COVID-19 Interactive Dashboard website

Governor Parson announces launch of COVID-19 interactive dashboard

Governor Mike Parson announced the launch of a new COVID-19 dashboard containing Missouri-specific data from across the state.  “Throughout COVID-19, we have worked very hard to be transparent and provide Missourians with the most accurate, up-to-date information as possible, and the same goes for this dashboard,” Governor Parson said. “We want Missourians to have access to the […]

Missouri Department of Agriculture Agribusiness Academy

Area students chosen to participate in Missouri Agribusiness Academy

Thirty high school sophomores have been selected to participate in the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Missouri Agribusiness Academy. Area students selected include Clara Leamer of Chillicothe, Katherine Rogers of Bethany, Colton Roy of Gilman City, and Rebecca Urich of Laredo. They will spend time throughout the year exploring various segments of Missouri agriculture. Director of […]

Medical Marijuana

Audio: Missouri Legislature adopts medical marijuana changes

The Missouri Legislature has passed changes to the state’s new medical marijuana industry. The FBI informed the state health department, which licenses and regulates the medical marijuana industry, that the department will not have access to its national fingerprint background check database. Representative Lane Roberts, R-Joplin, says his legislation would clear up that problem. “Because […]

disinfectant products display

EPA makes it easier for consumers to find effective disinfectant products to use

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its List N Tool, a new web-based application (app) that allows smartphone users and others to quickly identify disinfectant products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The agency also announced new actions to ensure that new disinfectant products that are safe […]

CAFO Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation

COVID-19 pandemic hits livestock farmers hard

Missouri Farm Bureau public affairs director Eric Bohl says the COVID-19 crisis has hit livestock farmers hard. First, stay-at-home orders destroyed demand from restaurants and schools as well as a large portion of the meat and dairy market. As the pandemic grew, it began to impact employees at meat processing plants which caused several processors […]

Unemployment Benefits Graphic

500K Missourians file for unemployment since mid-March

State unemployment figures out today show 52,000 Missourians filed for unemployment last week – bringing the overall total since mid-March to more than half a million people requesting jobless aid. Last week’s figure represents a small dip from the previous week but it’s still a massive shift in Missouri unemployment numbers. Before the coronavirus fallout, […]

Governor Parsons and Lieutenant Governor Kehoe

Governor Parson, Lt. Governor Kehoe highlight importance of supporting Missouri businesses

Governor Parson encouraged Missourians to shop local and support Missouri-based businesses, which will be critical to stimulating the state’s economy moving forward.  “We are on the road to recovery, and we must continue taking steps to protect ourselves and others. With that said, we encourage Missourians to safely re-engage in the economy,” Governor Parson said. “Now more […]

New Small Business Administration Logo

Small Business Administration opens Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications

The Small Business Administration on Tuesday opened up Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications on a limited basis specifically to agricultural businesses. The application is available at www.SBA.gov/Disaster. At this time, only agricultural business applications will be accepted due to limitations in funding availability and the unprecedented number of applications already received.  Agricultural businesses include those […]

Together We Can

MU Extension releases Mental Health Toolkit

The University of Missouri Extension and partners recently released a Together We Can toolkit to help rural Missourians access mental health resources. “This presents the resources to help open up conversations about mental health,” says MU Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch. “Making it comfortable to talk about mental health is the first step […]

Grundy County Health Department Website

Grundy County Health Department issues Public Health Order

The Grundy County Health Officer and Administrator of the Grundy County Health Department, Elizabeth Gibson, has issued a Public Health Order effective at 12:01 May 4, 2020. “The Governor’s new orders are purposefully broad to allow local public health authorities to tailor additional guidance to meet the needs of their communities. Grundy County can cautiously […]