JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Concerns about the coronavirus have forced Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to make a last-moment change to his State of the State address.Parson had been scheduled to deliver the annual speech Wednesday in the House chamber – as is tradition – with senators, judges and other executive officials joining him there.
But Parson spokeswoman Kelli Jones said the governor’s office was informed Wednesday morning by the House that he could not use the chamber because of COVID-19 concerns. Instead, she said the Republican governor will deliver his speech in the Senate, which is smaller than the House chamber.
The House canceled all of its work last week following an outbreak of COVID-19 cases among members, but it returned to work this week. The Senate has remained in session, though Sen. Andrew Koenig said he has tested positive for COVID-19 and a couple other senators are quarantining.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI