OCTOBER 22, 2021

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson announced a $750,000 interest-free loan to the city of Hannibal to ease the impact of excessive wholesale electricity and natural gas costs associated with the February 2021 extreme weather event. The loan was made possible through the Municipal Utility Emergency Loan Program.

“The Municipal Utility Emergency Loan Program provides municipal utilities and commissions the opportunity to recover from the high costs associated with the extraordinary cold snap we experienced in February,” Governor Parson said. “We were happy to create this program that has aided our cities and towns and helped Missourians avoid excessive month-over-month utility bill increases. This $750,000 emergency loan to the city of Hannibal will lessen the financial impacts for the city and its residents. "

The loan program was established when Governor Parson signed legislation on May 13, 2021, to provide $50 million for interest-free emergency loans. The program is administered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Energy and serves municipal electric and natural gas utilities, as well as municipal utility commissions, by providing loans for wholesale electric or natural gas costs incurred as a result of extraordinary prices from February 10-20, 2021. Approximately 53 municipalities have applied individually or through municipal utility commissions since the department began accepting applications on June 2.

When the unusual cold snap occurred in February of this year, prices for wholesale natural gas and electricity rose as demand increased and production stopped at some facilities in the United States. These increased prices severely impacted Missouri communities.

“We’re honored to be able to assist Missouri utilities that experienced unprecedented energy prices earlier this year,” said Dru Buntin, Director of the Department of Natural Resources. “The priority has been to meet the needs of our communities and provide financial stability for municipal utilities and their customers. We are grateful to the Governor for acting so quickly to work with the legislature to secure funding.”

The combined amount requested in applications to date totals approximately $41 million. Funding is still available. To learn more about the Municipal Utility Emergency Loan Program, contact Daniel Dahler with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or 573-522-3371.

OCTOBER 21, 2021

Jefferson City — Today, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced that more than three million Missourians have completed their COVID-19 vaccine series. Missouri reaches this milestone upon the successful conclusion of the COVID-19 vaccine incentive program, MO VIP, that Governor Mike Parson announced on July 21, 2021. 

In total, more than 66,500 adults and minors were vaccinated and entered to win upon the launch of MO VIP. Although the full impact and positive residual effects of the program are immeasurable, nearly 480,000 Missourians initiated vaccination since July 21 when the MO VIP campaign began. Federal and state data show that 58 percent of Missouri’s eligible population (age 12 and up) has completed vaccination, while 66 percent have initiated vaccination by receiving a first dose.

Additionally, approximately 68 percent of Missourians 18 and older have initiated vaccination, and over 88 percent of Missourians 65 and older, the most vulnerable, have received at least one dose.

"We are proud of all our team members who helped make MO VIP a success, and more importantly, we appreciate the thousands of Missourians who are stepping up to protect themselves and their loved ones," Governor Parson said. "Our data clearly shows that vaccinations are making a difference and decreasing viral activity in Missouri. We are on the right track, and thanks to now three million Missourians, we are significantly reducing the threat COVID-19 poses to our state." 

During the summer months, Missouri was the first state to experience an outbreak of the Delta Variant, and most other states have now experienced significant outbreaks of the highly transmissible variant. Since the summer peak, Missouri has continued to experience an overall decline in cases, deaths, and hospitalizations related to this virus

Daily cases are half of what they were one month ago, and Missouri's positivity rate has decreased to 6.8 percent. Outbreaks within Missouri long-term care facilities are also lessening. Currently, 139 homes have active COVID-19 cases, down from 229 one month ago.

Monoclonal antibody treatments have also greatly aided the state’s health care capacity since Governor Parson announced additional resources to support the healthcare system in August. Hospitalizations in all regions of the state have been trending downward since the beginning of September. During the last week of August, six state-contracted monoclonal antibody infusion treatment sites began operations throughout the state. Nearly 3,500 patients have undergone successful treatment for COVID-19 and greatly reduced their risk of severe illness or hospitalization.

"Not only are we winning our fight against COVID-19, but Missouri is nearing full economic recovery," Governor Parson said. "Our unemployment rate continues to drop and sits at 3.8 percent for the month of September, compared to 3.7 in March 2020, and every month, we are seeing businesses announce hundreds of new jobs and millions of dollars in investment. Missouri is strong, and we continue to move forward."

OCTOBER 20, 2021

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson announced that the fourth annual Parson Family Fall Festival and Trick-or-Treating events will be held at the People’s House on Saturday, October 30, 2021, from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. The combined events will take place on the Governor's Mansion lawn and feature several vendors, children's activities, and bluegrass musical entertainment.

“We look forward to hosting our fourth annual Parson Family Fall Festival and Trick-or-Treating events at the People’s House,” Governor and First Lady Parson said in a joint statement. “This is an opportunity to further connect with Missouri families and celebrate the autumn season in our great state. We invite everyone to join us at the People’s House for some good family fun!”  

In addition to over a dozen vendors, activities will include a bounce house, face painting, trick-or-treating, and more. Popular local band the Kay Brothers will perform bluegrass music for everyone to enjoy.

Several vendors are slated to attend, including Missouri Grown, Elderwood Kettle Corn, Missouri State Parks, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Special Olympics Missouri, Scholastics, HAL's Hoppers, and more. 

Children 12 and under are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

OCTOBER 12, 2021

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson announced that new Acting Directors will take over at the Department of Economic Development (DED), Department of Mental Health (DMH), Department of Social Services (DSS), Office of Administration (OA), and Department of Revenue (DOR). 

Department of Economic Development

Maggie Kost will take over as DED Acting Director upon Director Rob Dixon's departure on October 22, 2021. In September, Director Dixon announced he would be taking a new post with Ameren Missouri.

Ms. Kost currently serves as DED Deputy Director and oversees the Department's Administration division. 

Department of Mental Health

Valerie Huhn, current DMH Deputy Director, will become DMH Acting Director upon Director Stringer's retirement, effective at the end of the month. 

Department of Social Services

Robert Knodell, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Parson, will become Acting Director of DSS. Mr. Knodell will resign from the Office of the Governor, effective October 17, 2021, prior to joining DSS. 

Acting Director Jennifer Tidball will be stepping down from her current role to resume her position as Chief Operating Officer of DSS. Ms. Tidball's transition will be effective October 18, 2021. 

Office of Administration 

Current DOR Director Ken Zellers will take over as OA Acting Commissioner. Commissioner Sarah Steelman has stepped down as OA Commissioner, effective immediately. 

Department of Revenue

Joseph Plaggenberg will become DOR Acting Director, effective immediately. Mr. Plaggenberg currently serves as General Counsel for the Department. 

"We appreciate the great work our agency leaders have achieved in service to all Missourians. These leaders have helped move our state forward while navigating some of the hardest times in our state's history," Governor Parson said. "This transition in state government will better position our cabinet to provide the best possible service to Missourians in the coming years. We look forward to our new leaders helping us continue our momentum and bring greater opportunity to Missourians all across the state." 

OCTOBER 12, 2021

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson and Missouri Department of Transportation officials were joined by federal, state, and local leaders to commence construction of the new Interstate 70 Missouri River bridges near Rocheport.

“We are thankful to all our partners who saw the importance of this bridge and came to the table to find solutions,” Governor Parson said. “This new bridge will help keep millions of vehicles moving efficiently and support greater state and local economic growth.”

The current bridge was built in 1960 and is rated as being in poor condition, which may have resulted in weight restrictions in the coming years. The 60-year-old bridge is safe and will continue to be maintained by MoDOT while construction of the new bridge is underway. The bridge carries 12.5 million vehicles per year, including 3.6 million trucks.

The new Missouri River bridge will cost approximately $240 million and will provide a safe and reliable bridge for interstate travelers for the next 100 years. This project was funded in part by an $81.2 million Infrastructure For Rebuilding America Grant, the largest competitive grant ever received by MoDOT.

“Of course, this bridge is not the only Missouri bridge in need of repair. There are hundreds of bridges across the state that need rebuilt or replaced, but this project shows we are making real progress by working together,” Governor Parson said. “We are extremely proud of the work accomplished by our MoDOT team and look forward to seeing what else they achieve in the coming years." 

Governor Parson was joined by Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, Missouri Senator Caleb Rowden, Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill, Cooper County Presiding Commissioner Don Baragary, and Columbia Mayor Brian Treece. Also, in attendance were several Missouri Legislators, representatives from Senator Roy Blunt’s office, local city and county leaders, officials from MoDOT, and members of the team that will design and build the new bridge. Participants were able to take turns tightening bolts on a ceremonial beam, officially launching construction on the project.

“This bridge was designed with the future of Interstate 70 and the safety of the traveling public in-mind,” said MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna. “When complete, it will include two bridges, one in each direction of travel, each wide enough for four lanes of traffic. This approach also allows us to construct both bridges with limited impacts to traffic.”

The new bridges will include many safety enhancements, including a high friction surface treatment and pavement sensors to reduce weather-related incidents, wet reflective striping, and a linear delineation system (a line of reflective signs along the barrier wall) to help increase lane and bridge visibility.

The first bridge will be built north of the current bridge and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023. Traffic will then be transitioned to the new bridge, the current bridge will be demolished, and construction is scheduled to be completed on the eastbound bridge by the end of 2024.

For more information on this project, or to subscribe to emails and updates regarding the new bridge’s progress, visit www.modot.org/RocheportBridge.

OCTOBER 8, 2021

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson ordered U.S. and Missouri flags be flown at half-staff at all government buildings in Linn County on Saturday, October 9, 2021, from sunrise to sunset in honor of WWII Navy Sailor George Merton Gooch.

"We lower the flags to say thank you to U.S. Navy Sailor George Gooch for his and his family's service and sacrifice," Governor Parson said. "The entire State of Missouri joins George's family and the Laclede community in honoring him and finally welcoming him home."

George Gooch of Laclede, Missouri, was killed in action at the age of 22 during World War II on the Battleship USS Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. His remains were not identified until September 14, 2020, using familial DNA from his grand-nephew. 

George Gooch is returning home and will be laid to rest at the Laclede Cemetery in Laclede, Missouri, on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at 1 p.m. He will receive Full Navy Military Funeral Honors conducted by the United States Navy. 

The funeral procession for George Gooch will pass in front of the Pershing Boyhood Home and pause in front of the General John J. Pershing statue before arriving at the Laclede Cemetery.

The flags will be held at half-staff on the day George Gooch is laid to rest. To view the proclamation, click here. 

OCTOBER 8, 2021

Jefferson City — The State of Missouri has created and made available spending toolkits to help local governments identify allowable uses for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) local funds. 

"We want to assist our local partners in making strategic, responsible investments that will serve Missourians for generations to come," Governor Mike Parson said. "Our first priority is to ensure taxpayer funds are used in the most effective ways possible. These toolkits were developed to help our state and local governments work together towards long-term goals that will move our state forward." 

ARPA included fiscal recovery funds for state, local, and tribal governments. These toolkits provide local governments with ideas for allowable uses of these funds and are based on available guidance from the U.S. Treasury. The toolkits are broken down into six different categories:

• Public Health
• Public Safety
• Economic Development
• Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater 
• Broadband
• Behavioral Health

The toolkits can be found here. 

A complete listing of current guidance is available on the U.S. Department of Treasury’s website. Local governments should check the Treasury’s website frequently to stay up to date on current guidance and funding requirements. The U.S. Department of Treasury has specific compliance and reporting requirements associated with the use of ARPA fiscal recovery funds. For more information, please refer directly to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s website.

Municipalities with populations larger than 50,000 and all counties regardless of population size are eligible to receive their allocations directly from the U.S. Treasury. Municipalities with populations smaller than 50,000 – categorized as non-entitlement units (NEUs) – will receive their allocations from the state in two separate payments. To view specific award amounts to local governments, see below:

• Cities (>50,000 population)
• Counties
• NEU total (<50,000 population)

All ARPA state and local funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024, and spent by December 31, 2026. The State of Missouri received more than $2.6 billion in ARPA funds, separate from local government allocations. Specific spending plans for the state's allocation will be presented in Governor Parson's annual budget proposal to the General Assembly and during his 2022 State of the State Address.

OCTOBER 7, 2021

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson and Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe announced that the 2021 Missouri State Fair welcomed 330,125 people through admission gates to celebrate agriculture in the Show-Me State. This following a youth livestock-only State Fair in 2020.

“Agriculture is Missouri’s top economic driver, and the Missouri State Fair is an important time to celebrate the efforts of our farmers and ranchers as well as the young people who work hard on their projects year round,” Governor Parson said. “Missouri State Fair Commissioners, staff, vendors, exhibitors, and everyone involved should be proud of their efforts to make the 2021 Fair a success. It has been a challenging year, but it was great to welcome thousands of fairgoers back to the Fairgrounds."

"Missourians from all across the state know that summer just wouldn't be complete without spending a few hot August days at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia," Governor Parson continued.

As a third-generation farmer and lifelong supporter of the Fair, Governor Parson visited Missouri's number one agriculture showcase on multiple days in 2021, including participating in Opening Day ceremonies and delivering the keynote address to active military and veterans on Military Appreciation Day. 

During his visit, Governor Parson had the opportunity to view some of the Angus cattle shows and visit with several of the thousands of youth livestock exhibitors. In total, there were 23,787 show entries at the 2021 Missouri State Fair. 

The Missouri State Fair celebrated Missouri’s Bicentennial with various displays across the Fairgrounds. Governor Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson visited those displays, including the Bicentennial Quilt in the Womans Building and the Struggle For Statehood display in the Mizzou Central Building.

Additionally, Governor Parson and First Lady Parson joined other elected officials, agriculture leaders, and Missouri high school students to pack 500 share boxes for Feeding Missouri. All total, 203,544 meals and 1,000 boxes were packed this year during the Fair.

“It was terrific to welcome a full crowd back to the Missouri State Fair this year,” Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn said. “The Fair is the showcase of Missouri agriculture and our state’s largest family reunion. I am extremely proud of the work carried out by the State Fair staff to make this year’s event spectacular.”

“It was great to have the traditional Missouri State Fair back again this past August," Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe said. “It was exciting to see our youth exhibitors showing off the best of Missouri agriculture, along with all the other friends and families we missed last year. Thanks to all the staff at the Missouri Department of Agriculture, State Fair staff, our dedicated Fair-time staff that returns year after year to help put this event on, and certainly to Governor Parson and the legislature for their continued support of Missouri agriculture and the State Fair.”

The 2022 Missouri State Fair will take place August 11-21 in Sedalia. To learn more, visit www.MoStateFair.com.

OCTOBER 4, 2021

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson confirmed that the state of Missouri will carry out the sentence of Mr. Ernest Lee Johnson on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, as ordered by the Supreme Court of Missouri.

“The state is prepared to deliver justice and carry out the lawful sentence Mr. Johnson received in accordance with the Missouri Supreme Court's order,” Governor Parson said.

Mr. Johnson was tried and convicted for the brutal murder of three innocent victims during a robbery in 1994. The evidence showed Mr. Johnson went to great lengths to plan and conceal his crime. Three juries have reviewed Mr. Johnson's case and recommended a sentence of death. Mr. Johnson's claim that he is not competent to be executed has been reviewed and rejected by a jury and the courts six different times, including a unanimous decision by the Missouri Supreme Court. Mr. Johnson has received due process under the laws in the state trial court, Missouri Supreme Court, federal district court, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

OCTOBER 4, 2021

Jefferson City — Governor Mike Parson has ordered the Missouri State Capitol dome to be lighted purple on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, in recognition of Alzheimer’s Awareness Day.

“The State Capitol dome will be lit purple to show our support for the many Missourians impacted by Alzheimer's disease,” Governor Parson said. “Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating illness that affects many of our loved ones, and we can all help spread awareness and lend our support to help find a cure that ends this disease.”

The dome will light up at sunset on October 5 and remain lit through sunrise on October 6. The color purple is the signature color of the Alzheimer’s Association. Combining the calmness of blue and the passion of red, purple represents the uncompromising strength of the Alzheimer’s Association and its supporters.

There will be a Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Jefferson City on October 10. Please visit the Walk to End Alzheimer’s website to find a walk near you.

"Alzheimer's disease is a growing public health crisis. The pandemic highlighted the struggle for those with dementia and their caregivers," said Jerry Dowell, Vice President of Public Policy, Alzheimer's Association Greater Missouri Chapter. "The 3rd Annual Alzheimer's Awareness Day gives us an opportunity to support Missourians affected by this disease."

Pictures of the lighting will be available on Governor Parson’s Flickr page. Citizens are encouraged to share pictures on social media.