JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — In the wake of the now-viral video of a St. Louis daycare employee’s treatment of a young child, Gov. Mike Parson kicked off March by announcing a new working group tasked with ensuring safety for Missouri children.
Members of the Departments of Health and Senior Services, Social Services, Public Safety, Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Attorney General’s office will make up the group. It will construct a report for Parson reviewing the state’s child care regulations and include recommendations.
“The recent videos of what some Missouri children endure while in child care are horrific,” Parson said. “Missouri parents who place their child into the hands of a child care provider expect their child will get safe, quality care while they work hard to support their family or further their education. I am committed to doing everything I can to protect our children.”
“I am committed to doing everything I can to protect our children.”
Parson also officially tapped the acting superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Lt. Col. Eric Olson, to serve officially in the position overseeing roughly 1,300 troopers.
“A key mission of government is keeping the public safe and Missouri’s State Highway Patrol is one of the nation’s finest law enforcement agencies,” the governor said. “Lt. Col. Olson has demonstrated the professionalism and integrity the Missouri State Highway Patrol is known for throughout his career.”
“I have great confidence his experience and qualifications make him the right selection to lead the agency into the future,” he added.
Parson embarked on a week-long tour around the state to promote the Fast-Track Workforce Incentive Grant — legislation that would launch a grant program for adults who wish to gain more education for high-demand jobs. He made stops in Cottleville, Farmville, Grandview, Jackson, and Joplin.
“We aim to equip Missourians who are underemployed with resources they need to get an education/credential in our high-need job sectors,” Parson’s Twitter account said in sharing photos from the trip.
.@KathySwan147, @DixonRob, and I are in Joplin discussing #MOFastTrack workforce development solutions with @PlugIntoLiberty & area employers. We aim to equip Missourians who are underemployed with resources they need to get an education/credential in our high-need job sectors. pic.twitter.com/vK7Vn19Dhu
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) March 7, 2019
Parson also celebrated Missouri’s firefighters at a day honoring their service at the state Capitol. As he addressed the emergency response personnel, Parson paid homage to his brother-in-law, an EMT who was killed while on the job.
Honored to speak at the @MoFireMarshal's Fire Fighters Day at the Capitol! Watched my hometown crew from Bolivar City Fire Dept. present the colors and met @Columbia_Fire Fire Investigator Jim Pasley & K-9 partner Izzo. pic.twitter.com/Y1L7b7AuIb
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) March 6, 2019
Additionally, Parson met with Peggy Flood, the 2018 Nursing Home Queen. In her role, Flood serves as a representative for those who live in nursing homes throughout Missouri, Parson noted.
We ran into royalty outside the Governor's Office today. Ms. Peggy Flood, the @MOHealthCare 2018 Nursing Home Queen, was in the Capitol visiting with her Senator @SenCunningham33. Ms. Flood represents those live in Nursing Homes throughout Missouri. pic.twitter.com/tJFEsgtjoB
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) March 6, 2019
Parson also welcomed students from the STEM robotics program in Camdenton. The students shared projects with the governor who praised them for learning “real-world skills like using a screwdriver [and] basic coding.”
Students from the STEM robotics program @FRC_LASER_3284 in Camdenton brought their projects to the Capitol. These bright young students are not just taught textbook math & science – they learn real-world skills like using a screwdriver & basic coding. GREAT workforce development! pic.twitter.com/oJuBsuNy0j
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) March 7, 2019
He also addressed nearly 100 students who are a part of the faith-based TeenPact Missouri group. The governor discussed leadership with the students.
This morning we met +80 students from the faith-based leadership group TeenPact Missouri. I told them true leadership is being willing to sacrifice for people they will never meet & working hard to make the lives of others better. pic.twitter.com/TYkgq010fT
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) March 7, 2019
Kaitlyn Schallhorn was the editor in chief of The Missouri Times from 2020-2022. She joined the newspaper in early 2019 after working as a reporter for Fox News in New York City.
Throughout her career, Kaitlyn has covered political campaigns across the U.S., including the 2016 presidential election, and humanitarian aid efforts in Africa and the Middle East.
She is a native of Missouri who studied journalism at Winthrop University in South Carolina. She is also an alumna of the National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C.
Contact Kaitlyn at kaitlyn@themissouritimes.com.
