Tagged: Jay Nixon

The city of Joplin is off the hook for paying for the first couple of months of debris removal following a devastating tornado in May.

The federal government is paying 90 percent of the cost in the hard-hit area designated for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's enhanced cleanup payments, instead of the usual 75 percent. The state will be picking up the 10 percent not covered by FEMA under the expedited debris removal program that runs through next Sunday. Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon said two-thirds of the properties have been cleared so far.

A Missouri House committee looking at how state and local officials responded to several natural disasters this year is recommending a special session to deal with storm costs.

Committee members want to use a special session to discuss accessing the state's Rainy Day fund to help storm and flood-battered cities and counties.

Nixon seeking extension for Joplin debris clean-up

Mo.  Gov. Jay Nixon is seeking extension of a federal program covering most of the cost of removing debris from the May tornado in Joplin. Nixon filed a request Tuesday with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to extend the Expedited Debris Removal Program for Joplin until Aug. 31. It's currently scheduled to expire Aug. 7.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has hired former Missouri State University president Mike Nietzel as a senior policy adviser.

The hiring was announced Tuesday. Nixon's office tells The Associated Press that Nietzel will have a salary of $100,000 in the new, full-time position.

Nietzel retired as Missouri State president in 2010 after five years leading the Springfield school. He has advised Nixon on education issues and work force readiness since April 2010.

Nixon is also making changes in his communications office.