(Missourinet) – The Missouri Senate passed this week a proposed $30 billion state budget for the 2020 fiscal year beginning in July.
The highlights of the fiscal plan include:
*A 3% pay increase for all state workers. Corrections workers would get another 1% pay boost for every two years of service, not to exceed 20 years.
*$8 million in state aid for rebuilding efforts caused by recent flooding
*$5 million to expand broadband internet access
*$3.5 billion for the formula used to fund Missouri’s K through 12 public schools – a $62 million increase over the current year.
*A K-12 school transportation budget of $112 million – an increase of $10 million more than the current year.
*$79 million for Access Missouri, $43.5 million for A+ and $10 million for the Fast Track Workforce scholarship programs.
Core funding for Missouri’s colleges and universities include:
$417 million for the University of Missouri System
$84.3 million for Missouri State University
$54.5 million for the University of Central Missouri
$45 million for Southeast Missouri State University
$40.8 million for Truman State University
$30.3 million for Northwest Missouri State University
$23.3 million for Missouri Southern State University
$21.4 million for Missouri Western
$20.6 million for Lincoln University
$9.6 million for Harris-Stowe State University
$5.5 million for State Technical College of Missouri
Budget negotiations will begin soon between members of a House and Senate conference committee.
MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts will host its spring art sale this week in conjunction with its Empty Cups event.
According to a press release, the two-day Empty Cups event each winter and spring invites the Northwest community to purchase a handmade ceramic cup and fill it for free with tea or lemonade.
A portion of the proceeds from Empty Cups are donated to the Maryville Ministry Center and Northwest’s Bearcat Food Pantry.
Empty Cups will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday on the second floor of the J.W. Jones Student Union.
The art sale is 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the Student Union’s Meeting Room D, located on the top floor of the building. Patrons will find a variety of pottery, cups, bowls and lidded jars as well as small edition prints.
Proceeds from the art sale help students pay for materials and provide funding for special projects that support the art program at Northwest.
(Missourinet) – Seventeen Missouri students, including one from St. Joseph, will spell all sorts of complicated words during next month’s 92nd annual Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Last year, Missouri had 15 spellers compete in the contest.
The competition is May 26 through the 31 in National Harbor, Maryland. It will include 565 spellers from all over the country.
This year’s kids are from all over the state, ages 11 to 14. One of the contestants, Alice Liu of St. Louis, will make her third consecutive appearance in the bee.
Meet Missouri’s spelling whiz kids
*Meghana Nakkanti of Rolla. She attends Nixa Junior High School.
*Rouida Siddiqui of Kansas City. She attends Lakeview Middle School.
*Natalie Burnett of St. Joseph. She attends Cathedral of St. Joseph School.
*Alice Liu of St. Louis. She attends Crestview Middle School.
*Hawa-Larai Harruna of Town and Country. She attends Mason Ridge Elementary School.
*Dhruva Lahoti of Creve Coeur. He attends Andrews Academy.
*Colette Giezentanner of St. Louis. She attends Robert H. Sperreng Middle School.
*Sophia Saleeby of St. Louis. She attends Ladue Middle School.
*Ryan Smith of St. Louis. He attends Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School.
*Joshua Roodhouse Hale of St. Peters. He attends DuBray Middle School.
*Ethan George of Ballwin. He attends Woerther Elementary School.
*Alecia McCulley of Florissant. She attends All Saints Academy – St. Norbert.
*Miles Sellami of Peculiar. He attends Raymore-Peculiar East Middle School.
*Neha Kodali of Columbia. She attends Columbia Independent School.
*Jethro Adriel Solidum of Nevada. He attends Truman Elementary School.
*Brayden Armes of Poplar Bluff. He attends St. Joseph Catholic School.
*Harini Gottumukkala of St. Peters. Fort Zumwalt South Middle School.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The northbound Route 759 (Stockyards Expressway) ramp onto northbound Interstate 229 was closed Wednesday morning for emergency bridge maintenance.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, crews are working to assess and repair a bridge expansion joint. For the safety of all motorists, the ramp will remain closed until further notice.
During the closure, motorists should use an alternate route.
For more information on this and other MoDOT projects, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/northwest and view the online Traveler Information Map.
Northwest Missouri State University’s Student Senate annual spring blood drive is going on this week.
The blood drive is in cooperation with the Community Blood Center, which is the primary supplier of blood and blood components in the region, serving more than 65 local hospitals and medical centers.
