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Missouri Senate postpones session; House postpones new member bus tour

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The Missouri Senate portion of a special legislative session is postponed. Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden announced this first on Monday morning via Twitter:

Rowden said the decision “was not made lightly.”

Missourinet confirmed with Senate President Pro Tem that there are members and staff with COVID-19.

Some senators were also busy over the past week with official gatherings and other rallies, including a pro-President Trump gathering inside the Capitol. 

House freshman will have to wait to take their statewide bus tour.

Missouri House Speaker Designee Rob Vescovo’s statement about this component of the new House member orientation:

“Out of an abundance of caution and in an effort to protect the health and well-being of members, staff and the general public, we have decided to postpone the two-week statewide bus tour for newly-elected House members. The tour is an incredibly important learning opportunity that gives new members first-hand experiences with many of the programs and facilities around the state that are impacted by their decisions in Jefferson City. I am committed to ensuring our new members will be able to benefit from this incredible educational experience at a future date when we can conduct the tour in a safe and responsible fashion that doesn’t risk further spread of COVID-19.”

The Missouri House will still hold its scheduled three-day orientation for new members this week in the State Capitol building, with plans to follow CDC guidelines and screenings.

 

 

 

President Choi: the mask,distancing rules are working at Mizzou; egregious violations result in expulsion

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The University of Missouri has expelled two students and suspended three for violating COVID-19 safety policies. In a press statement, the actions were described as “flagrant…willful and knowing actions that threatened the safety of the campus and the broader Columbia community” including requirements that COVID-positive individuals isolate and comply with social distancing requirements.

Choi answers questions from Sikeston Republican Holly Rehder during Tuesday’s hearing.

Mun Choi, UM System president and MU chancellor, described this and the system’s COVID-19 policies in his testimony before the Missouri House Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention.

Eleven student organizations are currently under investigation for violations of the university’s coronavirus related policies. The school reports that as of Sept. 11, approximately 470 student violation cases have been referred to the university’s Office of Student Conduct and Accountability.

Choi reported that since enacting stricter mask and social distancing rules, the Columbia campus has had a decrease in its active caseload, with a 51 percent drop from 683 cases between Sept. 5 to Sept. 14.

“We like that trend,” Choi told the panel.

This semester, he said, no Mizzou students have been hospitalized with the coronavirus. If a residence hall student contracts COVID-19, they can isolate at one of the 300 hotel rooms paid for by the university, with free meals delivered or meals reimbursed.

‘Many of our students choose to isolate on campus,” he said, “This is one of the best places for students to be because we have the necessary hospital capacity to take care of students and our community.”

Choi said that for now, the choice for in-person classes, with strict guidelines, keeps the school and staff financially safe.
He mentioned the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, which has gone to distance learning and faces $169 million in lost revenues and furloughs of 850 staffers.

“As the leader of this campus at Columbia and president of four universities, I just can’t imagine — and I find it heartbreaking to be able to say– to staff members that this is a time for layoffs and that health insurance will not be provided and to say that during a pandemic,” Choi said.

Choi told lawmakers that many students who have contracted COVID-19 have chosen to isolate in Columbia.

“But I want to make this very clear, if at any time during our 7:30 (a.m.) daily meetings with the medical experts and the public health experts we find that the pandemic is turning for the worse, or the experts tell me that it is time to pivot– we will pivot to remote learning immediately,” Choi insisted. “Our decisions are not made based on finance, but the best medical and public health input.”

 

Number of Missourians receiving food stamps up more than 100,000 in 2020

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Statistics from the state Department of Social Services (DSS) show the number of Missourians on food stamps has increased by about 120,000 since January.

There were about 658,000 Missourians receiving food stamps, at the start of the year. That number increased to about 778,000 as of July, which is the latest number available from DSS’ statistics.

Most of the increase happened after the COVID pandemic. There was an increase of about 90,000 individuals, between March and April. As Missourians lost jobs because of the pandemic, the demand for food stamps increased.

Click here to view the statistics.

Missouri lawmakers voted in April to approve a historic $6.2 billion emergency relief package to battle the pandemic.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Northern Missouri food bank leader testifies before Congress about hunger needs, during pandemic

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The chief executive officer of a northwest Missouri food bank testifies the response and recovery effort from COVID-19 will be the largest relief assistance program in American history, by far.

Second Harvest Community Food Bank serves 15 northwest Missouri counties, along with four Kansas counties (2020 photo courtesy of Second Harvest’s Facebook page)

Second Harvest Community Food Bank CEO Chad Higdon testified Tuesday before a congressional subcommittee on emergency management. The food bank is headquartered in St. Joseph.

“We have seen a tremendous increase in need as a result of COVID-19,” Higdon testifies. “This past fiscal year, Second Harvest distributed 9.9 million pounds of food, up 31 percent from our record distribution the year prior.”

Higdon says that translates to about 8.25 million meals to needy families. He also says the food bank distributed about one million pounds of food in July.

“We understand that low-income families in general are vulnerable. One vehicle emergency or unexpected home repair can set a family back financially for months, and we know that low-income seniors often must choose between needed prescriptions and a nutritious meal,” Higdon says.

Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill are praising the St. Joseph food bank for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Second Harvest serves 15 northwest Missouri counties: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway and Worth. Towns include St. Joseph, Chillicothe, Bethany and Trenton.

It also serves four Kansas counties.

Second Harvest employs a staff of 24 full-time employees, with an annual operating budget of $3.7 million. Mr. Higdon testifies that prior to the pandemic, they were serving about 45,000 individuals. He says that number is now about 64,000, about 18 percent of the population in those counties.

He testifies about 26 percent of the children in that area are food insecure.

Higdon praises the members of the congressional subcommittee for their support of food banks. He testified at the request of U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, who says Higdon’s testimony highlights how disasters impact vulnerable populations like the elderly.

Higdon testified from Congressman Graves’ St. Joseph office, because witnesses were encouraged to participate remotely due to the pandemic. He also submitted written testimony.

Second Harvest Community Food Bank’s website says its mission “is to provide nourishment and hope to the hungry in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas, while engaging and empowering the region in the fight to end hunger.”

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Missouri receives $15 million in CARES Act funding to help rebuild tourism industry

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Missouri’s governor announced $15 million in grant funding on Thursday to help rebuild Missouri’s tourism industry, which has been hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Missouri Tourism Director Stephen Foutes briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on July 16, 2020 (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says Missouri has seen 30,422 confirmed coronavirus cases, along with 1,113 deaths.

State Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon tells Capitol reporters in Jefferson City that the grant funding will help the tourism industry make attractions safer.

“So many Missouri destinations and businesses are working hard to stay open, to support the countless jobs that depend on this industry, while protecting the safety of their workers and their customers,” Dixon says.

Under the program announced Thursday by Governor Mike Parson, $15 million in CARES Act funding will be designated for destination marketing organizations, which are entities that promote Missouri as a place to visit. The money can be used for things such as payroll relief and reimbursement for safety equipment.

State Tourism Director Stephen Foutes says the funding will also provide enhanced safety efforts for events.

“Qualified DMOs can apply to have costs associated with things such as temperature screenings at events or event facilities offset through this program,” says Foutes.

Foutes says conventions are non-existent now in many Missouri communities, because of COVID. Dixon says about 58,000 Missouri food service workers lost their jobs between March and June, because of the pandemic.

Missouri’s tourism industry generated about $14 billion in 2019.

During the media briefing, Missourinet asked Director Dixon about the pandemic’s impact on the vacation town of Branson, which is in southwest Missouri. Dixon says tourism in the Branson area has dropped significantly from COVID-19, in both Stone and Taney counties.

“We’ve seen early on that in particular higher unemployment rates and things like that than the rest of the state, and that kind of follows trends around the world, around the country in particular, of where those effects are seen,” Dixon says.

Before COVID, millions of people visited Branson annually. The town has about 57,000 theater seats, and anglers from across the Midwest fish for bass and crappie on Table Rock Lake.

As for Governor Parson, he praises the grant funding and says this is a great time to support local communities through tourism. DHSS Director Dr. Randall Williams agrees and emphasizes the importance of social distancing, wearing a mask and washing your hands.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Missouri health department offers new guidance for nursing home visits

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UPDATED WITH NEW INFORMATION FROM DHSS

As part of the state’s reopening plan, Missouri will be giving long term care facilities much more flexibility to allow outdoor visits and visits through an open window or communal dining and group activities for residents who cannot leave their rooms.

According to DHSS, the long-term care facility guidance will be a “phased-in approach that will take into consideration many factors including the current status of COVID-19 in the community and current status of COVID-19 in the facility. In addition, other facility-specific guidance will likely be included in the reopening plan in line with guidance released from CMS.”   

“Since the underlying health conditions of residents in these facilities make them more vulnerable to COVID-19, the full reopening of all facilities will occur gradually and in phases. However, in order to allow facility residents a form of in-person visitation with family members and loved ones until a facility can fully reopen, the State will ease restrictions to allow for outside and window visitation at long-term care facilities assuming proper social distancing protocols and other criteria are being met.”

For instance, DHSS suggests a facility can consider visits if it has not had any COVID-19 staff or resident cases, or it has been two incubation periods (28 days total) since the last positive COVID-19 case acquired at the facility.

Outdoor visits are suggested for residents who do not have the virus or not suspected to have it or are recovered.

Social distancing and CDC-approved hygiene practices are still suggested.

Residents and patients in Missouri’s long-term care and skilled facilities have been some of the most vulnerable to COVID-19 and its spread. According to state health officials, 222 Missouri long-term care facilities have reported at least one case among staff or residents.

The state health department says Missouri ranks below national averages for cases per 1,000 residents, resident deaths and nursing staff cases per 1,000 residents. This was considered along with a 43 percent decrease in hospitalizations in Missouri since May 1 and increased testing rates.

