Disaster Declaration news graphic

FEMA approves Governor Parson’s federal disaster declaration request for December 10 severe storms and tornadoes

Governor Mike Parson announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved his request for a major disaster declaration in response to severe storms and tornadoes in Missouri on December 10. Seven Missouri counties will receive federal assistance as a result of the Governor’s December 28 request, which included $27 million in identified qualifying disaster-related expenses. […]

United States Supreme Court (Phot credit Laura Olson - States Newsroom)

Supreme Court appears wary of Biden vaccine-or-test employer mandate

(Missouri Independent) – The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared unconvinced Friday of the Biden administration’s authority to impose a vaccine-or-test mandate on private businesses, casting doubt on a key piece of the White House COVID-19 response. The justices seemed potentially more comfortable with another Biden administration rule to fight the virus that requires certain […]

Scott Fitzpatrick

Missouri schools must comply with COVID ruling to win treasurer approval of bond deals

(Missouri Independent) – If school districts want to take advantage of a lower interest rate on bonds, Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is requiring them to certify compliance with a recent court ruling targeting local health orders before his office will approve of the deal. Fitzpatrick detailed the decision he described as “unprecedented” in an interview Wednesday […]

Governor Mike Parson

Governor Parson seeks Joint damage assessments in anticipation of requests for federal disaster declaration

Governor Mike Parson announced the state has begun the process to obtain federal disaster assistance for Missouri in response to severe storms and deadly tornadoes that swept across the state on December 10 leaving behind a trail of destruction, including extensive damage to electric power systems. Governor Parson is requesting the Federal Emergency Management Agency […]

School buses wait Tuesday outside Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School in Columbia (Photo Credit Rudi Keller Missouri Independent

Confusion around COVID ruling swirls as two Missouri school districts end semester early

(Missouri Independent) – As a growing number of Missouri school districts drop COVID mitigation measures under threat from Attorney General Eric Schmitt, at least two closed the doors on their fall semester early due to large numbers of staff and students out sick. Meanwhile, local public health departments said Tuesday they still have not heard […]

Coronavirus or COVID-19 Death

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 […]

Coronavirus or COVID-19 Death

COVID-related death reported for Mercer County; Two health departments report on new cases of COVID-19

A COVID-19-related death has been added for Mercer County. The health department reports 13 deaths total.  Confirmed cases increased four since December 7, bringing that total to 257. Probable cases increased by five to 293. There are 23 active cases for Mercer County. The Sullivan County Health Department confirms one COVID-19 case since December 7th, […]

Coronavirus News Graphic

Three health departments report on new cases of COVID-19; new COVID-related death also reported

Another COVID-19-related death has been added for Caldwell County. The health department reports 25 deaths total. The number of cases has increased by 75 since November 16th, which raises the total to 1,406. There are 40 active cases. The Sullivan County Health Department confirms three additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 1,305. Sixteen cases […]

United States Supreme Court (Phot credit Laura Olson - States Newsroom)

U.S. Supreme Court considers new limits on abortions in Mississippi case

(Missouri Independent) – The Supreme Court is weighing potentially sweeping changes to the right to an abortion, after two hours of arguments Wednesday morning on a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court’s conservatives, who hold a 6-3 majority, appeared through their questions to be sympathetic to Mississippi’s arguments […]