DECEMBER 15, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 22-08 to waive Section 323.030 RSMo and 2 CSR 90-10.019 to allow registered Missouri liquefied petroleum gas companies to fill containers previously owned by Gygr-Gas. Gygr-Gas has reportedly ceased all business operations and is no longer serving its customers, leaving several thousand Missourians across 42 counties without propane service to their Gygr-Gas owned propane containers. 

"State law prohibits propane tanks owned by one company to be filled by a different company, and while that state law is important for safety standards, this is a unique situation that requires immediate action," Governor Parson said. "Gygr-Gas has left its customers without proper recourse, but we won't. We are issuing this Executive Order to ensure that former Gygr-Gas customers can keep their homes heated and families warm this winter and holiday season. We know this is a busy time of year for many propane providers, but we encourage them to do all they can to help Missourians abandoned by Gygr-Gas."

Gygr-Gas has been unresponsive to customers for months. Customer propane tanks have been left low or empty with no ability to have them filled by another company. Missouri state law prohibits anyone other than the owner of a propane tank, in this case Gygr-Gas, from filling it without the owner’s permission. This is a national safety standard designed to protect the integrity of the tank and piping. For Gygr-Gas customers, however, this is an obstacle to getting other companies to provide fuel or service in Gygr-Gas's absence. 

Executive Order 22-08 allows other entities registered to fill liquefied petroleum gas containers in Missouri to fill containers owned by Gygr-Gas only. It does not apply to liquefied petroleum gas containers currently serviced by any other company.

The Missouri Propane Safety Commission has been following the Gygr-Gas developments and may move to suspend the company's registration. 

For former Gygr-Gas customers seeking new propane service providers in their area, please see attachment (Note: there are two pages with information). 

To view Executive Order 22-08, click here. 

Propane Retailers _.pdf

DECEMBER 12, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson announced four appointments to various boards and commissions and filled three county office vacancies. 

William Davis Jr., of Springfield, was appointed to the Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.

Mr. Davis has served as Owner and Director of Paul Mitchell the School Missouri Columbia since 2014. He also owned Hairloom Salon in Forsyth for 37 years. Mr. Davis has been a certified cosmetologist in the state of Missouri for more than 40 years.

Brian Hodges, of Perry, will be appointed as Ralls County Western District Commissioner.

Mr. Hodges currently serves on the board of directors for the Perry Rural Fire Association. He has been a member of the Fire Association since 1991 and is also a member of the Ralls County Young Farmers. Mr. Hodges was also the owner and operator of Hodges Fertilizer in Perry for 43 years before retiring form the business in 2020. The appointment will be effective January 3, 2023.

David Hoffman, of Rolla, was appointed to the Seismic Safety Commission.

Mr. Hoffman is an Associate Research Engineer at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. He also served 19 years as a geologist for the State Geological Survey within the Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Hoffman earned a Master of Science in civil engineering and geology from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Bradley Alan Jackson, of Ozark, will be appointed as the Christian County Eastern District Commissioner.

Mr. Jackson is co-owner and Chief Operations Officer of Hometown Sports Print House and currently serves as Mayor of the City of Ozark. Mr. Jackson was the Co-Founder of the Historic River District Main Street Program and served as its inaugural President. Mr. Jackson has also served as a member of the Christian County Children’s Charities SERTOMA Club since its founding in 2012, and is a past member of the board of directors for the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce. The appointment will be effective January 3, 2023.

Ray Riggs, of West Plains, will be appointed as Howell County Surveyor.

Mr. Riggs currently serves as owner of Riggs Brothers Surveying LLC. Mr. Riggs is licensed as a professional land surveyor in Missouri, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Nebraska. He has been a licensed surveyor since 2003. In addition, is also active in the University of Missouri Extension Council and Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors. The appointment will be effective January 3, 2023.

James Watkins, of Cape Girardeau, was appointed to the Seismic Safety Commission.

Mr. Watkins currently serves as Region E Disaster Preparedness and Community Emergency Response Team Coordinator with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department and Region E Homeland Security Oversight Committee. Mr. Watkins holds a Master of Educational Administration and has completed certifications with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and State Emergency Management Agency for professional development in emergency management.

Tracy White, of Stark City, was appointed to the Missouri Public Entity Risk Management Board of Trustees.

Ms. White currently serves as District Manager of the Newton, McDonald, and Barry County Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Ms. White Holds an Associate of Science in agricultural business from Crowder College.

DECEMBER 8, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson announced that the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) has awarded $20 million in funding to nearly two dozen postsecondary institutions to provide high-demand career training for new and underrepresented populations and to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on agriculture and supply chains.

The Missouri General Assembly appropriated the funding to MDHEWD for the Private MoExcels and Agriculture Innovation & Workforce grant programs during the 2022 legislative session. The grants are funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and were recommended in Governor Parson's Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposal.