 

Parson Thursday briefing: Missouri is fully open, State Fair will go on in some form (VIDEO)

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Missouri’s governor announced today that he thinks the state is better prepared to handle the COVID-19 virus and will be fully open for business June 16. The phase 2 step should still include social distancing and other precautions, he says, especially for people with health conditions that make them vulnerable.

That includes nursing homes, said Parson, so his office will publish a plan for long-term care facilities “in the next few days.”

In the briefing, state Economic Development Director Rob Dixon said “signs are pointing toward recovery” in the state’s business activities.

WATCH FULL PRESS CONFERENCE:

Missouri jury trials will look a little different during pandemic

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The Missouri Supreme Court is changing trial court proceedings to include safe distancing and more allowances for COVID-19 health concerns.

The order issued this week says  “The resumption of jury proceedings too early would not only risk the health of the participants, but it could also undermine public confidence in the courts and damage the integrity of trial by jury, a cornerstone of our justice system. … [E]very reasonable precaution should be taken in the context of jury proceedings.”

Recommendations for the state’s 115 trial courts include allowing jury service to be deferred for those at risk or caregivers, ensuring space and facilities for distancing, limiting numbers of people during jury selection, using more digital technology for exhibiting evidence, and suspending the use of warrants for jurors failing to appear.

The state’s court systems are resuming activities in phases and local court information is here:
https://www.courts.mo.gov/pandemic/.

Missouri governor announces $210 million in additional budget restrictions

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Citing the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of 300,000 jobs between March and April, Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) has announced an additional $210 million in budget withholds, including $131 million for the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Missouri Governor Mike Parson announces $210 million in additional budget restrictions during a Statehouse media briefing on June 1, 2020 (photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s Flickr page)

The governor made the announcement during a media briefing on Monday afternoon at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.

Governor Parson says Missouri’s unemployment rate increased from 3.9 to 9.7 percent in April. He notes that the loss of 300,000 jobs is a decrease of more than ten percent.

“It goes without saying that COVID-19 has had severe impacts on our anticipated economic growth,” Parson says. “This is truly unlike anything we have ever experienced before, and we are now expecting significant revenue declines.”

The $131 million in budget withholds for DESE include $123 million for the school foundation formula and $7 million for school transportation.

“I have always been a strong supporter of education. These were extremely difficult decisions I never thought I would have to make in just a few months,” Parson tells Capitol reporters.

The budget restrictions announced on Monday are in addition to the two rounds announced by the governor in April, of $180 million and $47 million, respectively. In addition to DESE, the restrictions will impact the Office of Administration (OA), the state Department of Corrections, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), the Department of Social Services (DSS) and other agencies.

Governor Parson was joined at the press conference by DESE Commissioner Margie Vandeven and other Cabinet members.

“It’s important to make these decisions now, so school districts can adjust before next school year. Our intent is to withhold now and avoid withholds once school begins,” says Parson.

The top Democrat in the Missouri House is blaming tax cuts approved by the GOP-controlled Legislature, for the education cuts.

“The governor’s devastating cuts to public education are as much a product of failed Republican tax policy as they are of the coronavirus pandemic,” House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, says in a written statement. “Every time Republicans chipped away at Missouri’s revenue base, Democrats warned these short-sighted decisions would pay a terrible dividend when the next economic downturn hit, and there always is a next one.”

The Missouri Legislature approved a $35.2 billion state operating budget in early May. The new fiscal year begins on July 1.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Kansas City mayor loosens business restrictions, promises enforcement of social distancing violations

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Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is relaxing COVID-19 – prompted restrictions in his city this weekend, with new rules for bars, restaurants and businesses lasting through July 5.  READ RULE FAQ

“The rule this weekend will change from your 10 percent capacity limit and threshold t a 50 percent capacity threshold. We’ll ask everyone to follow social distancing guidelines. We’ll ask everyone when they are going into a public institution, some business, the grocery store, to wear a mask,” the mayor said in a press conference Thursday.

In this rule, businesses can still refuse service to customers who won’t wear a mask.

Lucas says workers do have some legal protections in the new rules. During this new order, employees can be excused from work who have underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk of death, who are caregivers for family members with COVID-19, or who must stay home with their kids because of the closure of a childcare facility due to COVID-19.

Kansas Citians can now call 3-1-1 locally to find out where to get tested, even if they have no symptoms.

According to the mayor’s office, “the order will be primarily enforced by the Health Department, with support from other city regulatory agencies such as the Kansas City Police and Fire Departments and the City’s Regulated Industries Division.”

Mayor Lucas says his news rules are prompted in part because areas around Kansas City have many different guidelines. He says it is a tough choice:

“There are people that are on one side that say, ‘You should have everything open and we should all be free and you’re terrible and a tyrant.’ And then there are people on the other side who say, “Bloof will be on your hands, you’re terrible and not doing enough.’ Both have their points.

I think what we’re trying to do is say, ‘How do we come to a balance?’ But part of that balance also requires everybody out in the world to be part of that,” Lucas said.

He thanked city residents for helping to keep numbers down and listed statistics showing Kansas City Missouri is doing better than some other midwestern metro areas of similar size or smaller.

Kansas City has had 1086 reported cases since March.