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State says bogus letter spreading online claims Missouri students must repeat grade

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The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) says a fake letter is circulating on Facebook. The letter claims the state agency will not allow K-12 students to move on to the next grade level for the 2020-21 school year, since the coronavirus closed schools and cancelled statewide tests. The bogus letter, dated April Fool’s Day, illegally uses the Department’s logo, alleges case law and is signed by “Candice B. Furreal”.

Courtesy of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Facebook page

DESE Spokesperson Mallory McGowin says some people thought the prank was true.

“We at the Department feel like we have tried to make clear from the start that we do not want our students across the state to be negatively impacted any more than they already are because of COVID-19,” says McGowin. “We’re obviously are disappointed that someone has chosen to use their free time in this way to create the document, to use our logo illegally and ultimately and most importantly make light of what we consider a really serious situation and that is our students’ education. We feel like it’s pretty insensitive, given the current situation our students and families and educators are already facing so much anxiety and uncertainty right now.”

McGowin says Missouri is not alone.

“We’ve seen this taking place in Michigan, in California and Utah,” she says.

She says the origin of the post is not being retraced at this time.

“So many agencies right now are dealing with so many more important things,” McGowin says. “We really don’t want to give these folks more credit than they’re due or more time and energy than they’re due.”

McGowin urges educators, families and students to check the department’s website for the latest accurate information.

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Group of Missouri nurses busting out their dance moves sparks viral video

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A video of a group of Missouri nurses getting their groove on has gone viral on social media. Kala Baker and her dancing nurse friends at Mercy Hospital in southwest Missouri’s Springfield are boosting morale by showing off their great dance moves. The video on social media platform TikTok caught the attention of Good Morning America.

Group of Missouri nurses busting out their dance moves sparks viral video

“Obviously it’s just been a little bit stressful around here,” Baker tells Good Morning America. “I saw a video and I thought ‘We could do that.’ And so it was a good way to just step away from our work for a second and bring some joy to the people around us and just to my co-workers.”

The video has had more than three million hits.

“Honestly, we are just still so shocked. We are honored that people even want to watch us dance because we are not dancers,” Baker chuckles.

Baker says they are happy to be serving.

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At least 19 people dead in Missouri from coronavirus

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At least 19 people have died from the coronavirus in Missouri. Southwest Missouri’s Greene County currently has the most – six casualties. Today, southern Missouri’s Pulaski County also announced a death there linked to the respiratory disease.

At least 19 people dead in Missouri from coronavirus

“It is with great sadness that we announce that our community had its first death due to COVID-19 last evening,” Melissa Martinez with the Pulaski County Health Department tells Missourinet affiliate KBNN in Lebanon.
No other information is available about the patient.

That death is not listed within today’s information from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. It could pop up tomorrow.

Nearly 1,600 people have tested positive for COVID-19. About 800 of the cases originate in St. Louis City and St. Louis County.

More than 17,400 people have been tested in Missouri among both public and private labs.

View the state information by clicking here.

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Parson puts the brakes on $180 million in state budget spending

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Gov. Mike Parson says the coronavirus has already been hard felt in the state’s economy – more people are staying home, business operations have been limited, many people have lost their jobs and state revenue is down. During today’s press briefing, he says he is freezing $180 million in spending during the current state budget year to handle money problems created by COVID-19. Parson says the cuts will affect the Missouri Departments of Higher Education and Workforce Development, Office of Administration, Transportation, Economic Development and Natural Resources. More than $81 million will affect higher education.

Gov. Mike Parson (Photo courtesy of Governor’s Flickr page)

“Of the $180 million being restricted, I want to assure you these restrictions are absolutely necessary and they include funding for several departments, many of which are priorities of my own administration,” says Parson. “While we still do not know the true impact of COVID-19 on the economy, we do know that we do have to act now. Between now and June 31, we’re estimating an over $500 million shortfall.”

Parson says additional budget restrictions could be ahead, depending on how big of a financial blow the coronavirus has on the state’s cashflow. The state is required by Constitution to pass a balanced budget.

“COVID-19 has had serious impacts on our anticipated economic growth,” says Parson. “Now, we are expecting significant revenue declines – some of which may be larger than those experienced during the Great Recession.”

But he says he’s hopeful that $315 million in federal money could help to offset some of the money problems.

The governor touted his $100 million emergency fund created for the current budget year, but he did not say whether he’s dipping into that account to offset some of the expenses that come with COVID-19.

State Budget Director Dan Haug (Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Flickr page)

State Budget Director Dan Haug says he expects the state’s piggy bank to deal with the respiratory disease’s fallout for a while.

