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Truman State University has reached a milestone after being recognized as the No. 1 public school in the Midwest Region for the 25th consecutive year according to U.S. News & World Report. In the 2022 Best Colleges rankings, Truman came in at No. 6 overall among both public and private institutions in the Midwest Region, an improvement of one spot from last year. In addition to being the No. 1 public university in the region, Truman was the only Missouri public school in the top 70 spots. Truman secured an additional No. 1 award on the Best Value Schools rankings. Among both public and private schools, Truman was again tops in the Midwest Region in terms of affordability. It was the only Missouri public school included in the top 50 spots. University President Susan Thomas said, “Twenty-five years as the top public Midwest Region university is a spectacular accomplishment and a true testament to the sustained excellence exhibited by every member of our campus community.”

Adair County’s overall case count reached 3,353 with another 15 new cases confirmed Friday by the Adair County Health Department. There were 84 new cases over seven days and one more resident passed away. There are currently 97 active cases, 3,224 people who have left isolation, and 30 COVID-related deaths.

As of last Thursday, 56% of the active cases in the county were among residents ages 30 and under. One-fifth, or 20% of the active cases were in the K-12 Adair County schools sector. Adair County health officials say these percentages reflect the nationwide trend of rising infections among children and young adults since the Delta variant became the prevalent COVID strain.

Breakthrough infections among fully vaccinated residents represent 10.5% of the 815 confirmed cases from June 25 through Sept. 9. Among breakthrough cases,
70% are ages 12-60 and 30% are 61 and older. The COVID vaccines are designed to prevent serious illness requiring hospitalization and death. Only two fully vaccinated residents have required hospitalization, which is 2% of the 86 breakthrough cases. An 85-year-old male was hospitalized for two days. A 63-year-old female died while hospitalized for eight days.

Governor Parson is promising a legal fight over President Biden’s vaccination mandates that were announced last week. On Friday, Parson called the measures an assault on individual liberty and free enterprise, and accused the Biden Administration of trying to reset after its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Parson said Missouri will not be a pawn in this publicity stunt that seeks to force Missourians to disclose private health care decisions and dictate private business operations. Parson added that his office is working with the Missouri General Assembly and the Attorney General’s Office to align resources for a pending legal fight.

The 30th Adair County death from COVID-19 was reported yesterday. The health department says an 81-year-old woman who had been admitted to North Kansas City Hospital August 27th is the latest victim of the virus. There were 12 new cases confirmed by the Adair County Health Department Wednesday, and another 13 yesterday. The overall case count is now 3,338 with 105 active cases and 3,203 people who have left isolation. Of the new cases, three are in the higher education sector, three are in the K-12 schools sector, 13 reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case, and four are breakthrough infections. One of the new cases from yesterday is a 43-year-old female admitted to Northeast Regional Medical Center. She is not on a ventilator.

Two notable publications have recognized Truman for quality and affordability. Washington Monthly included Truman as one of the top master’s universities in the nation. Coming in at No. 6 in the publication’s 2021 college rankings, Truman improved six spots from last year’s honors. The Washington Monthly rankings place an importance on social mobility, research and promoting public service. Along with traditional benchmarks such as graduation rates and costs, schools are rewarded for criteria including the number of first-generation students enrolled and the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants or participating in ROTC. Of the 616 schools included on the list, Truman was the only Missouri public university among the top 275 spots. In its Best Bang for the Buck rankings, Washington Monthly placed Truman at No. 30 among Midwest schools. This list rates institutions according to how well they help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices. Along with Washington Monthly, The Princeton Review also recently recognized Truman as one of the nation’s best schools for undergraduates to earn their college degree.

Governor Mike Parson has ordered the Missouri State Capitol dome to shine red and blue beginning tomorrow, September 11, in remembrance of the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The dome will light up at sunset on Saturday and remain lit until sunrise Sunday in honor of the victims of the September 11 attacks and in remembrance of the heroes who gave everything.

A Bucklin man charged with 43 counts of 1st degree sex offenses made a court appearance this week. The Missouri Highway Patrol reported the arrest of 44-year-old Roger Cupp on September 3rd. Cupp appeared by video from the Macon County Jail with his attorney and waived formal arraignment. He entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. Cupp remains in custody as bond was denied. On August 25th, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office requested the Patrol’s assistance. During the investigation, it was determined over a five-year period Cupp had committed multiple sexual offenses involving one child.

The Scotland County Prosecutor filed multiple criminal charges against two men related to a recent burglary. The suspects were caught burglarizing a shed and vacant house in rural Granger, on the morning of August 28th. 34-year-old Shawn Michael Sturm, and 45-year-old Andy Ray McVeigh, both of Kahoka, broke a storm window and screen at the home to evade capture by a Scotland County Deputy. Sturm was taken into custody at the scene, and McVeigh turned himself later that day. Sturm is being held at the Scotland County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond. He is currently on probation. McVeigh is being held at the Scotland County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond.

The City of Kirksville is currently accepting appointments for Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop off on Saturday, September 18, 2021, between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm at the Public Works Complex, located at 2001 N. Osteopathy St. Citizens must call Public Works at 660.627.1291 to schedule an appointment. Citizens will not be allowed to drop off waste without an appointment. Appointments are limited and no additional appointments will be made once the schedule is full. For more information, or to make an appointment, contact the Public Works Department.

A Kirksville man has been sentenced in a 2019 murder case. Andrew Head was convicted of second-degree murder, and armed criminal action in June for the shooting in 2019 that killed 17-year-old Izaiha McFarland. Head was the accomplice in the shooting, who allegedly convinced the other suspect, Drake Zanoni, to fire the weapon. Yesterday, Second Circuit Presiding Judge Russell Steele sentenced Head to 27 years in prison – 20 years for the murder charge and seven years for the armed criminal action charge. Head must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.