Briefs
Missouri COVID cases peaking at end of worst month for cases, reported deaths
A late Thursday report with a record 3,061 new COVID-19 cases was followed Friday by the second-highest single day total as Missouri nears the end of the worst month of the coronavirus pandemic for new cases and reported deaths. Hospitalizations are at a peak and rising, with St. Louis leaders reporting a “heartbreaking” new high […]
Missouri governor campaign spending down from 2016 — so far
The first campaign for governor under the contribution limits imposed by voters in 2016 is less expensive than it was four years ago, but following the money requires additional steps to determine the original source of the dollars. Through Wednesday, the official campaign committees of incumbent Republican Gov. Mike Parson and his Democratic challenger, State […]
Missouri DOC, Corizon agree to spend $50 million to treat inmates with hepatitis C
Michael Postawko’s attorneys say he contracted hepatitis C at the Jefferson City Correctional Center in 2012. At first, he didn’t have any symptoms. But then two years later, he began experiencing chronic fatigue, fever and abdominal pain. While the prison medical staff provided him medication for his symptoms, they didn’t treat him for the virus, […]
More than 67,000 convicted felons in Missouri can’t vote in 2020
About 67,800 convicted felons in Missouri cannot vote in the November election because they are on parole and probation, according to a new study. The Sentencing Project’s new study found that Missouri is among 16 states that don’t allow convicted felons to vote if they are on parole or probation. It estimates that about 22,900 Missourians […]
Southeast Missouri county continues mask mandate amid high COVID case, death counts
Cape Girardeau County, which has endured 32 COVID-19 deaths and more than 900 new COVID-19 cases since Oct. 1, will continue to mandate face mask use, the Southeast Missourian reported. The county health center board voted unanimously Tuesday to continue the order in effect since July 13 until the 14-day tally of new cases falls […]
Initial shipment of thousands of antigen COVID tests sent to Missouri schools
Thousands of antigen tests to detect the novel coronavirus have been shipped to school districts across the state in an effort to help bolster testing capacity, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced this week. Nearly 330 public and private school districts requested nearly 583,000 tests through the state’s BinaxNOW Antigen Testing Program. […]
St. Louis health leaders warn COVID threatening hospital capacity
Leaders of the St. Louis area’s fight against COVID-19 warned Monday that hospitals are reaching capacity, doctors and support staff are worn down by overwork and harsh steps may be necessary to get control of the pandemic. In a briefing broadcast on Facebook, Dr. Alex Garza, head of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force, […]
Missouri county stops COVID social media posts over ‘negative, insulting’ comments
A Missouri county enduring the state’s fourth-highest rate for new COVID-19 infections will stop posting local data on Facebook because of responses that attack its work and raise conspiracy theories about the disease. Ste. Genevieve County, a southeast Missouri county with 17,894 people, has added 195 new cases since Sept. 30 and 93 in the […]
Spire Missouri program will help customers catch up on gas bills during COVID pandemic
The natural gas supplier for more than 1 million Missouri customers will create a payment assistance program and allow up to 18 months to pay bills that have accumulated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the plan approved Thursday by the Missouri Public Service Commission, Spire Missouri will help customers who have lost […]
High COVID case counts sending some Missouri students into virtual classrooms
Missouri continued its string of days reporting 1,000 or more new coronavirus infections on Friday, adding 1,811 new infections amid growing difficulties for school districts trying to maintain in-class instruction. While one of the state’s largest districts, Columbia Public Schools, opened doors for elementary students for the first time on Monday, the small Maries County […]
Missouri governor calls special session as CARES Act spending deadline looms
With Missouri in its 13th consecutive week of reporting an average of more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases per day, and facing a Dec. 30 deadline for using federal relief funds, Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday called a special session to begin just after the Nov. 3 election. On Thursday morning, the Department of Health and […]
Nonprofit law firm hosting free educational session on sealing criminal records
Criminal records often create barriers for employment, education and housing. So how do people get their criminal records sealed, including records of conviction, arrests and even arrest where charges were not filed? That legal process is called expungement. And the ArchCity Defenders, a nonprofit law firm, is hosting a free virtual education session tonight to […]