“These funds are yet another opportunity to help keep our economy moving forward,” Governor Parson said. “These grants will allow Missouri colleges and universities to expand our workforce, particularly in entrepreneurship and other careers where we are seeing growth. In addition, the innovative work of these schools will not only educate more agricultural experts but will help us address the needs of Missouri's number one economic driver.”  

A total of $10 million in Private MoExcels grants were awarded to 17 institutions. Accredited private, not-for-profit institutions of higher education in Missouri were eligible for the grant and could request up to $1 million, which must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

Funds from a Private MoExcels grant may be used for outreach and recruitment efforts, student support services, professional and curriculum development, construction/renovation, and the purchase of equipment.

“The results produced by these grants will provide excellent opportunities for students across Missouri who are pursuing postsecondary education in a variety of high demand fields,” said Leroy Wade, interim commissioner of MDHEWD. “This will also be another step in helping our department achieve its goal of Missouri being the best in the Midwest in educational attainment and workforce participation by 2030, as well as its goals for equity in education.”

A total of $10 million in Agriculture Innovation & Workforce Development awards were granted to six institutions for projects. Public institutions of higher education in Missouri were eligible for the grant and were able to request up to $2 million, which must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

Funds from an Agriculture Innovation & Workforce Development grant may be used for outreach and recruitment efforts, professional and curriculum development, construction/renovation, and the purchase of equipment.

To view grant recipients and specific award amounts, click here. 

DECEMBER 7, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson hosted a ceremony at the State Capitol proclaiming December as Christmas Tree Month in Missouri. The proclamation was presented to winners of the Missouri Christmas Tree Association’s annual wreath and tree contests held earlier this year at the association’s annual convention.

“The First Lady and I appreciate the opportunity to celebrate the holidays with these classic symbols of the season,” Governor Parson said. “Christmas tree farms are another great example of the hard work and dedication of our farmers and ranchers all across Missouri, and it is an honor to get to recognize them for their contributions to our state, especially during the holidays.”

Governor Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson were joined by Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn and students from Apple Tree Academy Daycare. Also present were Christmas tree contest winners Vern and Bee Spaunhorst and Christmas wreath contest winner Charity Keith.  

Heritage Valley Tree Farm in Washington, Missouri, won the tree contest and has provided a 12-foot tree to the Missouri Capitol. Located outside Governor Parson’s office, the Eastern White Pine tree has been growing at Heritage Valley Tree Farm for 10 years. Recognized as a Missouri Century Farm, Heritage Valley Tree Farm has been owned by the same family for more than 160 years. Current owners Vern and Bee Spaunhorst planted their first Christmas trees in 1983.

The 2022 winning wreath comes from Ozark Valley Christmas Tree Farm in Southwest City, Missouri. The Keith family, represented by Charity Keith, offers fresh-cut trees, wreaths, and a gift shop on their farm in southwest Missouri. Visitors can enjoy a hayride to the field to select and cut the perfect tree.

To plan your family’s visit to a Christmas tree farm in your area, visit MissouriGrownUSA.com or MissouriChristmasTrees.org.

To view the Christmas Tree Month proclamation, please see the attachment. 

 December 7 2022 Christmas Tree Month.pdf

DECEMBER 6, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson announced the state’s Consensus Revenue Estimate (CRE) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. 

The annual CRE is a figure established by state budget experts and is one of the basic assumptions used by the Governor and legislative leaders to build and balance Missouri’s budget.

"We appreciate House and Senate leadership, our state budget team, and other state partners for helping develop this year's revenue estimate," Governor Parson said. "In the coming fiscal year, state revenues are expected to grow once again, even after passing the largest state income tax in history and returning some of Missourians' hard-earned dollars back to them. This shows that we can continue historic investments in education, infrastructure, mental health services, and public safety just as we have done. We've set a new standard in this state, and we aren't done. We will continue to do more and do better in this year's budget proposal." 

The key figure in the CRE is the projected general revenue collections. Net general revenue collections in FY24 are expected to be $13.2 billion. This represents a 0.7 percent net general revenue growth over the estimated revenue for FY23.

The revised estimate for the current fiscal year (FY23) assumes a 1.4 percent increase to $13.1 billion in net general revenue collections. FY22 general revenue collections increased by 14.6 percent compared to FY21 collections. 

"I am pleased we were able to agree on a consensus revenue estimate. The CRE will help the General Assembly budget to an appropriate number while anticipating the effects of the recently passed tax cut," said Senator Dan Hegeman, Senate Appropriations Chairman.

“I am pleased to once again put forward a conservative revenue estimate to which the House, Senate, and Governor have agreed," said Representative Cody Smith, House Budget Chairman. 

Governor Parson will detail his proposed budget for FY24 during the State of the State address in January.

DECEMBER 1, 2022

Jefferson City — Governor Mike Parson today announced the availability of up to $10 million in grant funding for maintenance and improvements to jails across the state.

“Missouri’s county jails have a key role in our criminal justice system,” Governor Parson said. “This $10 million grant opportunity is to provide support to county jails to ensure facilities are safe and secure for staff, inmates, and visitors. We urge Missouri sheriffs and county jail administrative agencies to consider applying for this funding before the application closes on December 30, 2022.”  

Applications for the Missouri County Jail Maintenance and Improvements Grant are only being accepted through the Missouri Department of Public Safety online WebGrants System: https://dpsgrants.dps.mo.gov/index.do.

The grant requires a local match of 50 percent. For example, if the total cost of a project were $100,000, the local recipient would be responsible for $50,000. Local American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds may be utilized for the local match. In-kind matches (soft match) must be directly related to the project and may be retroactive to March 2020. No supplanting is permitted.  

Eligible grant expenditures include equipment, supplies, and contractual expenses to support county jail maintenance and improvements.

Grant recipients will be notified of their awards in March 2023. Grant funds must be expended by June 30, 2026. The funding for the jail maintenance and improvements grants is made available through ARPA and was made possible through Missouri House Bill 3020. The Missouri Department of Public Safety is the grant administrator. 

DECEMBER 1, 2022

Jefferson City — For the month of November 2022, Governor Mike Parson granted 15 pardons pursuant to Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and have been sent to the individuals. Families have been or are in the process of being notified. 

To review the names of the individuals granted clemency, please see attached. Governor Parson has instructed his legal team to continue reviewing clemency files and working to reduce the backlog inherited by his administration. 

11-30-2022 Pardons.pdf

NOVEMBER 29, 2022

Jefferson City — The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has awarded several Missouri Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs with grant dollars to further support the important work that these programs do to ensure all Missouri students are prepared for success upon graduation and further contribute to developing Missouri’s workforce.

"Career and technical education is critical to our workforce development goals here in the State of Missouri," Governor Parson said. "Every day the necessity for a post secondary degree, trade, or industry recognized credential is growing for good-paying jobs across the state, and we want to support Missourians as they seek to learn new skills, especially in our career and technical education programs." 

Missouri’s Area Career Center Opportunity (MACCO) Grant provides funding to enhance the state’s CTE capacity by providing more opportunities for CTE students while updating and modernizing career centers’ infrastructure and equipment.

MACCO is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) and was included in Governor Parson's Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposal to the General Assembly. MACCO grants local education agencies (LEAs) up to $400,000 for the following purposes:

• Create new high-demand and emerging programs
• Construct a new area career center building
• Renovate or build an addition to an existing area career center
• Update or expand current CTE programs
• Improve infrastructure for safety and equipment needs
• Upgrade equipment and instructional technology

The grant’s funds must be used to enhance or extend area career centers’ capacities to increase students’ knowledge and skills needed to gain employment in current or emerging fields, continue their education, or re-train for new business and industry opportunities. The grant required LEAs to submit an application and match 25 percent of the awarded MACCO funds. 

Grant recipients and award totals are as follows:

Arcadia Valley Career Center, Ironton, $400,000.00

Boonslick Technical Education Center, Boonville, $400,000.00

Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center, Cape Girardeau, $400,000.00