According to a press release, blood from volunteer donors assists cancer patients recovering from the rigors of chemotherapy, car accident victims needing blood for emergency surgeries or mothers needing blood as the result of traumatic birth deliveries.
The blood drive runs from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the Tower View Room, located on the third floor of the J.W. Jones Student Union on the Northwest Campus in Maryville.
Interested donors may pre-register online by clicking here and entering Maryville’s zip code. Walk-ins also be accepted.
Bogdana Alexandrovna Osipova referred to by her married name Mobley in court documents is being held in Harvey Co.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — Russia is demanding that the U.S. release a Russian citizen who was convicted of kidnapping for moving her children from the U.S. to Russia amid a divorce.
Bogdana Alexandrovna Osipova, who is referred to by her married name of Mobley in court documents, was convicted in Kansas last month of one count of international parental kidnapping and two counts of attempting to extort money. Ospivoa, 38, faces up to 20 years in prison on each extortion count and up to three years on the kidnapping count at her May 20 sentencing hearing.
The Russian Embassy said in a tweet Friday that U.S. authorities should “stop their lawless behaviour and release the Russian citizen Bogdana Osipova, thus returning the mother to her children.” Her attorney, Craig Divine, didn’t immediately return a phone message. A Russian court has found that the children should remain in Russia.
U.S. prosecutors said Osipova, who has dual Russian and U.S. citizenship, left Wichita, Kansas, in April 2014 with one child from her first marriage and another child from a second marriage to Brian Mobley, an Air Force recruiter. She gave birth to a third child soon after returning to Russia. She was arrested in September 2017 after returning to the U.S. without her children to change child support arrangements.
Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov previously rejected a plea from Kansas Republican Rep. Ron Estes that the younger children — ages 6 and 4 — be reunited with their father. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a briefing that the children are living with relatives in Kaliningrad, The Wichita Eagle reported. Osipova’s oldest child is 16, and her first husband isn’t seeking custody of him.
Antonov told Estes that Osipova has been a victim of “discrimination and psychological pressure” in the U.S. criminal case.
“We’ve attempted to work with Russian authorities to find a diplomatic solution to this situation on behalf of a constituent, but clearly Russia is not interested in adhering to court rulings or acting in good faith,” Estes said Friday in a tweet. “I once again call on Russia to reunite this father with his children and will work with the State Department in solving this case.”
The U.S. State Department didn’t immediately return an email from The Associated Press seeking comment Monday.
Weeks before Osipova left for Russia, Mobley filed for divorce and was granted joint custody. The Russian court system granted the couple a divorce in July 2014. That December, a Kansas judge also granted the couple a divorce and ordered her to return the two youngest children. The Kansas judge awarded sole custody to her ex-husband because Osipova had left the U.S. without court approval or Mobley’s knowledge.
According to the U.S. criminal complaint, Mobley hasn’t been able to see his children. His ex-wife in January 2015 showed up to a meeting in Poland without the children. She allowed him to talk to the children on the phone and on Skype until November 2016, when she said he needed to send money to communicate with them, the complaint said.
Zakharova said the Russian court sees the situation differently.
“Her claim to her ex-husband for alimony, which was supported by a Russian court, was qualified there as extortion,” Zakharova said in the ministry’s translation of a briefing.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Russian Embassy is demanding the release of a citizen convicted of taking her children from the U.S. to Russia amid a divorce.
Thirty-eight-year-old Bogdana Alexandrovna Osipova was convicted last month of one count of international parental kidnapping and two counts of attempting to extort money. She is referred to by her married name of Mobley in court documents.
The Russian Embassy said Friday in a tweet that Osipova should be returned to her children and described the behavior of U.S. authorities as “lawless.” Prosecutors said she left Wichita, Kansas, in April 2014 with one child from her first marriage and another child from a second marriage to Brian Mobley. She gave birth to a third child soon after returning to Russia.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of April 15 – 21.
Continued flooding may cause schedule changes in some of the planned work. There may also be moving operations throughout the region such as pothole patching, striping, signal work, etc., in addition to the work mentioned below:
Andrew County
Route O – CLOSED at the Platte River Bridge for a bridge replacement project. The bridge will be closed until the end of September, weather permitting.
Interstate 29 – Bridge maintenance at the Nodaway River Bridge, April 15 – 18
Business Route 71 – Resurfacing project from Main Street in Savannah to just south of Interstate 29, April 15 – 18. The contractor will begin at the northern end of the project and work south in approximately two-mile sections. One lane, each direction will remain open at all times. This project will continue, Monday through Friday, through mid-May. A 14-foot width restriction will be in place around the lane closures.
Atchison County
Route CC – CLOSED for a culvert replacement. The road will be closed until further notice.
U.S. Route 59 – Shoulder work from U.S. Route 136 to the Tarkio River Bridge, April 15 – 19
Route TT – Pothole patching, April 15 – 19
Route Z – Pothole patching from Route 111 to Route W, April 15 – 19
Buchanan County
U.S. Route 36 – CLOSED at the ramp from 8th Street to westbound U.S. Route 36 for overhead sign installation, April 15, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The contractor hopes to have the ramp reopened within a few hours.
U.S. Route 59 – Pothole patching from Route 752 to U.S. Route 45, April 15 – 17
U.S. Route 36 – Joint repair between Route C/Z and Route 31 south, April 15 – 19. One lane each direction of U.S. Route 36 will remain open throughout the work. A 14-foot width restriction is in place.
Route 752 – Joint repair over I-229, April 15 – 19. One lane at a time will be closed throughout the work. A 17-foot width restriction is in place.
Caldwell County
U.S. Route 36 – Pavement repair eastbound at Center Road, April 15 – 17. This includes an overnight lane closure.
U.S. Route 36 – Pavement repair westbound at Sale Barn Road, April 17 – 18. This includes an overnight lane closure.
U.S. Route 36 – Pavement repair eastbound at Reservoir Road, April 18 – 19. This includes an overnight lane closure.
Carroll County
U.S. Route 65 – Bridge maintenance at the Missouri River Overflow Bridge, April 15 – 19
Chariton County
U.S. Route 24 – Bridge maintenance at the Long Creek Bridge and Chariton River Bridge near Keytesville. The bridges will be narrowed to one lane with a 15-foot width restriction through May 31.
Clinton County
U.S. Route 69 – CLOSED for bridge rehabilitation at the I-35 overpass, April 15 – 19. For information, click here.
DeKalb County
U.S. Route 169 – CLOSED at the Third Fork Platte River Bridge for a bridge replacement project. The contractor plans to have work completed by July, weather permitting. Motorists should follow detour signs along Routes 48 and M to navigate around the closure. For more information visit the project’s web page.
Gentry County
U.S. Route 136 – Resurfacing project from just east of U.S. Route 169 to 0.5 miles west of Route C in Albany, April 15 – 19
Harrison County
I-35 – Pavement repair from U.S. Route 136 to Route C at Pattonsburg, April 15 – 19. A 14-foot width restriction is in place.
I-35 – Resurfacing project from Eagleville to the Iowa state line, April 15 – 19. A 14-foot width restriction is in place.
Holt County
I-29 – Bridge maintenance three miles south of the Route W interchange, April 15 – 19
Linn County
U.S. Route 36 – Pothole patching from the Macon County line to Route 139, April 15 – 16
U.S. Route 36 – Pavement repair from Route 129 to Route 5, April 15 – 17. This includes an overnight lane closure.
U.S. Route 36 – Pavement repair from Route 5 to Route F, April 17 – 18. This includes an overnight lane closure.
Livingston County
U.S. Route 65 – Bridge maintenance at the Grand River Bridge, April 15 – 18
U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance at the Grand River Overflow Bridge, April 19
Route C – CLOSED – Bridge maintenance at the Shoal Creek Drain Bridge. The bridge was closed after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration. Crews plan to reopen the bridge in late May once repairs are complete.
Nodaway County
Route V – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 290th Street to Fortune Road, April 15, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
U.S. Route 136 – Bridge maintenance at the Mozingo Creek Bridge, April 15 – 16.
Route YY – Pothole patching, April 15 – 17
U.S. Route 136 – Drainage work between 282nd Street and 290th Street, April 16 – 17
Route 46 – CLOSED for pavement repair from Davis Street to Saunders Street in the city limits of Maryville, April 17, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Route NN – CLOSED at the Platte River Bridge for bridge deck repair, April 17 – 19, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Route M – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Mint Road to Neon Road, April 18, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Route J – Culvert repair from Route M to 370th Street, April 19
Route PP – Pothole patching, April 19
Putnam County
U.S. Route 136 – Milling and resurfacing work at the West Locust Creek Bridge and the Elm Branch Bridge, April 15 – 16
U.S. Route 136 – Drainage work, April 15 – 19
Sullivan County
Route PP – CLOSEDUNTIL FURTHER NOTICE at the East Medicine Creek Bridge after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is currently scheduled for replacement in fiscal year 2020. For more information, click here.
