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Audio: Independent 53-page report on Missouri Veterans Homes shows failure of leadership, response and planning

An independent investigation into the COVID-19 deaths at Missouri veterans homes has found that the Missouri Veterans Commission headquarters failed to recognize the outbreak. Armstrong Teasdale’s report says MVC should have recognized the presence of an outbreak in the Cape Girardeau veteran’s home by September 2. MVC Chairman Tim Noonan says a tremendous amount of […]

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Sullivan County Health Department reports 7 new cases of COVID-19

Sullivan County Health Department has confirmed seven additional positive cases of COVID-19 in Sullivan County.  Currently, Sullivan County sits at a total of six hundred and thirty-eight, with two active probable cases, eight deaths, and thirty-seven active cases. The positive cases have been determined to be community-related.  To maintain confidentiality, no other information will be […]

MS-13 Gang Logo over Department of Justice Logo

Five members of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang charged with murder

Five members of the violent Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) international street gang are set to appear in court following charges of conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, 24; Jimmy Villalobos-Gomez, 23; Angel […]

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109 veterans have died of COVID-19 in Missouri veterans homes since September 1

The Missouri Veterans Commission’s Veterans Homes continue to fight COVID-19, and according to spokesman Jamie Melchert, they are continuing daily testing using PCR and antigen testing; training on the proper use of PPE and enhanced PPE; cleaning and disinfecting and enhanced training in these areas; infection control inspections and additional training; additional supervision, including from […]

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Sullivan County confirms 12 new cases of COVID-19 and 2 deaths; Putnam County 10 new cases of COVID-19

Sullivan County Health Department has confirmed twelve additional positive cases of COVID-19 in Sullivan County.  Currently, Sullivan County sits at a total of six hundred and eight, with three active probable cases, seven deaths, and one hundred and sixteen active cases. The positive cases have been determined to be community-related.  To maintain confidentiality, no other […]

Poinsettia

Poinsettia: America’s most popular flower

Poinsettia is our nation’s most popular potted flowering plant. What makes this remarkable is that most poinsettias are sold between the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Despite its short sales period, poinsettia contributed $170 million to the U.S. economy last year, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Native to southern Mexico and […]

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EPA awards $2.5 million to the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs for farmworker pesticide training

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs to receive up to $500,000 annually to conduct pesticide safety training across the country over the next five years. With EPA funding, AFOP will administer this grant to provide occupational health and safety training to migrant and seasonal farmworkers in more than […]

Dr. Alex Garza of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force

Video: ‘The virus is winning’: Health officials call for statewide mask mandate in Missouri

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri Gov. Mike Parson needs to issue a statewide mask mandate and “safer-at-home” policy to prevent the state’s health system from becoming overwhelmed, Dr. Alex Garza, the incident commander of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force, said Friday. “Unfortunately, as has been painfully obvious to even a casual observer, we are […]

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Missouri’s health director to outline vaccine plan and testify about increasing COVID numbers

Missouri health officials say there have been about 21,000 new COVID cases in the past week, an average of 3,105 per day. State Department of Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Randall Williams will testify Tuesday morning before the Missouri House Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention. Committee chairman Dr. Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, […]

Amendment 3: Missouri with checkmark graphic

Voters repeal Clean Missouri redistricting plan they enacted in 2018

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri voters on Tuesday repealed a constitutional amendment they enacted in 2018 that would have required legislative districts be drawn to ensure partisan fairness. They replaced it with one that critics contend could forgo the use of total population to draw districts and instead exclude all non-voters, specifically children and non-citizens — tilting the political […]