Business Archives - Missourinet

Winter weather has been deadly in Missouri; I-70 in Concordia has reopened

February 15, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

UPDATE: The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says westbound I-70 at Concordia has re-opened, after being closed for more than five hours.

BRIAN’S ORIGINAL STORY IS BELOW:

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield is warning travelers that Friday evening’s commute will be difficult across the Ozarks, because roads have deteriorated from snow and ice.

The National Weather Service in Springfield is urging motorists to finish their travel as soon as possible (map courtesy of NWS Springfield Twitter)

NWS meteorologist Mike Albano in Springfield says Branson, Monett, Neosho and West Plains are seeing ice. Some of those areas have seen almost two-tenths of an inch of ice already.

“For people traveling along and south of the U.S. 60 corridor, we’d suggest avoid any unnecessary travel,” Albano says. “Between a tenth and two-tenths of an inch of ice certainly has its problems that it could cause out there on the roadways,” Albano says.

Snow, sleet and freezing rain continue to fall across the Ozarks this afternoon, and the NWS is urging you to complete your travel as soon as possible.

“And this is a system that’s going to be around really through the evening commute, probably not pulling out of maybe the Branson, the Springfield metropolitan areas until maybe after 6 o’clock this evening,” Albano says.

The NWS says the Warsaw and Osage Beach areas could see up to three inches of snow, by Friday evening.

Numerous Missouri school districts either canceled classes today, or dismissed early. That meant some of school buses were taking children home during the snowstorm.

Meantime, the NWS in western Missouri’s Pleasant Hill, near Kansas City, says multi-vehicle crashes have caused closures on numerous highways and interstates in the Kansas City region, across the metro and beyond.

Here are some other big stories from today’s winter storm, across the state:

** Missouri state troopers in Lee’s Summit say one person has been killed in a 15-vehicle crash today on westbound I-70, near Oak Grove. Westbound I-70 at western Missouri’s Oak Grove remains closed because of the crashes.
** Snow-covered westbound I-70 in west-central Missouri’s Concordia remains closed. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) tells Missourinet at least six or seven tractor trailers crashed there, and one of them “tore open”, spilling items onto the highway.
** Snow-covered westbound Highway 54 near the Cole-Miller County line south of Jefferson City saw a pileup involving numerous vehicles today. One listener tells us about 40 vehicles were involved, while another listener says it involved hundreds of cars.

Nikodim: The future is bright for Missouri’s pork industry (AUDIO)

February 15, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The longtime Missouri Pork Association (MPA) leader says things are good in the pork industry. MPA Executive Vice President Don Nikodim spoke to Missourinet at this week’s Pork Expo in Columbia.

The Pork Place restaurant at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia (2017 file photo courtesy of the Missouri Pork Association)

He says the future is bright for Missouri’s pork industry.

“We’re in a growth mode, we’ve been adding a considerable number of sows to the Missouri herd and we have several underway right now,” Nikodim says. “Market prices aren’t as good as we’d like them.”

Nikodim is optimistic trade deals with Mexico and China will come to fruition, saying it would help bolster their markets considerably.

More than 800 people attended Tuesday’s Pork Expo lunch, and Nikodim says they had record attendance at the dinner and breakfast. He says the trade show sold out early this year.

Nikodim also notes more than 200 Missouri youth are involved in a show pig program. A Missourinet reporter interviewing Nikodim at the Expo saw several high school students wearing FFA jackets.

Hundreds of pork producers from across Missouri heard directly from Governor Mike Parson (R) at this week’s dinner banquet. Nikodim praises the governor.

“Great guy, I mean we supported Mike ever since he first ran for the (Missouri) House (in 2004),” says Nikodim. “I mean he’s just a down-to-earth solid kind of guy, and just proud to have somebody like that in the governor’s chair.”

Governor Parson still owns and operates a cow and calf operation near southwest Missouri’s Bolivar. Nikodim also notes Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe farms. Kehoe has a family farm in Phelps County, near I-44.

Meantime, the winter weather has been impacting Missouri’s pork producers. Nikodim notes pork producers dealt with last summer’s drought, and have been dealing with snow and ice in many parts of the state.

