Missouri News & Current Events | Public News Service

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is one of the career pathways young Missourians can train for through the St. Joseph Youth Alliance. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

MO Group Receives Grant to Help Young People Start Careers

The St. Joseph Youth Alliance has been awarded a YouthBuild Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, to help students earn their high school …

In Missouri, no health insurance -- not even private policies -- can be used for abortions. Vice President Kamala Harris joined providers Thursday to discuss the next steps. (The White House)

VP Harris Joins Abortion Providers in MO to Discuss Action Plan

Vice President Kamala Harris met with abortion providers from Missouri and other restrictive states Thursday to consider ways the Biden administration…

The new congressional district map splits Boone County into two districts, right through downtown Columbia. (Missouri House of Representatives)

MO County Clerk: Look Up Your New District Before Election Time

With congressional voting district maps finally in place in Missouri, county clerks are working to educate voters on the changes. Every 10 years …

If Gov. Mike Parson signs Senate Bill 745, all residents will be able to put solar panels on their homes. (mmphoto/Adobe Stock)

MO Renewable-Energy Experts: Reducing Barriers to Solar Is Key

Groups that advocate for renewables in Missouri are urging Gov. Mike Parson to sign a utility-focused bill that would reduce barriers for businesses …

Missouri has just one abortion clinic because of restrictions that providers see as cumbersome. (Wikimedia Commons)

MO Pro-Choice Groups Prepare to Help Patients Get Out- of-State Care

Reproductive-rights advocates in Missouri are preparing for a future without Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision guaranteeing the …

COVID-19 deaths were reported at 65 meatpacking plants in the first year of the pandemic. (U.S. Dept. of Labor)

Study: OSHA Investigated 30% of Meatpackers' COVID Outbreaks

By Sky Chadde for The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting via The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Lily Bolhke for Missouri News Service/i> T…

If Missouri's House Bill 1858 becomes law, students would need written permission from their parents in order to attend school assemblies. (Michael Chamberlin/Adobe Stock)

Educators Skeptical of MO "Parents' Bill of Rights" Legislation

Educators and labor leaders are voicing concerns about a bill in the Missouri Legislature. It's being called the "Parents' Bill of Rights" but …

A proposed economic-recovery payment tax credit would be non-refundable, and leave out about a third of Missouri residents. (Natee Meepian/Adobe Stock)

MO Group: Economic-Recovery Payment Plan Excludes Too Many

As the Missouri Senate considers a proposal for economic-relief payments passed by the House, advocates for working families urge lawmakers to make …

Federal law requires data on crime victims to include information on crimes committed against people with disabilities. (Artur/Adobe Stock)

Developmental Disabilities Council: MO Needs Inclusive Sex-Ed Project

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and groups are advocating for comprehensive sexual education for everyone, including folks …

The Spire STL pipeline connects into the larger Rockies Express Pipeline, which stretches 1,700 miles across eight states. (Adobe Stock)

Pipeline Through MO in Limbo After SCOTUS Declines to Hear Appeal

A 65-mile gas pipeline through eastern Missouri is in limbo after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider reinstating federal authorization for …

Anti-trans bills have been introduced in all but three states since 2018. (Scott Griessel/Adobe Stock)

On National Day of Silence, MO Groups Push Back Against Anti-Trans Bills

Silence? Yes. Inaction? No. Today marks the annual Day of Silence, led by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, to raise awareness about …

Cancer screening numbers are still down from pre-pandemic levels, although they have rebounded from the sharp decline in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Health Expo to Get Preventive Care to Missourians

This Saturday, St. Francois County Community Partnership is holding its annual Health Expo, called "Taking Back Your Health," after a two-year hiatus …

The Mississippi River either borders or cuts through 10 states, including Missouri. (Kend Lund/Flickr)

Report: Mississippi River States Need Federal Support for Restoration

A new report shines a spotlight on problems facing ten of the nation's most endangered rivers, and possible solutions. It includes the Mississippi…

Missouri does not have enough Direct Support Professionals, among other direct-care workforce shortages. (Adobe Stock)

MO Launches Apprenticeships for Direct-Support Professionals

Missouri is launching an apprenticeship program to expand talent pipelines for Direct Support Professionals, who work with people with developmental …

Alzheimer's disease affects nearly 6 million Americans, including about 120,000 in Missouri. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

MO Attorneys: Make Your End-of-Life Care Wishes Known

Saturday is National Health Care Decisions Day, and groups in Missouri urged residents to make a plan for their end-of-life care in case they are not …

So far, the rootEd Alliance has helped roughly 2,600 Missouri students chart a path post-high school. (SengchoyInt/Adobe Stock)

Career, College Readiness Program in MO Expands Statewide

An increasing number of jobs across Missouri require some level of training or education beyond high school, but rural students are less likely than …

