Author
Rudi Keller covers the state budget and the legislature. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, he spent 22 of his 32 years in journalism covering Missouri government and politics for the Columbia Daily Tribune, where he won awards for spot news and investigative reporting.
Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Missouri records sixth consecutive day of more than 2,000 COVID-19 cases
By: Rudi Keller - November 3, 2020
Election Day arrived in Missouri with new peaks for COVID-19 hospitalizations and positivity rates, and some large jurisdictions extending pandemic restrictions or considering tighter rules. The Department of Health and Senior Services reported 2,238 new COVID-19 infections Tuesday, the sixth consecutive day of more than 2,000 cases and the seventh day of the past 10 […]
Six Missouri Democrats on Biden list of top fundraisers
By: Rudi Keller - November 2, 2020
St. Louis politicos with decades of experience and a Kansas City businesswoman who deals in luxury home furnishings are among the top Missouri fundraisers for former Vice President Joe Biden’s general election campaign. Biden posted the list of hundreds of people who helped raise $100,000 or more for his campaign and “affiliated fundraising joint committees” […]
First Missouri child to die of COVID-19 is middle school student
By: Rudi Keller - November 2, 2020
A middle school student from Washington, Mo., is the first child in the state to die of COVID-19. Peyton Baumgarth, an eighth grader, died over the weekend, the School District of Washington told parents in a letter sent Sunday, KSDK television in St. Louis reported. Prior to the death of Baumgarth, no person under 18 […]
Missouri hospitals urge Gov. Parson to take action to stave off deepening COVID crisis
By: Rudi Keller - October 31, 2020
Rural hospitals are facing a “transfer crisis,” with urban health centers refusing COVID-19 patients who need more care than can be provided locally, administrators told Gov. Mike Parson and other state leaders Thursday in a conference call. Administrators called on Parson to issue a statewide mask mandate to signal that the COVID-19 pandemic in smaller […]
Missouri COVID cases peaking at end of worst month for cases, reported deaths
By: Rudi Keller - October 30, 2020
A late Thursday report with a record 3,061 new COVID-19 cases was followed Friday by the second-highest single day total as Missouri nears the end of the worst month of the coronavirus pandemic for new cases and reported deaths. Hospitalizations are at a peak and rising, with St. Louis leaders reporting a “heartbreaking” new high […]
Missouri governor campaign spending down from 2016 — so far
By: Rudi Keller - October 30, 2020
The first campaign for governor under the contribution limits imposed by voters in 2016 is less expensive than it was four years ago, but following the money requires additional steps to determine the original source of the dollars. Through Wednesday, the official campaign committees of incumbent Republican Gov. Mike Parson and his Democratic challenger, State […]
Crime vs. COVID: Parson, Galloway make closing arguments in Missouri governor’s race
By: Rudi Keller - October 30, 2020
In their final push to election day, Republican Gov. Mike Parson and his Democratic challenger, State Auditor Nicole Galloway, aim to turn out base voters and win over undecided Missourians by linking their opponent to unpopular policies of others. For Parson, that means an emphasis on supporting law enforcement over protesters demanding police reforms and […]
Southeast Missouri county continues mask mandate amid high COVID case, death counts
By: Rudi Keller - October 28, 2020
Cape Girardeau County, which has endured 32 COVID-19 deaths and more than 900 new COVID-19 cases since Oct. 1, will continue to mandate face mask use, the Southeast Missourian reported. The county health center board voted unanimously Tuesday to continue the order in effect since July 13 until the 14-day tally of new cases falls […]
St. Louis health leaders warn COVID threatening hospital capacity
By: Rudi Keller - October 27, 2020
Leaders of the St. Louis area’s fight against COVID-19 warned Monday that hospitals are reaching capacity, doctors and support staff are worn down by overwork and harsh steps may be necessary to get control of the pandemic. In a briefing broadcast on Facebook, Dr. Alex Garza, head of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force, […]
Missouri county stops COVID social media posts over ‘negative, insulting’ comments
By: Rudi Keller - October 26, 2020
A Missouri county enduring the state’s fourth-highest rate for new COVID-19 infections will stop posting local data on Facebook because of responses that attack its work and raise conspiracy theories about the disease. Ste. Genevieve County, a southeast Missouri county with 17,894 people, has added 195 new cases since Sept. 30 and 93 in the […]
The Missouri governor who was never governor
By: Rudi Keller - October 26, 2020
In early October 1864, Major General Sterling Price was poised to strike at Jefferson City with a force of about 12,000 men who had marched from the Arkansas border through the state in a last-ditch attempt to turn Missouri to the Confederate side. Accompanying Price was Thomas C. Reynolds, a native of South Carolina who […]
Spire Missouri program will help customers catch up on gas bills during COVID pandemic
By: Rudi Keller - October 23, 2020
The natural gas supplier for more than 1 million Missouri customers will create a payment assistance program and allow up to 18 months to pay bills that have accumulated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the plan approved Thursday by the Missouri Public Service Commission, Spire Missouri will help customers who have lost […]