Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Jackson and St. Louis counties are asking to appeal a Cole County judge's ruling that said local health departments in Missouri cannot issue health orders. Attorney General Eric Schmitt declined to appeal the case.

A spokeswoman for the state department of health said ‘there are no plans to use internal or outside counsel’ in order to pursue an appeal

Jurisdictions with mask mandates averaged 15.8 cases per day for every 100,000 residents, compared to 21.7 in unmasked communities.

Only 18 of Missouri’s 500-plus school districts have signed up for screening testing for COVID-19, even though the program is entirely free thanks to the federal government.

New rules require state inspectors to report violations directly to Medicaid auditors, which could jeopardize funding.

Abortion-rights advocates say the rules are an attempt by state lawmakers to curb access to Planned Parenthood, the state’s only abortion provider.

Only 45,000 of Missouri adults who received the vaccine since the state announced its vaccine lottery have entered the statewide drawing. That's fewer than 15% of the more than 600,000 people in total who have entered the drawing for $10,000 prizes, which ends next month. Still, the state health director calls the vaccination lottery a success.

Donald Kauerauf said Thursday that as head of the Department of Health and Senior Services, he aims to boost the state’s COVID-19 vaccination rates. He supports masking and other public health measures to decrease coronavirus infections but opposes vaccine mandates. Instead, he said the state should focus on giving residents more information.

The state could end up paying Texas-based SLSCO up to $30 million through the emergency contract.

Missouri was awarded nearly $185 million in federal funds to support the program’s implementation.