JOPLIN, Mo. —
The Joplin office of Community Employment Inc., 515 S. Main St., has closed after the state severed its relationship with the company and launched an investigation into billing practices.
Leslie Abram, Rapid Response coordinator for the state’s Workforce Investment Board, met with employees of the Joplin office earlier this week and confirmed the closing.
“I was told there were about 15 working there. I met with the staff Wednesday and there were 11 people in attendance.”
Missouri education officials on Friday, Nov. 9, canceled a contract with the nonprofit group that has offices statewide to help disabled people find jobs. State officials cited falsified billing documents.
The company allegedly submitted more than $54,000 in false bills to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's vocational rehabilitation program, Jeanne Loyd, the assistant commissioner for the Office of Adult Learning and Rehabilitation Services, said today.
The Springfield-based nonprofit has reimbursed the state nearly $21,000 so far, she said.
Loyd said problems were found with numerous offices around the state, including the one in Joplin.
Lloyd also said Community Employment had falsified billing documents to make it appear clients got jobs when they really didn't, or to indicate that clients had worked more days than they actually did. The problems initially were discovered in the St. Louis office, she said, and then in the Kansas City office this summer.
At that point the department stopped referring new clients to the organization, Lloyd said.
“We branched out then statewide,” she said, including the Springfield-Joplin office. “They are the third largest catchment area of clients.
“We did have more (problems) in Joplin than in Springfield. I can’t tell you how many.”
Officials at Community Employment in Joplin and Springfield have not returned calls for comment.
Business
Joplin office of Community Employment closes after investigation into company’s billing practices statewide
- Business
-
-
A late fade on Wall Street; Wal-Mart, Disney slump
Signs of a slowing economy combined with comments from a Federal Reserve official helped pull the stock market down Thursday.
-
American will favor passengers without roller bags
If you’re traveling light, you can board earlier on American Airlines.
-
Bill would limit lawsuits over lead contamination
A Missouri-based lead mining company could be shielded from punitive damages in state lead contamination lawsuits under a bill sent to Gov. Jay Nixon.
-
Senate panel considers labor board nominees
Senate Republicans said Thursday they would not support five nominees to the National Labor Relations Board, raising the possibility the troubled agency could be rendered mostly inoperable later this year.
-
Missouri lawmakers pass changes to workers’ comp claims
Missouri lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a measure that would double the fees charged to businesses in order to replenish an insolvent fund for disabled workers who suffer serious job-related injuries or illnesses.
-
Work could begin soon on new Interstate 44 interchange east of Joplin
Construction of a new interchange at Interstate 44 and Prigmore Avenue to serve the Crossroads Center Business and Distribution Park was added Thursday to the Transportation Improvement Program for Southwest Missouri.
-
Dow to appeal $1.2 billion damages order
A federal judge is ordering Dow Chemical Co. to pay $1.21 billion in damages after it lost a class-action lawsuit that accused it of conspiring to fix prices.
-
Weak open on Wall Street; Wal-Mart disappoints
Wal-Mart led the Dow Jones industrial average lower early Thursday after the world’s largest retailer turned in weaker sales and a dim forecast for profits.
-
Tennessee senator: Sale idea cost TVA $500 million
Sen. Lamar Alexander says President Barack Obama’s plan to consider selling the Tennessee Valley Authority has already cost hundreds of millions of dollars — even if the nation’s largest public utility is never sold.
-
Google’s products dig deeper into people’s lives
For Google CEO Larry Page, happiness is a warm computer.
- More Business Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
