Hospital Bed (Photo by Frederic Köberl on Unsplash)

Missouri ICUs filling as Delta variant wave moves into northeast, southeast regions

(Missouri Independent) – New cases from the Delta variant wave that has killed more than 1,150 Missourians since June 1 have plateaued, but hospital ICUs continue to fill — and small, rural hospitals are among the hardest hit. There were 690 patients in ICU beds across the state on Tuesday, the most recent day reported by the state Department of Health […]

Little Girl in Class at School Wearing Mask

Commentary: As schools reopen, an epidemiologist on what works — and what’s not worth the effort

This article is a commentary, the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, Doctor Brandon Guthrie, and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of KTTN/KGOZ radio, the staff, management, and webmaster. Dr. Brandon Guthrie is an epidemiologist and associate professor at the University of Washington. His specific research […]

Governor Mike Parson

Missouri to accept Medicaid expansion applications; DSS to begin processing applications on October 1

(Missouri Independent) – Missourians who qualify for benefits under Medicaid expansion can begin enrolling. Still, it may take up to two months until they will find out if their eligibility has been verified and their application has been approved. In a news release Wednesday, Gov. Mike Parson announced that in response to a Cole County […]

Cole County Judge Jon Beetem (Screenshot courtesy KRCG-TV)

Judge orders state to immediately allow Missourians to enroll in expanded Medicaid

(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri Department of Social Services must allow newly eligible residents that qualify for benefits under voter-approved Medicaid expansion to enroll and cannot impose greater restrictions on them, a Cole County judge ruled Tuesday. Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem sided with the plaintiffs who urged him to allow Medicaid expansion to take […]

Asian Longhorn Tick

Asian Longhorned Tick confirmed in Missouri

The Missouri Department of Agriculture, working in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and Missouri State University, has confirmed the first finding of an Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in Missouri. Missouri becomes the 16th state with a presence of the tick species, following the first confirmed report of the Asian […]

Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

Missouri Supreme Court rules voter-approved Medicaid expansion is constitutional

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri must expand Medicaid to 275,000 eligible people who were expecting coverage under a constitutional amendment that took effect July 1, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Thursday. In a unanimous opinion, the court overturned a trial court ruling that the amendment, passed in August 2020 was unconstitutional because it may increase the state’s cost for […]

Back the Blue

Missouri Attorney General presents “Back the Blue” award to two St. Charles police officers

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt presented two St. Charles City Police Department officers with his “Back the Blue” award. Officer Dillon Porzel and Officer Christopher Scanga were honored with the award in a ceremony at the St. Charles Police Department headquarters. “Our state’s law enforcement make tough decisions and incredible sacrifices every single day. As […]