Missouri’s homeschool families and those enrolled in private schools could receive a tax credit for their educational expenses under legislation debated Tuesday by the Senate Education Committee. The credit would be capped at the annual state adequacy target, a number determined by the per-pupil expenditure of the highest performing school districts in the state. Currently, […]
A bill prohibiting Missouri agencies from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives was given initial House approval Monday evening. The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Ben Baker, a Republican from Neosho, argued that DEI goals do not lead to decreased bias and questioned their success. The state House can pass the bill with one […]
ISSAQUAH, Wash. — President Donald Trump’s moves to slash the federal workforce have gutted the ranks of wildland firefighters and support personnel, fire professionals warn, leaving communities to face deadly consequences when big blazes arrive this summer. “There’s going to be firefighters that die because of this, there will be communities that burn,” said Steve […]
Only someone schooled in sarcasm pushes themselves away from a banquet table, pats their stomach and exclaims, “That sure was adequate!” when they have consumed a fine meal. Something adequate is acceptable, but it’s not something you go out of your way for. But adequate is what state law directs the legislature to attain in […]
Fifty years of anti-abortion laws in Missouri have been struck down as unconstitutional over the last two months, culminating Friday with a Jackson County judge blocking clinic licensing requirements. Three days later, Republican lawmakers and anti-abortion activists gathered outside Planned Parenthood locations across the state to say they have no intention of retreating. “I’m here […]
Leaders of Missouri’s public defender system urged lawmakers on Monday to take action to reduce the growing number of people languishing in jails across the state who are in need of mental health treatment. As of last month, 418 people were in Missouri jails waiting to be transferred to a state mental health bed, up […]
Depending on how states respond, a Republican proposal circulating on Capitol Hill that would slash the 90% federal contribution to states’ expanded Medicaid programs would end coverage for as many as 20 million people — or cost states $626 billion over the next decade to keep them on the rolls, according to a new analysis. […]
FREDERICKTOWN — Jennifer Torr was at a coffee shop next door to the the Critical Mineral Recovery battery recycling plant when it caught fire in October, sending a tower of smoke into the air. She had no idea when she and her husband, Darin, bought their blueberry farm a few miles north of town that the […]
Donald Trump and Elon Musk do not care who gets hurt in their chaotic efforts to gut the government. Missouri’s Republican senators are doing nothing to stop them. When Trump’s first memo freezing federal funding came out, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley assured us that the White House had told him “Medicaid was categorically not covered” […]
A Missouri judge on Feb. 14 blocked a licensing requirement for abortion clinics that providers argued was a key obstacle to renewing access to the procedure across the state. Hours later, Planned Parenthood clinics announced they would begin offering abortion services in Missouri. “Abortion care will be restored immediately,” said Emily Wales, President and CEO […]
A Republican lawmaker is proposing to raise taxes on Missouri farmers who participate in wind or solar energy projects. As utilities and energy developers increase solar and wind power, people in rural areas across the nation have been offered opportunities to lease their land to house a wind turbine or a field of solar panels. […]
An influential GOP lawmaker upset with the rulings of a Republican judge in Cole County filed a bill trying to force him into a primary — or out of the Missouri judiciary altogether. The proposal from House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins of Bowling Green targets Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker, who was elected […]
Missouri lawmakers have rekindled a crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion programs with a handful of bills seeking to outlaw DEI in state-funded entities. In 2022, just two bills named DEI as a target. But the number grew to 14 in 2024. None have been signed into law. Within the first month of this year’s […]
For some people in rural Missouri, soaring egg prices have little impact on their shopping habits. They have backyard chickens that save them the trouble of dealing with a nationwide shortage. But for those who don’t have access to a homegrown grocery store in their backyard, rising prices mean changes to their weekly shopping list. […]
A bill to remove the state income tax on profits from the sale of long-term investments passed the Missouri House Thursday on an almost pure party-line vote. The bill, projected to cost the state treasury $341 million in the first year and $237 million in subsequent years, exempts money known as long-term capital gains, money […]
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said Thursday that the backlog of public records requests his office has struggled to work through for years is finally over. Testifying to the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee, Bailey said his office has received 1,465 requests under the Sunshine Law since he took over in January 2023 — and managed […]
The whistleblower who revealed financial transactions he felt were potentially unlawful by a nonprofit that bankrolled travel and entertainment for Kansas City’s mayor says he is now being targeted with defamation and retaliation. Tom Keating has worked on ethics compliance for political campaigns for two decades, including for Lucas’ campaign and for a nonprofit called […]
Access to affordable, high-quality child care is not just a family issue — it’s an economic imperative. In Missouri, parents, especially women, are forced to make difficult choices between going to work and ensuring their children are safe and taken care of. Gov. Mike Kehoe’s recent commitment to addressing this crisis in his 2025 State […]
Members of the Missouri House Budget Committee on Wednesday made Attorney General Andrew Bailey defend his request for millions in additional funding and his decision to sue Starbucks for allegations it discriminated against white applicants in hiring and promotions. Republican members of the committee led the questioning of Bailey’s request for new funds, asking why […]
The debate over how much to spend on public schools could turn into the first big disagreement between Gov. Mike Kehoe and the GOP-dominated Missouri General Assembly. Kehoe, a Republican who took office in January, refused to recommend a $300 million boost to public school funding in his first budget proposal. But education advocates in […]
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