The Drug Enforcement Administration will host its 22nd National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This bi-annual event offers free, anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide. “Disposing of unneeded medications can help prevent drugs from being misused,” said DEA Administrator […]
Tag: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Biden administration to halt pandemic policy blocking migrants who claim asylum
(Missouri Independent) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday that the government will terminate a Trump-era policy that prevented migrants from claiming asylum during a health crisis, including the coronavirus pandemic. The policy will end on May 23, the CDC wrote in its notice. “There is no longer a serious danger that the […]
Missouri Attorney General joins multistate action to end CDC’s mask mandate on public transportation
The Missouri Attorney General joined 20 other states in a multistate action against President Biden’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s continued use of the unlawful mask mandate on public transportation. The attorneys general argue that the mandate exceeds the authority of the CDC. The Biden administration continues to use a failed interpretation of a […]
New process for asylum cases at the border unveiled by Biden administration
(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration announced Thursday steps to expedite asylum cases at the U.S.-Mexico border in an attempt to resolve a years-long backlog, but policy advocates worry the streamlined process could prevent asylum seekers from obtaining legal representation if their cases are denied. “If somebody is not approved in the first instance, they’re […]
Pressure ramps up to halt Trump-era policy that expels migrants at the border
(Missouri Independent) – Senate Democrats and immigration advocates are pushing the White House to end a controversial Trump-era immigration policy enacted during the pandemic that allowed U.S. officials to expel migrants and asylum seekers at the border. “I continue to be disappointed, deeply disappointed, in the administration’s response,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York […]
Avian influenza cases confirmed in four Missouri counties
Federal officials have confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Stoddard, Bates, Jasper, and Lawrence Counties. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic influenza in the flocks. Samples are delivered to the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Missouri for testing if […]
Laredo Board of Education accepts health insurance bid; field trips approved for kindergarten through eighth grade
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education on March 7th took action on health insurance for 2022-2023. Ozarks School Benefits Association was accepted. The school will pay $540 plus vision and life insurance. Secretary Robin Griswold reports employees can choose between seven different plans, including HSAs and PPOs. Some of the plans cost more than $540. […]
Highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed in Missouri commercial poultry flock
Federal officials have confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial chicken flock in Stoddard County, Missouri. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic influenza (HPAI) in the commercial broiler chicken flock. Samples were delivered to the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Missouri for […]
Bill that would decriminalize needle exchange programs passes Missouri Senate committee
(Missouri Independent) – A bill that would decriminalize needle exchange programs that aim to reduce the spread of infectious diseases was voted out of the Senate General Laws Committee Tuesday. Needle exchange programs allow drug users to swap out used syringes with clean, new ones in an effort to decrease the chances of contracting or […]
CDC preps guidance for governors on relaxing COVID rules, but states forge ahead
(Missouri Independent) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preparing guidance for governors about when to relax masking and other measures meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 but doesn’t want to release those instructions just yet. Director Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday that it’s too soon to begin rolling backmasking and other public […]
White House plans speedy delivery to states of COVID vaccine for littlest kids
(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration is preparing to ship COVID-19 vaccines to the states as quickly as possible, should the Food and Drug Administration approve an emergency use authorization for kids under 5. White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeffrey Zients said Wednesday that approval of the specially formulated vaccine would make 18 million young […]
North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees hear a multitude of reports at lengthy meeting
Multiple reports were given at the North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees meeting on January 25th. Math, Science, History, and Social Behavioral Sciences Division Chairperson Doctor Lindsay Oram reported the division currently represents 10 faculty members. In the fall, there were 11 faculty members in the division, and they taught 109 course sections and […]
Four area health departments report on new cases of COVID-19
The Livingston County Health Center reports 52 COVID-19 cases have been added since January 14th, bringing the total to 2,873. There are 136 active cases. The health center has KN95 masks available. They can be picked up at the office in Chillicothe. Staff asks that you wear a mask to enter the building. If someone […]
Missouri businesses oppose ban on COVID vaccine mandates, argue it’s their choice
(Missouri Independent) – Proposals that would bar COVID-19 vaccine mandates and provide greater exemptions for vaccinations more broadly faced a wave of opposition from Missouri business groups Wednesday. Representatives for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Associated Industries of Missouri, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and other business associations made clear to lawmakers […]
Pleasant View Board of Education accept bids, amend “Safe Return to In-Person Instruction” plan for COVID-19
The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education approved a proposal on January 10th to increase the number of leave days a staff member may donate to another staff member. It has been six days in previous years. A bid from Custom Glass, LLC was approved for $4,000 to install new doors on the new addition. […]
Laredo Board of Education reviews “Safe to Return to In-Person Instruction”
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education hired Melani Proctor as a paraprofessional on January 10th after an executive session. During the regular meeting, the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan was reviewed. The plan has been updated to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations related to COVID-19. The board […]
CDC awards Missouri public water systems for fluoridation quality
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced that 26 community water systems have been awarded a Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water to a level that is effective for preventing tooth decay. The award recognizes those […]
Four health departments report on new cases of COVID-19; Grundy County Health Department reports two COVID-related deaths
The Grundy County Health Department reports two additional COVID-19-related deaths. That brings the total to 56. Fifty-seven cases have been added since December 1st, making that total 1,904. There are 44 active cases. The Putnam County Health Department reports it has been made aware of 17 new COVID-19 cases since December 2nd. Two of those […]
Controversial bill would have aided Orscheln Products LLC, under scrutiny for contamination
(Missouri Independent) – Two years ago, a company led by an influential Republican businessman faced off with the state’s environmental regulators over whether it needed to do additional testing for a chemical that health officials worried could pose a cancer risk to the company’s workers. The Moberly manufacturing facility, Orscheln Products LLC, is owned by […]