiers showed up, along with veterans, family members, friends, Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, National Guard Adjutant General Levon Cumpton and several patriot guard motorcycle riders.

Military Appreciation Day 2019 at the Missouri State Fair

Among those recognized at the event was a 98-year-old World War II veteran from Jefferson City. Charles Foster served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945 to honor his best friend, Charles Thompson.

“Then he was killed at Pearl Harbor,” says Foster. “Immediately I wanted to enlist.”

Foster served in a variety of Army jobs, including as a B25 bomber crew chief and on the front lines. Foster exited his fox hole once. He says that was a big mistake.

“When a piece of shrapnel hit my helmet, I thought it was going to break my neck. It didn’t get me – it just got my helmet. I didn’t have any trouble staying in the fox hole after that,” Foster laughs.

Foster has war wounds, including shrapnel in his skull and he’s worn hearing aids ever since. He was awarded three bronze star medals for his courage.

Foster stumbled into his final military position after some of his comrades were passed out in the kitchen from drinking too much alcohol. None of the kitchen crew was coherent enough to feed a bunch of hungry soldiers.

Foster rolled up his sleeves and got to work whipping up a meal that ended up being the talk of the base, particularly his peach cobbler. Despite his initial objection, Foster ended up leading the kitchen crew and becoming a mess hall sergeant until he finished his military service in 1945.

To hear the full interview, click below.

Galloway files for 2020 Missouri governor’s run

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State Auditor Nicole Galloway

State Auditor Nicole Galloway has filed paperwork with the Missouri Ethics Commission to run for governor in 2020. Galloway, a Democrat from central Missouri’s Columbia, has not made a formal announcement yet.

She was appointed to her position in 2015 by former Governor and fellow Democrat Jay Nixon. Last November, Galloway won a four-year term as auditor.

Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, is expected to make an official announcement soon that he plans to run for the state’s highest office. He has already named Steele Shippy as his campaign manager.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Former fireman shares story about holding armed man at gunpoint outside Springfield Walmart

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A former firefighter who says he held a man at gunpoint Thursday for carrying a tactical rifle and a bunch of ammunition through a Springfield Walmart hopes his actions prevented another mass shooting. Terrified shoppers ran outside during the incident in southwest Missouri and the suspect, who was wearing body armor, followed.

Former fireman shares story about holding armed man at gunpoint outside Springfield Walmart

The unidentified citizen tells Springfield television station KOLR he got out his gun and told the man to keep his arms in the air until police arrived.

“He complied and was compliant the whole time,” he says. “He was videotaping on his phone, which was kind of odd.”

The citizen was shopping with his wife when the event unfolded.

“I’ve been in public safety for a long time,” he says. “Even though I’m no longer in public safety, I still feel that I can still protect people if I need to. That was my intention. Hopefully my actions prevented something like El Paso from happening.”

The armed suspect was arrested. No charges have been filed.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

FEMA denies disaster aid to residents in 19 Missouri counties

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Photos courtesy of MoDOT

The State Emergency Management Agency is asking the federal government to reconsider its decision to deny disaster aid to residents in 19 Missouri counties. The state’s appeal involves a federal disaster declaration from severe flooding and storms this year.

The counties Missouri wants included in a federal disaster declaration are: Adair, Barton, Cape Girardeau, Christian, Clark, Cooper, Dallas, Douglas, Gasconade, Grundy, Harrison, Hickory, Howard, Laclede, Macon, Marion, Polk, Ste. Genevieve, and St. Louis counties.

In the appeal sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Missouri says about 35% of families in these counties are low income and need federal help.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Southwest Missouri voters oppose tax increase to help fund hospital

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Voters in southwestern Missouri’s Cedar County have decided not to raise property taxes to help fund an area hospital.

Southwest Missouri voters oppose tax increase to help fund hospital

Missourinet affiliate KSGF in Springfield reports Cedar County Memorial Hospital in El Dorado Springs has been operating on the same $1.15 tax levy since it opened in 1960. Tuesday’s special election ballot proposal would have raised the tax levy for the average house by around 22 cents a day, or around $80 a year.

The hospital says it’s doing its best to keep things running. It ran a deficit of $1.5 million last year.

Springfield television station KYTV reports the vice president of the Cedar County Memorial Hospital board in El Dorado Springs, Carla Griffin, says the hospital “is not in IMMINENT danger of closing,” but employee cutbacks will need to be made.

The 25-bed hospital has more than 120 employees and is the second largest employer in the county. It includes a surgery center, sleep lab and wound care clinic.

Hundreds of rural health care centers have closed nationwide over the last 5 years, including seven in Missouri.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Three Sears stores to close in Missouri

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Three Sears stores to close in Missouri

Sears is pulling the plug on three of its Missouri stores. The company plans to close its locations in southeast Missouri’s Cape Girardeau, eastern Missouri’s St. Peters and western Missouri’s Independence.

The company is closing more than two dozen Sears and Kmart stores, as it continues to struggle after emerging from bankruptcy.

Liquidation sales are expected to begin around August 15. The stores are anticipated to call it quits in later October.

Sears says eligible workers will be offered severance pay.

117th annual Missouri State Fair begins today

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Photo courtesy of Missouri State Fair

Thousands of people are expected to turn out for opening day of the State Fair in west-central Missouri’s Sedalia. An opening day ceremony kicks off at 11 a.m. with special guests Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe and Second Lady Claudia Kehoe, Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn and state legislators.

A parade begins at 6 p.m. and includes antique and classic cars, the Sedalia Smith-Cotton Marching Band and the Budweiser Clydesdales.

Country singer Dwight Yoakum performs tonight at 7:30, along with fireworks.

The event runs through August 18.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet