Searchers have found the body of a Fort Leonard Wood soldier reported missing after kayaking on the Gasconade River.
The Missouri State Highway Patrols says the body of Specialist Joshua Morrison was located about a half mile downstream from the Highway 17 bridge in Pulaski County.
Morrison disappeared Monday on the Gasconade near Ruby’s Landing.
Springfield Police say a motorcyclist has died after a crash at South Campbell near James River Freeway Thursday morning.
The motorcyclist struck a vehicle that was exiting the James River Freeway ramp and was thrown from his bike.
The motorcyclist name has not yet been released.
The crash tied up traffic for several hours.
Law enforcement officials are trying to determine what happened to a man whose body was found earlier this week in the Lake of the Ozarks.
55 year old James Jensen of Kansas City was found floating in a cove on the main channel of the lake Tuesday.
The Highway Patrol says Jensen had last been seen on Sunday.
Investigators are trying to determine when and why he was in the water.
An autopsy in planned.
Governor Mike Parson announced a plan to use $400 million-dollars in federal funding to boost access to high speed internet.
The governor unveiled his plan to use federal funds from the American Rescue Plan at the Missouri State Fair Thursday.
The Missouri Legislature will still need to approve the spending, when they return to work in January.
Mercy is making an $18 million dollar additional annual commitment to increase the starting wage for all employees across its multistate health system to $15.00 per hour.
Mercy says the move will push more than 6,000 of its employees’ pay to the $15.00 mark.
That figure will also serve as the starting wage for all new hires.
The new minimum wage for Mercy workers goes into affect September 19th, and employees will see the raise reflected in their paychecks as early as October 8th.
The thousands affected by the wage increase include food service, transportation and pharmacy, housekeepers, medical and lab techs.
A disaster relief organization based in Springfield is feeding more than 3.5 million meals to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
Ethan Forhetz is the Vice President of Public Engagement and the National Spokesman for Convoy of Hope.
Forhetz says Convoy of Hope was already on the ground in Haiti for the Children’s Feeding Initiative.
In addition to providing food, Forhetz says Convoy is providing other essential supplies.
Anyone interested in volunteering for Convoy of Hope or to send donations can click here.
Several lanes of traffic have been impacted Thursday by a late morning crash on southbound Campbell past James River Freeway in Springfield.
Police responded to the wreck around 10:45 a.m.
The crash involved at least one motorcyclist and the driver of another vehicle.
There’s no word yet on injuries.
As of early afternoon, the southbound left and center lanes were closed, as well as the ramp to go from eastbound James River Freeway to Campbell.
The westbound James River Freeway ramp to Campbell was also shut down while police worked the crash.
The Springfield-Greene County Health Department has updated the community on the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in this area, as well as hospitalizations and vaccines.
Here’s the latest from the health department’s edited news release:
Thirteen COVID-19 deaths were reported to the Health Department between Aug. 11-17. Nine of these deaths occurred in August, which includes a woman in her 20s. This brings the total number of people who have died from COVID-19 so far this month to 24.
The deaths of these individuals underscore the importance of getting vaccinated to prevent severe illness from COVID-19. The conditions that cause someone to be at an increased risk for hospitalization and death are experienced by many in our community, and include things like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and a history of smoking. Everyone 12 and older needs to take the important step of getting vaccinated to protect themselves, their loved ones, and our community.
Individuals lost include:
A total of 556 Greene County residents have died from COVID-19. Ten people who were fully vaccinated have died from COVID-19 since January 1, for a breakthrough rate of 4.4%. All individuals had underlying health conditions.
Although hospitalizations and fatalities among fully vaccinated individuals are rare, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that immunocompromised individuals may have a reduced response to the COVID-19 vaccination, leaving them more susceptible to illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that immunocompromised individuals who received an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna) seek a third dose 28 days after they received the second. Those who have questions about whether they should receive a third dose of the vaccine should speak with their physician.
The COVID-19 vaccines are our best defense against the virus and the Delta variant circulating in our community. The vaccines are safe, effective and help prevent severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths.
A list of vaccine opportunities can be found at vaccine417.com or by calling the COVID-19 Call Center at (417) 874-1211.
Number of Greene County residents fully vaccinated (as of Aug. 18)
Cases by vaccination status (among cases where the vaccination status is known)
Current hospitalizations
For the reporting period from Aug. 2 – Aug 15, 2021:
COVID-19 cases
Percent fully vaccinated by age group
Additional information, including daily updates, can be found on the Health Department’s COVID-19 dashboard at http://health.springfieldmo.gov/coronavirus
A recording of today’s media availability can be viewed at https://cityview.springfieldmo.gov/livestream/
The Missouri political world is mourning the loss of Steve Walsh, a longtime press secretary for Western Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartlzer.
Walsh died Thursday morning following a battle with COVID-19.
Walsh’s wife, State Representative Sara Walsh, tweeted “It saddens my heart to share that this morning, my best friend and beloved husband, Steve Walsh, was welcomed to Heaven’s glory into the arms of Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior.”
Walsh says arrangements are pending.
Steve Walsh was hospitalized earlier this month after both he and Sara Walsh contracted the virus.
Walsh had served as Hartzler’s press secretary since 2010. He also worked in news radio for more than 25 years.
It saddens my heart to share that this morning my best friend and beloved husband Steve Walsh was welcomed to Heaven’s glory into the arms of Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior. Arrangements pending. Thank you to everyone who has lifted us up in prayer.
pic.twitter.com/135IWfgC7s
— Sara Walsh (@SaraForMissouri) August 19, 2021
A man has been rushed to the hospital with critical injuries following a shooting near Springfield’s Medical Mile Plaza on south National.
Police say when officers got on scene around 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, they found a man with multiple gunshot wounds.
Officers closed off part of the northbound lanes of National overnight while they investigated the scene.
Police believe the suspect may be driving a white vehicle.
A witness says the driver of the white car stopped on National, got out of the vehicle wearing a face covering, shot the victim and got back in the car and drove away.
Police believe this is an isolated incident with no threat to the general public.