personal protective equipment Archives

Look for Missouri Senate to vote on $1.27 billion supplemental next week (AUDIO)

November 13, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri Senate is expected to debate and vote on the proposed $1.27 billion supplemental budget next Thursday and Friday. That’s according to Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia.

Missouri House Majority Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, (left) speaks to House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, in the House chamber in Jefferson City on November 10, 2020 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The House gave final approval to the supplemental budget this week, with a bipartisan 133-4 vote. That pleases House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage.

“It (the budget) was more of a what I call ‘keep the trains running on time supplemental budget bill.’ The deployment of federal resources across a variety of state departments is mostly what the bill was about,” Smith says.

He says the budget also provides more authority to spend federal dollars on personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing. Chairman Smith says it also addresses Missouri’s unemployment fund shortage.

“Our plans for unemployment program ran short with higher than expected unemployment,” says Smith.

If the Senate approves the supplemental budget as is, it would head straight to the governor’s desk. If changes are made by the Senate, the budget would head to a Senate-House conference committee.

Smith is hopeful the Senate will send it to Governor Parson’s desk, saying he doesn’t expect it to be controversial in the upper chamber.

Meantime, the state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says there have been 25,961 new COVID cases in Missouri in the past seven days, along with 63 new deaths in the past week.

State Rep. Jon Carpenter, D-Gladstone, a senior Democrat in the Missouri House, addressed the issue on the floor this week. He’s warning his colleagues that COVID hospitalizations are skyrocketing in the Midwest.

“We now have twice as many people getting infected with coronavirus in our region (the Midwest) than any other region in this country at any point during the pandemic,” Carpenter says.

During his House floor speech, Carpenter called on the Parson administration to address the pandemic itself and to use some of the $1.2 billion supplemental to address economic hardships, school hardships and food hardships in Missouri.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, which was recorded on November 10, 2020 at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City:

Missouri county clerks focusing on PPE for November election (AUDIO)

October 23, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

County clerks across Missouri have been gearing up for the November 3rd presidential election, with some hiring temporary workers to handle the influx of absentee and mail-in ballots.

Missouri Association of County Clerks president Crystal Hall, who serves as the clerk in eastern Missouri’s Lincoln County, says most clerks have enough poll workers and staffers.

“There’s not one county that is in desperate need that I’m aware of that haven’t been able to find the staffing that they need for the election,” Hall says.

Missouri’s secretary of state says a combined total of about 424,000 absentee and mail-in ballots have been received by local election authorities.

Ms. Hall is thanking Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for delivering personal protective equipment (PPE) this year to all 116 election jurisdictions. Ashcroft’s office also distributed about $4.5 million this year to local election authorities, to provide funding for them to meet their jurisdiction’s individual needs.

Hall has purchased special pens for each registered voter in her county, for COVID reasons.

“So instead of having that one pen that’s hanging on the chain that everybody that comes in there (clerk’s office) touches, you’re going to have your own pen that no one else has touched,” says Hall.

Hall also tells Missourinet that FFA high school students in Lincoln County will be cleaning machines all day long, to keep voters safe in November.

Secretary Ashcroft and his staff have delivered about 17,000 face masks, 17,000 face shields and 500 gallons of sanitizer to the clerks across the state.

Fast-growing Lincoln County is located just north of St. Charles County. Towns include Troy, Elsberry and Foley. There is no mask mandate in Lincoln County, so Hall is encouraging poll workers to wear a mask. Her staff has also installed plexiglass barriers between voters and election workers.

The county clerks association says you can expect long lines at the polls for the November election. Ms. Hall says while election judges and pollworkers are paid, they’re essentially volunteers. She notes many are elderly and will be working long hours on election day, from 6 a.m. until at least 7 p.m.

“They’re working through this because they care about our community and our country, and they’re doing their patriotic duty to help,” Hall says, urging voters to be patient and kind.

If voters are in line by 7 p.m. on election night, they are still allowed to vote.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with Lincoln County Clerk Crystal Hall, who’s president of the Missouri Association of County Clerks. The interview was recorded on October 21, 2020:

Parson and Galloway blast each other repeatedly during Missouri gubernatorial debate

October 9, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s two major gubernatorial candidates clashed during a Friday afternoon debate in Columbia on numerous issues, including Clean Missouri, COVID, Medicaid expansion and valet parking at the Capitol.

The debate, which took place at the Missouri Theatre in Columbia, was sponsored by the Missouri Press Association.

Missouri voters approved Clean Missouri in November 2018. It had several provisions, including one requiring a nonpartisan demographer to draw state legislative districts.

