NEW COVID Dashboard for Missouri

Breakthrough infection data added to Missouri’s COVID-19 dashboard

A new addition to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services statewide COVID-19 dashboard finds that vaccination remains a strong defense against the virus, and that older age and health co-morbidities are strongly correlated with “breakthrough infections.”  The new data identifies COVID-19 breakthrough infections among the fully vaccinated. The analysis is the result of a partnership […]

Coronavirus News Graphic

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issues COVID “hot spot” advisory for 7 counties in NW Missouri

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has issued a COVID-19 hot spot advisory for seven northwest Missouri counties due to rising case totals from November 1st through 15th. Marshall Griffin files this report.     Thirty-eight cases were added in Harrison County in the two-weeks time. Forty cases were added in Gentry County. […]

Missouri Western State University via social media

Audio: Missouri Western State University requiring masks again, effective immediately

A Missouri University is requiring masks again, effective immediately.     Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy announced the decision in a message to everyone on the St. Joseph campus. Kennedy says the decision was made after the university COVID-19 response team reviewed the coronavirus data for the greater St. Joseph area, observing increases in case […]

Patrick McKenna Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation

Billions headed to Missouri transportation fund from gas tax hike, infrastructure bill

(Missouri Independent) – With $6.5 billion on the way from the federal infrastructure bill and a newly increased gas tax, Missouri is ready to take a big bite out of $4.5 billion in unfunded highway needs, Patrick McKenna, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, said this week. But that doesn’t mean the state is ready to tackle […]

A gavel and a name plate with the engraving Lawsuit

Gun safety group files suit alleging NRA illegally coordinated with Hawley campaign

(Missouri Independent) – The Giffords gun safety organization has sued the National Rifle Association and the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana, alleging the group used shell corporations to improperly aid the Republican lawmakers in 2018. The suit alleges two NRA affiliates made up to $35 million in illegal […]

Gavel and Law book news graphic

Corizon loses challenge to Missouri prisoner medical care contract award worth $1.4 billion

(Missouri Independent) – The company providing health care to state prisoners failed to prove a competitor misled state purchasing officers to win the $1.4 billion contract, Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled Thursday. Corizon Health, which has been the state’s vendor for prisoner medical needs since 1992, accused the state Purchasing Division of giving the contract […]

Marijuana being weighed by person on scale

Federal grand jury subpoenas sought records from Missouri medical marijuana regulators

(Missouri Independent) – Twice last year a federal grand jury demanded the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services turn over records pertaining to the medical marijuana program.  The pair of subpoenas, issued by the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri in September 2020, were redacted by the department at the […]

(Official portrait of President Joe Biden in the White House (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Biden pitches new $1.75 trillion spending blueprint to Democrats that drops paid family leave

(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden is meeting with congressional Democrats on Capitol Hill Thursday morning to pitch lawmakers on a new slimmed-down framework for what would be included in a massive social reform package, according to senior administration officials. The $1.75 trillion blueprint that Biden is presenting to Democrats includes a universal pre-K program for 3-and-4 […]