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MoInd šŸ“°

ā€˜Substantial’ layoffs of federal workers launched by Trump administration amid shutdown

2 months ago
This report has been updated. WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced Friday it had begun mass layoffs of federal employees, a step not taken during previous government shutdowns and one that could significantly reshape the size and scope of government.  White House budget director Russ Vought posted on social media mid-day that Reductions in Force, […]
Jennifer Shutt

Trump undertakes a MAGA-centric makeover of US civics education

2 months ago
WASHINGTON — A slew of conservative groups will lead a new coalition to spur civics education and push the subject in a more patriotic direction, the U.S. Education Department announced last month, raising alarms for some traditional civics and education groups that were not included in the initiative. The America First Policy Institute, a think […]
Shauneen Miranda

Shutdown forces Medicare patients off popular telehealth and hospital-at-home programs

2 months ago
The federal government shutdown is forcing a reckoning for two remote health care programs because they automatically expired Oct. 1. The telehealth and in-home hospital care programs were both temporary — but increasingly popular — options for Medicare recipients. They allowed doctors and hospitals to bill Medicare for telehealth appointments and in-home visits from nurses […]
Tim Henderson

Missourians shouldn’t pay utilities before the lights turn on

2 months ago
Earlier this year, Missouri lawmakers passed legislation allowing utilities to use a finance method called Construction Work in Progress (CWIP).Ā  CWIP lets utility companies bill customers for certain construction costs while projects are still underway, rather than waiting until they are finished and producing power. Supporters say the change will spur growth in Missouri’s energy […]
Grant Musick, Jason Walter

Trump threatens ā€˜permanent’ cuts to Democratic programs on day nine of shutdown gridlock

2 months ago
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday he’s prepared to cancel funding approved by Congress that he believes is going toward programs supported by Democrats, though he didn’t share any additional details during a Cabinet meeting.Ā  “We’ll be cutting some very popular Democratic programs that aren’t popular with Republicans,ā€ he said. ā€œThey wanted to do […]
Jennifer Shutt

Missouri company accuses Iowa hospice of trying to poach dying customers

2 months ago
A Missouri company is taking an Iowa health care provider to court, accusing it of trying to poach dying hospice patients. National Hospice Management Inc., or NHP, is suing Moments Hospice of Davenport in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. NHP provides hospice and related nursing services through hospice centers in several […]
Clark Kauffman

US Senate rejects restriction of military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean

2 months ago
WASHINGTON — The U.S. SenateĀ failed to advance Wednesday night a resolution designed to curb the president’s power regarding military actions abroad after the Trump administration ordered four strikes on boats in the Caribbean.Ā  TheĀ resolution failed to advance 48-51.Ā Democratic Sens. Adam Schiff of California and Tim Kaine of Virginia forced a procedural vote on the measure, […]
Ariana Figueroa

Majorities disapprove of RFK Jr. performance, doubt autism-Tylenol claims, KFF poll finds

2 months ago
WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans disapprove of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s job performance and the federal government’s evolving vaccine policy, according to a poll released Thursday by the nonpartisan health organization KFF. In addition, the vast majority of those surveyed have heard the unproven claims made by President Donald […]
Jennifer Shutt

Air traffic control staffing steady, but stress during shutdown worries DOT

2 months ago
The Federal Aviation Administration reported no travel delays due to staffing levels at U.S. air traffic control facilities Wednesday, following a day of some delays related to above-average absences at a handful of facilities. An FAAĀ operational plan posted about noon Eastern Time on Wednesday, the eighth day of the federal government shutdown, showed no facilities […]
Jacob Fischler