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Washington University and St. Louis University have roles in COVID-19 vaccine trials

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Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Saint Louis University Center for Vaccine Development will be a part of the national effort to find a COVID-19 vaccine.

The two private schools are part of the COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN), a newly organized network formed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to develop and test COVID-19 vaccines and  treatments.

According to Washington University, researchers at both universities will try to enroll about 3,000 participants in several different vaccine trials and “it will be critically important to enroll participants who are likely to be exposed to COVID-19 or those at risk for severe disease from COVID-19, including participants over age 65.”

According to a press release, both schools are well-positioned to conduct this research:

The Saint Louis University Center for Vaccine Development is home to one of 10 Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units in the United States. As such, SLU conducts phases 1 through 4 vaccine and treatment trials, including clinical studies with industry partners.

Washington University School of Medicine has more than 30 years’ experience leading clinical trials evaluating new treatments and vaccines for infectious diseases through its Infectious Disease Clinical Research Unit and the AIDS Clinical Trials Group. The latter has been instrumental in conducting trials to control the HIV pandemic, leading to safe and effective medications that treat and prevent HIV infection and AIDS.

For more information about vaccine trials at Washington University School of Medicine, email [email protected]; call 314-454-0058 or visit the Division of Infectious Diseases clinical trials site.

For more information about vaccine trials at Saint Louis University’s Center for Vaccine Development, vaccine.slu.edu; call 314-977-6333 or 1-866-410-6333; or email [email protected].

Purkey’s last words mean little to victim’s parents (from Network Indiana)

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(TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Chris Davis, WIBC) Wesley Purkey’s final words didn’t mean much to the parents of Jennifer Long, whom he raped and murdered in 1998, before dismembering her body with a chainsaw, burning her remains and throwing them in a sewage pond. Purkey was executed at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Thursday morning.

“I deeply regret the pain and suffering I caused to Jennifer’s family,” Purkey said, when given a chance to say final words. “I am deeply sorry. I deeply regret the pain I caused to my daughter, who I love so very much. This sanitized murder really does not serve no purpose whatsoever.”

“It didn’t mean much,” said Olivia Long, who traveled from Missouri to be at the execution. “He’s not very genuine. He’s a very manipulative individual. And, there was obviously nothing wrong with him mentally because he remembered Jennifer’s name to apologize to us.”

Purkey’s lawyers had argued against his execution, saying Alzheimer’s prevented him from understanding why he had been put to death.

Both parents said the process from his trial to his death, took too long.

READ REST OF STORY from Network Indiana

 

Group wants feds to consider innovative anti-flooding projects, including in Missouri

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A report from a special commission recommends Missouri work with neighboring states and the Army Corps of Engineers to change how flood recovery and prevention are approached. The commission also wants the federal government to be more receptive to innovative ideas.

2019 flooding in Craig (Photo courtesy of Brent Martin of KFEQ in St. Joseph)

Gov. Mike Parson created the Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group in an effort to break the cycle of Missouri River flooding which caused widespread, catastrophic damage in 1993, 2011, and 2019. The group also reviewed problem areas along the Mississippi River.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director Dru Buntin says current practice forces farmers and others to work toward restoring levees as quickly as possible.

“For crop insurance reasons, for just basic protection reasons, and so there’s a finite window of opportunity to be able to go in and look at doing something different,” Buntin tells Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph.

He says Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa want that changed. They want something different. He says Missouri is working with its neighbors and the Corps of Engineers to take a longer look at the problem areas along the Missouri River which repeatedly flood and recommend changes which could prevent or lessen future flooding.

A proposed Missouri River levee project in extreme northwest Missouri could become a prototype to prevent the recurring flooding along the river – if it can clear federal regulatory hurdles. Atchison County Levee District #1 proposes a setback levee which would add as much as 200 acres of wetlands and, county officials hope, prevent the repeated flooding in that area. Buntin says federal officials have raised concerns, because the approach is so different.

“Trying to wade through many of the funding sources that would help the levee district, help Atchison County accomplish that project don’t envision this type of project,” according to Buntin.

Buntin says that’s the problem. Federal regulations often lock landowners in to repairing the same system which continues to fail during flood years. Buntin says federal requirements which must be met for wetlands easements actually stand in the way of the Atchison County project, even though the project would greatly increase wetlands in the area. Buntin remains optimistic the project will be approved, eventually.