“I do think that this is going to effect our state budget, not only here in FY 2020 which ends June 30, but I think it will affect our budget all of fiscal year 2021, which goes through next June 30, 2021. So we think this will be an issue we’ll be dealing with in the budget at least through FY 2021, maybe even a little bit longer than that,” says Haug.

The governor also says the judicial branch and the Secretary of State’s office have worked to find savings in their own budgets. Beth Riggert with the Missouri Supreme Court says the judiciary was asked to forego about $3.47 million from fourth-quarter general revenue transfers into two funds: $2,995,616 from the treatment courts coordinating fund and $474,559 from the judicial education training fund. The commissions that oversee each of those funds – the Treatment Courts Coordinating Commission and the Coordinating Commission for Judicial Department Education – agreed.

Missouri Secretary of State spokesperson Maura Browning says the office has found $1.35 million in withholds, including $1 million in election costs excess after finetuning anticipated reimbursements to local election authorities for the presidential primary. Another $100,000 in operating expenses and $250,000 in advertising of Missouri’s voter ID were also restricted.

To view the full list of withholds, click here.

(VIDEO) Summary of today’s press briefing about coronavirus in Missouri

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Gov. Mike Parson announced today that more than 1,300 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and fourteen people have died. Some 15,600 people have been tested for the respiratory disease.

Gov. Mike Parson (Photos courtesy of Parson’s Flickr page)

Parson opened up the briefing by mentioning that state and federal officials are looking at several potential temporary hospital sites around the state to care for coronavirus patients if needed. Parson says they have three main questions in mind.

“Including located in areas with the possibility of deficient bed counts, areas large enough for patient population and areas where utilities are available to start immediate construction if necessary,” says Parson.

Potential sites include the Kemper Arena and Independence Event Center in Kansas City, Hearnes Center in Columbia, the Edward Jones Dome and America’s Center in St. Louis, the Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Hammons Student Center and JQH Arena in Springfield and Missouri Southern State University’s Leggett and Platt Athletic Center in Joplin.

Missouri’s website to file unemployment claims apparently crashed after too many people were trying to submit claims. Parson says the problem has been fixed but the office continues to be flooded with calls and claims.

“There’s just thousands upon thousands of people trying to reach that office every day,” says Parson. “And we’re doing everything we can to process those claims and we’ll continue to do that. We’ve got people working around the clock over there and again, these are just things that’s never happened before and we’ve just got to work through them.”

For the week ending March 21, more than 42,000 unemployment claims were filed, up from nearly 4,000 filed the previous week.

State Auditor Nicole Galloway is calling on the governor to issue a statewide stay-at-home order to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. Galloway, a Democrat running for governor, says public health experts, organizations representing healthcare workers, business and faith leaders, local governments and others have urged Parson to issue the order. Parson responded to Galloway’s call.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Carol Comer

“I would say the state auditor needs to worry about being the state auditor right now,” says Parson. “All of us elected officials right now need to have one thing in mind – it’s what do we do to help with the COVID-19 situation. This is not the time to play politics out of this issue and try to figure out who gets one up. There will be plenty of time for that down the road. Plenty of time, but today is not the time.”

To address overcrowding and social distancing problems over the weekend, state Department of Natural Resources Director Carol Comer says Missouri is temporarily closing four state parks and partially closing another one.

The state parks closing are Castlewood, Elephant Rocks, Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site and Park, and Weston Bend. St. Joe State Park will close the off-road vehicle riding area. The changes take effect at 5 p.m. on Thursday and are scheduled to continue until April 30.

Missouri Department of Corrections Director Anne Precythe

At the time of the press conference, Missouri Department of Corrections Director Anne Precythe says there are no positive cases within the prison system. She says a prisoner who previously tested positive for COVID-19 has since tested negative twice. He remains in the hospital for other health problems.

Two staff who do not work in a prison have tested positive. Eighteen inmates have been tested. Thirteen have tested negative. Four are pending and the other one is the case that is now negative.

The toilet paper craze has led the TP factory within the former Crossroads Correctional Center in northwest Missouri’s Cameron to boost its hours of operation. Precythe says the factory has ramped up production by 20%.

“Increasing hours of run time by adding an additional shift, has allowed us to manufacture approximately 3,500 cases of tissue each week,” says Precythe.

Each case contains 96 rolls of tissue. Government agencies and nonprofits can buy the TP through Missouri Vocational Enterprises.

The Jefferson City Correctional Center in mid Missouri is making 4,000 protective gowns.

“The Veterans Commission reached out to us with the need for protective gowns,” says Precythe. “Our clothing plant in Jefferson City created a prototype, which has been approved.”

Missouri’s seven veterans homes are in Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mexico, Mount Vernon, St. James, St. Louis and Warrensburg.

Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten

Keeping social distance during severe weather could be complicated. The tornado shelter director in southern Missouri’s Houston, Glenn McKinney, reached out to Missourinet this week, to say he hadn’t received any direction from the state about how to strike that balance. At today’s press briefing, state Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten says the number one priority is to take shelter.

“I know it has to be on the minds of many Missourians as we face severe weather forecasts and certainly watch what has happened in our neighboring states,” says Karsten. “In the situation of tornado safe rooms, we would ask that you also have a plan in which you consider the social distancing – the no more than 10 people and six feet apart. We understand that that may be difficult in certain situations.”

Missourians can take shelter and also protect themselves from coronavirus germs by covering their face, eyes and body.

Watch today’s press briefing below.

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Overcrowding problems force Missouri to temporarily close some state parks

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To address overcrowding problems over the weekend, Missouri is temporarily closing four state parks and partially closing another one. A press release says the state parks closing are Castlewood, Elephant Rocks, Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site and Park, and Weston Bend. St. Joe State Park will close the off-road vehicle riding area.

A scenic overlook at Ha Ha Tonka State Park near Camdenton, MO at the Lake of the Ozarks.

The changes take effect at 5 p.m. on Thursday and will continue until April 30.

During a Capitol press conference Monday, Gov. Mike Parson said he was disappointed some state park visitors over the weekend were not following social distancing rules of remaining six feet apart and limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Carol Comer says gates to individual parking lots may close at all state parks when the lot reaches capacity.

“We’re continuing to evaluate the situation and make adjustments to operations as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves,” says Carol Comer, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “As conditions and recommendations change, we will make additional closures as needed.”

If you want to head outside, park officials say you can still enjoy the many open spaces in your local community while limiting travel.

“We understand the importance of physical activity and getting outside during this unprecedented time,” says Mike Sutherland, director of DNR’s Division of State Parks. “However, we have to make changes to operations at some facilities, due to overcrowding, to ensure public safety.”

Park visitors are encouraged to check mostateparks.com for advisory updates and the latest actions before heading out to a state park.

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(VIDEO) Key takeaways from today’s press briefing about COVID-19 in Missouri

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The latest state data released today shows at least 1031 people have tested positive in Missouri for the coronavirus – up from 903 positive cases confirmed yesterday. Thirteen coronavirus related deaths have been reported. Western Missouri’s Lafayette County recorded its first death tied to the respiratory disease.

About 15,645 patients have been tested by a public or private lab.

Gov. Mike Parson (Photo courtesy of Governor’s Flickr page)

During a Capitol press briefing today, Gov. Mike Parson says some estimates show Missouri could peak mid-April in its case count of people testing positive for COVID-19.

“I think we’re still 60, 90 days away of getting through this virus and that’s kind of a best case scenario,” says Parson. “But I do look somewhere between the middle of April. I think we’re going to be able to get some new information, new statistics, I hope so to be able to do that and hope we start turning the corner. But the reality of it is, I think we’ve got to all realize that this is going to be a long-term and I don’t want to give false hope to anybody.”

Many Missourians cooped up in their homes got out to a state park over the weekend to get some fresh air and enjoy the weather. But word has gotten out that some were not keeping their social distance. Parson says he is considering whether to close state parks.

“A little disappointing of what happened over the weekend at some of the state parks. We’re trying to leave facilities like that open for the general public, but unfortunately people didn’t abide by the rules. We’re talking about the social distancing,” says Parson. “So, we’re going to make that decision. We’re in discussions about that right now, whether we close those parks down or not.”

The rules the governor is referring to include remaining six feet apart and limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people. Parson says he plans to expand his social distancing order.

“You know I think it’s just a matter of where we move that timeframe to,” says Parson. “Again, you know I’m thinking we’re at least 30-60 days away from any kind of lifting any orders, but we’re evaluating that daily.”

His current order expires April 6.

Jennifer Tidball, acting director of the Missouri Department of Social Services (Photo courtesy of Governor’s Flickr page)

Several announcements were made during today’s press briefing. Many of them were reminders for those who watch the daily briefings but perhaps new to those not following the state’s coronavirus response as closely. Two new announcements deal with daycare providers and doctors.

The state is making a temporary payment to Missouri’s roughly 2,400 childcare centers receiving subsidies. Jennifer Tidball, acting director of the Missouri Department of Social Services, says the decision is in response to many providers being closed during the coronavirus outbreak.

