APRIL 22, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson appointed the Honorable Thomas A. McCarthy as Circuit Judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit. He will fill the Circuit Judge vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable David L. Dowd.

Judge McCarthy, of St. Louis, currently serves as an Associate Circuit Judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Truman State University and a Juris Doctor from St. Louis University School of Law.

APRIL 22, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson appointed the Honorable Timothy Flook as Circuit Judge for the 7th Judicial Circuit. He will fill the Circuit Judge vacancy created by the appointment of the Honorable Janet L. Sutton to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.

Judge Flook, of Liberty, currently serves as an Associate Circuit Judge for the 7th Judicial Circuit. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and philosophy from William Jewell College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law.

APRIL 19, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson joined 25 other Governors in signing a memorandum of understanding establishing the American Governors' Border Strike Force. The strike force will help increase collaboration and improve intelligence sharing and analyses across participating states to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations and cartels, combat human smuggling, and stop the flow of illegal drugs to states. 

"The Biden Administration has failed to secure our nation's Southern Border, allowing millions of migrants and hundreds of thousands of pounds of illegal drugs to pour into the United States," Governor Parson said. "Time and time again, Governors have tried to work with the White House to discuss real solutions to secure the border. Instead, our concerns have been ignored, crime is out of control, and illegal drugs continue to infect our communities and harm our kids. Today, Governors are stepping up once again to do what the federal government refuses to do: secure our communities and protect our citizens."

The American Governors' Border Strike Force will coordinate participating states’ efforts to partner at the state fusion center level and amongst state law enforcement around the following actions:

• Share criminal justice information to improve investigations in the border region and nationwide, especially in communities adjacent to or crossing state boundaries.
• Coordinate and improve interdiction on interstates to combat drug trafficking and human smuggling.
• Co-locate intelligence analysts in border states to improve collaboration, real time response, intelligence sharing, and analysis connected to border security.
• Assist border states with supplemental staff and resources at state fusion centers, such as on rotation assignments and to share information obtained both on the border and/or in other states.
• Send law enforcement to train in border states to detect, track, and curb border-related crime.
• Target cartel finances that fund criminal activity in the border regions to seize the tools used to assist the cartels.
• Monitor cybersecurity issues that may increase vulnerability along the Southern Border, such as criminal networks that operate on social media to recruit traffickers.
• Review state criminal statutes regarding human trafficking, drug trafficking, and transnational criminal organizations to ensure the laws deter, disrupt, and dismantle criminal activity.
• Review state criminal justice statistics and information to determine crimes that can be traced to the Southern Border.
• Develop interstate procedures to fill any identified gaps or identified inconsistencies in existing plans to address border crime.

This action by Governors comes as more than 221,000 migrants were encountered at the Southern Border in March 2022 – the highest number in 22 years. Additionally, next month, the Biden Administration is preparing to revoke Title 42, which is expected to lead to 18,000 or more migrant encounters per day at the border. 

Under the Biden Administration, more than 2.3 million migrants have been encountered at the Southern Border. In the past six months, reports indicate that there have been 300,000 known "gotaways" – migrants who were not apprehended by border agents and did not turn themselves in – at the Southern Border.

"The crisis at our Southern Border is out of control. In the absence of federal leadership, we will do what is required to help solve this growing problem and protect the people of Missouri," Governor Parson said.

The Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety will be Missouri's designee on the American Governors' Border Strike Force. The agreement does not obligate states to expend funds. 

To learn more about the American Governors' Border Strike Force, click here. 

APRIL 5, 2022

Jefferson City — Governor Mike Parson has ordered the Missouri State Capitol dome lighted teal beginning at sunset on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, until sunrise on Thursday, April 7, 2022, in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. 

“We light the Capitol teal to call attention to Sexual Assault Awareness Month and in solidarity with all who have been victims of sexual assault and those who bravely fight against this horrendous crime,” Governor Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson said. “By being responsive to victims in our criminal justice system and throughout society, we not only show them our support, we help prevent criminals from assaulting again and hurting additional victims.”

An American is sexually assaulted about every 68 seconds, and approximately one in every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime, according to the U.S. Justice Department Bureau of Justice Statistics.

In 2020, Governor Parson signed Senate Bill 569, which included the Justice for Survivors Act and the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights and established the Missouri Rights of Victims of Sexual Assault Task Force. In December 2021, the task force unanimously agreed to its final report with nine recommendations, including further protecting survivor privacy in public or court records and increasing funding to crime laboratories to expedite processing of sexual assault kits. 

If you or someone you know is in need of care or support, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE). For more information on available resources, please visit the Missouri Department of Public Safety's resources for crime victims webpage. 

Pictures of the dome lighting will be available on Governor Parson's Flickr page. 

APRIL 4, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson announced six appointments to various boards and commissions and filled one county office vacancy. 

Brian Bender, of Atlanta, was appointed to the Safe Drinking Water Commission. 

Mr. Bender is the current General Manger of the Public Water Supply District #1 of Macon County. He has been with the District since 1997, starting as an Operator. Prior to joining the District, he worked as an Operator for W&L Construction. Mr. Bender holds a certification in industrial welding from the Macon Area Career and Technical Education Center. 

Rodney Campbell Jr., of Fenton, was appointed to the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission. 

Mr. Campbell has been an Attorney with The Petraborg Law Firm since 2017. Prior to joining The Petraborg Law Firm, he was an Associate Attorney with Archer & Lassa and an Assistant Attorney General in the Labor Division with the Missouri Attorney General's Office. Mr. Campbell earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Missouri State University and Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law. 

Nicholas Gerth, of Ballwin, was appointed to the State Lottery Commission.

Mr. Gerth is Senior Associate with Brown & James, P.C. and has been with the firm since 2014. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a Law Clerk for the United State's Attorney's Office – Southern District of Illinois. Mr. Gerth earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Missouri and Juris Doctor for the Saint Louis University School of Law. 

Janet Judd, of Ballwin, was appointed to the Missouri Real Estate Commission. 

Ms. Judd is a licensed Missouri real estate broker-salesperson and served as the President of Missouri REALTORS in 2021. She is now the Immediate Past President of Missouri REALTORS and the Chairperson of the National Association of REALTORS Safety Advisory Council. Ms. Judd has earned the RE/MAX lifetime achievement award, was named Missouri REALTORS Sale Associate of the year in 2016, and has more than 36 years of real estate experience. Prior to becoming a full-time real estate agent, she was a police officer for the Clayton Police Department. 

Dennis Knipmeyer, of Higginsville, was appointed to the Safe Drinking Water Commission.

Mr. Knipmeyer was the manager of the Consolidated Public Water Supply District #2 of Lafayette, Johnson, and Saline Counties from 2005 until his retirement in 2013. His career with the District spanned more than 30 years. Mr. Knipmeyer is the President of the Board of West Central Electric Cooperative Roundup Foundation and is the Chairman of the Trustees of the Tabo Watershed District. He earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural chemistry from the University of Missouri–Columbia. 

Antonio Maldonado, of Florissant, was appointed to the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.

Mr. Maldonado is the Chairman of the Board for the Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis, serves on the St. Louis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and is the President of the Puerto Rican Society, Inc. He was named the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's Member of the Year in 2014, earned the Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis' Anthony B. Ramirez "Esperanza Award" in 2015, and earned the Puerto Rican Society's First Torch Bearer Award in 2017. Mr. Maldonado owned and operated Puckett Floor Coverings in the St. Louis area from 1999 until his retirement in 2012. He served as an airman in the United State Air Force from 1966 until his honorable discharge in 1969. Mr. Maldonado received an associate's degree in business administration from Inter-American University in Puerto Rico and earned a Minority Business Certificate from Dartmouth University in New Hampshire. 

Mark Smith, of Piedmont, was appointed as the Wayne County Coroner.

Mr. Smith serves as a paramedic with the Clearwater Ambulance District, is a member of the Piedmont City Fire Department, and serves as Deputy Coroner for Wayne County. He has held his paramedic license since 2012 and has nearly 15 years of emergency management service experience. Mr. Smith is a lifelong member of the Boy Scouts of America and regularly volunteers with the organization. 

APRIL 4, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson announced that in response to the continuing challenges of accessing an available and skilled workforce, the Department of Mental Health (DMH), Division of Developmental Disabilities (DD), has developed Missouri Talent Pathways, an initiative to recruit and retain a highly skilled and dedicated workforce.

The first of its kind in the nation, Missouri Talent Pathways was recently approved by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship. Missouri Talent Pathways is now a registered apprenticeship program which blends on-the-job mentoring with technical instruction and culminates in participants receiving a certificate as a Certified Direct Support Professional. As a registered apprenticeship intermediary, the Division and its community partners will have access to an expanded applicant pool, traditional workforce development programs, and a career ladder framework for direct support professionals.

“This registered apprenticeship will increase career opportunities to more Missourians and is a great example of the kind of innovation that occurs in state government,” Governor Parson said. “It's programs like this one, that allow Missouri to consistently rank among the top states for apprenticeship opportunities. We look forward to this program helping expand health care workforce solutions while improving our ability to care for some of Missouri's most vulnerable citizens."

“The public health emergency truly magnified the impact of the staffing crisis within DMH and our community partners,” DMH Director Valerie Huhn said. “This apprenticeship is a piece of the larger solution to help us stabilize the direct support professional workforce by constructing a solid career pathway.”

Other objectives of the Missouri Talent Pathways Apprenticeship include: increasing competency of national best practices and statewide applicability and portability; improving cost and time efficiencies; and expanding talent pipelines.

Specifics for stakeholders, community partners, state agencies, and national partners regarding the process to apply for this registered apprenticeship can be found here.   

For more information from the Department of Mental Health go to https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities/service-providers/talent-pathways or contact Debra Walker at debra.walker@dmh.mo.gov, or 573-751-1647. For information about Registered Apprenticeships in Missouri, visit https://dhewd.mo.gov/workforce-development/apprenticeship-mo.

APRIL 4, 2022

Jefferson City — On Thursday, March 31, 2022, Governor Mike Parson granted 10 pardons pursuant to Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and are being sent to the individuals.

To review the names of the individuals granted clemency, please see attached. Governor Parson has instructed his legal team to continue reviewing clemency files and working to reduce the backlog inherited by his administration.

• 3-31-2022 Pardons.pdf

APRIL 1, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson appointed Matthew Wilson as Circuit Judge for the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which includes Adair, Knox, and Lewis Counties. He will fill the Circuit Judge vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Russell E. Steele.

Mr. Wilson, of Kirksville, currently serves as the Adair County Prosecuting Attorney. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law.

MARCH 31, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson granted 10 pardons pursuant to Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and are being sent to the individuals.

In the interest of privacy, the Governor's Office will not immediately release the names of the individuals granted clemency so that appropriate communications can be made to families. The information will be made available once families are notified.  

MARCH 30, 2022

Jefferson City — Today, during a press conference at the State Capitol, Governor Mike Parson announced an end to the COVID-19 crisis in Missouri and that the state will be shifting to an endemic phase of the pandemic on Friday, April 1, 2022. 

A whole-of-government COVID-19 emergency response was taken for more than two years, an effort that responded to the needs of all Missourians during the global pandemic and sustained state operations as more was learned about the novel virus. Vaccines, testing resources, and treatments are now readily available for all Missourians, and much of the population now has some immunity to the virus.

“Over the past two years, we have learned a lot that will help us respond to future outbreaks and challenges that may come our way,” Governor Parson said. “We don’t know if this virus will ever completely go away, but we do know that there is no longer a need to live in crisis mode and that we can shift our response to meet the current needs of Missourians. The COVID-19 crisis is over in the state of Missouri, and we are moving on.”

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is expected to continue to circulate in communities, meaning it will be considered endemic like many other diseases. The endemicity also means that surveillance priority will change from monitoring case numbers to monitoring disease severity and societal impact as new waves of infection come and go. This transition does not minimize the continued importance of public health surveillance, investigation, and response activities, as is necessary to mitigate any disease.

“As we enter this phase of our state’s recovery, we continue to encourage Missourians to safeguard their own health and the health of loved ones through tried and true public health measures,” said Department of Health and Senior Services Acting Director Paula Nickelson. “Missourians should feel confident that we will remain vigilant when monitoring COVID-19 levels throughout the state.”

Over the past two years, the state was able to achieve some incredible milestones in responding to COVID-19:

Testing Capacity

• More than 14 million tests performed by public health partners

Treatment Options

• More than 81,000 treatment courses distributed by the State of Missouri

Vaccine Availability

• More than 8.7 million doses administered by public health partners

In addition to vaccines, testing, and treatment options, which are some of the most effective tools to fight COVID-19, Missouri has expanded capabilities over the past two years in areas of personal protective equipment (PPE), hospital capacity, and data collection. These capabilities allow Missouri to adapt to changing needs regarding COVID-19 in the future. 

Missouri’s approach moving forward will allow state and local health officials to closely monitor community level of COVID-19, determine which variants of SARS-CoV-2 are circulating through the genomic surveillance, and assess disease severity and impact of COVID-19-associated illnesses.

Beginning Friday, the Department of Health and Senior Services will provide weekly dashboard updates that will include 7-day case rate data, activity by region and county, statewide data on COVID-19 hospitalizations, and circulating virus variants. This is a flexible approach allowing accommodation for future surges, should they occur, and require more frequent updates and additional datasets.

More information about vaccines, testing resources, and treatment options along with the updated COVID-19 dashboard and details about this phase of the pandemic can be found by visiting health.mo.gov/coronavirus.  

A booklet with more information regarding the transition to endemic phase can be found by clicking here.