Missouri

CDC reports a reduction of drug overdoses in Missouri

Published

2 years ago

August 20, 2024

CDC reports a reduction of drug overdoses in Missouri

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Signs of relief in the nation’s overdose crisis.

New state-level data from the CDC shows both fatal and nonfatal overdose cases are down in the Ozarks and across Missouri.

“An overdose can happen to anyone at any place,” said Julie Viele with the Springfield Greene County Health Department.

There have been 16% fewer people who have died in May of 2024 compared to May of 2023. The nonfatal cases dropped by more than 28% during the same time period. Springfield-Greene County Health Department leaders say the number of cases is also going down locally.

In many cases, the availability of Narcan has made a difference.

“I would say it’s a factor in regards to seeing a trend in plateauing or decreasing the overdose rates,” said Viele.

According to Mercy EMS Director Bob Patterson, the non-fatal cases reported to emergency rooms are also down.

“Part of those reduced numbers is due to the Narcan leave-behind kits which we have been providing in this community for some time,” he said.

The efforts to fight overdoses within the community aren’t limited to Narcan.

“We also have an app called Revive. It is another tool that the health department launched in June of 2023. It is a tool to provide step-by-step instructions on how to respond if someone is having an overdose,” said Viele.

But the news isn’t all good. Officials say there’s still a lot of work to do to fight the community health crisis.

Patterson said, “We’re still seeing roughly 1 to 2 to 3 a day. We have historically seen some spikes from time to time. Our partners in the community will communicate that very rapidly so that we’re all prepared.

“We still have high prevalence rates. The efforts still need to be there. We still need to get the Naloxone in the hands of our community members and make everybody aware,” said Viele.

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Missouri

10 pounds of meth found during I-70 traffic stop, Callaway County Sheriff’s Office says

Published

7 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

10 pounds of meth found during I-70 traffic stop, Callaway County Sheriff’s Office says

Callaway County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested two Mexico, Missouri, residents on suspicion of possession of 10 pounds of methamphetamine, according to a social media post from the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 10:18 p.m. on Wednesday, deputies conducted traffic stops on Interstate 70 regarding an ongoing narcotics investigation by the Sheriff’s Office investigators assigned to the MUSTANG Drug Task Force, according to the social media post.

Deputies made contact with Louetta Dorsey, 43, and Brian Wilson, 41, of Mexico, in their vehicles during the investigation, according to the social media post. The two suspects were in separate vehicles, and one was allegedly acting as a decoy vehicle for the other, according to court documents.

During the traffic stops, deputies located approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Dorsey and Wilson were arrested and taken to the Callaway County Jail, according to the social media post.

Dorsey has been charged with second-degree drug trafficking and possession of a controlled substance, according to court records. Charges for Wilson were not appearing in Missouri’s online court record system as of Friday afternoon.

A probable cause statement filed in Dorsey’s case indicates that both she and Wilson were under investigation on suspicion of distributing large amounts of methamphetamine throughout Audrain, Boone and Callaway counties.

Members of the MUSTANG Drug Task Force worked with the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office, East Central Drug Task Force and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office-MO to execute additional narcotics related search warrants, according to the social media post.

The results of the search warrants revealed firearms and drug paraphernalia commonly used for drug trafficking, according to the social media post.

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Missouri

What’s closed on Juneteenth in Missouri? Check trash, libraries, banks

Published

17 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

What’s closed on Juneteenth in Missouri? Check trash, libraries, banks

Juneteenth is marking five years since it was officially recognized as a federal holiday.

Given the holiday’s relatively recent federal designation, it may not be clear to many what will be open/closed on Juneteenth. Will the post office be open? Will my trash get collected? Can I go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew my license?

Here’s a guide to what is open and closed on Juneteenth in Missouri.

When is Juneteenth 2026?

This year, Juneteenth will be celebrated on Friday, June 19. The holiday is also often celebrated on the third Saturday of June, with many events taking place on that day.

Communities use this day to honor resilience, culture and progress through various events, gatherings and activities. These can include church services, picnics, barbecues, parades and festivals, to name a few.

Are federal or Missouri state offices open on Juneteenth?

Given that Juneteenth is a federal holiday, non-essential federal offices will be closed.

It’s also a state holiday in Missouri, so all local governments and state offices will be closed, as well.

Will major retailers be open on Juneteenth?

Most major retailers, grocery stores, warehouse clubs and restaurants should be open on Juneteenth, but you may want to check with your local stores to confirm business hours, as they can vary by location.

Is the post office open on Juneteenth? Will mail be delivered?

All post offices will be closed, and mail will not be delivered on Juneteenth, according to the U.S. Postal Service’s website.

FedEx and UPS will operate more or less as usual, and their stores will be open.

Are banks open on Juneteenth?

Most banks will be closed on Juneteenth, as most follow the Federal Reserve’s holiday schedule.

Is the stock market open on Juneteenth?

Both the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market will be closed on Juneteenth.

Will trash pickup happen on Juneteenth?

Trash pickup on Juneteenth varies from city to city, so it’s best to check with your local waste management service to see whether they observe the holiday.

Trash pickup can be delayed by one day if the scheduled pickup falls on a federal holiday.

Columbia will have normal trash pickup on Friday, according to the city’s website. Each hauler in Springfield sets its own holiday schedule. Ozark Refuse, Republic Services and Waste Management are not delayed for the holiday.

Are libraries and DMV offices open on Juneteenth?

Holiday hours can vary among Missouri’s libraries, so it’s best to check whether the ones in your area will be open on Juneteenth.

The Daniel Boone Regional Library network in Columbia and Springfield-Greene County Library District branches will be closed.

All Missouri Department of Revenue offices will be closed on Juneteenth, including driver examination stations. With that being said, some license offices will be operating during the holiday, so check the Missouri License Office Locator to see if your local office is open.

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Missouri

Missouri judge strikes down nearly all state abortion regulations

Published

1 day ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

Missouri judge strikes down nearly all state abortion regulations

Nearly all of Missouri’s abortion regulations, including laws that Planned Parenthood said made it impossible for providers to prescribe medication abortion, were struck down in a ruling Thursday by a Jackson County judge. One of the regulations most widely condemned by abortion rights supporters, a 72-hour waiting period between an initial consultation and an abortion, […]

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