Jobs Report or unemployment

Missouri’s unemployment rate drops two-tenths of a percentage point in November to 3.5%

Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from October 2021 to November 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 7,600 jobs over the month, with job gains in both the goods-producing and service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November […]

Mitchell Lovelace Booking Photo

Audio: Missouri man arrested for allegedly threatening to open fire at high school “in the name of Kyle Rittenhouse”

An eastern Missouri man has been charged after allegedly threatening to open fire at a high school. Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis says 27-year-old Mitchell Lovelace reportedly posted the threatening message Saturday night against Festus High School.     Rittenhouse took an AR-15-style gun to a Wisconsin riot last year – shooting to death two […]

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, […]

Dairy Cows

USDA opens 2022 signup for Dairy Margin Coverage program, expands program for supplemental production

As part of the ongoing efforts to support dairy farmers and rural communities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture opened signup for the Dairy Margin Coverage program and expanded the program to allow dairy producers to better protect their operations by enrolling in supplemental production. This signup period – which runs from Dec. 13, 2021, to […]

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 […]

American Foods Group website

Warren County, Missouri selected as location for planned beef processing facility creating 1300 jobs and $1 billion in economic impact

Warren County has been selected by American Foods Group as the planned location for a new state-of-the-art beef processing facility, pending final approval. Once established, the facility would create more than 1,300 new jobs and generate $1 billion in economic impact in the state of Missouri.  “Missouri is able to compete for projects of this […]

Patrick McKenna Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation

Billions headed to Missouri transportation fund from gas tax hike, infrastructure bill

(Missouri Independent) – With $6.5 billion on the way from the federal infrastructure bill and a newly increased gas tax, Missouri is ready to take a big bite out of $4.5 billion in unfunded highway needs, Patrick McKenna, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, said this week. But that doesn’t mean the state is ready to tackle […]