Tessa Weinberg | Missouri Independent

Shannon County, known for its natural beauty that draws tourists, has one of the lowest COVID vaccination rates in Missouri.

Gov. Mike Parson has signed a bill that advocates say will help prevent opioid abuse after nearly a decade of failed attempts.

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled the "paycheck protection" law, which was approved in 2018 and contained exceptions for police and other public safety unions, was unconstitutional.

The proposal, a priority of Gov. Mike Parson and the chamber of commerce, faces long odds with the end of the legislative session looming.

The underlying bill was tabled before it could be granted initial approval by the House.

Recent changes have caused drastic swings in the vaccination rates on Missouri's COVID-19 dashboard.

At mass vaccination events in rural areas last week, hundreds of doses went unused and some were wasted.

All unused doses were sent to other vaccine providers in the area, state health officials said

In some rural counties, health agencies mistakenly doled out vaccines that were intended to be booster shots

The county health department’s last vaccine shipment from the state was Jan. 19. The shortage doesn’t affect people waiting for their second doses, but it could stop the county from scheduling appointments for patients seeking the first shot.

Previously identified vaccine deserts in Boonville, Owensville and Hayti have dissipated since an earlier analysis.

“It would be up to him but my view would be what the president should do is now finish the last 10 days of his presidency,” Blunt said.