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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Missouri State University President Clif Smart says he anticipates an August start to the new school year that will be as close to normal. He says the university has learned a lot of lessons from the pandemic and created changes that will remain.

Beginning March 15, more people will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Missouri.  But the Springfield-Greene County Health Department said they and local health care partners will continue to focus on those who are high risk until supply increases.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has freed $281 million that he previously blocked from being spent. The Republican on Monday said state finances have improved since the coronavirus first hit the state, allowing him to release the money. Parson initially cut $438 million from the state budget over concerns that the virus would tank the economy and mean less state revenue for the year. He's been releasing chunks of that funding as the economy has improved. The $281 million Parson released Monday was the last of his remaining spending restrictions.

The recent extreme cold in Missouri proved difficult for birds and for certain species in particular. 

State ornithologist, Sarah Kendrick, with the Missouri Department of Conservation, said she’s received a lot of reports of dead birds.  Some were frozen in people’s yards, and others were found after the snow melted.  Many were eastern bluebirds and American robins.

Jordan Valley Community Health Center will hold free drive through COVID-19 testing Monday, March 1, and Tuesday, March 2, in Greene and Christian Counties.

The first will be at First Baptist Church of Ozark, 1400 W. Jackson, Monday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The second will be held Tuesday at Jordan Valley Community Health Center, 1720 Grand in Springfield, from 8 a.m. to noon. 

The Howell County Health Department, City of West Plains, and the Missouri National Guard will hold a mass vaccination Friday, February 26 from 7:30 AM to 4 PM for those who received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on January 29th. The clinic will be held at the West Plains Civic Center. There are designated times of arrival depending on last name. For example, those with last names A through C are asked to show up between 7:30 AM and 9 AM. Visitors are asked to bring their vaccination cards.

On March 11, the city of Springfield and author Peter Kageyama will host a virtual meeting to discuss strategies to engage with local communities in the wake of COVID-19.

The meeting, held over Zoom, is called “The Emotional Infrastructure of Places: Engaging Our Community following the Pandemic.”

Kageyama is the author of the books “For the Love of Cities,” and its follow-up “Love Where You Live.”

Ten more Greene County, Missouri residents have died of COVID-19.  The Springfield-Greene County Health Department said the deaths were reported to them between February 17 and February 23.

The deaths include two men in their 70s, two women in their 70s, two women in their 80s, two men in their 90s and two women in their 90s.  A total of 414 Greene County residents has died of COVID-19.