News

University of Missouri Extension is offering several employment, labor and workforce development webinars over teh coming weeks. The webinars include: • April 1, 2-3:30 p.m., Credentialing $30.00 COVID-19 and Other Disaster Recovery Resources  Updates and changes to FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act), SBA (Small Business Assistance), EDA (Economic Development Administration) and Disaster Recovery, USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Rural Business Development Grants, COVID-19 loans and local initiatives.. ...

BLOOMFIELD — The Stoddard County Commission has drafted a stay-at-home order for the county effective at 12:01 a.m. Thursday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 10 a.m. Monday, three cases of the virus had been reported by the Stoddard County Health Department, administrator Ben Godwin told the commissioners during a conference call...

For the last several days, our hospital has been working collaboratively with the Missouri Department of Health and the health departments in our surrounding counties. On separate accounts, two patients have presented to our emergency department and test results have confirmed both patients have the novel Coronavirus. ...

PIEDMONT — A Piedmont man has been charged with the stabbing death of his mother. Daniel R. Adams is charged with the Class A felony of first-degree murder and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action. He is accused of causing the death of his mother, Gabrielle G. Gamble...

Officials at the Carter County Health Department have confirmed a third positive case of COVID-19 in their county. The person, according to a news release, is quarantined at home. Officials are working with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the CDC to identify and contact people who may have come in contact with the individual while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms...

REYNOLDS COUNTY MO. — The Reynolds County Health Center has confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in Reynolds County. The individual is currently home. The Reynolds County Health Center is working with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the CDC, to identify and contact people who may have come in contact with the individual while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms...

Editor's note: This is a daily briefing updating the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 p.m. each day. Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers explained the notification protocol if a COVID-19 test returns positive...

NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus outbreak could kill 100,000 to 200,000 Americans, the U.S. government's top infectious-disease expert warned on Sunday as smoldering hotspots in nursing homes and a growing list of stricken cities heightened the sense of dread across the country.

Many counties in Southeast Missouri are currently under a tornado watch until 10 p.m. Southern Stoddard and Southeastern Butler Counties are under a significant weather advisory until 6:30 p.m. According to the National Weather Service, strong storms were tracking at 5:45 p.m. in a line from near Dexter and Bernie to near Qulin. They were moving northeast at 60 mph...

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — President Donald Trump said he was considering a quarantine as early as Saturday for coronavirus hotspots in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, though it wasn't clear whether he had the power to order state residents to stay put...

With all school districts in the state closed until at least April 6 due to COVID-19, the following have a meal program available to help feed students Monday through Friday.

SPRINGFIELD, MO -- Missouri State University conferred more than 1,500 degrees to students in fall 2019. Past the standard expectations, the university recognized 22 students for their work with a more rigorous curriculum in Missouri State’s Honors College...

There are no positive test results in Butler County for COVID-19, Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers said Saturday afternoon.

There now are two confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Ripley County. The Ripley County Health Center announced Saturday morning a second county resident has tested positive for the Coronavirus. The first case was announced late Friday afternoon. Ripley County Health Center Director Jan Morrow said through social media that the first patient is recovering nicely and continues to be isolated...

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The death of a person in St. Charles County from the coronavirus is the 10th in Missouri, and as the number of confirmed cases escalates, some of the state's biggest hospitals are being forced to “examine what all our options are” to maintain enough protective equipment.

Gov. Mike Parson has signed an executive order to begin mobilizing the Missouri Army National Guard to assist in the state’s COVID-19 response efforts. This will increase the amount of coordination among state government partners in combating the spread of the coronavirus...

Editor's note: This is a daily briefing updating the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 p.m. each day. As area counties see their first positive case of COVID-19, Emily Goodin of the Butler County Health Department said no residents have yet to test positive Friday afternoon during a meeting of county officials...

Churches from the area are embracing technology to spread their message during the COVID-19 pandemic. Westwood Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff, Sacred Heart Church of Dexter; St. Ann Church of Malden, St. Teresa Church of Glennonville and Doniphan Church of Christ are making Sunday sermons available online...

Butler County received a shipment of 2,400 N95 masks Thursday, a welcome relief for many health care workers who have been reusing or using less effective masks while treating patients. The masks came in a shipment of supplies from state officials that also included 30 gowns...

As the number of positive COVID-19 test results rise in Missouri and around the world, Poplar Bluff physician Dr. Steve Nagy said people should act as though there is a confirmed case near them.

The Ripley County Health Center has confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in Ripley County. Local health center staff will be monitoring the case and follow up contacts will be done. No other information will be provided about the patient, the health center said in a prepared news release issued late Friday afternoon...

Butler County’s prosecuting attorney and sheriff, along with their respective associations, are speaking out against a recent request to the Missouri Supreme Court asking it order local courts to release certain inmates. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Missouri State Public Defender Director Mary Fox and others signed a letter Thursday asking the state’s high court to “immediately release from confinement” five groups of inmates...

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed an unprecedented $2.2 trillion economic rescue package into law Friday, after swift and near-unanimous action by Congress this week to support businesses, rush resources to overburdened health care providers and help struggling families during the deepening coronavirus epidemic...