Former IDEM Commissioner Carol Comer Dies

Associated Press

Before leading Missouri's Department of Natural Resources Carol Comer served as commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
*Missouri Department of Natural Resources*

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Carol Comer has died, state officials said Wednesday.

The cause of death was not released. Comer announced in July 2019 that she had undergone two unsuccessful surgeries and was beginning chemotherapy to fight cancer.

Comer, an environmental lawyer, was named director of the department in January 2017 by former Gov. Eric Greitens. Before her appointment, she was commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

The DNR said in a news release that officials “plan to carry out her vision for the agency moving forward.”

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson praised Comer as an accomplished leader who will be deeply missed by his cabinet.

“She was a dedicated public servant who loved this state, its people, and the great outdoors,” Parson said in a statement. “We could not have asked for a better advocate for Missouri’s natural resources. Teresa and I will keep Carol’s loved ones in our prayers as we mourn the loss of this extraordinary individual.”

Details of where Comer died and funeral arrangements were not immediately available.

Tags:Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Support independent journalism today. You rely on WFYI to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Donate to power our nonprofit reporting today. Give now.

Indiana's labor force rate is at its lowest in more than two years

Indiana's labor force has steadily declined over the past six months, according to new preliminary estimates. The labor force currently stands at the lowest point its been in over two years.

Public Affairs / May 17, 2024

Nikki Haley's strong primary performance in Indiana likely has little effect on general election

While former President Donald Trump easily won Indiana's Republican presidential primary last week, Nikki Haley garnered about 22 percent of the vote despite the fact she dropped out of the race two months earlier, before Hoosiers started voting.