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 […]

Fiber Optic Internet Access

University of Missouri Broadband Initiative outlines community-driven process for local expansion

Adoption of broadband has the potential to boost a community’s economic growth and quality of life. But in much of Missouri, especially rural areas, the high-bandwidth wirelines to connect households and businesses don’t exist. Helping more Missouri communities become digitally connected was the topic of a recent webinar by the University of Missouri System Broadband […]

Audit Graphic

Missouri State Auditor makes recommendations to improve spending practices at Western Cass Fire Protection District

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released a citizen-requested audit of the Western Cass Fire Protection District, which is located in western Cass County. The audit made recommendations related to spending and budgeting to ensure transparent and effective use of taxpayer dollars. “The citizens served by the Western Cass Fire Protection District requested this audit to […]

A gavel and a name plate with the engraving Lawsuit

Woman alleges in lawsuit that former Harrison County sheriff stole drugs, sexually assaulted plaintiff

The Associated Press reports a woman has alleged in a civil rights lawsuit that former Harrison County Sheriff Joshua Eckerson gave her drugs and sexually assaulted her. Eckerson killed himself last year after a special prosecutor charged him with misdemeanor counts of misuse of official information by a public servant, trespassing, and domestic assault. The […]

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 […]

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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 […]

OSHA Website

US Department of Labor cites grain facility for workplace safety failures following dust explosion that severely injured worker

Had MFA Enterprises Inc. – operating as West Central Agri Services – addressed potential dust ignition sources, an explosion that seriously injured an employee and caused the destruction of the main elevator at an Adrian grain loading facility might not have happened. OSHA cited the grain-handling facility for one willful and six serious safety violations, […]