Missouri News & Current Events | Public News Service

Many of Missouri's working parents have limited and often unaffordable access to quality child care, resulting in

Monday, October 2, 2023

MO loses $1.35 billion annually due to child care issues

Among Missouri parents surveyed, 30% reported they have limited their working hours or stopped altogether because of unreliable child care. The …

The 340B Drug Pricing Program, a part of the 1992 Public Health Service Act, provides outpatient drugs at deep discounts to safety net providers. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Missouri community healthcare centers face 340B uncertainty

While large hospitals and pharmaceutical manufacturers battle over drug costs, Missouri community health centers see themselves as collateral damage…

Missouri law allows Medigap enrollees to change Medicare insurance plans at the same coverage level during their anniversary window. (Andrey/Adobe Stock)

Open enrollment means researching your healthcare options

Missourians have plenty of choices when it comes to health insurance coverage - and it's time to gear up for making those decisions. For people on …

National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating democracy. It has gained momentum since it was first observed in 2012. (DEEP/Adobe Stock)

About 1 in 3 Missourians Isn't Registered to Vote

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and Missourians have many locations where they can register to vote - from community colleges and …

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing standards to regulate emissions from five unmeasured fugitive and intermittent particulate sources. The EPA is extending the comment period on the proposed rule to Sept. 29. (Natalie Schorr/Adobe Stock)

Comments About EPA's Proposed Blast-Furnace Rules Extended to Sept. 29

Emission standards for blast furnaces such as some iron and steel mills in Missouri have not been updated in years. The Environmental Protection …

While you may feel too busy to de-stress, you can decide to take back your

Simplify Family Schedule to Decrease Stress, Boost Heart Health

As fall classes and after-school activities are in full swing, Missouri families can feel pressure to do it all, but the American Heart Association …

An estimated 2.4 million people work on farms and ranches nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Census of Agriculture. (J�rgen F�lchle/Adobe Stock)

Outdoor Workers in Missouri Suffering from Heat Exposure

By Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest/Report for America and Eva Tesfaye, Harvest Public Media for Investigate Midwest.Broadcast version by …

Community health workers, as a profession, have a designated workforce classification by the U.S. Department of Labor, and are recognized health professionals by the Affordable Care Act. (N Felix/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Community Health Workers Take a Bow in Missouri

Some 450,000 Missourians get their medical care from Community Health Workers, and those workers are trying to raise public awareness about their …

The Right Time initiative conducted an online survey of 1,000 Missouri residents between April 27 and May 3. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Is Birth Control Legal? Many Missourians Unsure

One in four Missourians either doesn't believe or doesn't know that using birth control pills is legal in the state. The Right Time, an initiative …

The Human League says factory farming causes significant damage to rural communities, surrounding environments, and the farmed animals themselves. (zhang yongxin/Adobe Stock)

Rural Advocacy Groups: Corporate Farming Infringing on MO Family Farms

Despite the goal to unite Missourians around a common cause, rural advocacy groups have been pushing the EPA for more regulation from the Clean …

The process of recertifying enrollment in Medicaid, which generally had been done on an annual basis before the COVID pandemic, was paused during the Public Health Emergency by federal law in early 2020. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Half Those Losing Medicaid in MO are Children

With the pandemic era ending, Medicaid annual renewals are unwinding in Missouri. Eligibility for Medicaid is being verified and more than 54,000 …

The number of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in non-family home settings with six or fewer people grew from 27% in 1999 to 82% in 2018. (karelnoppe/Adobe Stock)

Missourians Segregated Due to Disability May Have Discrimination Claims

In Missouri and around the country, people with disabilities are living in institutions who could successfully live in the community with the right …

Fifteen unarmed civilian protection teams exist in the United States and five more internationally, according to the Shanti Sena Network. (KozyrevaElena/Adobe Stock)

Unarmed, Skilled De-Escalation Teams Prepared for Worst of Times

When Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., needed assistance after threats during her 2020 election campaign, she turned to unarmed civilian protection in Saint …

According to the University of Minnesota's Residential Information Systems Project, in 2019, 16,200 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities were living in 112 state-run facilities in 33 states. (M.D�rr & M.Frommherz/Adobe Stock)

ADA, Court Ruling Protect Disabled Missourians' Right to Integrated Living

Many Missourians with developmental and intellectual disabilities live successfully in the community, and disability advocates stress this is their …

Missouri Healthy Schools, Success-Ready Students (MHSSS) reports the health of students is strongly linked to their success in school.(WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Nutrition Won't Skip a Beat as MO Kids Head Back to School

Many Missouri families struggle to feed their children while school is out for the summer and have been able to get breakfast and lunch at summer yout…

According to the National Survey on Drug Use conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, 16.5% of construction workers reported

