Watch live- White House COVID-19 briefing

Missouri COVID-19 death toll increases to 18

(From the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services)

Update for 4/1:

Cases in Missouri: 1581
Total Deaths: 18
Patients tested in Missouri (by all labs): approximately 17,427 (Testing total as of 3/31)

For more information: https://health.mo.gov/…/commu…/novel-coronavirus/results.php

MSSU rides out the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea

(From Southern News Service)

There was some loneliness and boredom to deal with as Ana Elvia Sanchez Rosales made the adjustment to college life in the age of COVID-19.

With classes moved online and a lot of down time to fill, there was plenty of Netflix and social media, though she quickly grew tired of both. She purchased some colored pencils and markers to draw, worked on learning a second language and played cards with her housemates.

There’s a difference between the senior international business major’s experience and that of other Missouri Southern State University students, however.

She’s riding out the global pandemic at Sangmyung University in Seoul, South Korea.

‘The first week was rough’

For the last six months, Sanchez Rosales has been focused on this study abroad opportunity.

She worked long hours – sometimes 45 to 60 hours a week – in order to save up the money she would need, all while carrying an 18 credit-hour schedule at Missouri Southern.

“Before I left, I told myself that if I did not return a changed person or with no growth, it would have been a waste of my time and hard work,” she says. “I want to return with a more open mind, new ideas, knowledge and connections that will help me in the future.”

She and another student (who has since returned to the United States) were informed they needed to be in Seoul by Feb. 20 in order to move into the private university’s residence halls and attend orientation. A few days before her flight, she received an email stating that classes would be pushed back by two weeks but students could still arrive on their original itinerary.

Upon her arrival at the university, the Missouri Southern students were informed they would need to self-quarantine in the dorms for two weeks, and wear masks whenever they weren’t in their rooms.

“Let’s just say that the first week was rough,” says Sanchez Rosales. “We were given several documents and some vague information about how the quarantine would go, and a thermometer. We were to check our temperature twice a day – at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. – to check for symptoms and record it.”

Food came in the form of purchases from an on-campus convenience store.

“The first week I survived off of ramen, kimbap (a Korean dish made from cooked rice and other ingredients, and rolled in seaweed) and water,” she says. “I quickly grew tired of this so sometimes I would sleep just to avoid feeling hunger.’

She was remaining in contact with friends from MSSU, including one who was originally from South Korea. Her friend, she says, was worried about her poor eating habits.

“The following week, her father took us grocery shopping so we could by fruits and vegetables, along with eggs and milk,” Sanchez Rosales says. “My friend’s mother also loaned us some pans, silverware and plates.”

Eventually, the students were allowed to leave campus and learned to navigate the local bus system.

“I’m good now that I have learned how to get my food and necessities,” she says.

‘It weighed on my mind’

It was not an easy decision to remain in Seoul during the pandemic, Sanchez Rosales says.

“In Korea now, the situation seems to be better than it is in the United States,” she says. “It’s free to get tested for the virus and it is accessible. You can find many testing areas easily.

“But the most important reason of all is that I do not want to put my family at risk. My mother has pre-existing health conditions that raise the risk of infection, and my brother’s girlfriend is pregnant. It was something that weighed on my mind for several days and I finally came to the decision that I would ride out the virus here.”

Her online classes have been extended through April 11, but there are signs that life is beginning to return to normal in Seoul.

“In the beginning, everyone was very paranoid,” Sanchez Rosales says. “People are still scared but slowly trying to return to their normal lives. There are more people going out. There is no shortage of items like toilet paper, cleaning supplies, water or food.

“There are signs everywhere with steps regarding how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Every time there is a nearby confirmed case, we receive an emergency alert that allows people to know where the hotspots are. I feel like Korea has been doing a good job of trying to contain the virus.”

Sanchez Rosales says she has been keeping in regular contact with her family and friends back home. But it’s disconcerting keeping track of how the United States is dealing with the crisis at a time when the situation in Seoul seems to be improving.

“I have been keeping tabs on how the U.S. is responding to COVID-19, and watching the news from here is honestly very crazy and baffling,” she says. “Korea doesn’t have a shortage of the things America does. I’m more worried about my family and friends at home than I am for myself here.”

Attorney General issues consumer alert to parents- Watch children's online activity

(From Attorney General Eric Schmitt)

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is issuing a consumer alert and a public service announcement for parents to be watchful of their children’s online activity during quarantine or stay at home orders, as traffickers or other bad actors may use that increased online presence as a way to contact, groom, or otherwise exploit children.

“Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, children are undoubtedly online more often and potentially more susceptible to bad actors who may try to groom or exploit them,” said Attorney General Schmitt.

