(Missouri Independent) – Bob F. Griffin, who served as speaker of the Missouri House for 15 years until he was forced to resign in the face of a federal criminal investigation, died Wednesday in Columbia. He was 85. Griffin was the longest-serving speaker in the state’s history. During his tenure as speaker from 1981 to 1996, the […]
Tag: health
Governor Parson signs SB 51 into law giving healthcare providers and others protections against COVID-19 related civil action
Governor Mike Parson signed SB 51 into law, which protects health care providers, businesses, religious organizations, and others from being held liable in COVID-19 exposure civil actions. “When COVID-19 first struck Missouri, health care providers, manufacturers, businesses, churches, schools, and other entities quickly altered their operations to protect public health and accommodate the needs of […]
USDA invests $910,000 to improve rural water infrastructure in Jackson County
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $910,000 to modernize rural drinking water infrastructure in Jackson County, benefitting nearly 3.000 rural Missourians. “Every community, large and small, needs safe, reliable access to necessities like clean water,” Thomas said. “Rural Development congratulates Public Water Supply […]
Livingston County Health Center to host baby shower
The Livingston County Health Center will host a come-and-go breastfeeding baby shower for expectant and breastfeeding mothers. The event will be in Simpson Park of Chillicothe at the Kiwanis Shelter near the tennis courts on August 3, 2021, from 5:30 to 6:30 in the evening. There will be vendor booths, information about the benefits of breastfeeding, […]
Livingston County Health Center reports two additional COVID-19 related deaths
The Livingston County Health Center reports two more COVID-19-related deaths since July 1st, bringing the count to 67. Thirteen cases were also added, making that total 2,015. Thirty-seven cases are active. The Sullivan County Health Department confirms another COVID-19 case, which brings the total to 895. Five cases are active, and there have been 17 […]
Six new cases of COVID-19 reported in Linn County
Six COVID-19 cases have been added in Linn County since July 2, 2021, making a total of 1,692. The health department reports 28 cases are active. Of the active cases, 12 involve residents who are 20 to 39 years old, nine involve those 19 or younger, five involve those at least 60, and two involve […]
Special Olympics Missouri celebrates 50 years
Special Olympics Missouri is celebrating 50 years this year and kicking off its Sponsor an Athlete campaign. Sponsorships make it possible for Special Olympics North Area to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in 18 Olympic-type sports for individuals with mental disabilities in 27 counties. Those counties include those in the Green Hills area […]
North Central Missouri College aiding students with COVID relief funding
North Central Missouri College is assisting students through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds created under the American Rescue Plan to help students with exceptional needs. NCMC will be awarding grants for students to use toward educational costs and other emergency costs that arise due to COVID-19, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including […]
Grundy County Health Department to hold Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine clinic
The Grundy County Health Department will hold a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine clinic for anyone at least 12 years old. School-age children who wish to be vaccinated before the start of school are encouraged to attend the clinic on July 15th from 2 to 6 o’clock. Pfizer vaccine is a two-dose series, and the second dose […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol reports on July 4 holiday statistics, including 7 fatalities
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the following 2021 July Fourth holiday statistics: 2021 July Fourth Holiday Traffic Statistics Troopers worked 312 traffic crashes, which included 124 injuries and all seven fatalities. Troopers also made 144 DWI arrests and 81 drug arrests over the holiday weekend. 2021 July Fourth Holiday Boating Statistics Troopers worked 12 […]
Endangered fish, leaching ash ponds: Environmental groups oppose Missouri coal plant permit
(Missouri Independent) – For years, Lisa Zerbe said she biked, rode horses, and ran near Ameren Missouri’s largest coal-fired power plant in Franklin County because she “naively believed” state environmental regulators were protecting citizens from pollution. Now, she won’t. “It is truly a disheartening feeling of betrayal from an agency in my younger years I […]
Delta variant spread means Missouri COVID cases may ‘double or triple’ in July
(Missouri Independent) – During June, as the Delta variant of COVID-19 took hold in Missouri, the seven-day average of new cases doubled. And now that the easily spread mutation has reached every corner of the state, July will be a repeat of June, or worse, according to the University of Missouri professor monitoring wastewater for the […]
Jobs report for May 2021 shows slight increase in Missouri unemployment numbers
Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from April 2021 to May 2021, but the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by a tenth of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 6,000 jobs over the month, with job gains in both goods-producing and service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in May […]
Sullivan County reports another COVID-related death; Putnam County to hold vaccine clinic
The Sullivan County Health Department reports another COVID-19-related death, bringing the total to 17. One additional case was also confirmed, making that total 893. Seven cases are active. Twenty-nine point one percent of Sullivan County residents have completed COVID-19 vaccination. Five COVID-19 cases have been added in Linn County since June 29th. The health department […]
Mercer County Health Department to hold activities for children in July
The Mercer County Health Department will hold several activities for children this month. A bike rodeo and other summer safety activities will be in the parking lot of the health department in Princeton on July 15th from 2 to 4 p.m. Participants can bring their bikes to ride through a safety course. Bike helmets will […]
Audio: New Missouri report examines causes, contributing factors associated with pregnancy deaths
A new Missouri report examines the causes and contributing factors associated with pregnancy deaths. Missouri’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board report shows that mental health conditions were the leading underlying cause of pregnancy-related deaths. Substance Use Disorder contributed to 54-percent of pregnancy-related and 43-percent of pregnancy-associated deaths. Black women in Missouri are four times […]
Missourians need to make their voices heard about the future of the farm and food system
This article is a commentary. The views expressed in this article are those of the author, Tim Gibbons, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of KTTN/KGOZ Radio, management, or staff. (Missouri Independent) – Missouri Rural Crisis Center recently sent in comments to the Biden Administration and USDA in response to their request […]
Missouri Attorney General asks U.S. Supreme Court to review state’s eight-week abortion ban
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a petition for writ of certiorari in Schmitt v. Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, asking the Supreme Court of the United States to review Missouri’s law prohibiting abortions of unborn children with Down syndrome. “My son Stephen has shown me the inherent beauty […]
Harrison County adds four cases of COVID-19 to their tally; no COVID variant detected
Four COVID-19 cases have been added in Harrison County, bringing the total to 1,057. Harrison County’s COVID-19 dashboard indicates11 cases are active, 888 cases have been confirmed, and 18 COVID-19-related deaths have been reported. The Harrison County Health Department reports there have been six breakthrough cases in the county since vaccination began, and three of […]
Hy-Vee partners with national suppliers to fight hunger
Hy-Vee Inc. will again partner with Kellogg’s and Keurig Dr. Pepper for the second year of its End Summer Hunger campaign. This year, Chobani has also joined the campaign that helps to provide meals to children and families in need through the Feeding America network of food banks. During the month of July, for every […]