Spickard School

Spickard School District extends closure to April 30th

The Spickard R-2 School District has announced it will extend its closure to April 30, 2020, to comply with local health and state guidelines in regards to COVID-19. A letter to the district says the school building will remain closed to the public during that time. Superintendent Jonnie Beavers reports the Spickard School District has served […]

Governor Mike Parson

Governor Parson requests Federal Disaster Declaration for Missouri in response to COVID-19

Governor Mike Parson has requested that President Donald J. Trump approved a major disaster declaration for the entire state of Missouri to provide federal assistance for state and local COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and emergency response efforts. In the request filed Tuesday, Governor Parson said the pandemic is of such severity and magnitude that an effective […]

Governor Mike Parson

Governor Mike Parson addresses the many concerns of Missouri citizens impacted by COVID-19

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, Governor Mike Parson and his administration are taking daily steps to respond accordingly and protect the health and well-being of Missourians. “My administration and I are committed to providing quality healthcare to those most dependent on state assistance and ensuring access to those in need of medical services or medications,” […]

School Lunch

USDA to partner with rural schools to provide one million meals per week to schools shut by COVID-19

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced a collaboration with the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, McLane Global, PepsiCo, and others to deliver nearly 1,000,000 meals a week to students in a limited number of rural schools closed due to COVID-19: “Feeding children who are affected by school closures is a top priority […]

Missouri Response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

The Big Picture: Missouri’s response to COVID-19

As concerns over the new coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to grow across the state and the nation, Governor Mike Parson and his administration are working each day to respond to the virus and protect the health and well-being of Missourians. Expanding COVID-19 Testing The state is currently working with the University of Missouri to expand COVID-19 […]

State of Emergency

Governor Parson signs Executive Order 2002 declaring a state of emergency in Missouri

Today, Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 2002 declaring a state of emergency in Missouri in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Governor Parson announced the emergency declaration in a press conference on Friday. The following individuals were also present at the press conference: Dr. Randall Williams, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) […]

Missouri Hospital Association

Missouri Hospital Association: There are laws we need changed in the short term to deal with Coronavirus

As of this posting, two Missourians have tested positive for the coronavirus out of 73 tested. Others are being triaged through clinics, healthcare providers, telemedicine, and hospitals. The burden on hospitals at this time is checking, testing and treating symptomatic patients who come into the emergency rooms– whether they have COVID-19 or not. That could […]

Jim Bakker

Missouri Attorney General files suit against televangelist Jim Bakker for selling fake “Coronavirus cure”

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office has filed a lawsuit against Jim Bakker and Morningside Church Productions, Inc. for misrepresentations about the effectiveness of “Silver Solution” as a treatment for the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The lawsuit alleges that on February 12, 2020, Jim Bakker Show production that aired nationwide, Bakker and […]

Coronavirus Concerns

EPA releases list of disinfectants to use against Coronavirus

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a list of EPA-registered disinfectant products that have qualified for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. “Using the correct disinfectant is an important part of preventing and reducing the spread of illnesses along with other critical aspects such as hand washing,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. […]

Tractor mowing hemp on hemp farm

USDA relaxes some hemp requirements

The USDA says it’s relaxing some hemp requirements under its interim final rule. Under its new guidance, USDA will delay enforcement of labs to be registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Also, hemp producers will not be required to use a DEA-registered “reverse distributor” or law enforcement to dispose of plants that are not compliant. USDA […]

JUUL Vaping Products

Missouri joins multistate investigation of Juul

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has announced that Missouri has joined a bipartisan, multistate investigation of JUUL Labs.  The 39-state multistate coalition is investigating JUUL’s marketing and sales practices, including the targeting of youth, and more.  “Ensuring that Missourians, especially our kids and teenagers, are protected is an integral part of my job as Attorney […]

Sexual Orientation and Gender

Missouri Bill to notify parents if class material, guest speakers in school mention sexual orientation or gender identity

State law could be changed to require that Missouri public school districts tell parents if class material, guest speakers, or displays in school mention sexual orientation or gender identity. The Missouri House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee is debating State Representative Chuck Basye’s bill that would let parents have their kids removed from class if […]