Parson signing new legislation

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 Sign

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 […]

Special Olympics Missouri 2021 Website

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 […]

Missouri State Highway Patrol Website New 2021 (MSHP)

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 […]

Labadie Energy Center on Missouri RIver in Franklin County Missouri

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 […]

Jobs Report

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 […]

Coronavirus News Graphic

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 […]

Pregnancy photo (Photo courtesy Suhyeon Choi on Unsplash)

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 […]