Governor Mike Parson (R) opposed Clean Missouri and supports Amendment Three, which will appear on your November ballot. Amendment Three transfers the responsibility of drawing the districts from the demographer to a governor-appointed bipartisan commission.

“None of the big money behind this ever talked about how the redistricting would work, they talked about everything but that (in 2018),” Parson says. “This is a major shift in how we do elections in the state of Missouri.”

But Auditor Nicole Galloway, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, disagrees. She backed Clean Missouri in 2018 and opposes Amendment Three.

“In November of 2018, over 60 percent of voters said they want a fair, transparent government and they wanted to get rid of gerrymandering,” says Galloway.

The candidates also blasted each other over COVID. Galloway says Missouri physicians support a statewide mask requirement.

“Because it is a proven way to contain the spread of the virus, protect the public health, get our economy going again,” Galloway says.

Governor Parson says he’s taken a balanced approach on COVID and has also emphasized the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE).

“You’ve got to be able to deal with the virus, you got to be able to deal with the economy, you’ve got to get kids back in school safely,” Parson says.

They also clashed over the recent special session on violent crime, with Galloway saying the governor “struck out.”

The Legislature did approve two of Governor Parson’s top priorities during the special session: a witness protection program and legislation eliminating the residency requirement for St. Louis police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel. But the Legislature did not pass the governor’s proposals regarding juvenile certification and one involving St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s (D) office.

Governor Parson says the special session was successful, and will help against violent crime.

The two candidates also had differing opinions on the cost of Medicaid expansion and also clashed on valet parking at the State Capitol in Jefferson City, an issue that hasn’t been talked about much during the campaign.

Governor Parson accuses Galloway of politicizing her office, and Galloway says Parson has failed the test of leadership.

Libertarian nominee Rik Combs and Green Party nominee Jerome Bauer also participated in the debate, which was produced by KOMU-TV in Columbia. The debate aired live in mid-Missouri on Channel 8.

Bipartisan group of Missouri election officials say more funding is needed for November (AUDIO)

September 4, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri county clerks in both parties say they need additional funding to protect voters and poll workers during the November general election.

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon is a Columbia Democrat (photo courtesy of the Boone County Clerk’s website)

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon, a Columbia Democrat, notes November will be a high turnout election during the COVID-19 pandemic. She says county clerks have had unexpected costs.

“Having to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and make modifications to our polling places so that voters can have a safe experience,” Lennon says.

Lennon says funding is also needed to inform the public about changes made to election procedures this November.

The Missouri Legislature made the changes in May, for the August primary and November general election. Absentee voting without notarization is allowed for Missourians 65 and older, or those vulnerable to COVID. All others can vote by mail if they choose, but need notarization.

“Making sure that voters understand the process, and making sure that they have all the knowledge that they need to make an informed decision about the option that they want to choose in order to vote,” says Lennon.

Lennon says making sure Missouri has good and accessible elections with integrity is critical.

A national organization called the Brennan Center says CARES Act funding provided to Missouri isn’t enough to safely administer November elections. They want Congress to approve more funding.

As for Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R), he notes that since early May, he’s distributed $4.5 million to local election authorities, to prepare for the recent August primary and the upcoming November general election. His office has also recently shipped 4,900 additional face masks to county clerks.

Ashcroft visited all 116 Missouri election jurisdictions this summer, delivering 17,000 face masks, 17,000 face shields, 500 gallons of sanitizer and other supplies. Brennon says while clerks are grateful for the funding from the secretary of state’s office, they need more money for November.

“We have plexiglass shields that we have at each of our polling locations and we had to account for our larger number of polling places that we’re going to have for November,” Lennon says.

Lennon and GOP Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller, a former Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem, are among the clerks in both parties calling on Congress to approve additional funding to ensure safe elections in 2020.

Schoeller recently co-authored an op-ed in “Politico”, saying more than $50,000 is needed in Greene County, just to recruit additional election judges and compensate all election judges with hazard pay.

Election day is Tuesday November 3.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon, which was recorded on September 3, 2020:

Missouri woman whose mom died from COVID delivers photo memorial to governor’s office

August 11, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A St. Louis woman whose mother died from the coronavirus in June is calling on Missouri’s governor and other elected officials to take stronger action to control the spread of the disease.

St. Louis resident Angela Kender briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on August 11, 2020. Kender’s mother died from COVID in June (photo courtesy of Ben Peters at House Communications)

Angela Kender traveled to Jefferson City on Tuesday to deliver copies of photos of Missourians who’ve died from COVID to the governor’s office. Kender also joined House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, for a Statehouse news conference. Kender says COVID families have had enough.

“Missourians are dying due to terrible leadership, and in this state, lack of policy entirely. The continued deaths are preventable and that is why I am here today. My mother’s life mattered,” Kender says.

Kender supports a statewide mask order, that includes schools. She brought 15 photos of Missourians who have died from COVID.

“I am here today to shine light on these faces that are gone,” says Kender. “Because if you look at these faces and you don’t realize that it could easily be you or your loved one, you are sadly mistaken.”

State health officials say there have been 1,312 COVID deaths in Missouri.

Missourinet contacted the governor’s office to see if they have a response to Kender’s comments. We have not heard back, at this time.

Governor Mike Parson (R) opposes a statewide mask order, telling Missourinet at a July 22 press conference that it’s not the state’s place to mandate everyone to wear a mask.

“I am not anti-mask and I’ll say that clearly again. I wear a mask from time-to-time when I feel that need is there. I am not anti-mask, what I am is anti-mandates,” Parson said that day.

The governor also announced last week that 1.8 million cloth masks have been made available through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and that state officials are developing a plan to distribute them to school districts. Parson also said last week that $7.5 million of Missouri’s Coronavirus Relief Fund has been allocated to a cost-share program with local counties, to help schools cover personal protective equipment (PPE) costs. The money will also help schools with cleaning and medical supplies for school buildings and buses.

Missouri Education Commissioner Dr. Margie Vandeven testified Tuesday before a House committee in Jefferson City. Vandeven says the state has distributed as much federal COVID aid to schools, as it can at this time.

As for Leader Quade, she wants Governor Parson to call a special session about the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the pandemic still spreading throughout Missouri, the governor’s top priority should be on protecting lives,” Quade says. “Instead, the governor wants to talk about anything but COVID-19. However, we will not let the human toll of this disease be forgotten.”

Quade says Missouri’s school districts have not received proper guidance from the Parson administration, about this fall.

Quade and Kender were also joined Tuesday by a Kansas City teacher, who represents a new group called “Missourians for Educational Change.” He expresses safety concerns about school reopening, and says it should be virtual.

Missouri designates $7.5 million to help schools cover costs of PPE and cleaning

August 9, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

State officials say several million dollars in federal funding will help Missouri schools cover costs of personal protective equipment (PPE).

State Rep. Dr. Jonathan Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, gets ready to speak on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on April 8, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Governor Mike Parson says $7.5 million of the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund has been allocated to a cost-share program with counties, to help Missouri schools cover PPE costs. The money will also help schools cover costs of cleaning and medical supplies for school buildings and buses.

The governor says schools can use relief funds provided under the CARES Act for any COVID-19 related expenses, including PPE costs.

Missouri Commissioner of Education Dr. Margie Vandeven and state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams will testify Tuesday morning in Jefferson City, before the bipartisan House Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention.

Committee Chairman State Rep. Jonathan Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, tells Missourinet that the number one issue he’s hearing about from his constituents is about school plans. He has a nine-year-old and a six-year-old in public school.

Commissioner Vandeven will be testifying about schools.

Chairman Patterson says that Dr. Williams will testify about the trajectory Missouri is on. Dr. Patterson, a private practice general surgeon, is interested what will happen if/when a COVID-19 vaccine is developed. Patterson wants to know if DHSS has a plan in place.

DHSS says Missouri now has had 58,927 cases. That is up from Friday’s number of 57,379.

CARES Act is funding new Missouri PPE retooling program

July 21, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

State officials have unveiled $50 million in new grant programs for Missouri businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on July 14, 2020 (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon tells Capitol reporters that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted businesses in the Show-Me State.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but they have been struggling since the onset of COVID-19. Many businesses have had to rethink their operations model to work safely,” Dixon says.

Dixon says a $30 million grant program will help provide relief to small businesses and family farms, for reimbursement of business interruption costs due to the pandemic. Funds can be used for things such as facility redesign and labor, air filtration systems and workers salaries during closure or reduced hours.

DED has also announced a $20 million program that’s aimed at increasing production of personal protective equipment (PPE). Dixon says PPE supply is critical to Missouri’s health care response and to the economy’s re-opening.

“We need to bring PPE manufacturing closer to home to make sure that we’re not dependent on any other country for these vital products,” says Dixon. “So to those Missouri companies who’ve already begun making PPE, we thank you sincerely.”

Director Dixon tells Missourinet that more than 200 Missouri companies have retooled to produce PPE.

The $20 million grant program will assist Missouri manufacturers, by awarding grants to reimburse companies facing high PPE production costs.

