A new effort is taking aim at maternal health disparities in Missouri’s Bootheel. UnitedHealthcare is teaming up with the Missouri Bootheel Regional Consortium to invest $250,00 in the area - which has alarmingly high infant mortality and preterm birth rates, along with gaps in early prenatal care.

After an intense night of tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds, severe storms with heavy rain remain a possibility on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Flooding is possible later in the week, due to heavy rain further north.

New guidance on cholesterol from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology highlights the importance of early detection and treatment to reduce the risk of heart disease, the nation’s leading cause of death. Experts say prevention is possible with the right mix of habits and care.

Missouri currently has 29 abandoned landfills, which lack someone legally liable to clean them up.

NASA’s first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit in decades marks a major step toward returning humans to the Moon and advancing space exploration.

An Illinois researcher specializing in rural affairs is urging lawmakers to expand the 2026 Farm Bill to support not just agriculture, but the rural non-farm economy at large, highlighting how both are deeply interconnected. He says rural communities face challenges like population decline, economic shifts, and limited access to housing and health care, making broader investment in rural development essential for long-term sustainability.

Missouri health officials are warning about nitazenes - a powerful synthetic opioid now appearing in the state’s drug supply. Experts say the drugs are stronger than fentanyl and often mixed with other substances, increasing overdose risk. Narcan can still reverse overdoses, though multiple doses may be needed.

This final passage came after the Senate expanded the protections from just antisemitism to include all hate speech and discrimination.

Cape Girardeau County residents cast their ballots on a wide range of issues during the Tuesday, April 7th, 2026, General Municipal Election.

SEMO is partnering with the Missouri State Highway Patrol to build a Troop E crime lab near campus, expanding forensic services and creating new opportunities for students.