“They deal with weather, that’s part of the reality of being in the business,” Nikodim says. “We went from dry summer to wet fall, so it’s a challenge but it’s something these guys, they’re good at,” Nikodim says.

Nikodim has noted that the pork industry contributes $1 billion annually to the state’s economy. Governor Parson says Missouri pork producers raise more than 3.4 million hogs in the state.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Missouri Pork Association (MPA) Executive Vice President Don Nikodim, which was recorded on February 12, 2019 at Columbia’s Holiday Inn Executive Center:

Winter weather advisories issued for much of Missouri; Kansas City expected to receive most snow (AUDIO)

February 14, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Pleasant Hill has issued a winter weather advisory for Friday for large portions of of western, northwest and west-central Missouri. The NWS in Springfield has issued a winter weather advisory for all of the Ozarks, for Friday morning and afternoon.

The National Weather Service in Springfield has issued a winter weather advisory for all of the Ozarks (February 14, 2019 map courtesy of NWS Springfield Twitter)

NWS meteorologist Chris Gitro expects a fast-moving storm and says the Kansas City metro will likely see the highest amount of snowfall Friday.

“We’re expecting accumulations on the order of four to six inches for the Kansas City metro and surrounding areas, and by late tomorrow (Friday) afternoon and into the early evening hours the system is expected to depart pretty quickly,” Gitro says.

Snow is expected to begin falling in Kansas City at about 9 Friday morning.

Meantime, the National Weather Service in Springfield has issued a winter weather advisory for all of the Ozarks, for Friday. Lebanon, Waynesville, Warsaw, Osage Beach and the Lake of the Ozarks are expected to receive three to four inches of snow.

The NWS says Springfield is projected to receive one to two inches of snow. Most of the snow will fall across the Ozarks Friday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Gitro in the NWS’ Pleasant Hill office tells Missourinet that Columbia, Jefferson City and Sedalia are expected to receive about three inches of snow.

“It’s definitely looking like they’re going to be under the gun for some accumulating snowfall tomorrow as well,” says Gitro.

Northwest Missouri’s Chillicothe and St. Joseph could also see four to six inches, while the St. Louis region is projected to receive two inches. The NWS in St. Louis is warning motorists that Friday evening commute hazards are likely in the St. Louis region.

A light glaze of ice is expected Friday in southeast Missouri towns like Farmington, Perryville and Sikeston.

The cold front is already in northwest Missouri. The NWS tweeted Thursday afternoon at 2:45 p.m. that it was 31 degrees in St. Joseph, while it was 57 degrees in Lee’s Summit, which is a Kansas City suburb.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Gitro, which was recorded on February 14, 2019:

Lawmakers criticize Missouri Department of Revenue over tax calculation error

February 14, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A bipartisan Missouri House committee blasted the state Department of Revenue (DOR) on Wednesday in Jefferson City for lack of communication regarding an error that is impacting some people’s taxes. DOR says the inaccurate calculation involves the federal tax deduction.

State Rep. Robert Ross, R-Yukon, speaks on the Missouri House floor on May 14, 2018 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Revenue Director Joel Walters testified Wednesday before the newly-formed House Special Committee on Government Oversight.

“As you know, we’ve created a dedicated phone line to help individuals with this,” Walters testified. “We consistently work with taxpayers who need more time to pay their taxes or are struggling to pay their taxes.”

The dedicated phone line for taxpayers to call is (573) 522-0967.

DOR says Missourians expecting bigger state tax refunds might receive smaller ones this year, because of the withholding issue. While Director Walters said the department discovered the error in September and launched a “social media campaign” to inform taxpayers, the committee chairman, State Rep. Robert Ross, R-Yukon, is unhappy.

“You talked about (during Wednesday’s testimony) sending out the e-mails and posters or this and that, frankly I was not aware of this going on. And I keep a pretty good ear to the ground on different things going on,” Ross says.

Ross is a senior House Budget Committee member and chairs the new oversight committee.

Walters testified that state tax refunds are about $80 lower than a year ago, in part because of a longstanding inaccurate calculation. Walters said some taxpayers will have to pay, because they didn’t change their withholding. Director Walters also noted Missourians kept more of their money, because of the withholding issue.

