Missouri Gov. Parson calls for $860M to widen I-70

By SUMMER BALLENTINE and DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson wants to spend nearly $860 million to widen Interstate 70. The Republican announced his budget during his annual State of the State address Wednesday in the state House chamber. The rough plan includes adding lanes to I-70 in suburban St. Louis near Wentzville, the Columbia area and suburban Kansas City. Some of the money also would go toward streamlining the intersection of I-70 and U.S. 63 in Columbia. Parson also wants to spend roughly $800 million to improve access to child care. And he pitched a $50 million increase in funding for school safety grants in response to a deadly shooting at a St. Louis high school.