Missouri Independent

MU Health Care opened a mass COVID-19 vaccination site in the Walsworth Club at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri. on Jan. 25, 2020.

COVID Cases Among Children Rising as Missouri Delta Variant Wave Enters Fifth Month

One effect of the Delta variant wave is that children are a much larger share of recent COVID-19 cases, just as the school year begins.

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Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs, and Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, during a Joint Committee on Education hearing on critical race theory on July 19, 2021.

Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Focus on Inequity in Education, Not Critical Race Theory

Educators, students and advocates urged state lawmakers Monday afternoon to focus on tackling larger issues of inequity across education rather than latch onto the academic concept of critical race theory

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Demonstrators stand outside of the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City on July 1, 2021 and hold signs urging Gov. Mike Parson to fund voter-approved Medicaid expansion.

Lawmakers Say Special Session Likely Unneeded to Fund Missouri Medicaid Expansion

Legislative leaders of both parties say that a special session is probably not needed to appropriate additional funds following a court order to begin covering Missourians who are eligible under voter-approved Medicaid expansion.

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U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., speaks outside the U.S. Capitol, surrounded by (from left) Rep. Mondaire Jones, Rep. Al Green, Reps. Jimmy Gomez and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

After Pressure from Cori Bush, Feds Order Eviction Ban in Areas With High COVID Rate

Federal health officials on Tuesday announced a new, narrower moratorium on evictions through Oct. 3, which would protect struggling renters in areas of the U.S. that have been hit hardest by soaring COVID-19 infection rates.

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The St. Louis Housing Defense Collective held a rally downtown on Aug. 2, 2021, demanding that housing assistance get into the hands of those facing evictions.

Missouri’s Eviction Crisis Could Be a ‘Humanitarian Tragedy,’ Advocates Say

The federal eviction moratorium ended Saturday, and distribution of rental assistance has been slow in Missouri.

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A sign marks the entrance to the a drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Shannon County Health Center on July 8, 2021.

Fight Over Mask Orders Growing at Rate to Rival Missouri Delta Variant Cases

Politicians are fighting over masks. Public health officials are begging people to get vaccinated. And meanwhile, the Delta variant continues to spread almost unchecked in Missouri.

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Demonstrators stand outside of the Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City on July 1, 2021 and hold signs urging Gov. Mike Parson to fund voter-approved Medicaid expansion.

Missouri Supreme Court Rules Voter-Approved Medicaid Expansion is Constitutional

The Missouri Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that voter-approved Medicaid expansion is constitutional, making 275,000 Missourians eligible for health care coverage.

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Syringes of COVID-19 vaccinations are filled during MU Health Care’s mass vaccination clinic at the Walsworth Family Columns Club at Faurot Field in Columbia on Feb. 4, 2021.

Parson Announces Missouri Vaccine Incentive Lottery With $10,000 Prizes

In a bid to increase vaccination rates to combat the Delta variant’s growing spread, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Wednesday an incentive program that will feature chances to win $10,000 for those who get a shot.

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KC Tenants at Jackson County Circuit Court

Can Missouri Get Out Rental Assistance Fast Enough to Prevent Evictions?

Missouri has hundreds of millions of dollars in rental assistance available. But it’s unclear whether it can dispense those funds fast enough to help Missourians avoid evictions.

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In 2019, Missouri had more than 500 CAFOs, according to the Missouri Coalition for the Environment.

Some of Missouri’s Largest CAFOs are Seeking Less Stringent State Regulation

Eleven of Missouri’s largest concentrated animal feeding operations are working to reduce the state’s oversight of their hog facilities, despite a record of manure spills and clean water violations.

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