The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved what could be a major development in the fight against the coronavirus.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson made the announcement during a live briefing Wednesday afternoon. He said it was just approved for use by the FDA. It was developed by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis.
“This new saliva-based COVID-19 test… is a major development in testing technology and will help us continue to increase testing volumes and improve turnaround time for test results,” Gov. Parson said.
According to a release from Washington University, the saliva test was developed by a team from the Department of Genetics and the McDonnell Genome Institute, both at Washington University School of Medicine.
According to a release from the university, the ability to scale up the number of tests that can be conducted also has the potential to help St. Louis city and county, as well as the state of Missouri and regional businesses, reopen safely.
It also said the saliva tests could be given periodically to residents of nursing home and retirement communities, who are more vulnerable to infection because of age. Those who test positive could be quickly identified and quarantined.
The new test allows individuals to provide a saliva sample instead of the long nasal swabs that everyone hates.
"I offered my opinion to the good folks at the Daily American Republic regarding the endless attack ads my opponents continue to circulate." according to Steve Cookson.
Eddy Justice is running a campaign of negativity based on outright lies and fabrications, demagoguery at its worst. Is this the type of senatorial representation you want? It flies in the face of my Christian faith.
If my eight years in the Missouri House after my 30-year career in public education qualifies me as “an establishment politician,” so be it. If anything, it allows me a more intimate understanding of the issues Southeast Missourians face, and a platform to do something about it.
To The Editor:
As a Republican candidate in the Aug. 4 primary election for the Missouri 25th Senatorial District nomination, I have run a positive campaign on my solid qualifications to help solve issues facing Missouri government.
However, the outrageously negative fabrications being distributed by Eddy Justice cannot stand unanswered. Paid for by the Kansas City-based “Justice for All PAC,” bank-rolled by big city mega-donors, the slick fliers feature a brown-shirted Justice in a scowling “tough guy” stance.
The flip sides of the mailers have photos of myself and the other two (honorable) candidates with headlines reading “big city liberals and establishment politicians” and “weak, establishment, Jeff City Swamp Creatures.” Even though the copy states “Eddy has never held public office,” he allowed himself to be a stooge of the disgraced Gov. Eric Greitens (he was forced to resign), who packed the Missouri Board of Education with Eddy and others to get rid of an excellent education commissioner and appoint a Greitens crony to the post. (The duly appointed board later reinstated the original commissioner when Eddy and the others couldn’t get confirmed by the Senate.)
This type of campaign negativity based on outright lies and fabrications is demagoguery at its worst. Is this the type of senatorial representation you want? It flies in the face of my Christian faith.
If my eight years in the Missouri House after my 30-year career in public education qualifies me as “an establishment politician,” so be it. I worked side-by-side with Speaker of the House Todd Richardson of Poplar Bluff, serving as chair of the Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education as well as chair of the Committee on Higher Education.
The “big city liberal” charge is preposterous. I’m a small-town, common sense, rural conservative interested in one thing: Making Missouri a better place for all of our children and grandchildren, regardless of color, creed, national heritage or station in life. Period. And, I have the legislative experience and credentials to get things done.
I graduated from Advance High School in 1976 and played guard on the 1975 state champion Advance basketball team coached by my father, Carroll Cookson. I went on to play basketball for legendary Coach Gene Bess at Three Rivers Community College, where I graduated in 1978 after our team won third in the nation.
I then earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology from the College of the Ozarks, as well as a Master’s Degree in education administration and a Specialist Degree in education administration and public policy, both from Southeast Missouri State University.
I coached basketball and taught science at five area high schools, served as high school principal at three others and finished the last nine years of my career as superintendent of the Naylor school system. After retiring, I served a six-year term as a member of the Board of Trustees at Three Rivers.
Besides making things better for all Missourians, I’ll never lose sight of our rich agricultural heritage and the precious cultural and natural resources of Southeast Missouri.
Some of you will remember that I became quite ill with a failing liver near the end of my eight years of service in the Missouri House. I am happy to report that with excellent medical care and improved medications I have regained my health and energy and have largely recovered.
My primary goals in the Senate will be to promote meaningful skills education and workforce development, support small businesses and continue my advocacy for agriculture, which, after all, is our most important economic driver in the 25th District.