“We will be making a temporary payment through our Department of Social Services childcare subsidy payments to ensure that providers receive no less amount for March services or services through the emergency timeframe than what they received as an average payment for December, January and February,” she says at today’s press briefing.

Tidball wants providers to pass on some of the funding to their workers to help maintain their employment when the businesses reopen.

Department of Commerce and Insurance Director Chlora Lindley-Myers (Photo courtesy of Governor’s Flickr page)

Meanwhile, Missouri is letting doctors and surgeons licensed in other states care for patients here in person or through telehealth options during the pandemic. Department of Commerce and Insurance Director Chlora Lindley-Myers says the decision applies to those who have not had their active licenses disciplined.

“By having this access granted to additional providers, we increase our ability to meet the needs of Missouri patients who are being tested and treated for COVID-19,” she says.

Missouri RNs and LPN’s are already allowed to practice in person or through telehealth in their home state and 32 other states.

Effective immediately, Parson has also temporarily waived the regulation requiring that a collaborating physician and an advanced practice registered nurse be within 75 miles of each other.

You can watch the entire briefing is below.

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Parson says fallout of coronavirus means tough Missouri budget cuts ahead

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Many Missouri businesses temporarily closing to limit the spread of the coronavirus has left thousands of workers without jobs. Last week, more than 42,000 Missourians filed unemployment claims – up from nearly 4,000 filed the previous week. During an interview with Gov. Mike Parson, he says he does not expect the impacts of the coronavirus to create a normal recession.

Gov. Mike Parson

“We think the second quarter is going to be definitely pretty tough to say the least,” Parson tells Missourinet. “I do think there’s a possibility in that third or fourth quarter, depending on how long the virus with us and how much of an impact it does have, that hopefully we can climb out of that. I think once we clear the virus – once we kind of get through that – hopefully the economy is going to be able to come right back and pick right back up. And I believe it will. But we’re just going to have to understand this is going to have a huge impact on the state budget and state income. We’re going to have to make some cuts, we’re going to have to do some things across the state that is going to be pretty tough.”

Last week, the governor said his proposed state budget for the fiscal year beginning in July would have to dramatically change. What changes are ahead is unknown at this time. The Missouri House and Senate are both on hiatus until further notice.

St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard expects the nation’s unemployment rate to climb to 30%. Bullard tells CNBC the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package the president signed into law Friday is about the right amount to deal with the impact of temporarily shutting down many businesses.

The plan includes:

*$150 billion in protective equipment to healthcare workers

* Americans who make $75,000 or less a year get a check for $1,200 – $2,400 for married couples – plus $500 per kid

*An expansion of unemployment insurance

* Delays in student loan payments

*Relief for people with federally backed mortgages

*Low-interest loans for small businesses

* Hundreds of millions in food assistance

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At least 838 people test positive for COVID-19 in Missouri – 168 case jump from Friday

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On March 7, the state announced its first case of the coronavirus. Today, the latest data verified by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services show at least 838 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Missouri. The figure represents an additional 168 positive cases since the state released its Friday case count of 670.

Keep in mind that some counties are listing higher figures than what is reflected in the state’s overall count. The state verifies the county information before it is posted here.

At least 10 people have died in Missouri from the respiratory disease. On Friday, a woman in her 90s at an assisted living center in southwest Missouri’s Springfield died from the virus. She is the fourth coronavirus related death at that facility.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports about 10,750 patients have been tested so far by public and private labs.

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Latest COVID-19 count in Missouri: at least 10 dead, 670 people test positive

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Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams prepares to testify before a joint legislative committee in Jefferson City on March 10, 2020 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

A resident of a Springfield assisted living center in southwest Missouri is the state’s 10th coronavirus related casualty. The woman in her 90s is the fourth person to die at the facility from the respiratory virus.

Missouri has at least 670 people who have tested positive for the respiratory disease. According to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams, some 7,000 people have been tested in the state for the virus.

“As we see that positivity rate increasing nationally, we’re also seeing that we’ve been quoting 6% to 8%. It’s looking more like 10% now,” says Williams during a Capitol press conference Friday. “Half of the cases in Missouri have been in two areas – St. Louis City and St. Louis County. So we think that following the trend that you’re seeing nationally, you’re seeing more cases in urban areas. Unlike in northern Italy, where it started out in rural areas and went to cities, what you’re seeing around the United States is more urban clusters.”

St Louis County has at least 247 cases and St. Louis City has 72.

State data shows the age range with the most positive cases is 50-54 years old. They have 77 cases. The next age group is 20-24 year olds with 70 cases.

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