Route BB – CLOSED at the Rooks Branch Bridge for a bridge deck replacement project. The contractor plans to have work completed by mid-June.
Route 139 – Resurfacing project from the city limits of Newtown to the city limits of Osgood, April 15 – 19. A 10-foot width restriction is in place.
Worth County
Route YY – CLOSEDUNTIL FURTHER NOTICE at the Middle Fork of the Grand River after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is currently scheduled for replacement in fiscal year 2021. For more information, click here.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The removal of an overhead sign will close a ramp to U.S. Route 36 for a few hours next week.
Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation will close the ramp from 8th Street to westbound U.S. Route 36 on Monday, April 15, beginning at 7 a.m. Crews hope to have the ramp reopened within four hours. Motorists should use an alternate route during the closure.
All work is weather permitting and could be rescheduled. MoDOT encourages all travelers to slow down, buckle up, eliminate distractions, pay attention and drive safely so everyone is able to Arrive Alive.
For more information call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/northwest and view the online Traveler Information Map.
Branson Perry photo courtesy MSHP Missing Persons webpage.
Story courtesy KXCV/KRNW
This week marks the 18th anniversary of the disappearance of Skidmore, Missouri, resident Branson Perry.
Perry was 20-years-old at the time of his disappearance.
Nodaway County Sheriff Randy Strong said his department has begun another push in trying to solve the case. Strong tells KXCV/KRNW they have a few leads from previous investigations.
“It appears to be drug related,” Strong said. “There are certain individuals whose names keep popping up in it and I think it’s time that we put all this together and come up with what we can and present it to the prosecutor for them to look at and decide, can we go forward if we don’t find a body or do we continue to look and those are some tough decisions that we’re going to have to make.”
Strong said he feels there are people in the area that have direct knowledge of Perry’s disappearance.
“I think we are pretty familiar with the individuals that are responsible, that there’s some other individuals that probably have information that could come forward and help us bring this case back to life,” Strong said.
Strong urges anyone with knowledge of Branson Perry’s disappearance on April 11th, 2001, to contact the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department. Click here for more information.
Drew H. Brown Arts Annex conceptual illustration courtesy architectural firm Patterhn Ives.
The project to enhance Potter Hall at Missouri Western State University has received a $1 million gift.
The announcement of the gift was made during the Missouri Western Foundation’s annual Donor Appreciation Reception Tuesday.
According to a news release, the gift was from Drew H. Brown of St. Joseph to support the addition of a visual arts annex. When it’s constructed, the addition will be known as the Drew H. Brown Arts Annex.
“Drew Brown has been one of Missouri Western State University’s most active supporters for many years,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “He has provided leadership to many areas of campus, giving generously of his time and wise counsel, and I am very grateful that he has added to his legacy with such a generous gift.”
Drew H. Brown. Photo courtesy Missouri Western State University.
Brown served a long and distinguished career in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1992, and is currently a self-employed investment manager. He served on the Missouri Western State University Foundation Board of Directors and is currently chair of the Missouri Western Arts Society. He has also served as a mentor and volunteer through the University’s Center for Multicultural Education, mentoring students of color and providing guidance and encouragement to them in their pursuit of a college education. Last fall, he received the Herb ’35 and Peggy Iffert Award for Outstanding Service to the University from the Missouri Western Alumni Association.
“I love this university,” Brown said. “Missouri Western brings so much to the St. Joseph community, and I welcome that, whether it’s arts offerings, the expertise of its faculty or, most importantly, workforce development. We all want a better life, and most students come to Missouri Western because they see it as the key to that better life.”
According to the news release, Brown’s gift is part of Missouri Western’s Centennial Capital Campaign, launched in January 2015, the University’s centennial year. Brown’s gift brings the campaign total to $30,448,759 in outright and deferred pledges and gifts, exceeding the initial celebration goal of $20 million by more than 50 percent.
The Centennial Capital Campaign funded significant improvements to Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium and the Looney Arena, endowed a first-of-its-kind population health management degree program, and grew the Foundation’s endowment. The five-year campaign will end in January 2020.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of April 15 – 21.
