Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

USDA implements measures to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by COVID-19

USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Rural Development will keep customers, partners, and stakeholders updated as more actions are taken to better serve rural America. Rural Housing Service Single-Family Housing Effective March 19, borrowers with USDA single-family housing Direct […]

Jeremiah Searles Final

Bethany man charged with kidnapping, assault and abuse of a child

A Bethany man has been charged in Harrison County with three felonies after an alleged incident on Monday, March 23, 2020. Thirty-nine-year- old Jeremiah Searles has been charged with first-degree kidnapping, facilitating a felony, inflicting injury, terrorizing, first-degree domestic assault, and abuse or neglect of a child—no sexual contact. Arraignment was held on Tuesday, and […]

COVID-19 or Coronavirus Update

Second COVID-19 death recorded in Missouri

An assisted living woman in her 80s is Springfield’s first coronavirus related death. During a press conference today, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department in southwest Missouri announced the casualty – Missouri’s second COVID-19 related death today. The patient lived in Morningside of Springfield East. Three other patients have tested positive from the same assisted living […]

A+ Program

Missouri Department of Higher Education issues guidance regarding A+ Scholarship eligibility amid COVID-19

Due to school closures in response to preventing the spread of COVID-19, the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) has temporarily reduced or suspended certain A+ Scholarship eligibility requirements. Communication to Missouri high schools and college financial aid officers was sent Thursday afternoon outlining the temporary changes to the program for 2020 […]

Governor Mike Parson

Governor Mike Parson addresses the many concerns of Missouri citizens impacted by COVID-19

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, Governor Mike Parson and his administration are taking daily steps to respond accordingly and protect the health and well-being of Missourians. “My administration and I are committed to providing quality healthcare to those most dependent on state assistance and ensuring access to those in need of medical services or medications,” […]

School Lunch

USDA to partner with rural schools to provide one million meals per week to schools shut by COVID-19

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced a collaboration with the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, McLane Global, PepsiCo, and others to deliver nearly 1,000,000 meals a week to students in a limited number of rural schools closed due to COVID-19: “Feeding children who are affected by school closures is a top priority […]

Missouri Response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

The Big Picture: Missouri’s response to COVID-19

As concerns over the new coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to grow across the state and the nation, Governor Mike Parson and his administration are working each day to respond to the virus and protect the health and well-being of Missourians. Expanding COVID-19 Testing The state is currently working with the University of Missouri to expand COVID-19 […]