Features

Federal officials have undertaken a national consumer study to gain information about health care experiences of Medicare beneficiaries, prompting an advisory from the Missouri SMP (SMP). The survey, titled the “Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey,” initially will be conducted in Missouri through the end of the year, according to the non-partisan and objective research organization NORC

by Spencer Tuma I remember my first visit to Capitol Hill like it was yesterday. I was six years old traipsing around the halls of the House and Senate office buildings, as my father tried to put my hair into a presentable-looking ponytail. I distinctively remember having my picture taken while standing on Sen. Kit

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) recently returned from a congressional delegation to the Pacific, where leaders of the House Armed Services Committee visited U.S. military installations and met with commanders to assess defense readiness in the region. Hartzler and members of the delegation toured military bases and strategic command centers in Japan, Guam, Hawaii and South

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH) announced Sept. 21 the introduction of bipartisan legislation that would streamline state and federal resources used to facilitate adoptions. The Permanency for Children Act (HR-3092) would connect the voluntary responsible fatherhood registries in 34 states with the Federal Parent Locator Service, providing a broader more efficient

by Dan Cassidy It’s exciting to talk about an issue where the stars seem to have aligned, momentum is building and there is genuine optimism among rural Missourians. Imagine an issue where government is a player but success will be achieved only if the private sector sees themselves as partners. Missouri Congressman Jason Smith recently

Bradford pear and its cousins may spread more than springtime beauty as these popular ornamental trees escape and become pests. University of Missouri plant scientist Reid Smeda and graduate student Matt Terry study the movement of Bradford and other types of Callery pear from rural areas to the suburbs. Cultivars of Callery pear include Bradford,

A bipartisan fix to military law from U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Joni Ernst of Iowa to better guard against “revenge porn” by making such conduct a standard offense across the military—following the Marines United scandal earlier this year—is set to become law as part of the annual defense bill. The sweeping legislation

Missouri Press Association Hosts Fifth Annual It Can Wait Editorial Contest; Open to Middle School and High School Students For the fifth year in a row, the Missouri Press Association (MPA), local Missouri newspapers and AT&T are joining together to host an It Can Wait editorial contest to raise awareness about the dangers of smartphone-related

Kristen Beatty’s 78-year-old father, Ray, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about 10 years ago. Since then, he has developed a sense of paranoia, insomnia and the delusion that people are stealing from him. Though Beatty and her brother constantly reassure their father to allay his fears, the daily struggle can take its toll. Beatty’s mother, Sue,

Chances are you know someone who has had a stroke. An estimated 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite how common strokes are, there are a lot of widely believed misconceptions. Unfortunately, not knowing the facts can put a person at