First shipment of COVID vaccines arrive in Missouri

Governor Mike Parson announced that the first shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in Missouri. The Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Friday, December 11, confirming its safety and effectiveness.  “Today is an exciting day for Missouri as we have received the first of many […]

Lesli Collins NCMC Outstanding Employee for December Final

Lesli Collins selected as North Central Missouri College’s Outstanding Employee

Lesli Collins, Facilities Coordinator/Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach, originally from Mercer, MO, has been selected as North Central Missouri College’s Outstanding Employee for December. Lesli, an NCMC alumna, has been employed at NCMC for fourteen years and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Western Governors University. As one of her many accomplishments, Lesli helped the […]

Laredo R-7 School

Laredo Board of Education approves insurance renewal

The Laredo R-7 Board of Education approved Missouri United School Insurance Council renewal on the evening of December 14th. Secretary Robin Griswold reports the annual assessment amount due is $13,005. The insurance includes property, general liability, buses, and worker’s compensation. The board approved the 2019-2020 school audit, Wagner taking school pictures, and a curriculum update […]

Operation Warp Speed

Director of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services attends White House task force meeting on Operation Warp Speed

President Donald Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force invited a small group of private business, state, and health care leaders to the White House to brief them on Operation Warp Speed, the COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution project started earlier this year. Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and […]

Cooper Stanley Putnam County High School senior as the Career and Technical Education Student of the Month

Putnam County R-1 School District recognizes Cooper Stanley as Career and Technical Education Student of the Month

The Putnam County R-1 School District recognized Cooper Stanley as the Career and Technical Education Student of the Month for December 2020. Student winners are chosen by the vocational faculty based on a set of criteria that includes: attendance, grades, cooperation with fellow students and teachers, enthusiasm for subject(s), attitude both in the classroom and […]

Audio: Pfizer’s COVID-19 drug clears key FDA hurdle; Missouri preps for vaccine’s arrival

A key Food and Drug Administration panel has recommended approving Pfizer’s request for emergency use of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine. Missouri is preparing for the vaccine’s arrival.     The full FDA could endorse the drug maker’s request as early as today. When approval happens, the vaccine is expected to be shipped to Missouri within […]

Crime and Courts

Grundy County, Division One, court news for Thursday, December 10, 2020

Several defendants received a sentence with others receiving probation following appearances Thursday in Division One of the Grundy County Circuit Court. Trenton resident Christopher James Warren pleaded guilty to felony drug possession/synthetic cannabinoid as of November 20th. Warren was sentenced to five years with the department of corrections. Another charge was dismissed. Polo resident Julie […]

Audio: Rapid COVID-19 tests delivered to 290 Missouri K-12 schools; teachers expected to get vaccinated in February or March

Rapid COVID-19 tests have been delivered to about 290 Missouri K-12 public and private schools. State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Spokesperson Mallory McGowin says an initial shipment of the BinaxNOW antigen tests have been distributed to them – for good reason.     Another 95 schools are awaiting a shipment of the tests. […]

Coronavirus in Prisons

Missouri Department of Corrections implements technology to cut COVID-19 infection rate within prisons

Implementation of three technological innovations in the Missouri Department of Corrections aims to cut COVID-19 infection rates in Missouri state prisons and other facilities. These strategies: Kill the virus in the air Kill the virus on surfaces Detect the virus in wastewater The department now has ionization generators — air purifying devices that destroy 99.4% […]

Prison Sentence News Graphic

Arkansas project manager sentenced to two years in prison in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud

A project manager employed by a major retailer was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for fraudulently seeking more than $8 million in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. […]

Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana subpoena may have been connected to Independence, Missouri FBI probe

(Missouri Independent) – The head of Missouri’s medical marijuana program testified under oath that a grand jury subpoena his agency received late last year was likely connected to an FBI investigation in Independence.  The revelation by Lyndall Fraker, director of medical marijuana regulation at the Missouri Department of Health and Seniors Services, is the first […]