“Although everyone is busy with work at home schedules, parents should be vigilant in watching their children’s online activity.”

During the COVID -19 pandemic and subsequent school closures and stay at home orders, kids are spending more time online. They are using technology to continue their learning, stay in touch with family, friends and social activities as well as entertainment.

Parents who are busy with work and other demands may find it increasingly difficult to monitor their child’s online activity. This creates increased opportunities for traffickers and other exploiters to contact, groom and exploit kids.

Some helpful tips to watch what your children are doing online:

-Devices should be used in the shared spaces of your home, not in your child’s bedroom or behind closed doors.







-Establish a time at night (like 9pm) in which all devices are turned off. Setting these basic parameters limiting time and space opportunities have been shown to significantly reduce risks associated with unmonitored internet use for youth.

-Be present and involved when your child installs a new app on their device. Most apps have privacy settings that default to public. You may need to help your child set up the privacy settings with most every new app or game they use. For example, if your child’s church youth group wants to meet through Instagram, you should be involved in the set-up of that app so that the privacy settings are set correctly.

If your kids are on your cell phone plan, you can change settings in the app store such that they cannot download apps without parental approval

If you see or suspect something suspicious, call the Missouri Attorney General’s Human Trafficking hotline at 1-844-487-0492. Additionally, visit MakeMoFree.com for more resources and information.

Seven more COVID-19 deaths in Oklahoma, 30 so far

(From the Oklahoma State Department of Health)

As of this advisory, there are 719 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. 

Greer County has been added to the list of counties now required to come into compliance with Governor Kevin Stitt's "Safer at Home" executive order that calls for non-essential businesses in counties with COVID-19 cases to temporarily suspend services until April 16.

There are an additional seven deaths:

Three in Oklahoma County, a female in the 50-64 age group and a male and female older than 65.
One in Greer County, a female older than 65.
One in Kay County, a male older than 65.
One in Mayes County, a male in the 50-64 age group.
One in Osage County, a male older than 65.

There are 30 total deaths in the state.

Drive-thru testing sites are open today:

Woodward from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Woodward County Event Center.
Altus from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Western Oklahoma State College.
Comanche from 2 p.m - 4 p.m. at the Comanche County Memorial Hospital.

REMINDER: Governor Stitt’s “Safer at Home” order includes the following guidelines for all 77 counties until April 30:

No gatherings in groups larger than 10 people.

People age 65 or older or those with a compromised immune system must shelter at home.

On both statewide and municipal levels, individuals can still leave for essential errands such as to grocery stores or pharmacies. Please call 2-1-1 or visit covidresources.ok.gov for resources and information.

For more information, visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov.

Leggett & Platt CEO Glassman made $10.1 million last year

There is money to be made in the bedding industry.

Carthage-based Leggett & Platt's CEO Karl Glassman made $10,193,212 in total compensation, according to a definitive proxy statement filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Whether that indicated rough times for Glassman, it's hard to tell, but his compensation package fell from the previous year when he received $10,567,930.

The lion's share of the money, $6,117,860, came in stock awards to go along with Glassman's base salary of $1,225,000, a $1,908,060 bonus, $163,146 in a change in the value of his pension and $779,556 in "all other compensation."

That total included $69,699 in executive "perks," which are described in the statement as being "use of a Company car, product samples, and limited personal use of corporate aircraft by the CEO. Mr. Glassman’s use of corporate aircraft for personal travel by him and his guests, subject to the aircraft not being scheduled for business purposes(.)"

Leggett & Platt puts a strict requirement on the use of that corporate jet, according to the statement. Glassman is limited to 100,000 miles annually.

While workers across the United States are losing their jobs or are concerned about losing their jobs, even CEOs aren't immune, so fortunately Leggett & Platt has provided Glassman with a soft landing should he ever lose his job.

If the company changes hands and Glassman finds himself out of a job, he will receive an $18,880, 951 benefits package, including $5,390,000. Thankfully, if that situation occurs next week, Glassman would not be put in a position where he would have to wait for the government to send a $1,200 check.

Glassman would also continue to have his health and life insurance covered "through the protected period under the severance agreements," according to the statement."

The proxy statement also includes a comparison between Glassman's compensation package and that which is afford to a "median" company employee:

The annual compensation of Leggett’s Chief Executive Officer for 2019 (as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table on page 42, plus the value of employer-provided health benefits) was $10,204,342, and the annual compensation for our median employee (including employer-provided health benefits) was $36,441 resulting in a ratio of 280 to 1.

Kohl's: We're staying closed

(From Kohl's)

Dear Kohl's customers,

As the world and our country come together to manage through the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and safe.

In recent weeks, we have all needed to take extreme steps for the health and well-being of our shared communities.