“We are going to have constituents losing their minds over this,” Chairman Ross told Walters. “But this is, I mean, real life. This is diapers, this is food, this is rent, this is a house payment.”

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, who attended the hearing, echoed Ross’ concerns.

Leader Quade filed legislation in January to protect taxpayers from the DOR error.

Chairman Ross told Missourinet he’s most upset at what he calls a lack of communication from DOR.

Walters told lawmakers the department issued a September press release. That press release, which was issued on September 21, was titled “Missouri Department of Revenue Updating the State’s Tax Tables.”

That press release’s final sentence in the fourth paragraph reads: “As a result, some Missouri taxpayers are under-withholding for the 2018 tax period, meaning those taxpayers may see a smaller refund or a greater balance owed than they had seen in previous years.”

Ross and Quade both thanked Director Walters for testifying and for answering their questions. Ross said the oversight committee will hold another hearing next week.

Criminal justice reform remains a top priority for Missouri House Democrats

February 13, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri House Democrats outlined a criminal justice reform package this week in Jefferson City, reforms they say are aimed at producing more just and effective outcomes.

State Rep. Bruce Franks, D-St. Louis, briefs Capitol reporters about criminal justice reform efforts on February 11, 2019, as House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, (right) listens (photo courtesy of Benjamin Peters at House Communications)

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, tells the Capitol Press Corps that maintaining a strong criminal justice system means addressing its weaknesses.

“If we truly want to address crime in our state, we must end counterproductive practices that come down harder on low-income defendants and make it more difficult for past offenders to find jobs and contribute to society,” Quade says.

Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Zel Fischer told lawmakers during January’s State of the Judiciary Address that too many Missourians who are arrested cannot afford bail, even for low-level offenses.

State Rep. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Chairman, has proposed a “Money Bail Reform Act.”

“When a poor defendant sits in jail awaiting trial while a wealthier defendant can go free by pulling out his wallet, it calls the fairness of our criminal justice system into question,” says Roberts.

Meantime, legislation to restore voting rights of Missourians on probation or parole has been filed by the ranking Democrat on the House Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee.

State Rep. Bruce Franks Jr., D-St. Louis, says if we want to fully integrate former prisoners back into society, their voting rights should be restored upon release.

“There are 13 other states in the United States that their particular legislation says that you can vote as soon as you get out of jail, including Utah,” Franks tells Capitol reporters.

The state Department of Corrections (DOC) says about 59,000 Missourians are currently on probation or parole. They would be allowed to vote, under Franks’ House Bill 508.

Under current Missouri law, the voting rights of convicted felons aren’t restored until they complete their probation or parole.

Franks says excluding people from the duties and obligations of citizenship won’t make them better citizens, adding that his bill has GOP co-sponsors.

“I’ve gotten a lot of support on both sides of the aisle in both chambers (House and Senate), I’ve actually been meeting with Republican legislators, on both sides,” says Franks.

State Reps. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, and Jim Neely, R-Cameron, are co-sponsoring Franks’ bill. Rehder chairs the House Rules Committee.

Representative Franks tells Missourinet he’s also spoken to Governor Mike Parson (R) to request his support for the bill. House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, has referred Franks’ bill to the House Elections and Elected Officials Committee.

Another government shutdown could be in store; Blunt says negotiations have stalled

February 12, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

The federal government could be closed for business again if lawmakers in Washington don’t end a deadlock by Friday about border security funding. U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, says Democrats suddenly want to restrict how many immigrants here illegally are held in detention centers.

“Surely, we are not going to shutdown the government over that,” Blunt tells Missourinet. “That would be a major difficulty, I think, for the Democrats to try to explain why detention facilities would be the problem here. The border itself continues to be a challenge.”

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at Missouri House Communications}

Democrats say the move would force immigration officials to concentrate on dangerous immigrants.

Blunt – one of the bill’s negotiators – says President Donald Trump has given Congress until Friday to make a deal. Trump, a fellow Republican, has threatened to declare a national emergency to get federal funding for his promised additional wall at the southern border.