The PPE grant program is statewide, and the number of grants per applicant is limited to one. The company must incur or have incurred costs between March 1, 2020 and December 1, 2020.

The Department of Economic Development will require a project impact report by July 2021.

Missouri now has 33,624 confirmed COVID-19 cases, up from Sunday’s number of 33,094.

Parson: Missouri is prepared and ready to reopen for business on Tuesday

June 15, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri will fully reopen for business on Tuesday morning, and will enter phase two of its “Show Me Strong Recovery Plan.”

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on June 11, 2020 (photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s Flickr page)

Governor Mike Parson tells Capitol reporters in Jefferson City that the move comes just over 90 days since Missouri’s first COVID-19 case.

“It is truly incredible to think how far Missouri has come since March,” Parson says. “At that time, no one knew what to expect. There was a lot of uncertainty, worry and concern.”

While there will be no statewide health order during phase two, Parson emphasizes that COVID-19 is not gone.

“Local officials will still have the ability to further measure or regulate in places but from a statewide stance, all restrictions will be lifted,” says Parson.

Missourinet Kansas City television partner KMBC reports Kansas City remains under an emergency order until July 5. All Kansas City businesses cannot have more than half of their capacities, according to KMBC.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says Kansas City has seen more than 1,700 coronavirus cases.

“If you feel comfortable wearing a face covering, then wear a face covering. Be proactive, and take precautions to protect yourself, your families and your neighbors,” Parson says.

The governor says the decision to reopen was dependent on the four “Show Me Strong Recovery” pillars, including expanded testing capacity and expanding reserves of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Parson says weekly testing in Missouri has increased more than 220 percent since April, with about 16,000 tests during the week of April 20 to more than 53,000 tests during the week of May 25.

The governor has also signed an executive order that extends Missouri’s state of emergency through December, in order to utilize federal CARES Act funding.

Governor Parson’s next media briefing with Capitol reporters will take place on Tuesday afternoon at 3 at the Statehouse.

Missouri sees record PPE shipment, including 77,000 surgical masks

June 11, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor has announced that the state has reached a record personal protective equipment (PPE) shipment. Governor Mike Parson says the PPE shipment expands to not only include hospitals and health care facilities but also dental offices, as more reopen across the state.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on June 11, 2020 (photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s Flickr page)

The governor says Wednesday’s record PPE shipments included 17,230 gowns, 42,720 N95 masks and 262,000 gloves. It also included 77,100 surgical masks and 18,432 face shields.

Governor Parson also says Missouri COVID-19 testing has increased more than 220 percent, from about 16,000 tests during the week of April 20 to 53,000 tests during the week of May 25.

During a Statehouse media briefing Thursday in Jefferson City, Parson said Missouri will fully reopen on Tuesday. He also emphasizes the importance of continued social distancing and good hygiene, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

State health officials say there have been 860 deaths from COVID-19 this year.

Missouri lawmaker who battled COVID-19 described as a “trifecta guy”; receives bipartisan standing ovation

May 18, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A veteran Missouri lawmaker who has recovered from the coronavirus received a bipartisan standing ovation from the House on Friday in Jefferson City. His colleagues praise his courage, work ethic and his dedication.

State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, stands on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on May 11, 2020 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, is in his eighth and final year in the Missouri House, due to term limits. After battling COVID-19, being hospitalized and then recovering at home, Runions returned to the Statehouse last week.

State Rep. Rory Rowland, D-Independence, describes Runions as a voice of reason, who looks out for his community.

“Every time I’ve had a conversation with him, he always asks the question ‘how will this impact Grandview?’ That truly is the essence of a public servant,” Rowland tells colleagues.

Representative Runions was diagnosed with COVID-19 in March, and was hospitalized at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kansas City. He spent part of that time on a ventilator.

Rowland says the 79-year-old Runions is stable, dependable and knowledgeable. Rowland describes him as a “trifecta guy.”

“Do I like them, do I trust them and do I admire them? The gentleman from Jackson, Representative Runions, is a trifecta guy in my book,” says Rowland.

Rowland says Runions didn’t speak on the House floor often, but that when he did, “this body listened.”

While hospitalized in March at St. Joseph’s, Runions and Governor Mike Parson (R) spoke on the phone. Runions urged Governor Parson to do everything in his power to prevent Missouri hospitals from becoming overwhelmed during the pandemic.

Runions told the governor that his doctors at St. Joseph Hospital asked him to seek the governor’s assistance on personal protective equipment (PPE), because they were worried they would run out of vital supplies.

Runions, who was elected to the House in 2012, is the ranking Democrat on the Missouri House Transportation Committee. He’s also the top Democrat on the Local Government Committee.