Buntin says the commission is determined that its report does not simply sit on a shelf. He says Missouri already is working with officials in Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. He says they want to speak with one voice when expressing concerns to the Army Corps of Engineers and when pushing for change.

“And I’m always reluctant to say we’re going to study this, because that’s really not what the intent of this whole arrangement is. It’s to look at where the most problematic areas (are) and what are some changes that we could make that would reduce damages in the future,” Buntin says.

The report also recommends the federal government pay the entire cost of levee restoration, whether the levees are federal or non-federal levees. It proposes Atchison County be moved out of the Omaha district of the Army Corps of Engineers and into the Kansas City district, with the rest of the northwest Missouri counties bordering the Missouri River.

By Brent Martin of Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph

Blunt statement on protests: We must confront the fact that millions of Americans don’t feel safe because of the color of their skin.

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Missouri’s senior U.S. Senator Roy Blunt issued a statement today on protests and “indiscriminate violence” after three more black Americans were recently killed, two by police

“Our nation has once again been brought to a moment of reckoning. The recent tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have shocked and outraged Americans. My thoughts are with the families and loved ones who are mourning their loss.

“Americans have every right to demand justice. They have every right to protest and be heard. But we cannot allow their message to be drowned out by those who are exploiting this moment to destroy communities and put more innocent lives at risk. Indiscriminate violence will not bring about change, it will bring more suffering at a time when so many families and small businesses are already hurting. I appreciate all of our law enforcement officers and National Guardsmen and women who have put their safety on the line to respond to this crisis.

“Just as we did in the days following the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, we must confront the fact that millions of Americans don’t feel safe because of the color of their skin. We must acknowledge the very deep pain, and the very deep fear, that communities of color are feeling. I hope we are able to emerge from these recent events with a renewed commitment to continuing the work that needs to be done. There are significant challenges we have to address for everyone to trust that they will be treated equally under the law. I said after the Ferguson protests that tragedy is a tough teacher, but that makes it ever more important to learn from tragedy. Let’s learn from this. Let’s listen to one another and work together to become the nation we ought to be.”

Missouri congressman: Some flood victims in danger of being victimized twice

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Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says some flood victims from last year could be victimized twice if Congress doesn’t act. Graves says the Federal Emergency Management Agency is attempting to reclaim some federal disaster assistance it allocated last year.

Flooding in Crag, MO (Photo courtesy of Brent Martin)

“This may not be a whole lot of money to FEMA, but in one case I know for instance it was $12,000 for an individual to be able to fix their home, to be able to repair their home, and then what happens is FEMA comes back and says we gave that to you mistakenly; we want it back,” Graves tells Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph.

Graves says the problem seems to be most pronounced in Holt County, especially in the city of Craig. He says the problem arose when the state of Missouri made two separate flood disaster assistance requests to the president that created a 15-day gap in which victims weren’t technically eligible for federal aid.

The bill Graves is pushing would not apply to efforts by FEMA to recoup federal disaster assistance obtained through fraud.

“These are not fraud situations. These are individuals, through no fault of their own, they applied, they were told that they should apply, and FEMA granted them those dollars,” according to Graves. “And, then, to come back and say that well, now you have to pay it back is just flat out wrong. And so, what we have said is if this is not the fault of the individual, if this is FEMA’s fault, then FEMA’s going to have to bear it.”

Concerns about the coronavirus have dominated Washington, D.C. and delayed work on other issues. Graves’ legislation made it out of the Transportation Committee in February, then got pushed aside as Congress worked to address the pandemic.

A spokesman for the Congressman says Graves hopes to revive the measure whenever Congress returns to regular order and will push for flood action in the United States House.

By Brent Martin of Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Ashcroft on expanded mail-in voting: “It’s just not the most secure way to hold an election”

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The Missouri Legislature has adopted a bill that would allow more mail-in voting during this year’s August and November elections. Voters could cast an absentee ballot by saying they are ill if they are 65 or older, live in a nursing home or have certain health problems. All other voters could mail in their ballot without an excuse, but they must first get it notarized.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (file photo courtesy of the Secretary of State’s office)

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says it’s appropriate during a state of emergency to make sure every voter can be safe, but expanded mail-in voting is not what he prefers.

