(Missouri Independent) – The coronavirus Delta variant wave that hit Missouri in May and peaked in early August continued to abate in September, but the decline has been slow. There were 1,221 more COVID-19 cases reported statewide by the Department of Health and Senior Services in the 30-day month than the 60,847 cases reported in the 31 days of July, making […]
Tag: statewide
Motorists give mixed reaction to refund plan for Missouri fuel tax hike
(Missouri Independent) – Pump prices for gas and diesel didn’t change much Friday in Missouri, despite being the first day of a 2.5 cents per gallon increase in the state fuel tax. The cheapest gas in the state was $2.49 a gallon in Springfield, according to GasBuddy.com. That was unchanged from earlier in the week. The […]
Missouri Bicentennial Quilt to be in Chillicothe during October
Since the pioneer days of the American Midwest, quilts have been a cornerstone of Missouri culture, fashion, and tradition. In honor of Missouri’s 200 years of statehood, the State Historical Society of Missouri and Missouri Star Quilt Company, in partnership with the Missouri State Quilters Guild, teamed up to create the Missouri Bicentennial Quilt. Using […]
Missouri Supreme Court mulls challenge to laws that blocked abortion bill vote
(Missouri Independent) – Making people who want to force a statewide vote on newly passed laws wait while the Secretary of State writes a ballot title undermines the constitutional right of referendum, attorneys for an abortion-rights group argued Wednesday to the Missouri Supreme Court. A ballot title was “not necessary for most of Missouri history,” […]
Audio: Missouri police chief says many rural law enforcement agencies lack resources, training and experience
A southwest Missouri police chief says many rural law enforcement agencies often don’t have the resources, training, and experience found in bigger cities. A statewide task force is working to improve services for Missouri’s sexual assault survivors and to better respond to these cases. During a virtual taskforce hearing, Bolivar Police Chief Mark Webb says […]
Dr. David Russell appointed President of Columbia College
The Columbia College Board of Trustees unanimously named Dr. David Russell the college’s 18th president on Friday afternoon. Russell has served as interim president since January 2021, and the promotion to president is effective October 1, 2021. Russell’s appointment will add three years to his current contract, which will now run through 2025. “This […]
Deadline for entries for fourth “MO VIP” drawing is today
More than 600,000 vaccinated Missourians have entered the MO VIP, Missouri’s COVID-19 vaccine incentive program, for a shot at $10,000. The statewide program was launched on July 21. The fourth of five drawings will take place Friday, with the deadline for new entries being Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 11:59 p.m. Winners of the program’s third drawing have […]
Audio: New law compels Missouri to join rest of nation and create a statewide prescription drug monitoring program
Missouri will no longer be the only state in the nation without a statewide prescription drug monitoring program. A new state law has begun that will allow the creation of the database – for doctors to check for cases of suspected drug misuse. State Senator Holly Rehder has sponsored the legislation for nine years. Rehder, […]
Governor Parson and First Lady to host Bicentennial Inaugural Parade and Ball at the State Capitol
On Saturday, September 18, Governor Parson and First Lady Parson will host the Bicentennial Inaugural Parade and Ball at the State Capitol in Jefferson City. The Bicentennial Inaugural Parade will take place this Saturday, September 18 at 10 a.m. in Jefferson City. The Bicentennial Inaugural Ball will also be this Saturday, September 18 at 5:00 p.m. in Jefferson City. These events are a […]
Local elections in Iowa to Include voting changes
There is no federal or statewide race this fall, but Iowa voters in many cities will still head to the polls for municipal and school elections and county auditors hope they are informed about sweeping changes the state adopted this year dealing with voting. In March, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill, which, among other things, reduces […]
Revised voting rights bill rolled out in U.S. Senate, with Manchin on board
(Missouri Independent) – Senate Democrats on Tuesday unveiled a revamped voting rights bill that would expand voter registration as well as create nonpartisan redistricting committees, but the measure is still likely to face an uphill battle in an evenly divided Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will bring the legislation to the floor […]
Missouri’s statewide ‘ShakeOut’ earthquake drill set for October 21
Registration is open for the 2021 Great Central U. S. “ShakeOut” earthquake drill on October 21, 2021. More than 320,000 people are already registered for this year’s ShakeOut drill, which is designed to remind people how to protect themselves during an earthquake. Missouri is one of 14 participating central U.S. states that could be impacted […]
Missouri 4-H’ers donate more than a half-ton of protein to fight food insecurity by donating pigs at Missouri State Fair
This summer, Missouri 4-H youths raised more than 1,100 pounds of protein for Missourians in need by donating pigs at the 2021 Missouri State Fair. The pork contributed through Missouri Farmers Care’s Hogs for Hunger program will provide 5,028 meals for food-insecure Missourians. Hogs for Hunger, previously known as the Missouri Farmers Care Pork Partnership, […]
COVID cases among children rising as Missouri Delta variant wave enters fifth month
(Missouri Independent) – Clay LaRue, superintendent of the Van Buren R-1 School District, made a tough decision Sunday. With COVID-19 cases spiking in Carter County in southeast Missouri, and many of those infections among very young children, LaRue shut down the district’s pre-kindergarten program for two weeks. He had previously directed faculty, staff, and students […]
Major disaster declaration approved for Missouri
FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Missouri to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornados, and flooding from June 24-July 1, 2021. Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations […]
Missouri Department of Conservation reminds deer hunters to get harvested deer sampled for Chronic Wasting Disease
With deer hunting in Missouri opening for archery season on September 15 and firearms portions in the coming months, the Missouri Department of Conservation wants hunters to know key information about chronic wasting disease. MDC will be holding mandatory CWD sampling during the opening weekend of firearms season and voluntary CWD sampling all season for […]
Audio: Lack of funding prevents Missouri from helping thousands of rape victims
In 2020, nearly 15,000-thousand victims asked a Missouri rape crisis center for help. During a statewide task force online listening session last week, members found out about 8,000 of those victims were turned away due to a lack of funding. Creve Coeur State Senator Jill Schupp, a member of the task force, says members want […]
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 […]