Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services signed the standing order for Janssen Biotech, Inc. COVID-19 vaccine administration after a review of preliminary recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “We are incredibly appreciative to be receiving additional vaccines in Missouri, and we remain committed […]
Tag: Missourians
Missouri Republicans look to reinstate voter ID requirement
(Missouri Independent) – About 137,700 registered voters in Missouri did not have a state-issued identification in 2017, according to an analysis from the Secretary of State’s Office. Another 140,000 voters had expired IDs, and 2,000 more voters had forfeited their driver’s licenses. Under a bill passed Wednesday in the Missouri House, those registered voters would either have to […]
Audio: Next phase of COVID-19 plan, beginning March 15, includes teachers, faculty and staff in Missouri schools
The next tier of Missouri’s coronavirus vaccination plan will be activated on March 15. That means all teachers, faculty, and staff in public, private, and nonprofit pre-K-12 will become eligible. So will state-licensed childcare center workers, some food production employees, as well as grocery and convenience stores workers. Missouri is currently vaccinating residents in Phase […]
Audio: Missouri House Committee approves legislation involving concealed firearms in churches
Legislation that would allow Missourians to carry a concealed gun inside churches and other places of worship without the minister’s consent has been approved by a Missouri House committee. House General Laws Committee chairman Curtis Trent announced Thursday afternoon’s close vote. The bill is sponsored by GOP State Representatives Ben Baker of Neosho […]
Governor Parson announces timeline for activation of Phase 1B -Tier 3 of COVID-19 vaccine plan
Governor Mike Parson announced that Phase 1B – Tier 3 of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Plan will be activated on Monday, March 15, 2021. “Missouri has had a vaccine plan since October, and this has not changed. We have been very disciplined in following our plan,” Governor Parson said. “With vaccine supply steadily increasing, we […]
Audio: Bipartisan support in Missouri legislature involving federal stimulus checks and taxation
There is bipartisan support for legislation ensuring that Missourians cannot be taxed on their federal stimulus checks. Missouri House Budget Committee chairman Cody Smith of Carthage presented his bill Wednesday in Jefferson City, Smith tells lawmakers it’s important to act, noting that under Missouri’s tax code, federal stimulus checks related to COVID are […]
Safer Streets Initiative leads to over 500 charges in first two years
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that, to date, his Safer Streets Initiative, which was launched in early 2019, has resulted in 516 charges against 289 defendants across the state. Additionally, 356 firearms have been taken off the streets as a result of the initiative. “Since taking office, prosecuting violent crime in Missouri’s major […]
Missouri in line for $4.5 billion from federal stimulus bill
(Missouri Independent) – Last spring, as Missouri businesses shed hundreds of thousands of jobs, Gov. Mike Parson warned that the state was headed for the worst financial crunch since the 2008 recession. Ten months later, Parson presented a budget plan that anticipates a $1.1 billion surplus on July 1, the biggest in state history. And if the $1.9 trillion pandemic […]
Audio: Missouri Conservation Department Director testifies against proposal to increase conservation commission’s size
The Missouri Department of Conservation director has testified against a proposal to increase the size of the Conservation Commission from four to nine, saying it could lead to regional favoritism. Conservation director Sara Parker Pauley testified last (Monday) night during a lengthy House committee hearing in Jefferson City. Conservation director Sara Parker Pauley […]
Governor reminds Missouri residents to check Missouri Vaccine Navigator for COVID vaccination events
Governor Parson provided an update on site locations for the state’s COVID-19 mass vaccination events in partnership with the Missouri National Guard, Department of Health and Senior Services, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and local health care partners. “DHSS, the Missouri National Guard, SEMA, and local partners remain dedicated to our shared goal of getting […]
Audio: Missouri’s Governor warns against potential natural gas price gouging
Missouri’s governor says numerous constituents have contacted his office about huge price increases in natural gas. Governor Parson says while he knows there have been some supply issues, he doesn’t want to see any price gouging. The governor encourages Missourians who believe there has been price gouging to contact Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s […]
Missouri House committee votes to forgive federal unemployment debts
(Missouri Independent) – Thousands of Missourians facing repayment of mistakenly paid unemployment benefits would get some relief under legislation passed with a bipartisan vote Wednesday in a Missouri House committee. The bill, which will likely be debated on the House floor next week, would forgive debts due to overpayments from federal coronavirus relief programs but would not […]
Audio: State still offering free online IT courses to Missourians laid off or furloughed due to COVID-19
Through the end of June, the state is offering free online IT courses to Missourians laid off or furloughed because of COVID-19. Missouri has extended its partnership with CompTIA (tee-a), a nonprofit trade association, to provide the on-demand schooling that can be completed at each student’s own pace. Dr. Mardy Leathers, director of the Office […]
DHSS collaborates with Area Agencies on Aging to ensure vaccine access for Missouri’s senior citizens
A program designed to assist older Missourians with accessing COVID-19 vaccine launched today. In partnership with the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Missouri’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) will assist seniors with online vaccination registration, coordinate round trip transportation to and from their vaccination appointments, and conduct reminder calls for seniors’ second doses. […]
Governor announces improved home heating bill assistance through LIHEAP
Governor Parson announced that the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Energy Crisis Intervention Program will improve assistance offered to eligible low-income Missourians. “We are very pleased to announce this improvement to the Energy Crisis Intervention Program, especially given the extreme winter weather our state is currently facing,” Governor Parson said. “Since many Missourians remain […]
Audio: All state offices closed in Missouri on Tuesday
The winter storm battering all of Missouri has forced officials to close all state offices today (Tuesday). It’s due to the snowstorm and to hazardous road conditions. The National Weather Service (NWS) has been urging Missourians to stay off the roads, if possible. The current plan is to reopen state offices tomorrow (Wednesday) […]
Audio: New program launches to help older Missourians access coronavirus vaccine
The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is partnering with Missouri’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) to help seniors get vaccinated. A press release from the state says a new program has been launched that is designed to help older Missourians access coronavirus vaccine. The state says the program will give […]
COVID-19 mass vaccination events for February 15 – 19th canceled due to weather
Just one day after announcing locations for this week’s mass COVID vaccination event, Governor Mike Parson announced that all COVID-19 mass vaccination events in partnership with the Missouri National Guard, Department of Health and Senior Services, and State Emergency Management Agency scheduled for February 15-19, 2021, are being canceled in the interest of safety due […]
Hundreds of “Warming Centers” open around the state to assist those in need
With temperatures and wind chills in Missouri dropping well below zero, hundreds of warming centers are open around the state to help Missourians in need during these bitter cold temperatures. Due to COVID-19, you are advised to call the center you want to go to before heading there. Warming centers in Grundy County include the […]
Site locations for week four of COVID-19 mass vaccinations announced
Governor Mike Parson identified site locations for week four of the COVID-19 mass vaccination events in partnership with the Missouri National Guard, Department of Health and Senior Services, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and local health care systems. “While weather forecasts indicate Missouri will experience frigid temperatures this week, DHSS, the Missouri National Guard, SEMA, […]