Governor Mike Parson announced an additional $10.1 million for the A+ scholarship program, including $4.9 million in CARES Act funding and $5.2 million in supplemental funding to be proposed in the Governor’s recommended budget. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more students to utilize the A+ program than originally anticipated in the state’s budget. As a […]
Category: State News
November job report shows further improvement in 2020
The Missouri labor market showed further improvement in November 2020. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 17,400 jobs over the month. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points from October 2020 to November 2020, and the civilian labor force increased more than 23,000. However, the labor market still showed substantial losses from […]
17 illicit massage businesses in Missouri shut down for alleged sex and human trafficking
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced an update to his office’s efforts to evict illicit massage businesses through the Hope Initiative. Since launching the initiative, 10 additional illicit massage businesses have either been evicted, are in the process of being evicted, or their eviction is likely. “Human trafficking is a global scourge that affects millions […]
First shipment of COVID vaccines arrive in Missouri
Governor Mike Parson announced that the first shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in Missouri. The Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Friday, December 11, confirming its safety and effectiveness. “Today is an exciting day for Missouri as we have received the first of many […]
Audio: More information you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine
The COVID-19 vaccine is being delivered this week throughout Missouri and is expected to vaccinate 51,000 health care workers. Mercy Health Care workers in the St. Louis area have been given the vaccination. Dr. Susan Bailey, president of the American Medical Association, says if you get vaccinated, you still need to take safety precautions. […]
Missouri health department “Questions and Answers” for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
The state health department has officially signed off on dispensing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine statewide. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issued its standing order today. The vaccine is being dispensed this week to health care professionals who work with COVID-19 patients or those who are the most vulnerable to get it. Long term care […]
Missouri’s Electoral College members meet in State Capitol
Missouri’s Electoral College Members met in the State Capitol to cast their votes for President and Vice President of the United States. Each of Missouri’s ten electors met and cast their votes unanimously for President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. “I want to thank Secretary of State Ashcroft’s Office, county clerks, poll workers, […]
Missouri Department of Conservation sets deer and turkey hunting dates for upcoming seasons
At its December 11 open meeting in Jefferson City, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved the following recommendations by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for upcoming turkey-hunting and deer-hunting season dates. 2021 SPRING AND FALL TURKEY HUNTING DATES Spring Youth Portion: April 10 and 11 Regular Spring Turkey Season: April 19 through May 9 Fall […]
Missouri Conservation Commission approves Missouri Department of Conservation bear hunting framework
The Missouri Conservation Commission recently gave final approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation for the state’s first black bear hunting season framework. The Commission finalized the hunting season framework and related regulations at its December 11 open meeting in Jefferson City. The approved framework limits any future bear hunting to areas of southern Missouri […]
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports 2,700 additional cases of COVID-19
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on Sunday morning reported nearly 2,700 additional cases of COVID-19 in the state compared to Saturday’s update. The latest figure is down slightly from the seven day average of nearly 2,800 new cases a day during the period ending Thursday. Deaths in Missouri attributed to COVID-19 totaled […]
Officials in Missouri ponder preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic
Hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 have been on the rise in Missouri and other states, and experts say the consequences of being unprepared for an infectious-disease outbreak have never been more apparent. Gov. Mike Parson has cited concerns about staffing levels with the demand hospitals are seeing from the crisis. His comments coincide with calls […]
Audio: Missouri Senator Josh Hawley teams up with Senator Bernie Sanders on stimulus package
U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) are introducing a bipartisan amendment to attach to must-pass legislation to be considered by Congress, which would provide $1,200 in direct payments to working-class adults and $500 to each of their children. This amendment, similar to what was passed in the CARES Act, would be attached to must-pass […]
Audio: Firearms Elk Season gets underway on Saturday for 5 lucky Missourians.
Missouri’s 1st firearms elk hunting season gets underway at 1st light on Saturday morning. Yet only 5 Missourians will get the chance to shoot an elk tomorrow. The Conservation department issued the permits to 5 lucky Missourians randomly drawn from more than 19,000 applicants. Selected hunters representing Van Buren, Mount Vernon, St. Thomas, […]
Director of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services attends White House task force meeting on Operation Warp Speed
President Donald Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force invited a small group of private business, state, and health care leaders to the White House to brief them on Operation Warp Speed, the COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution project started earlier this year. Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and […]
Norfolk Island pine: A houseplant for the holidays and so much more
If you don’t have time or space for a large Christmas tree, consider a Norfolk Island pine. “Many stores sell these evergreen houseplants during the holidays,” says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Pat Miller. “These easy-to-grow plants often come decorated and are perfect for gift-giving or to keep for yourself.” Norfolk Island pines grow slowly […]
Audio: Pfizer’s COVID-19 drug clears key FDA hurdle; Missouri preps for vaccine’s arrival
A key Food and Drug Administration panel has recommended approving Pfizer’s request for emergency use of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine. Missouri is preparing for the vaccine’s arrival. The full FDA could endorse the drug maker’s request as early as today. When approval happens, the vaccine is expected to be shipped to Missouri within […]
Audio: Senator Hawley says changes must be made at Missouri veterans homes
A Missouri senator who serves on the Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill says changes must be made at Missouri veteran’s homes, following a recent COVID outbreak. At least 138 veterans living at state veterans’ homes have died from the coronavirus since September. Senator Josh Hawley has read Armstrong Teasdale’s report, which says the Missouri […]
Audio: Rapid COVID-19 tests delivered to 290 Missouri K-12 schools; teachers expected to get vaccinated in February or March
Rapid COVID-19 tests have been delivered to about 290 Missouri K-12 public and private schools. State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Spokesperson Mallory McGowin says an initial shipment of the BinaxNOW antigen tests have been distributed to them – for good reason. Another 95 schools are awaiting a shipment of the tests. […]
Governor Parson’s Bicentennial Inaugural Committee announces inaugural events
Governor Michael L. Parson’s Bicentennial Inaugural Committee announced initial plans for an Inaugural Prayer Service and the Inauguration Ceremony in January of 2021. “To kick off Missouri’s bicentennial, we will celebrate our state’s rich heritage with a historic Bicentennial Inauguration,” said Teresa Parson, First Lady of Missouri and co-chair of the inaugural committee. “The strong […]
Audio: Northeast Missouri health departments begging for cooperation for contact tracing for COVID
Health departments in rural northeast Missouri are begging for cooperation and honesty when it comes to contact tracing. Knox County health officials say they’re getting incomplete information. WGEM’s Frank Healy reports from Edina. Health officials say they keep getting incomplete information. Knox County health administrator Lori Moots-Clair tells Quincy affiliate WGEM that being […]