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Bill banning COVID vax requirements gets initial approval from Mo. House
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JEFFERSON CITY — More than three years since the designation of COVID-19 as a pandemic, Missouri House members spent part of Tuesday afternoon debating whether COVID-19 vaccines save lives.
A bill sponsored by state Rep. Bill Hardwick, R-Waynesville, would prohibit public schools and public agencies from implementing COVID-19 vaccine requirements.
The bill would require universities and private sector employers who have COVID-19 vaccines requirements to grant exemptions to students and employees who hold a “sincerely held religious belief” or have a written recommendation from a licensed physician.
Hardwick sponsored a similar bill he last year.
The House debate revealed the persistence of a stark partisan divide on COVID-19. Democrats opposed the bill, arguing that health experts who say COVID-19 vaccines save lives should be trusted. Republican supporters of the legislation cast doubt on the efficacy and safety of vaccines.
Rep. Michael Burton, D-Lakeshire, opposed the bill during floor debate. “From what all the health professionals have told us … these COVID vaccines have saved millions of lives,” he said.
Burton asked Rep. Lisa Thomas, R-Lake Ozark, a psychiatrist, if she believes COVID-19 vaccines have saved lives.
“It’s possible,” Thomas replied. “But I don’t see a tremendous amount of data in that respect … It does not prevent you from getting the illness or passing it on.”
Bill sponsor Hardwick said he was unsure if COVID-19 vaccines have saved more lives than they’ve taken.
Rep. Patty Lewis, a Kansas City Democrat and a nurse, said it is necessary to lean on guidance from health experts like epidemiologists for information about COVID-19 and encouraged her colleagues to vote “no” on the bill.
The bill ultimately received preliminary House approval on a voice vote despite vocal opposition. It needs to be approved one more time by the House before it heads to the Senate.
This story originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian. It can be republished in print or online.
Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and Twitter.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.
Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.
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The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.
Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.
Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.
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ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.
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ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.
The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.
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Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.
A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.
The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.
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