Rebecca Smith

Rona McNally is the director of the Missouri Senior Medicare Patrol, which helps patients prevent and report Medicare fraud. It’s estimated that nationally, Medicare losses $60 billion a year to fraud, errors and abuse.

Applying for Medicare may seem really scary, but this week we hear from Shannon Hasenstein with Aging Best in Columbia. Her job is to help Missourians find the Medicare plan that is best for them.

Tyler Davis is the first community resource manager at Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia. He started full time in January, and his job is to connect patrons with health and social support resources. He spoke about some of the needs he has seen in the community and how he – and the library can help.

Medicare open enrollment began this week, and there are many changes that may immediately impact senior Missourians' lives.

For many people, some of the enjoyment of going to the Missouri State Fair is the spectacle – the sights, sounds and smells. But that can be overwhelming for some. KBIA's Rebecca Smith reports from Sedalia on one effort to make the fair more accessible – and enjoyable – for all.

Clay Goddard and Lauren Stockam both work in Springfield. Goddard is the president for Brightli’s Southwest Region and Stockam works in communication and outreach at Springfield-Greene County Health. They spoke about the “Hey Man, You Good” campaign that’s working to reduce the high rate of male suicide in southwestern Missouri by getting men to open up.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Missouri currently has “Very High” COVID-19 Wastewater Viral Activity. But what does this mean for our community as students head back to school?

Dr. Crystal Lim is the chair of health psychology at the University of Missouri, and has spent much of her career working with children who are overweight. She spoke about how the treatment of excess weight has changed to focus more of health than size.

The fur industry has a long history in the state of Missouri, and while it looks different now – it’s still around. KBIA’s Rebecca Smith recently went to the annual Missouri fur auction and brings us this look at fur trapping’s role in the community and in conservation.

After several months of discussion and anticipation from community members, the Columbia City Council declared Columbia a “safe haven” city for LGBTQ+ people this week .