Biden plan would spend $16B to clean up old mines, oil wells

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s plan to transform America’s infrastructure includes $16 billion to plug old oil and gas wells and clean up abandoned mines. Hundreds of thousands of “orphaned” oil and gas wells and abandoned coal and hardrock mines pose serious safety hazards, while causing ongoing environmental damage. The administration sees the longstanding…

Three Madison County Area Agencies Each Receive $10,000 Grant from AmerenCares

Funds will support a variety of programs to help local residents during pandemic COLLINSVILLE (MARCH 2021) – Children’s Home and Aid, Soup n Share Outreach and Good Samaritan House in Madison County each received a $10,000 grant from AmerenCares to support community members near the Granite City-Roxford reliability project. “We are thrilled to receive a…

Spire extends deadline for energy assistance to help customers impacted by coronavirus

Missouri customers who are struggling can still apply for help through May 30.   ST. LOUIS (March 31, 2021) — Spire is extending the deadline for its energy assistance program that is available to Missouri customers who are experiencing financial hardship and have past-due balances because of the pandemic.  The program was originally scheduled to end on…

Nearly 25% of Missourians have at least 1 vaccination shot

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri health officials say nearly 25% of the state’s residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot. The health department’s COVID-19 dashboard reported Tuesday that 1.5 million Missourians have begun the vaccination process, and 902,026 are fully vaccinated. One of the highest vaccination rates is in Joplin, where officials…