Peer Support Helps St. Louis Construction Workers Battling Addiction

Construction workers are more likely to die by suicide or of a drug overdose than workers in almost any other field, and a St. Louis-based peer …

In 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency established a safe threshold for sulfur dioxide air concentrations at 75 parts per billion. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Grants Could Drive Economic Stability, Cleaner Energy in MO

With air quality an ongoing concern in New Madrid County, advocates are encouraging the local electric provider to seek federal funding. In recent …

One in nine Missourians was helped by SNAP benefits in 2022. For older Missourians, the average monthly benefit was $119. (Kzenon/Adobe Stock)

MO Ranks Low for Senior Food Security, Health; Steps Being Taken

The latest report ranking the status of seniors by state identifies room for improvement in Missouri, placing the state 40th overall. Although in …

The average family of four in Missouri can expect to spend $8,666 per year on groceries, according to UpNest.com. (Ashtproductions/Adobe Stock)

MO Joins Forces with Feds to Fight Food-Price Gouging

Attorneys general from more than 30 states - including Missouri - just announced a bipartisan effort to bring down costs and create more choices at th…

Fighting Bad Health with Good Food in Missouri

Too many Missourians struggle with chronic health conditions and some are looking more closely at their diets to control or even prevent them…

According to the American Heart Association, people feel more confident performing Hands-Only CPR and are more likely to remember the correct rate when trained to the beat of a familiar song. (9dreamstudio/Adobe Stock)

Beyoncé's 'Crazy in Love' Not Just Catchy – It's a Life Saver

With popular artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift touring Missouri this summer, the American Heart Association is reminding people some of …

Kansas City Part of National Tour for Electric Vehicles, New EPA Rules

Cleaner cars and lower emissions across Missouri and the nation are the goals of an event being led by environmental groups. They are calling …

According to Salary.com, Missouri child care workers typically earn between $32,581 and $41,250 annually. (lordn/Adobe Stock)

MO Child Care Experts Elaborate on Issues in 2023 Kids Count Report

The resounding theme of the 2023 Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book is child care shortages and unaffordability. In Missouri, the …

The U.S. Postal Service workforce is made up of 635,000 men and women. (Adobe Stock)

USPS Employees Highlighted on National Postal Worker Day

Saturday is National Postal Workers Day, and new initiatives at the U.S. Postal Service over the last few years have brought changes to the job…

Black Americans are 1.5 times more likely than white Americans to have asthma, and three times more likely to die from asthma. Lack of access to health care is considered a contributing factor. (Photo credit: WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Kansas City Group Tackling Health Care Inequity, Racism in Region

The existence of health care inequities in the United States based on race or ethnicity has been widely covered, especially since the COVID pandemic…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 49% of adults living with a disability experience depression, compared with 15% of the public. (Adobe Stock)

Self-Advocacy Helps MO Residents with Disabilities Live Fuller Lives

Almost one in three in Missouri lives with a disability, which can sometimes make navigating the world a challenge. People First of Missouri has …

American Heart Association Warns of Health Risks From Extreme Heat

With summer heat already here, the American Heart Association wants people to remember that extreme temperatures can put extra stress on the heart …

Staffing shortages at the Department of Social Services have led to parents seeking child care assistance being placed on hold for as long as two or three hours. (Adobe Stock)

Praise for MO Early Childhood Funding; Concerns About Sustainability, Gaps

Missourians scored some big wins for child care and pre-K programs in the 2023 legislative session, although some said it is just a start. Brian …

Adult ticks are the easiest to identify, but nymphal and larval ticks are small and may be hard to identify. (Adobe Stock)

Tick-Borne Illnesses Highlighted During Lyme Prevention Month

As Lyme disease Awareness Month draws to a close, levels of some tick-borne illnesses in Missouri are on the rise. While Lyme infections in Missouri …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls well-child visits

Contentious 2023 MO Legislative Session Saw Wins for Struggling Families

Although Missouri's 2023 legislative session was contentious and resulted in a historically low number of bills being passed, advocates for children …

The CDC reports along with lack of sleep, shift work, untreated sleep disorders and alcohol can contribute to drowsy driving. In a survey by the agency, 1 in 25 drivers over the age of 18 reported having fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days. <br />(Photo: Maksym/AdobeStock)

Many Missourians' Sleep Deficits Expose Them to Health Risks, Accidents

Feeling tired may be a chronic condition for many people in this country, with the number feeling this way varying from state to state. In a 2020 …

Report data shows the number of Black students enrolled in America's community colleges in 2020 was the same as in 2000. (Marharyta Hanhalo/Adobe Stock)

Report: 600,000 Fewer Black Students Enrolled in US Colleges vs 20 Years Ago

A recent report looking at Black enrollment in the nation's colleges shows a stark downturn in recent years. The Lumina Foundation's Level Up report …