I intend to continue with my positive campaign. I trust that our district voters will be able to see through any future dishonest negativity should it rear its ugly head.
I’ve devoted my entire adult life to public service, and I ask for your support on Aug. 4 as the most experienced and qualified candidate on the ballot.
Sincerely,
Steve Cookson
Missouri Senate Candidate
District No. 25
On July 27, 1953, an armistice was signed on the Korean peninsula. We give our eternal thanks to those who so selflessly gave their lives so that we may live in freedom and liberty today.
"THEREFORE, I hereby proclaim July 27, 2020, to be KOREAN WAR VETERANS DAY in Missouri," stated Governor Mike Parson.
In the summer of 1950, the United States took military action to defend the sovereign nation of South Korea, which had been unjustly attacked on June 25th.
More than 34,000 brave Americans gave their lives in this conflict, defending liberty, protecting the ideals of democracy and liberating the oppressed; and over a period of three years from 1950 to 1953, more than 1.7 million American troops fought bravely to advance the cause of freedom and liberty in harsh battles such as Pork Chop Hill, Heartbreak Ridge, the Pusan Perimeter and the Chosin Reservoir; and on July 27, 1953, an armistice was signed to end active hostilities on the Korean peninsula.
America honors those who bravely served and those whose fate is still unknown.
All Americans give our eternal thanks to those who so selflessly gave their lives so that we may live in freedom and liberty today.
On this day, July 27, 2020, Michael L. Parson, Governor of the state of Missouri proclaims Korean War Veterans Day.
Thank you to all those who supported me during my bid for a place on the Dexter Public School Board. We did it! It will be my honor to represent the students, administrators, teachers, and staff on the Dexter School Board with honesty and integrity.
Thank you, also, to everyone who took the time to get out and vote. No matter where your conscience guides you or who you decide to support, our ability to cast a vote for those we feel will represent us best is what makes our community (and country) so great.
I look forward to working with the other School Board Members to help guide our school district through this unprecedented and challenging time.
Thank you,
Ron Glaus
Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO) announced that Madi Holt of Advance High School has been selected as the overall winner for Missouri’s Eighth Congressional District in the 2020 Congressional Art Competition. Holt’s work “Patriotism Lives On” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year.
“I was blown away by the quality of the artwork we received this year from across southern Missouri,” said Congressman Smith. “First, let me say congratulations to Madi for being chosen as this year’s winner. Not only is her piece stunning, but its depiction of one of our nation’s veterans is the perfect representation of southern Missouri to hang in the halls of the U.S. Capitol. I encourage everyone to visit our virtual arty gallery, to see some of the incredible artistic skill that resides in our area.”
Congressman Smith also announced the Top 20 pieces of art that are now hanging in the virtual art gallery available. In total, Congressman Smith’s office accepted nearly 150 submissions from local high school artists.
Here is a complete list of the Top 20 students and their pieces of art:
“Thayer Frisco Depot” by Skyler Todd of Thayer High School
“Collateral Damage” by Demi Tabor of Bakersfield High School
“Returning Home” by Willow Collins of Bakersfield High School
“Strawberry Jam” by Connor Quimby of West Plains High School
“The Sixties” by Kiersten Shelley of West Plains High School
“Polaroid” by Lara Stevens of Salem High School
“Frisco Station” by Luke Bartlett of Salem High School
“She's Out Of Her Mind” by Sarah Gilliam of Rolla High School
“Noir et Blanc” by William Graves of Mountain Grove High School
“Drummer” by Amelia McKinney of Houston High School
“Aysia” by Jada Martin of Jackson High School
“Local Serenity” by Alice Mansell of Jackson High School
“Patriotism Lives On” by Madi Holt of Advance High School
“Gallery Thoughts” by Sarah Steinhibler of Jackson High School
“Leader of our Nation” by Jenna Oberle of Advance High School
“Exodus” by Haven Bleavins of Richland High School
“It's Not Always Gloomy” by Ashland Wheeler of Richland High School
“Elvis Pigsley” by Elizabeth Arnold of Richland High School
“Blue Boy” by Anastasya Kelley of Southern Reynolds County R-2
“Lost in Space” by Destiny Keathley of Southern Reynolds County R-2
