Missouri’s governor announced Wednesday evening in Jefferson City that there are now 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, and says the first recorded death has happened in the Columbia area. Governor Mike Parson held two Statehouse press conferences on Wednesday. He held the first one in the afternoon, where he was joined by […]
Tag: Thousands
The Big Picture: Missouri’s response to COVID-19
As concerns over the new coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to grow across the state and the nation, Governor Mike Parson and his administration are working each day to respond to the virus and protect the health and well-being of Missourians. Expanding COVID-19 Testing The state is currently working with the University of Missouri to expand COVID-19 […]
Local schools and organizations announce cancellations and closures due to Coronavirus concerns
Due to concerns of spreading the Coronavirus, announcements continue to be made regarding cancellation or postponement of area community events and school information. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with Governor Mike Parson, has recommended no public gatherings of 50 or more people through April 30th except for schools, daycare facilities, and businesses. […]
Governor Parson signs Executive Order 2002 declaring a state of emergency in Missouri
Today, Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 2002 declaring a state of emergency in Missouri in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Governor Parson announced the emergency declaration in a press conference on Friday. The following individuals were also present at the press conference: Dr. Randall Williams, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) […]
Missouri has its first case of coronavirus; testing to confirm this week
Missouri has its first likely case of COVID 19, known as the coronavirus. During a press conference on Saturday evening at St. Louis County Executive Sam Page’s office, Gov. Mike Parson says the case involves a female in her 20s from St. Louis County, who had recently traveled to Italy. “She is isolated at home […]
Medicaid expansion emerging as key issue in Missouri gubernatorial race
Missouri’s GOP governor and his likely November Democratic opponent clashed over the issue of Medicaid expansion, during separate press conferences Tuesday in Jefferson City. Medicaid is a federal and state program that assists with medical costs for residents who have limited incomes. Missouri’s current Medicaid budget is about $10 billion, accounting for about one-third of […]
Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge opening Saturday, March 7th
The gates at Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge will once again open to the public on Saturday, March 7, 2020, at 6 AM. The Refuge is closed annually from late October to the first Saturday of March to allow for undisturbed habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl. Once spring arrives the place becomes a Refuge […]
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 […]
Audio: Missouri Medicaid Director Richardson to present budget this week
The state’s Medicaid director will present his budget to the Missouri House Budget Committee Tuesday morning in Jefferson City. The hearing is set for 8:15. During his January State of the State Address, Governor Mike Parson (R) credited former House Speaker and current Medicaid director Todd Richardson for finding $84 million in savings, in the Medicaid […]
State seeks organizations to provide meals to children during summer months
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is looking for organizations throughout the state to help feed thousands of children who would otherwise go without meals during the summer months when school is not in session. The Summer Food Service Program reimburses organizations for meals they serve to children under the age of 18 […]
Audio: Interstate 29 to close completely Friday night between Kansas City and St. Joseph
A major interstate shipping corridor will be closed on Friday between Kansas City and St. Joseph, and thousands of motorists will have to find another way. The Missouri Department of Transportation is replacing the bridge over Interstate 29 near the town of Dearborn. Both the north and southbound lanes will close on Friday […]
Governor Mike Parson to attend USDA announcement in Trenton
United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Donald “DJ” LaVoy will make an announcement in Trenton regarding e-connectivity funding. Missouri Governor Mike Parson and LaVoy will participate in the Reconnect Pilot Program ceremony at the North Central Missouri College Barton Farm Campus Tuesday morning at 9:30. Tens of millions of dollars in USDA funding […]
Thousands of Missourians still waiting for 2018 tax refunds
State Auditor Nicole Galloway has demanded answers from the Department of Revenue on the remaining delayed 2018 tax refunds. The Missouri State Auditor’s Office continues to receive complaints from taxpayers who are waiting on last year’s refunds, even as many Missourians prepare to file their 2019 returns. “To date, thousands of taxpayers have reached out […]
Pilot programs focus on helping more students finish a college degree in less time
Ten Missouri colleges and universities are participating in two programs that aim to reduce college costs and help students earn a degree in less time. The Department of Higher Education is set to begin pilot projects for Guided Pathways to Success and Concurrent Enrollment programs. “These programs focus on helping more students graduate on time, […]
Deer hunters reminded that they can “Share the Harvest”
Deer hunters across Missouri are reminded they can donate deer free of charge for inclusion in the “Share the Harvest” program of the Conservation Department. Donations of deer to approved facilities is free thanks to corporate sponsors that pay the deer processing fee. The program allows deer hunters to donate their extra venison to participating […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to trafficking 1000 kilograms of marijuana
A Columbia, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana that involved another Columbia man who was murdered during a home invasion in which hundreds of pounds of marijuana in a rented U-Haul truck was stolen. Blake Jeffrey Johnson, 24, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie […]
Scam: Increase in robocalls claiming to be Medicare representatives hits Missouri
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is warning Missourians about a recent increase in robocalls purporting to be a Medicare representative. The robocall then states that the person receiving the call is eligible for the top of the line medical braces, and that to receive those braces they should press “1” or press “9” to be […]
Audio: Fifty years later, two Kirksville soldiers surprisingly reunite on an honor flight
Two northern Missouri men who fought side by side in the Vietnam War reunited decades later during a veterans trip to visit the nation’s war memorials. Steve Paulsell, the flight director for Central Missouri Honor Flight, says the Kirksville war heroes did not recognize each other on the trip, but they still remembered a promise […]
2019-20 national FFA officer team elected at 92nd National FFA Convention
Students from Montana, Virginia, Puerto Rico, New Mexico, Oregon, and Ohio have been elected by delegates throughout the United States to serve on the 2019-20 National FFA Officer team. Kolesen McCoy, an agribusiness and applied economics major at Ohio State, was elected national president. Kourtney Lehman, an agricultural business management major at Oregon State University, […]
Missouri officials to have better grasp regarding backlog of untested sexual assault kits
State leaders will soon have a better grasp of the magnitude of Missouri’s backlog of untested sexual assault kits. With funding from a $2.8 million federal grant, the Missouri attorney general’s SAFE Kit Initiative is expected to complete its inventory of untested rape kits in the next couple of weeks. Matthew Huffman, public affairs director […]