More than a fifth of the Americans live in so called

Student Reporters Get On-the-Job Training at Statehouse

Student reporters are stepping up to fill gaps in news coverage as the number of full-time statehouse reporters continues to decline. State …

By federal law, all states provide Medicaid coverage for pregnancy-related services to pregnant women with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level and cover them up to 60 days postpartum, according to KFF. Missouri lawmakers are considering expanding these services to cover a year. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Push for More Postpartum Healthcare Funding

Healthcare advocates in Missouri are urging support for a measure that would expand health care services for new mothers on Medicaid. Senate Bill 45…

The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates 5 million to 14 million people will lose Medicaid coverage as the public health emergency ends and states and resume the annual renewal process. (suthisak/Adobe Stock)

MO Medicaid Renewals Underway; Recipients Urged to Update Information

Missouri's Department of Social Services anticipates as many as 200,000 Missourians will lose their Medicaid benefits over the course of the next year…

The 2020 study by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence concluded that Stand Your Ground laws exacerbate both systemic racism and gender bias, and

Legal Expert On Castle Doctrine, 'Stand Your Ground' Laws

Missouri's Stand Your Ground law has been cited a number of times since the recent shooting of a Missouri teen by a homeowner whose house he went to b…

In a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 34% of Black adults reported having had a family member killed by a gun, compared with 17% of white adults. (Adobe Stock)

MO Nonprofit Seeks More 'Nuanced' Coverage of Firearm Injuries, Deaths

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Missouri ranks fourth nationwide in firearm deaths. The nonprofit …

Rockhurst University's renovated Sedgwick Hall, which opened in 1914, originally housed the college, a high school, and the residence for the Jesuit university's Society of Jesus. (Rodnae Productions/Pexel.com)

Sustainable Renovation of Century-Old Building at Rockhurst U.

By Brian Roewe for Earthbeat.Broadcast version by Deborah Van Fleet for Missouri News Service for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service…

Fortune magazine reported in January 2022 child care expenses had risen an average of 41% from the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and some families spend 20% of their income on child care. (Ljiljana/Adobe Stock)

MO Legislation Would Help Families Afford Child Care

Like others across the country, many Missouri families struggle with the cost of child care, and state lawmakers are proposing some relief. Rep…

According to the Center for American Progress, nearly nine in 10 employers, four in five landlords, and three in five colleges use background checks to screen for applicants' criminal records. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

MO 'Clean Slate' Bill Would Make 'Expungement' Automatic

A large percentage of Missourians who could to have their criminal records "expunged" have not done so, despite the effects expungement -- referred …

Kiplinger rates Missouri, and nine other U.S. states, as

MO Lawmaker Proposes Raising "Circuit Breaker" Tax Credits

Every Missourian knows property values and property taxes have risen dramatically in the past 15 years, as well as the cost of rent. State lawmakers …

Research suggests without community health centers, 15 million additional patients would be at risk of not having access to primary care. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Nearly 2 Million in MO are Medically Disenfranchised

A new report looking at access to primary-care doctors found nearly 2 million Missourians are medically disenfranchised. The report from the …

Black farmers ran 14% of all U.S. farms in 1920 and 1.6% in 2017. The Inflation Reduction Act includes more than $2 billion for farmers and ranchers who can show they have been discriminated against in USDA lending programs. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Conservation Funding for Smaller Farms Needed in Farm Bill

The U.S. Department of Agriculture touts its conservation programs for farmers, but a new study from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy …

Contaminants often have no odor or color, which means periodic testing is needed to ensure water quality. (Brian Jackson/Adobe Stock)<br />

Well Testing Encouraged During Groundwater Awareness Week

While most people do not often stop to consider what goes on underground, this is Groundwater Awareness Week, and officials are encouraging …

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022, 30% of workers with a disability were employed part-time, compared with 16% of non-disabled workers. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation Would Help Working Missourians with Disabilities

For Missourians with a disability, earning too much money, or having a spouse earn too much, can mean losing important Medicaid health coverage…

EPA Proposal to Lower Acceptable Soot Levels Seen as Benefit to Missourians

Particulate matter in the air, commonly called "soot," exacerbates and can even cause heart and lung conditions, with asthma sufferers being …

Small and medium-sized farms have gone from producing nearly half of U.S. agricultural products in the 1990s to less than a quarter today. (Aaron/Adobe Stock)

2,000+ Urge Biden to Enforce Exec-Order Antitrust Pledge

A petition signed by more than 2,000 farmers, ranchers and consumers urging enforcement of antitrust laws has been sent to the White House by the …

The Disability Inclusive Climate Action Research Program at McGill University and the International Disability Alliance report

March Trainings to Help People with Disabilities in Emergencies

The first of four training sessions is coming up March 6-7 in Springfield on preparedness to help individuals with disabilities survive a disaster…

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