Career and Technology Center at Fort Osage, Independence, $400,000.00

Carrollton Area Career Center, Carrollton, $400,000.00

Carthage Technical Center, Carthage, $400,000.00

Cass Career Center, Harrisonville, $385,500.00

Clinton Technical School, Clinton, $400,000.00

Columbia Area Career Center, Columbia, $400,000.00

Crowder College Technical Education Center, Neosho, $400,000.00

Current River Career Center, Doniphan, $400,000.00

Dallas County Technical Center, Buffalo, $400,000.00

Davis H. Hart Career Center, Mexico, $234,000.00

Eldon Career Center, Eldon, $400,000.00

Excelsior Springs Area Career Center, Excelsior Springs, $400,000.00

Four Rivers Career Center, Washington, $400,000.00

Franklin Technology Center, Joplin, $400,000.00

Gibson Technical Center, Reeds Spring, $400,000.00

Grand River Technical School, Chillicothe, $400,000.00

Herndon Career Center, Raytown, $400,000.00

Hillyard Technical Center, St. Joseph, $400,000.00

Jefferson College - Area Technical School, Hillsboro, $400,000.00

Kennett Career and Technology Center, Kennett, $400,000.00

Kirksville Area Technical Center, Kirksville, $400,000.00

Lake Career and Technical Center, Camdenton, $400,000.00

Lamar Career & Technical Center, Lamar, $323,500.00

Lebanon Technology and Career Center, Lebanon, $400,000.00

Lewis & Clark Career Center, St. Charles, $400,000.00

Lex La-Ray Technical Center, Lexington, $400,000.00

Linn County Area Career and Technical Center, Brookfield, $400,000.00

Manual Career and Technical Center, Kansas City, $400,000.00

Miller Career Academy, St. Louis, $400,000.00

Nevada Regional Technical Center, Nevada, $400,000.00

New Madrid County R-I Technical Skills Center, New Madrid, $400,000.00

Nichols Career Center, Jefferson City, $400,000.00

Northwest Technical School, Maryville, $400,000.00

OTC Career Center, Springfield, $400,000.00

Ozark Mountain Technical Center, Mountain Grove, $400,000.00

Pemiscot County Career and Technology Center, Hayti, $400,000.00

Perryville Area Career and Technology Center, Perryville, $400,000.00

Pike-Lincoln Technical Center, Eolia, $400,000.00

Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center, Poplar Bluff, $400,000.00

Rolla Technical Center/Rolla Technical Institute, Rolla, $400,000.00

Scott Regional Technology Center, Monett, $400,000.00

Sikeston Career & Technology Center, Sikeston, $400,000.00

South Central Career Center, West Plains, $150,000.00

Special School District St. Louis County, Town & Country, $400,000.00

State Fair Career & Technology Center, Sedalia, $400,000.00

UniTec Career Center, Bonne Terre, $400,000.00

Warrensburg Area Career Center, Warrensburg, $400,000.00

Waynesville Career Center, Waynesville, $400,000.00

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

Jefferson City — Governor Mike Parson today issued Executive Order 22-07 extending Missouri’s drought alert until March 1, 2023, to address issues outlined by the state’s Drought Assessment Committee.

Currently 87 percent of Missouri continues to face abnormally dry conditions, with many counties still experiencing moderate, severe, or extreme drought. Drought conditions are not expected to substantially improve this winter.

“It will take a lot of precipitation to help Missouri recover from the current water deficit,” Governor Parson said. “Water for livestock is just as important in the winter as it is the summer, and we want to ensure resources are available to our farmers and ranchers that may need them. Additionally, with navigational challenges forming on Missouri's rivers affecting barge traffic, extending our Executive Order is necessary to support continued mitigation efforts.”

On July 21, Governor Parson issued an Executive Order declaring a drought alert for 53 counties hardest hit by drought conditions. While conditions have improved marginally since that time, drought has continued to create challenges for our Missouri citizens.

In response to Governor Parson’s initial Executive Order on this matter, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources activated the Drought Assessment Committee, a workgroup set up to assess drought levels and work with impact teams on response and recovery recommendations. The Agriculture Impact Team was assembled in August to coordinate response actions for the state’s agricultural community that has been impacted throughout this drought.

In addition, following the most recent Drought Assessment Committee meeting, the Commercial Navigation Impact Team is being convened as well because low flow levels on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers are making it difficult for commercial navigators, such as barges, to maneuver through the rivers.

The July Executive Order was set to expire on December 1. Extending it will allow the Drought Assessment Committee and associated impact teams to continue supporting affected communities throughout the winter and continue to expand the state’s capabilities to respond to and lessen the impacts of future droughts.

Citizens can submit information about local drought conditions at Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR). For more information about Missouri’s drought conditions or the Drought Assessment Committee, visit dnr.mo.gov/drought.

To view Executive Order 22-07, click here.

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson confirmed that the State of Missouri will carry out the sentence of Mr. Kevin Johnson on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, as ordered by the Supreme Court of Missouri.

"Mr. Johnson has received every protection afforded by the Missouri and United States Constitutions, and Mr. Johnson’s conviction and sentence remain for his horrendous and callous crime. The State of Missouri will carry out Mr. Johnson’s sentence according to the Court's order and deliver justice," Governor Parson said. "The violent murder of any citizen, let alone a Missouri law enforcement officer, should be met only with the fullest punishment state law allows. Through Mr. Johnson's own heinous actions, he stole the life of Sergeant McEntee and left a family grieving, a wife widowed, and children fatherless. Clemency will not be granted."

Mr. Johnson ambushed and shot Sergeant Bill McEntee while he responded to a call in Johnson’s neighborhood. Even though Sergeant McEntee survived the first five shots, Mr. Johnson approached Sergeant McEntee and executed him with two more shots to the head while he was crawling on his hands and knees out of his wrecked squad car. There is not and never has been any doubt about Mr. Johnson’s guilt. Nor has Mr. Johnson’s conviction or sentence ever been reversed on appeal. Mr. Johnson’s case has been reviewed in the state trial court, Missouri Supreme Court, federal district court, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States Supreme Court.