Budget graphic

Missouri House signs off on $46.2 billion budget, leaves most of huge state surplus untouched

(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri House gave first-round approval Tuesday to a package of budget bills spending $46.2 billion, with Republicans defeating repeated Democratic efforts to tap the state’s record surplus. The budget includes boosts to higher education funding, both for institutions and scholarships, as well as funding one of last year’s most controversial issues, Medicaid […]

Wright Memorial Hospital

Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group now scheduling second Moderna vaccination boosters

Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group in Trenton announced they are now scheduling a second Moderna COVID-19 vaccination booster for certain groups of people. Second booster clinics will begin on Friday, April 8, and will be scheduled for each Friday going forward. To be eligible to receive the second Moderna booster at this time, it must be […]

Man with fingers through fence also immigration or immigrants

Biden administration to halt pandemic policy blocking migrants who claim asylum

(Missouri Independent) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday that the government will terminate a Trump-era policy that prevented migrants from claiming asylum during a health crisis, including the coronavirus pandemic. The policy will end on May 23, the CDC wrote in its notice. “There is no longer a serious danger that the […]

Wright Memorial Hospital

With COVID-19 infection rates declining, Wright Memorial and Hedrick Medical Center relax visitor guidelines

With the decline in COVID-19 infection rates, Saint Luke’s Health System, including Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe and Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton, is relaxing some visitor guidelines across the health system. These guidelines are consistent with CDC and OSHA guidelines. Beginning Wednesday, March 16, Saint Luke’s will transition to Level 2 protocols, which include […]

Coronavirus or COVID-19 Testing news graphic

Missouri policy allows pharmacists to provide easier access to free or low-cost COVID-19 testing

A standing order was issued Tuesday by Missouri’s State Epidemiologist, Dr. George Turabelidze, which entitles individuals to receive coverage for purchased tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This policy authorizes Missouri pharmacies to charge an individual’s insurance carrier, whether it is private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare coverage, for COVID-19 testing. “Those without a healthcare […]

White House in Washington DC (Photo by Edoardo Cuoghi on UnSplash)

White House wants $10 billion for Ukraine aid, $22.5 billion for more COVID help

(Missouri Independent) – The Biden administration is asking Congress to provide $10 billion in assistance to Ukraine and $22.5 billion in COVID-19 funding on a fast timeline — within the next week. White House acting budget director Shalanda Young wrote in a letter to lawmakers that this likely won’t be the last emergency funding request for either […]

Coronavirus or COVID-19 Death

Two COVID-related deaths reported for Harrison County, 1 in Daviess County

Two COVID-19-related deaths have been added for Harrison County. The county’s COVID-19 dashboard shows 33 deaths total had been reported as of March 1st. The total number of cases remained at 1,998, and the number of active cases dropped by one to zero. An additional COVID-19-related death has been reported for Daviess County. The health […]

Donald Kauerauf, the director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, speaks during a press conference at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on July 21, 2021

Before ouster, Missouri health director drafted a letter to senators that was never sent

(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 […]

Nurse Filling Syringe with COVID-19 Vaccine at MU Health Care (Photo Courtesy of MU Health Care

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, […]

Coronavirus or COVID-19 Death

Daviess County reports 2 COVID-related deaths; four health departments report on new cases of COVID-19

Two COVID-19-related deaths have been added for Daviess County, raising the total to 28. The health department February 1st reported the deaths involved residents who were 44 to 90 years old, and they were all unvaccinated. Fifty-two COVID-19 cases had been added since January 26th, bringing that total to 1,556. The number of active cases […]

Donald Kauerauf, the director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, speaks during a press conference at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on July 21, 2021

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 […]

Daviess County Health Department to hold COVID-19 vaccine clinics for children and adults

COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be held in Gallatin for children and adults. The Daviess County Health Department will offer the children’s Pfizer vaccine on January 31st from 1 to 4 o’clock. The vaccine will be available to individuals five to 11 years old by appointment. The Daviess County Health Department and Main Street Pharmacy will […]

Coronavirus or COVID-19 Death

Daviess County reports four COVID-related deaths; Sullivan County reports six new cases of COVID-19

Four COVID-19-related deaths have been added for Daviess County. The health department reports the total as 26. They were ages 44 to 90 and were all unvaccinated. Cases have increased by 93 since January 18th, bringing that total to 1,504. The number of active cases went down by 16 to 60. Nineteen of the active […]