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities shares artwork created by people with disabilities during DD Awareness Month. This year's logo features artist Calvin "Sonny" Clarke.(NACDD)

Advocates Seek to Spotlight Developmental-Disability Issues Year-Round

As Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month comes to a close, advocates say the work to secure equal rights and independence for people with …

Fast Track grants can be used at public and nonprofit private colleges and universities in Missouri. (Aliaksandr Marko/Adobe Stock)

MO Program Helps Adults Get Credentials in High-Need Industries

A workforce development program in Missouri is set to expire in August, but the state Senate passed a bill to make it permanent. The bill is now in …

Some counties send out postcards with voters' new districts on them so they can research what candidates are running. (JJ Gouin/Adobe Stock)

Election Officials: New Maps Needed Before Candidate Filing Deadline

Not all of Missouri's new voting-district maps are finalized, despite a candidate filing deadline of March 29. The new state House maps were filed …

Some 20% of respondents to a diaper bank survey said they've used a payday or other short-term loan to purchase diapers. (laboko/Adobe Stock)

MO Groups Urge Federal Support for Diaper Banks

Groups in Missouri are urging Congress to pass a full-year, fully funded appropriations bill, instead of a parade of stopgap continuing resolutions …

Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis was formed after the 1954Brown v. Board of Education ruling, merging two schools that had been segregated. (Wikimedia Commons)

Report Highlights COVID's Outsized Impact on HBCU Students' Basic Needs

A survey of students at the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) found nearly half have been food insecure in the last 30 day…

Missouri has been taking up to 70 days to process Medicaid applications, despite the federal requirement that they be processed within 45 days. (niyazz/Adobe Stock)

Groups Push Back Against Attempt to Repeal Medicaid Expansion

Groups advocating for health-care access for all Missourians urged the state Senate to reject a proposed constitutional amendment to undermine Medicai…

Just 36 women have ever served in the Missouri Senate, compared with more than 1,000 men. (Missouri Senate)

Children's Book by Missouri's 11 Women Senators Aims to Promote Literacy

The 11 women in the Missouri Senate have written a new book called "You Can, Too!" to promote literacy across the state, and encourage more young …

More than 51 million school hours are lost each year because of dental-related problems, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

MO Dentist: Regular Visits for Kids Key to Keeping Cavities Away

During National Children's Dental Health Month, Missouri dentists are urging families to make sure they are maximizing their kids' oral health…

Missouri has nine Planned Parenthood clinics across the state. (Adobe Stock)

MO Budget Bill Blocks Medicaid Patients from Accessing Planned Parenthood

Missouri's supplemental budget bill signed into law Thursday includes a provision to block patients who rely on Medicaid from accessing Planned Parent…

Between February 2020 and June 2021, more than 139,000 Missourians enrolled in Medicaid. (sofiko14/Adobe Stock)

Report: MO Kids Could Lose Medicaid When Public-Health Emergency Ends

A new report shows Missouri kids enrolled in Medicaid could be at risk of losing that coverage when the official public-health emergency for COVID-19 …

Missouri groups are working to increase access to vote-by-mail, curbside voting and accessible voting machines. (Sharkshock/Adobe Stock)

Disability Advocates: Focus on Accessibility in Voting Reforms

Experts say Missouri ranks low among states when it comes to steps it has taken to improve accessibility in voting. Denise Lieberman, director and …

The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates across all states, there are somewhere between 9.7 million and 12.8 million lead pipes. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Federal Funds for Lead Pipe Replacement Needed in MO

Missouri has roughly 330,000 lead service lines, the pipes connecting water mains to buildings including people's homes, and federal funding could …

Just over 28,000 COVID-19 vaccines were administered in Missouri last week. (Dragana Gordick/Adobe Stock)

MO 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 …

Missouri has more than 4,000 abandoned oil and gas wells, and data is lacking on how many of those are plugged. (Martina/Adobe Stock)

Federal Funds Coming to MO to Plug Abandoned Oil, Gas Wells

Missouri is among the states set to receive infrastructure funding for plugging what are known as orphan, or abandoned, oil and gas wells. Uncapped …

In a new survey, 65% of parents said they think low teacher pay is a cause for concern. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Parents Support Educators, Schools' Handling of COVID

Recent polling shows strong support for educators and schools in Missouri and across the country throughout the COVID-19 crisis. More than three in …

Around 53% of Missouri voters approved Medicaid expansion in 2020, the most recent successful citizen-led ballot initiative. (adogslifephoto/Adobe Stock)

MO Groups to Lawmakers: Don't Limit Citizen-Led Ballot Petitions

Some lawmakers in Jefferson City are pushing forward bills that would limit citizens' ability to put constitutional amendments on the ballot…

