July 2021

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Supreme Court overruled Gov. Mike Parson and the majority of Republicans in the General Assembly who agreed to thwart the will of Missouri voters by refusing to fund Medicare expansion.

RICHMOND – “It’s a money pit.” Western Commissioner Gary Wilhite described the Ray County Jail by referencing a 1986 comedy film about a couple pouring money into a “fixerupper” that never seems to get fixed. Eastern Commissioner Dave Powell said work is ongoing to make the most out of the shed-like jail.

This is a reminder to take on the responsibility to come out next Tuesday, Aug. 3, and vote no on the jail sales tax proposal.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Broc Dusek will probably be among the upperclassmen coach Aaron Holst will look to lead the Tigers in varsity baseball in 2022, based on what Dusek did as an underclassman in 2021.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This post, dated Tuesday, July 27, is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Contributors are Athalia Christie, MIA1; John T. Brooks, MD1; Lauri A. Hicks, DO1; Erin K. Sauber-Schatz, PhD1; Jonathan S. Yoder, MSW, MPH1; Margaret A. Honein, PhD1; and the CDC CO- VID-19 Response Team.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Property owners in the city’s Elms Historic District might find making renovations easier financially. On July 19, the City Council approved making the area part of the city’s 353 tax abatement district via an amended ordinance.

HIGGINSVILLE – Senate support remains iffy for an eight-year, $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan, but the plan is advancing, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II said during a visit to Higginsville.

There will be a new Ray County Jail. The only question is whether to build it now by voting yes Tuesday or to kick it down the road, selfishly leaving others to do later what should be done now.

RICHMOND – A voice of the opposition to a proposed quarter-cent tax to replace the Ray County Jail, Jim Pierce, said he would have preferred putting off the Tuesday, Aug. 3, vote to allow more time for research.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The city is tweaking the water system. On July 19, the City Council approved Blue Springs-based Core & Main’s $18,990 bid to switch out two 10-inch meters at the water treatment plant.