“I think there are places the president can get additional money and other presidents have done that,” says Blunt. “I would have real concerns declaring an emergency where the president can determine that ‘The way Congress has decided to spend the money and I’ve agreed with my signature to spend the money is not how we’re going to spend the money. We’re going to spend it on something else.’”

Blunt, who chairs the Senate Republican Policy Committee, says the move would be a “real problem” for him, even though he agrees with building additional wall.

“I don’t think an emergency is something you’ve been talking about for five or six years,” he says. “If you’ve got a problem you’ve been talking about for a long time, it’s the job of the president and the Congress to resolve that the way the U.S. Constitution says it should be resolved. I do think there are other places the president can go without that emergency declaration and I’m certainly going to try to help him find those if Congress doesn’t come up with enough money to do the job at the border that needs to be done.”

Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been at drastic odds about border security funding since roughly December – leading to a partial shutdown around Christmas. Originally, Trump called for $5.7 billion to build additional barriers at the border.

“We’re still negotiating. We’re at no particular number right now,” says Blunt. “When you look at what could happen between now and the end of this spending year, I don’t think you could spend $5.7 billion. So, the number is going to wind up being a number lower than that.”

The federal government agencies that could be closed during another potential shutdown are unknown. The last shutdown left 800,000 workers without paychecks in agencies like the IRS, NASA, Interior, Housing & Urban Development, Agriculture, among others.

Parson: Missouri must keep moving forward on workforce development

February 12, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

UPDATE ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON: The Missouri House has given initial approval to the proposed “Fast Track” legislation”, by a voice vote. The vote happened Tuesday, and the bill needs one more approval from the House.

THE ORIGINAL STORY IS BELOW:

Legislation aimed at boosting workforce development in the Show-Me State could be debated this week by the Missouri House in Jefferson City.

State Rep. Kathy Swan, R-Cape Girardeau, (left) speaks to lawmakers in committee on March 14, 2018 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Governor Mike Parson (R) proposed the “Fast Track” program during January’s State of the State Address. He’s asking lawmakers to approve $22 million for the program, which he says would allow Missourians to receive advanced training in high-demand areas primarily taught at community colleges, technical schools, and colleges and universities.

The governor held a roundtable discussion at the Statehouse on Thursday, where he was joined by lawmakers, Cabinet members, college presidents and business leaders.

Parson says it’s important to keep moving forward on workforce development. He’s calling on lawmakers to approve the bipartisan “Fast Track” legislation, which would provide grants for Missourians to attend an approved Missouri postsecondary institution of their choice.

“I think it’s long overdue that the executive branch and the legislators work together on meaningful legislation that is good for the entire state of Missouri,” Parson says.

Under House Bill 225 from State Rep. Kathy Swan, R-Cape Girardeau, to be eligible, a student must be at least 25 years old and have an adjusted gross income of less than $80,000. The House Workforce Development Committee voted 14-0 last week to approve Swan’s bill. She chairs that committee.

Swan says the fastest-growing jobs through 2026 will be in the service sector, many requiring a certificate or a credential.

Governor Parson says cultivating and training Missouri’s workforce for high-demand jobs is a top priority for his administration. Fast Track is aimed at adults who are working toward a certification, undergraduate degree or a credential for a high-demand occupation.

“To meet our workforce needs, our state needs to create opportunities for Missourians to increase their skills and move into high-demand, high-paying jobs,” says Parson.

During January’s State of the State, the governor told lawmakers that Fast Track would benefit “tens of thousands of Missourians from every corner of the state.”

That line drew bipartisan applause in January, including praise from State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon.

“We don’t need more college degrees, we need more people that can work and bring money back to their families,” Schroer told Missourinet that afternoon.

Representative Swan, Missouri Department of Higher Education Commissioner Zora Mulligan and Moberly Area Community College President Jeff Lashley were among those who participated in Thursday’s roundtable.

State Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington, is sponsoring the Senate version.

Lincoln Day is a Missouri state holiday on Tuesday

February 11, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Tuesday is Lincoln Day, which is a Missouri state and county holiday.

Lincoln Day is named for President Abraham Lincoln, the nation’s 16th president. President Lincoln led the nation during the Civil War before being assassinated in 1865.