Our hearts are with those diagnosed with the virus, and our deepest gratitude goes out to the heroes of this moment, including the doctors, nurses, health care professionals and everyone on the front line across the country who are displaying incredible bravery to support the greater good. They set an inspiring example for all of us.

At Kohl’s we remain committed to the national efforts in slowing the spread of the virus. We have decided to extend our temporary store closures, until further notice, for the health and safety of our associates and customers.

We are closely monitoring the situation and will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, based on the guidance of experts, including the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We look forward to welcoming you back to our stores when we reopen. We will continue to provide updates, including news of store openings, at Corporate.Kohls.com.

While our stores are closed, we continue to serve you and the millions of families who shop with us through Kohls.com and the Kohl’s App, 24-hours a day, and we will ship your items directly to your home.

In addition, beginning April 2, we will be offering a new curbside pick-up service to provide you with more convenient options to shop Kohl’s.

Customers can shop online and get their items within 2 hours through limited contact curbside pick-up, available at most Kohl's stores daily between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Items available for limited contact curbside pick-up will be marked on Kohls.com with “Drive Up”.






After placing your order online, simply pull up next to the designated Drive Up sign, call the store and one of our associates will bring your items to your car and place them directly in your trunk. More details on this service, including participating stores can be found on Kohls.com starting on April 2nd.

I want to personally thank all of our associates that have shown incredible agility and dedication to our customers. To ensure all of our buildings and facilities remain a safe place to work, we continue our enhanced cleaning, sanitization and social distancing efforts.

It is fair to say that these past weeks have been amongst the most daunting and extraordinary that we have experienced in our lifetime. We are being tested in ways far beyond what we could have ever imagined, and yet, we are also coming together with renewed purpose, finding greater strength and resilience from each other. Thank you for being a loyal customer, at Kohl’s serving you is our highest purpose. We look forward to seeing you back in our stores soon.

Please be safe and take care of yourself and your family.

With gratitude,

Michelle Gass Kohl's Chief Executive Officer

Former Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr's city issues stay-at-home order

The city of Marshall, Texas, where former Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr is city manager, and Harrison County in which it is located, issued a shelter-in-place order Tuesday.

Rohr explained to KTBS, the ABC affiliate in Shreveport, Louisiana, the reason for the order.

The three cases that we're aware of, that tested positive, were travel-related cases. And we thought it was important to protect our citizens to be proactive. And to put this measure in place to prevent or reduce, hopefully, community spread.

The City of Marshall issued the following news release:


Harrison County and Marshall City issue mandatory shelter orders on site

Harrison County Judge Chad Sims and Marshall City Mayor Terri Brown confirm a second and third positive case of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Harrison County. In each case, the cause of exposure to COVID-19 was related to travel. County and city leaders believe it's convenient to be proactive and take steps to further protect our citizens and prevent the spread of the community. In response, Judge Sims and Mayor Brown issue mandatory shelter orders on site at 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2020.

According to this Order, citizens of Harrison County and Marshall City can still perform essential activities for their families; including obtaining medical supplies, visiting a healthcare provider, getting the supplies they need to work from home, shopping grocery, participate in outdoor activities while maintaining social distancing and performing the work defined as an essential service. 

Citizens at high risk of disease by COVID-19 and people who are sick to remain in their residence, except for medical care.

Essential services are defined as all lifeguards, emergency staff, individual governance functions they perform, health care operations, essential infrastructure, supermarkets, farmers market, food banks, pet stores, agriculture, livestock, fishing, social services, media, service stations, automobile supply / repair, banks, hardware, mail services, plumbers, electricians, exterminators, laundry cleaners, dry cleaners, restaurants, supplies office, airlines, private transportation, home services or shelters for older persons, adults or children, professional services (legal, accounting, insurance, real estate, appraisal, surveys and titles), childcare, public services, telecommunications, cleaning, maintenance, healthcare operations, funerals, defense industry and educational services operating online. You can find a complete list of all essential services online at www.marshalltexas.net.

Non-essential companies will be closed, except to maintain minimum basic operations. Essential companies exempt from closure are encouraged to determine the personnel that are essential for operations and to send non-essential personnel to their homes.

For the purposes of this Order, "Essential Journey" includes travel for any of the following purposes:

• Any travel related to the provision or access to Essential Activities, Essential Governmental Functions, Essential Business or Minimum Basic Operations;
• Travel to care for the elderly, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or other vulnerable people;
• Travel to or from educational institutions for the purpose of receiving materials for distance learning, to receive meals and any other related services;
• Travel to return to a place of residence from outside the jurisdiction;
• Travel required by police or court order; or
• Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence out of town. People are strongly advised to verify that their transportation out of town remains available and functional before commencing such a journey.

