(Missouri Independent) – On the Friday before a drawn-out confirmation battle ended with his ouster from office, Missouri state Health Director Donald Kauerauf wrote an impassioned letter meant to convince conservative legislators who were on the fence about his appointment. The message: While he believed in vaccines and data and science, he didn’t believe in vaccine […]
Tag: times
American Farm Bureau Federation claims it’s the ‘voice of agriculture,’ Others beg to differ
(Missouri Independent) – This story was originally published as a collaboration between Investigate Midwest and Watchdog Writers Group. The American Farm Bureau Federation calls itself the “voice of agriculture,” a slogan it trademarked in 2007. But as the divide between agribusiness and small farmers has grown in recent decades, a unified voice of agriculture has become harder to […]
Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge opening Saturday, March 5
The gates at Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge will once again open to the public on Saturday, March 5, 2022, 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 […]
Why millions on Medicaid are at risk of losing coverage in the months ahead
(Missouri Independent) – This story was originally published by Kaiser Health News. The Biden administration and state officials are bracing for a great unwinding: Millions of people losing their Medicaid benefits when the pandemic health emergency ends. Some might sign up for different insurance. Many others are bound to get lost in the transition. State Medicaid […]
Video: Senator Hawley demands accountability on Afghanistan, Objects to DoD Nominees
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) objected to the unanimous consent of several Department of Defense nominations, followed by remarks that outlined the Biden administration’s failures and lack of accountability in the aftermath of the botched Afghanistan withdrawal last summer. He also reiterated how the administration is on the brink of another disaster, this time with […]
Missouri health centers continue to vaccinate, despite staffing shortages
As Community Health Centers (CHCs) mark a year of administering vaccines to underserved Missourians, the needs of the pandemic have strained their services. More than 40% of centers report they do not have enough staff to keep up the vaccination pace. Rodney Hummer, vice president of strategy for the Missouri Primary Care Association and a registered nurse, […]
Medical director convicted in $110 million addiction treatment fraud scheme
A federal jury convicted a Florida doctor in the Southern District of Florida for a health care fraud scheme that billed private health insurance companies approximately $110 million for addiction treatment services that were not medically necessary. This is the second trial conviction to arise out of the Justice Department’s Sober Homes Initiative. According to […]
Federal funds coming to Missouri to plug abandoned oil and gas wells
Missouri is among the states set to receive infrastructure funding for plugging what are known as an orphan, or abandoned, oil and gas wells. Uncapped orphan wells release methane, which is 80 times more potent at trapping heat than carbon dioxide over its first 20 years in the atmosphere. Amber Steele, geological survey program director of […]
Corrections officer in Missouri pleads guilty to violating the civil rights of a prisoner
United States District Court Judge Matthew T. Schelp accepted a plea of guilty from Demeria Thomas, age 38, for deprivation of rights under color of law related to her knowingly allowing inmates to assault another inmate while in his cell at the St. Louis City Justice Center. A grand jury in the Eastern District of […]
Fire at Fifth and Elm streets in Milan destroys house
A vacant house in Milan is considered a total loss after a fire early in the morning of February 8, 2022. Milan Fire Chief Rick Gardner reports the fire at Fifth and Elm streets was reported around midnight, and the house was fully involved in flames before the fire department arrived on the scene. The […]
Missouri Supreme Court: Medical marijuana application info must be disclosed in appeals
(Missouri Independent) – In a unanimous decision Tuesday, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that a lower court was justified in ordering the state health department to disclose medical marijuana application info that it had argued was confidential. The Department of Health and Senior Services refused to provide applications of businesses that were awarded licenses to […]
Missouri Supreme Court tosses laws that blocked 2019 abortion bill referendum
(Missouri Independent) – In a case that grew out of a law making it a crime for a doctor to perform an abortion after eight weeks, the Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday said those seeking to force a referendum on new laws can begin collecting signatures as soon as the bill is passed. The ruling threw […]
U.S. House advances marijuana banking bill, though final passage uncertain
(Missouri Independent) – Cannabis dispensaries throughout the country came one step closer to using banks the way many other businesses can when the U.S. House on Friday cleared a bill with sweeping changes to banking regulations. Colorado Democrat Ed Perlmutter and Ohio Republican Dave Joyce, co-sponsors of the legislation, said Friday their proposal would allow […]
Lillian DesMarias Youth Library announces the purchase and installation of “All-In-One Workstations Platinum 2”
The Lillian DesMarias Youth Library announces the purchase and installation of AWE Learning’s All-In-One Workstations Platinum 2. The software programs are for ages 2-12, and deliver 85+ award-winning, pre-loaded educational software titles directly on the workstation. No internet connection is required. All content is STREAM-aligned (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art and Music, and Math). AWE […]
Princeton High School to hold Courtwarming and annual Pink Out game on Friday, February 4
The Princeton High School will hold its Courtwarming and annual Pink Out game on February 4, 2022. The basketball games versus Worth County will start with junior varsity at 5 o’clock. Varsity games will begin at 6 o’clock. Courtwarming candidates are Lauren Krohn, Kinslee Stokely, Breann St. Onge, Raynah Collins, Logan Garrison, Logan Smith, and […]
State of Missouri seeking organizations to provide meals to children during summer months
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is looking for non-profit organizations throughout the state to help feed thousands of children who would otherwise go without meals during the summer months and during times of public emergencies when children do not have access to free or reduced-price meals at school. The Summer Food Service […]
Anti-vaccine protesters rally against Senate confirmation of Missouri health director
(Missouri Independent) – State health director Donald Kauerauf adamantly spoke against mandating face masks and COVID-19 vaccines during a hearing Monday, as anti-vaccination demonstrators protested his confirmation in the halls outside. While protesters chanted outside the Capitol hearing room, senators inside grilled Kauerauf for nearly two hours on his views on how best to mitigate […]
Carroll County Memorial Hospital recognizes American Heart Month
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. It is also the most treatable. To prevent heart disease and increase awareness of its effects, Carroll County Memorial Hospital proudly participates in American Heart Month. CCMH kicks the month off by decking the hospital out in RED […]
Seven Missouri residents indicted for conspiracy to transport stolen catalytic converters across state lines
Seven Rogersville, Missouri, and Springfield, Mo., residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to transport thousands of stolen catalytic converters across state lines as part of a multi-million-dollar business. “A scourge of catalytic converter thefts on a breathtaking scale had a significant impact on the Springfield community […]
Reversing state’s decision, Missouri panel awards marijuana license to jilted applicant
(Missouri Independent) – In a rare move, a Missouri commission granted a medical marijuana license to an applicant after discovering irregularities with how state regulators evaluated applications. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) decided to forgo appealing the ruling, announcing Tuesday that it had reached a settlement with the jilted applicant to […]