Most Missouri state and county offices, including county courthouses, will be closed Tuesday, with the exception of emergency services such as the Missouri State Highway Patrol and county sheriff’s departments. Corrections officers will be working inside the state’s prisons.

While Tuesday is a state holiday, the Missouri Legislature will be in session and numerous legislative hearings are scheduled.

Monday will be another state and county holiday, with the observance of Washington’s birthday.

Missouri has 12 state holidays.

(AUDIO) North Missouri under winter weather advisory; Ellington urges Missourians to check on the elderly

February 11, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Pleasant Hill and St. Louis have issued winter weather advisories for virtually all of northern Missouri, until midnight tonight (Monday).

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for much of northern Missouri on February 11, 2019 (map courtesy of NWS St. Louis Twitter page)

The NWS says St. Joseph, Chillicothe, Edina, Kirksville, Macon, Tarkio and Trenton are expected to receive a wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow on Monday evening.

The NWS says the Edina area could receive about 0.11″ of ice. Most of the other towns are expected to see minor ice and snow accumulation.

State Rep. Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, tells Missourinet the recent ice storm and snow have been very difficult on elderly residents in his Kansas City district and across the state.

“With the power outages, with the streets being filled of ice and the sidewalks being filled with ice it’s hard for them to get out and go to the grocery store,” Ellington says.

The NWS is warning that parking lots and walkways will be slick across northern Missouri, because of the wintry mix. Ellington is urging you to check on your elderly neighbors and family members.

“Please look out, take some salt or something over there and check on them,” says Ellington. “Check to see if their electricity is out.”

State Rep. Brandon Ellington (D) briefs Capitol reporters on January 28, 2019 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Ellington tells Missourinet he learned today that a Kansas City resident in a nearby legislative district fell in the ice and broke her cheek.

“I was actually just talking to Representative (State Rep. Ingrid) Burnett and she was telling me about her neighbor that literally just fell and broke her jaw, broke her cheek, excuse me, broke her cheek,” Ellington says.

Representative Ellington spoke to Missourinet Monday afternoon at the Statehouse in Jefferson City, after the House Democrats held a press conference on criminal justice reform.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and State Rep. Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, which was recorded on February 11, 2019 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City:

Missouri agriculture groups back Rone bill to increase MDA fees

February 11, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

(Audio is courtesy of Brownfield reporter Tom Steever)

Legislation to increase fees for several programs and licenses within the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) plant industries division is scheduled to be voted on by a House committee on Wednesday in Jefferson City.

State Rep. Don Rone (R) speaks on the Missouri House floor in March 2018 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

MDA legislative liaison Emily LeRoy testifies the fees the department charges for some services are not enough to sustain its finances.

“We project the plant industries ag protection fund will be unable to cash-flow its needs by fiscal year 2020, unless additional revenue is generated to cover costs,” LeRoy says.

Missouri pesticide registration fees have remained the same since 2010, and MDA’s fees for grain elevator inspections have stayed the same since 1992.

MDA’s plant industries division registers pesticides and works to prevent the spread of plant diseases.

House Agriculture Policy Committee Chairman Don Rone, R-Portageville, is sponsoring the legislation to increase some MDA fees.

MDA Director Chris Chinn tells Brownfield the extra revenue is needed for the department to maintain its services.

“As technology continues to change, the department needs to be able to keep up with it,” says Chinn. “So having some more funding in the department that will allow us to buy new software that’s more user-friendly for the end user is very important to us.”

A bipartisan Missouri legislative committee was created last year to examine the agency’s funding levels. MDA testified in September that its plant industries division was “in dire need” of better computer software to track inspections, investigations and enforcement work.

Rone’s bill also requires MDA to convene a working group every five years to review all fees charged by the department, and to submit a report to the Legislature on any recommended changes to fees.

Rone’s bill also says that every pesticide distributed or sold in Missouri must be registered with MDA and pay an annual fee for product registered. Chinn would be allowed to deposit up to seven percent of the fee into a pesticide education fund, under Rone’s bill.

That funding would be used for pesticide education programs and pesticide waste disposal programs.

No one testified against the bill at last week’s hearing. Several commodity groups, including the Missouri Soybean Association, testified for the bill.