The Gateway

The state of Missouri has issued a hotspot advisory for three counties southwest of St. Louis as the Delta variant continues to spread. The vaccination rates in Laclede, Pulaski and Phelps counties are lower than the state average.

The future of farming in heavily forested areas like southern Missouri may be under the trees instead of clearing them out. Some landowners who are new to farming are trying out forest farming and are getting help from universities and the government.

Missouri is reporting its highest daily total of COVID-19 cases since January. The increase comes as the Delta variant continues to spread, putting health officials throughout the state on alert.

The Missouri Supreme Court is expected to rule quickly on a lawsuit seeking to expand Medicaid. That decision will impact future ballot issues, the state budget and the amendment process.

Missouri Supreme Court judges have heard arguments in a battle over Medicaid expansion. Three women are trying to gain access to the health care program. Their attorneys reject an argument that the women can’t sign up because the legislature did not appropriate funds.

St. Louis County is planning to announce a COVID-19 vaccine incentive program this week. It is also encouraging residents who might have been exposed to the Delta variant to get tested immediately.

Health officials throughout Missouri are preparing for another potential surge in coronavirus cases. They say there isn’t much that can be done to stop the spread if the Delta variant gains a tighter grip on areas with low vaccination rates.

Missouri's Governor and the federal government do not appear to be on the same page in dealing with the surge in COVID-19 cases. The disagreement comes as state officials have requested assistance from federal health teams to deal with the Delta variant.

Finding help for a child with mental illness is not easy. There are several barriers to treatment, creating a nightmare for relatives. We report on one family’s fight to secure care for their child.

Some people who followed stay-at-home recommendations during the height of the pandemic were unwittingly exposed to an increased risk of getting sick by issues in their homes like mold and rodents.

Hospital officials in Springfield are holding their breath as they deal with an increase in COVID-19 cases. They are also battling low immunization rates.

A fast-spreading coronavirus mutation in Missouri is fueling a rise in cases. The state’s epidemiologist says vaccines alone may not be enough to stop the delta variant.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson has signed 13 bills that make up the state budget. The move comes after the last-minute approval of a tax to help fund Medicaid and hours before the start of Missouri’s new fiscal year.

Fontbonne University in St. Louis and Quincy University are among the schools launching a new sprint football league. Fontbonne President, Dr. Nancy Blattner is the founding chair of the league’s board of governors and says the sport can boost the entire university.

The federal government plans to send more debt relief payments to Black farmers in recognition of how the USDA and local farm credit offices denied generations of people loans and foreclosed on their properties. For many, the money will be too late to reverse the decades of damage caused by discrimination in farming.

Many hemp growers in the Midwest are finding it more difficult than anticipated to sell the crop for industrial uses. That has led to a drop in the number of licenses in at least one state.

Most states don’t allow transgender people to correct their names on marriage documents. Some lawmakers and advocates are working to change that in Illinois.

Twenty-five percent of Illinois marijuana sales tax revenue goes to grants for underserved communities. There appears to be some success, but many say a lot can be improved to help community organizations.

The head of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force says it’s time for the region to adjust to a “new normal.” Dr. Alex Garza’s comments come as the group stops weekly briefings with reporters after more than a year.

The tense relationship between the city of St. Louis and the organizations that provide services to homeless people has prompted the St. Louis Continuum of Care to consider breaking off to form its own independent nonprofit.

The Jesuits have committed to raising $100 million to go towards the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation. The new organization formed by descendants of formerly enslaved people and the Catholic order of priests with ties to St. Louis University is an effort to atone for involvement in slavery.

Black people in the region want Juneteenth to be a day to educate people about the Black plight. President Joe Biden has signed a law making it a national holiday.

More than 100 schools in Missouri have installed new air cleaning technology with the hopes of keeping students and staff safe from the virus that causes COVID-19. But scientists are skeptical.

Optimism among many Missouri Republicans following last weekend’s Lincoln Days event is being tempered by the primary race to replace U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, who is not seeking re-election.

Doctors have found new ways to utilize support animals, in physical and speech therapy, and in substance abuse programs. Now educators are using the strategy to help ease teachers, students and staff back into the classroom after roughly a year of online learning.