State Representative Rusty Black

Audio: Seventh District State Representative Rusty Black on the upcoming 101st General Assembly and COVID-19

The 101st General Assembly of the Missouri legislature begins January 6th with members being sworn in. Seventh District State Representative Rusty Black of Chillicothe will begin his third term. Black reports he has asked to remain on the Budget Committee. He has also asked to continue to be the Appropriations Chair for Education and the […]

Coronavirus Stimulus Payment Graphic

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 […]

Operation Warp Speed

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 […]

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: 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. […]

Knox County Health Department website

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 […]

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Website

Audio: CDC and Missouri officials begin work on first-ever COVID-19 study within K-12 schools

The CDC continues its work in Missouri to help local K-12 schools and public health leaders review current COVID-19 measures. Schools participating in the first-of-its-kind pilot project are being identified in St. Charles, St. Louis, and Greene Counties. During a Missouri Board of Education meeting this week, State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokeswoman […]

Hands holding money

Audio: Missouri Treasurer’s office connects citizens with money through the unemployment rolls

The state treasurer’s office worked with another agency to bring some good news to Missourians filing for unemployment. As Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick explains “the state had unclaimed property and money, and when COVID-19 hit the economy, thousands of citizens lost their jobs.”     To date, the Treasurer’s office has connected citizens to more than […]