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Maurice Theriot, Director of Southside Farms, was one of six recipients of the 2026 'Missouri Spark Prize' from the Missouri Foundation for Health. It recognizes his and his organization's work expanding access to fresh, healthy food in South Cape Girardeau, a federally designated 'food desert '- an area with limited access to affordable, fresh, healthy, and nutritious food. -
Maurice Theriot, Director of Southside Farms, was one of six recipients of the 2026 'Missouri Spark Prize' from the Missouri Foundation for Health. It recognizes his and his organization's work expanding access to fresh, healthy food in South Cape Girardeau, a federally designated 'food desert '- an area with limited access to affordable, fresh, healthy, and nutritious food.
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A nationwide campaign is urging Illinois consumers and institutions to invest in Latino-owned businesses during Hispanic Heritage Month. Organizers say they hope to promote economic resilience as aggressive immigration enforcement affects local communities and businesses. -
Missouri's largest electric utility is responding to skeptics about its proposed 2,100-megawatt natural-gas plant in St. Charles County. Critics question the potential costs to customers and reliance on fossil fuels, while the company says the project is needed to meet growing demand and maintain reliability. -
A proposed constitutional amendment on Missouri's August ballot would give lawmakers the authority to replace the state's income tax with broader sales taxes. Critics worry the change could eventually affect healthcare costs. -
Illinois rural school districts urge lawmakers to address shortages in healthcare and mental health resources as they prepare for new universal student mental health screening requirements. The balancing act coincides with work to support students amid limited access to providers. -
A national campaign is gaining support from Missouri small-business leaders seeking to permanently eliminate the Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting requirement, or B-O-I. The mandate requires companies to report personal information about their owners and controllers to help authorities identify shell companies used in financial crimes. -
Missouri supporters of the YouthBuild program say federal funding cuts could make it harder for young adults to earn a diploma, gain job skills, and build a path to long-term employment. -
Rural health advocates encourage men to prioritize regular checkups and screenings to improve long-term health. They say men in rural areas often experience worse health outcomes due to chronic disease, limited healthcare access, and cultural attitudes that discourage preventive care. -
Illinois continues to rank above most states in child well-being, but education and health outcomes remain a concern, according to the new Kids Count Data Book. The report highlights declining reading and math proficiency and school enrollment, and rising child and teen death rates. -
Cuts proposed in the next federal budget could impact a nationwide river program active across Missouri waterways, including the Mississippi River north of St. Louis. Conservation groups say the effort improves water quality, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation while generating strong returns for taxpayers. -
![Gov. Mike Kehoe acknowledged some Montgomery County residents' concerns about electricity prices and environmental impacts at the announcement in High Hill of a Google data center this week, but said the company had "done [the] work to ensure that their growth does not come at the expense of the community this center calls home."](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e341a42/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1536x856+0+36/resize/280x156!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb3%2F4d%2F2d75fb124257a24c5611fa6ee413%2Fimg-4183-1536x921.jpeg)
Supporters say the $15 billion project will bring jobs and tax revenue. Some residents say no one asked them.
![Gov. Mike Kehoe acknowledged some Montgomery County residents' concerns about electricity prices and environmental impacts at the announcement in High Hill of a Google data center this week, but said the company had "done [the] work to ensure that their growth does not come at the expense of the community this center calls home."](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d40aacb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1536x856+0+36/resize/560x312!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb3%2F4d%2F2d75fb124257a24c5611fa6ee413%2Fimg-4183-1536x921.jpeg)