Senator Josh Hawley Archives

Governor Parson reacts to investigative report into recent COVID deaths at Missouri veterans homes

December 4, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor said Thursday in Jefferson City that he wants some answers, after reading a 53-page independent investigation into recent COVID deaths at Missouri veterans homes.

The Missouri State Veterans home at St. James (2015 file photo courtesy of the Missouri Veterans Commission)

Governor Mike Parson ordered the investigation, which was conducted by St. Louis-based Armstrong Teasdale. The governor emphasizes that he’s limited in what he can say, because he doesn’t know what the outcome will be.

“I will go back to when the (COVID-19) numbers started rising. They’d become a red flag for us here at the governor’s office at the state level and that’s why we had this report done, this investigation done,” Parson says. “So, I think there’s some things in that report that definitely (are) going to have to be addressed and are going to have to be explained.”

Armstrong Teasdale’s investigation found that the Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) headquarters failed to recognize the outbreak, and also failed to respond to the outbreak. The investigation found that MVC should have recognized the presence of an outbreak in the veterans home in southeast Missouri’s Cape Girardeau by September 2.

MVC says 138 veterans living at state veterans homes have now died from COVID since September, including 29 in the past ten days.

The veterans home in northwest Missouri’s Cameron has had the most deaths, with 39. Cape Girardeau is second with 29. There have been 23 deaths in St. James, 16 in Warrensburg, 11 each in St. Louis and Mexico and nine at the veterans home in southwest Missouri’s Mount Vernon.

Governor Parson says a key recommendation in the report is already happening. During Thursday’s Capitol press conference in Jefferson City, Missourinet asked the governor about Armstrong Teasdale’s recommendation that the veterans homes establish a protocol to allow a limited number of designated family members to visit their loves ones.

“And that’s something we’ve been very concerned with all the nursing homes across the state, and we have made ways that you can do visitations across the state,” says Parson. “(State Department of Health and Senior Services Director) Dr. (Randall) Williams has worked really hard on that.”

Armstrong Teasdale’s report says family members are instrumental in their loved ones’ care at veterans homes, including cleaning their ears to help them hear better and brushing their teeth and dressing them.

Meantime, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R), who serves on the Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill, has also read Armstrong Teasdale’s report. Hawley has previously expressed concerns about the COVID deaths in veterans homes, saying it’s important to get to the bottom of this.

“The report is bad. I think it details some major lapses. It details some very significant problems. You know I think the report makes clear that the MVC, the Veterans Commission, does genuinely care for and has tried to work hard to care for veterans and I appreciate that. However, our veterans deserve the very best care,” Hawley tells Missourinet.

Armstrong Teasdale’s report makes dozens of recommendations, including calling on MVC headquarters and veterans homes to develop a comprehensive COVID-19 outbreak plan.

MVC Chairman Tim Noonan is reviewing the recommendations closely.

“We’re going to take them all (recommendations) seriously and implement the ones that we think are going to have an impact,” Noonan says. “And definitely, staffing matters. Having the right talent, doing the right job matters.”

Noonan says MVC will drive the reforms that are needed. He also tells Missourinet that this was a complex problem that overwhelmed very well-intended people.

240 Jefferson City structures damaged by tornado; Hawley wants Congress to approve disaster aid (AUDIO)

May 26, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s junior senator says tornado damage assessments must get done quickly so relief can get to impacted communities like Jefferson City and Eldon.

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley views a tornado-damaged building near the old MSP in Jefferson City on May 25, 2019 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R) toured tornado-damaged Jefferson City on Saturday, where Fire Chief Matt Schofield told him that about 240 homes and businesses have been damaged by the storm. The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis says the EF-3 tornado packed an estimated peak wind of 160 miles per hour.

“A lot of them (homes and businesses) destroyed. There’s going to be a lot of need for relief here,” Hawley says. “My heart just goes out to the families especially who are looking at the loss of their home, some of them without places to stay.”

Hawley took a walk Saturday afternoon along East Capitol Avenue, which is east of the Statehouse and near the old Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP). Hawley visited with residents and shopkeepers who’ve been affected.

Hawley spoke to a Missourinet reporter, across the street from a damaged building that Hawley says could cave in.

“I mean we’re looking at one whole side of the building is literally gone,” says Hawley. “The roof is gone, and I’m told that we can expect this last outer wall to fall.”

There are bricks, blocks and boards surrounding that building, along with broken glass.

Hawley praises the volunteers who showed up Saturday with chainsaws and tools, as well as mid-Missourians who have taken in neighbors and family members impacted by the tornado.

He says it’s a testament to the spirit of Missouri.

State Rep. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, tells Missourinet that more than 1,000 volunteers showed up on Saturday in Jefferson City. They helped remove debris and assisted impacted residents and business owners.

Legends Bank served lunch Sunday to tornado victims and volunteers, at City Hall.

There were no fatalities in the Jefferson City tornado.

Meantime, Hawley also criticizes U.S. Senate Democrats, saying they filibustered disaster relief for two months.

During the East Capitol Avenue interview with Missourinet, Senator Hawley also called out a fellow Republican on Capitol Hill for holding up a $19 billion disaster relief package.

U.S. House leaders attempted to pass the disaster relief bill last week by unanimous consent, but U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) objected.

Hawley says Missourians are suffering and need relief now.

“This is enough of this. People can, they should bargain with other chips, not with this. We should not be holding up relief for our farmers and our communities,” Hawley says.

Politico reports Congressman Roy wants a roll call vote and complains the measure lacks offsets.

Senator Hawley tells Missourinet he wants U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) to bring the House back in on Memorial Day, to vote on disaster relief.

The U.S. Senate approved it on Thursday.

Some businesses that normally would be closed on the weekend have been open, due to the tornado.

The United Way of Central Missouri’s Jefferson City office was open on Sunday, and insurance companies like State Farm and American Family have set up tents at Capital Mall, where adjusters and agents are stationed.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full three-minute interview with U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, which was recorded on May 25, 2019 near the old Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City:

Hawley to tour tornado-damaged town in southwest Missouri on Friday

May 23, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s junior senator plans to visit tornado-damaged Carl Junction Friday afternoon.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield issued a tornado warning for southwest Missouri’s Carl Junction on May 22, 2019 (map courtesy of NWS Springfield Twitter page)

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley plans to visit with first responders and community leaders in southwest Missouri’s Carl Junction Friday at 1 p.m.

He’ll tour a subdivision that was struck by an EF-3 tornado, during Wednesday’s storms.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield says their preliminary survey finds that Wednesday night’s tornado in Carl Junction had estimated peak winds of 140 miles per hour. The NWS says the tornado was on the ground for 14 minutes.

While numerous homes were damaged, there were no injuries nor deaths in Carl Junction.

Governor Mike Parson traveled to Carl Junction on Thursday to tour the subdivision, telling Missourinet Joplin affiliate KZRG that he’s impressed with how residents came together to assist one another in their time of need.

The governor says the state will provide all of the necessary resources to help get residents back on their feet.

KZRG reports more than 30 homes sustained significant damage from the tornado.

Classes were cancelled in Carl Junction on Thursday.

Carl Junction’s motto is “Growing with Pride.” The town has about 8,000 residents.