WASHINGTON — Federal health officials are releasing $3 billion to help states cope with rising substance abuse and mental health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The money approved by Congress in President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief bill will be equally divided between the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and the Substance Abuse Prevention and…
LONDON (AP) — Toasts of joy and hugs between friends were on the menu as pubs and restaurants in the U.K. reopened for indoor service for the first time since early January. The prime minister, however, urged people to be cautious amid the spread of a more contagious COVID-19 variant first found in India. The…
A number of states immediately embraced new guidelines from the CDC that say fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks indoors or out in most situations. But other states — and some businesses — are taking a wait-and-see attitude amid questions of whether the new policy is safe or even workable, given that…
At a joint news conference this morning, St. Louis Mayor Tishauara Jones and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced that they are following the lead of the CDC and allowing fully vaccinated people to not wear masks in most places if they choose. The change takes effect immediately. Both Jones and Page said the…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is easing mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings. The new guidance announced Thursday is a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life. It still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting in the death of George Floyd will be pushed back to March 2022. Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao were scheduled to face trial Aug. 23. The officers’ co-defendant, Derek Chauvin, has already been convicted of murder and…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has dropped plans to expand the state’s Medicaid program after the Legislature declined to provide money for a measure approved by voters. The Republican governor said Thursday that his administration has withdrawn an expansion plan that had been submitted to federal officials. Parson said he cannot…
The new mayor of St. Louis says the head of the city’s oft-criticized corrections department will resign at the end of the month. Mayor Tishaura Jones said in a news release Wednesday that Dale Glass wasn’t asked to resign as corrections commissioner, but she made clear that she wasn’t pleased with his job performance. In…
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans have ousted Rep. Liz Cheney from her post as the chamber’s No. 3 GOP leader. They used a voice vote to punish her after she repeatedly rebuked former President Donald Trump for his false claims of election fraud and his role in inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. A closed-door…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gov. Mike Parson says he’s cutting off all federal pandemic unemployment benefits to Missourians. Parson on Tuesday announced those federal benefits will end June 12. The Republican governor says there’s a labor shortage. He hopes cutting off extra unemployment aid will push people to work. At least four other states…