When citizens need to leave their places of residence, either to obtain or perform vital services or to facilitate authorized activities necessary for the continuity of social and commercial life, they must at all times meet the requirement of social distance.

Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Order constitutes an imminent threat to public health. According to Texas Government Code #418.173, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates this Order commits a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to $ 1,000.00 and / or imprisonment for a period not exceeding the 180 days, and every day or portion of a day when such rape continues shall constitute a separate offence.









The Emergency Management Team will continue to meet with leaders of Harrison County, Marshall - Harrison County Health District, CHRISTUS Good Shepherd - Marshall and Marshall City by monitoring the situation continuously and providing warnings to the citizens as necessary
Harrison County and Marshall City are following the guidelines and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on the steps our community can take to help prevent the capture or spread of coronavirus (COVID-19 ). This is a situation that continues to evolve and we will do everything we can to keep our citizens informed about the latest information.

Harrison County and Marshall City urge our community to practice healthy habits that include:
1. Restricts physical contact and areas of public use.
2. Maintain social distance with a safe distance of six (6 ft) between people.
3. Everyone in Texas should avoid social meetings in groups of 10 or more by Governor Abbott's Executive Order.
4. Residents should not visit nursing homes, retirement or long-term care centers unless they provide critical assistance.
5. According to CDC, people should avoid eating or drinking in bars, restaurants and food courtyards, or visiting gyms or massage parlounges. Residents can still use driving, pick up or deliver options through the Executive Order.
6. Wash your hands regularly with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
7. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
8. If no soap is available, use at least one alcohol-based hand disinfectant at 60 %.
9. Avoid close contact with sick people. All people should remain in the home if a person in the home presents symptoms.

If you have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, you have been exposed to a sick traveler or have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Tell your doctor or emergency department of your symptoms to avoid any possible spread.

Joplin City Council to use audio teleconferencing for Monday, April 6 meeting

(From the City of Joplin)

The Joplin City Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 6, however it will be conducted through audio teleconferencing.

Mayor Gary Shaw will be seated at the dais in Chambers of City Hall along with City Manager Nick Edwards, City Attorney Peter Edwards, and City Clerk Barb Gollhofer. 

Other City Council members will participate via teleconference to follow group size and physical distancing requirements as indicated in the Mayor’s proclamation declaring a state of civil emergency and Amended Ordinance 2020-041.

“Through this emergency, the City is continuing to do business as needed for the health and safety of our citizens,” said Joplin Mayor Gary Shaw. 

“However, we cannot hold a meeting as we normally would due to the group size limitation and the social distancing that needs to take place among our members. This provides an appropriate alternative for the meeting, while still allowing the public to participate.”

Because City Hall is closed to protect public health and safety during this time of emergency, citizens wishing to address the Council should complete the “Request to Address Council” form found on the City’s website. Gollhofer will read the citizens’ comments into the record at the beginning of the meeting.

In order to be placed under Citizens Requests on the posted agenda, citizens must have a request submitted to the City Clerk’s office by noon on Thursday, April 2.

This will ensure they are placed near the top of the agenda. If a request comes in after the deadline, it will be added under New Business on the agenda. Gollhofer can take requests up to the start of the meeting, 6 p.m., April 6. Citizens who do not have internet access should contact the City Clerk’s office at 417-624-0820, ext. 220.

Public Hearings and rezoning requests are postponed until further notice. There were several originally planned to be heard at the April 6 meeting, however City staff have notified the parties of the postponement.

The City Council agenda will be posted on www.joplinmo.org by 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 2. Citizens can view the meeting online or watch the live broadcast on KGCS-TV on broadcast channel 21 or on regional cable television systems, including Sparklight in Joplin. 

Other cable systems carrying KGCS include Mediacom and Suddenlink. KGCS is a service of the Department of Communication at Missouri Southern State University.

“We encourage the public to view the meeting either online or on television,” said City Manager Edwards. “We recognize this arrangement is not ideal, and we are continuing to look at longer term solutions in preparation of future meetings.”

The next scheduled Council meeting following this one is Monday, April 20. Please watch for future updates regarding meeting format.

Watch live- Arkansas governor's COVID-19 update at 1:30 p.m.

(From Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson)

Governor Asa Hutchinson and Dr. Nathaniel Smith, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health, will provide an update to media this afternoon regarding Arkansas’s COVID-19 response.

WHAT: Governor Hutchinson to Provide COVID-19 Update to Media

WHEN: 1:30 p.m. | Wednesday, April 1, 2020

WHERE: Governor's Conference Room
State Capitol
500 Woodlane Street
Little Rock, Arkansas