Hospital officials in Springfield are holding their breath as they deal with an increase in COVID-19 cases. They are also battling low immunization rates.

A fast-spreading coronavirus mutation in Missouri is fueling a rise in cases. The state’s epidemiologist says vaccines alone may not be enough to stop the delta variant.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson has signed 13 bills that make up the state budget. The move comes after the last-minute approval of a tax to help fund Medicaid and hours before the start of Missouri’s new fiscal year.

Fontbonne University in St. Louis and Quincy University are among the schools launching a new sprint football league. Fontbonne President, Dr. Nancy Blattner is the founding chair of the league’s board of governors and says the sport can boost the entire university.

The federal government plans to send more debt relief payments to Black farmers in recognition of how the USDA and local farm credit offices denied generations of people loans and foreclosed on their properties. For many, the money will be too late to reverse the decades of damage caused by discrimination in farming.

Many hemp growers in the Midwest are finding it more difficult than anticipated to sell the crop for industrial uses. That has led to a drop in the number of licenses in at least one state.

Most states don’t allow transgender people to correct their names on marriage documents. Some lawmakers and advocates are working to change that in Illinois.

Twenty-five percent of Illinois marijuana sales tax revenue goes to grants for underserved communities. There appears to be some success, but many say a lot can be improved to help community organizations.

The head of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force says it’s time for the region to adjust to a “new normal.” Dr. Alex Garza’s comments come as the group stops weekly briefings with reporters after more than a year.

The tense relationship between the city of St. Louis and the organizations that provide services to homeless people has prompted the St. Louis Continuum of Care to consider breaking off to form its own independent nonprofit.