Dr. Williams Testifies March 2020

Missouri Health and Senior Services Director testifies that the state is well-prepared for Coronavirus

Missouri’s health director testified Monday afternoon in Jefferson City that he’s hoping for the best and preparing for the worst regarding the coronavirus. State Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams appeared before the newly-created Missouri House Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Williams testifies there have been no confirmed […]

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Audio: Proposed statewide prescription drug monitoring program heads to Missouri Senate floor

A Missouri Senate committee has given approval to the creation of a database designed to crack down on potential abuse of addictive painkillers. GOP Representative Holly Rehder of southeast Missouri’s Scott City, who’s sponsoring the bill, says St. Louis County’s prescription drug monitoring program covers at least 87% of Missouri. “Missouri has a PDMP,” says […]

Neighborhood Assistance Program

Area organizations to receive funds through Neighborhood Assistance Program for community development projects

The Department of Economic Development announced Wednesday that it would award $7.3 million through its Neighborhood Assistance Program to nonprofits across Missouri for community development projects. The Neighborhood Assistance Program helps not-for-profit organizations leverage private-sector funds by providing partial state tax credits to businesses that make contributions to approved community improvement projects. The program can […]

Health News

Missouri is ‘high performer’ in public health emergency preparedness

Missouri is among states rated as high performers in public health emergency preparedness measures by a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates for optimal health for people and communities through the prevention of illness and injuries. The Trust for America’s Health report “Ready or Not: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism 2020” released […]

Obama administration: Reduce focus on student loan collections

Missouri student loan default rates continue to decrease

According to the U.S. Department of Education, Missouri’s three-year loan default rate decreased four-tenths of a percent, keeping Missouri’s rate below the national average and lower than most of its neighboring states. Missouri’s student loan default rate dropped from 10.3 percent to 9.9 percent. The national rate decreased from 10.8 percent to 10.1 percent. More […]