No state's application for American Rescue Plan K-12 education spending includes a comprehensive plan for tracking that spending, according to a new report. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

Report Urges States to Track Rescue Plan Spending, Increase Transparency

Missouri ranks middle of the pack in a new report assessing states' proposals for using American Rescue Plan funds for schools. The federal stimulus …

National Poll Worker Recruitment Day was established in 2020 amid shortages of poll workers due to COVID-19. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Election Officials to Missourians: "Please Become a Poll Worker"

It is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, and with April municipal elections coming up, clerks and boards of election across the state are looking …

Missouri residents can fill out a waiver form for federal unemployment overpayments, and a bill before the Legislature seeks to allow the same for state payments. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

MO Bills Would Provide Relief to Recipients of Unemployment Overpayments

During the pandemic, the Missouri Department of Labor paid out too much unemployment compensation to more than 45,000 residents, and two bills before …

Gov. Mike Parson delivers the State of the State address before a joint session of the Missouri Legislature on Wednesday. (State of Missouri)

MO Budget Proposal Includes Medicaid Expansion, State Worker Pay Raise

During Wednesday's State of the State address, Gov. Mike Parson discussed his priorities for Missouri in the next year, including the supplemental …

If a constitutional amendment makes it onto the ballot and passes in November, Missouri will join Maine and Alaska, which both use ranked-choice voting for statewide elections. (Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

MO Bipartisan Campaign Seeks to Switch to Ranked-Choice Voting

A ballot initiative in Missouri is seeking to change the way statewide elections are run. Currently, in the Show-Me State, there are party primaries …

Nearly 30% of Missouri families reported paying more than $1,000 a month for child care, according to a report from United WE. (santypan/Adobe Stock)

MO Budget Proposal Includes Dispersing Federal Funds for Child Care

More than half of Missouri families report paying more than $500 a month for child care, and child-care providers have been struggling to keep their …

One in four women is likely to get an abortion in her lifetime, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

MO Groups Say Abortion Bans Harm Vulnerable Communities

As the Missouri legislative session gets under way, reproductive-health advocates are pushing back against seven bills filed this year to restrict …

The prices of beef and veal in the last year have skyrocketed 20%. Fresh fruits and vegetables cost 4% more than this time last year. (goodmanphoto/Adobe Stock)

Missourians, Food Banks Face Inflation, Supply-Chain Issues

Supply-chain issues, inflation and job loss during the pandemic have put many families' food security at risk. In Missouri, hunger remains higher …

An estimated 80% of white Americans own a home computer, compared to 69% of Black Americans and 67% of Latino Americans. (urby/Adobe Stock)

Federal Funds Key to Broadband for 330,000+ in MO

Missouri ranks 34th in the nation for broadband coverage and speed, with more than 330,000 residents lacking broadband access, but now, agencies hope …

Among the states, Missouri ranks 46th in the nation for residents who get sufficient exercise, according to a new report. (baranq/Adobe Stock)

Report: MO Ranks Low for Health Outcomes, Physical Activity

A new report provides a checkup on the health of people in Missouri and across the nation, to be used by local and state officials to assess …

Beef and veal prices are up 21% compared with last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (LuisFernando/Adobe Stock)

MO Cattle Producers: More Competition Needed to Stay Profitable

Meat prices have been on the rise, but family-farm advocates say higher profits haven't been making their way to smaller cattle producers. Four …

A majority of Missouri's Democratic voters live in urban areas, and Republicans in rural areas. (Destina/Adobe Stock)

MO Groups, Voters Urge Fairness, Transparency in Redistricting

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Partisan tensions have been apparent in Missouri's redistricting process as commissions work to draw legislative maps and …

More than 5,000 Missouri children and teens leave foster care every year. For older teens who are transitioning to adulthood, housing can be a challenge. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Life After Foster Care: MO Youth Need Housing, Support Systems

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The holidays can be a tough time for young people who have aged out of the foster-care system. For young Missourians, housing …

Families of three making less than $45,000 a year are eligible for Missouri's Medicaid and CHIP programs. (H_Ko)

Groups: Build Back Better Could Improve Health Outcomes for MO Children

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Health advocates are pressing the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act after it passed the House last month. The bill …

Nationally, more than 4.5 million households reported being at risk of eviction in the next two months, according to recent Census surveys. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Groups Identify Barriers to Rental Assistance in MO

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Groups working to keep Missouri residents in their homes since the pandemic began are trying to identify the barriers to receiving …

The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since 2009, despite inflation. (Missouri Workers Center)

MO Workers Group Launches to Bridge Racial, Geographic Divides

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A new group aims to bridge racial and geographic divides between Missouri workers, to help bring economic prosperity to everyone…

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