“It’s just not the most secure way to hold an election,” he tells Missourinet affiliate KSSZ in Columbia. “The gold standard for elections is to have people in person go to their assigned polling place on Election Day.”

Ashcroft, a Republican, says he has security concerns with expanded mail-in voting, but he gets it during a state of emergency.

“I think it’s appropriate that we make sure that every voter in Missouri can vote safely,” he says.

Ashcroft says the likely spike in mail-in ballots for this year’s elections will make it tougher on local election officials. A two-person team, a Republican and a Democrat, checks to make sure each of those ballots is legit.

The bill is awaiting the governor’s consideration.

Brad Tregnago of KSSZ in Columbia contributed to this story

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Missouri meatpacking plant worker dies of COVID-19

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St. Joseph city officials in northwest Missouri have confirmed the second COVID-19 death recorded in Buchanan County is that of a Triumph Foods worker.

Photo courtesy of KFEQ in St. Joseph

Earlier, the City of St. Joseph issued a news release that a man in his 40s who had tested positive for the coronavirus on April 22nd had died. City officials say the man died at his home. He had underlying medical conditions.

This is the second death recorded by St. Joseph and Buchanan County health officials. The first death was that of an inmate at the St. Joseph prison who had been transferred from the Cameron prison and later died at a Kansas City area hospital.

By Brent Martin of Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph

Federal, state officials investigate ‘suspicious’ fire at Missouri Islamic Center

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Fire crews were called out at 5 a.m. today to a fire at the Islamic Center in southeast Missouri’s Cape Girardeau. Cape Girardeau Fire Chief Travis Hollis says what started the fire is not clear, but he believes it to be suspicious.

Photo courtesy of KFVS in Cape Girardeau

Cape Girardeau police responded to the scene. The State Fire Marshal, the ATF and the FBI are also investigating. According to Sgt. Joey Hann with the Cape Girardeau Police Department, they are investigating it as a potential arson.

Witnesses told officials they did see people in the area. Police are asking for anyone who drove by the area shortly before 5 a.m. to contact the Cape Girardeau Police Department at 573-335-6621 and speak with detectives.

Thursday night was the start of Ramadan, which is part of the five pillars of Islam. For 30 days followers fast and do not eat or drink from sunup to sundown. The Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations called on law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for the fire.

“Because the fire was deemed ‘suspicious,’ and because it occurred at a house of worship on a significant religious date, we urge law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for the blaze,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

Chief Hollis said the building has significant damage to the front entrance and on the second floor. The second floor has heavy damage. The entrance and the side of the building have smoke damage.

The structure on West End Blvd. was evacuated, including tenants living in the apartments on the second floor. Everyone made it out of the building safely and all have been accounted for. None of the tenants or firefighters were injured.

Approximately four people have been displaced by the fire.

Story courtesy of KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau

Missouri meat-packing plant confirms 16 COVID-19 cases; mass testing of employees

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Triumph Foods confirms 16 employees at its pork processing plant in northwest Missouri’s St. Joseph have tested positive for COVID-19. Workers who tested positive are in self-quarantine, according to Triumph.

Photo courtesy of KFEQ in St. Joseph

The company also confirms the state of Missouri has provided 2,800 tests for employees at the St. Joseph plant to be tested for the coronavirus. Triumph says those tests will be in addition to the tests already conducted by Mosaic Life Care in conjunction with the Buchanan County and St. Joseph Health Departments.

In a news release, Triumph says the additional tests will be administered onsite by Northwest Health Services “in a coordinated, phased approach over multiple days.” Triumph says it is working with the State of Missouri to finalize both the testing plan and the timing of the tests.

The news release was the first communication with the news media since Triumph disclosed Monday that it had two workers test positive for the coronavirus.

Triumph adds it has implemented the latest measures recommended by state and federal health authorities. The company says it has enhanced cleaning and sanitizing at the plant since the coronavirus outbreak. Workers wear face covers. Plexiglass dividers have been installed to create social distancing during breaks.

Triumph employs more than 2,800 workers in St. Joseph, processing more than 1.5 billion pounds of pork annually.

By Brent Martin of Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet