Cape Girardeau County Commission 9 a.m. today 1 Barton Square, Jackson Approval of minute n Minutes from March 4 meeting Communications/reports -- other elected officials n COVID-19 Update: In an effort to keep Cape Girardeau County residents safe and aware regarding the status of the virus, Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director Mark Winkler will be issuing an update at County Commission meetings. ...

Gov. Mike Parson announced a new COVID-19 vaccine channel Thursday and also signaled a shift in geographic allocations of vaccine doses. Parson announced a plan to send 15% of the state's weekly vaccine allocation to pharmacies across the state. "With vaccine supply continuing to increase and more Missourians becoming eligible, we will now begin shipping vaccines to pharmacies in all regions and communities throughout the state," he said. ...

Fundraising has been a challenge for not-for-profit organizations over the last year because of COVID-19. Face-to-face efforts have moved to telephone conversations and events have had to adapt in order to raise money these entities rely on to help communities. Many not-for-profits had to change directions and rethink fundraisers, many of which rely heavily if not solely on donations. Some organizations rescheduled, some postponed, and some ended up canceling. ...

For the first time since last fall, Cape Girardeau County’s COVID-19 data shows the county meets two of three criteria of several necessary for health officials to eliminate the county’s face-covering order. According to information provided by the county’s Public Health Center, active cases fell by a net of 233 Wednesday to 96, below the 250 baseline called for in the county’s order, and the 14-day tally of new cases is 127, below the threshold of 200 outlined in the order. ...

Veterans Affairs patients in Southeast Missouri may be able to receive a first-dose COVID-19 vaccine Monday at the VA hospital in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. John J. Pershing VA Medical Center will host an extended-hours vaccination clinic from 1 to 6:30 p.m. The medical center is at 1500 N. Westwood Blvd. in Poplar Bluff...

ST. LOUIS — More than 7,700 doses of vaccine were left over after mass vaccination events across Missouri last week, fueling frustrations rural counties haven't been able to find enough people to use them while urban residents are desperate for a dose...

O'FALLON, Mo. -- Medical researchers in St. Louis are trying to determine why a small percentage of children and young adults who test positive for COVID-19 develop a life-threatening condition that can cause severe inflammation of the heart, brain and other organs, university officials said Friday...

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Jean Andrade, an 88-year-old who lives alone, has been waiting for her COVID-19 vaccine since she became eligible under state guidelines nearly a month ago. She assumed her caseworker would contact her about getting one, especially after she spent nearly two days stuck in an electric recliner during a recent power outage...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Local health officials in Missouri would be prevented from ordering businesses and schools to close for more than 15 days during an emergency without getting permission of elected officeholders under a Republican bill that got initial backing Wednesday...