COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) While the deadline for Missouri drivers to file for a refund on the state’s gas tax increase has come and gone, the Missouri Department of Revenue is still processing claims. Since the program began, millions of dollars have been returned to drivers, but thousands of fraudulent claims have also been flagged by
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri farmers are getting temporary relief from restrictions on dyed diesel as they work to get this year’s harvest out of the field. Gov. Mike Kehoe on Wednesday signed Executive Order 26-19, declaring a state of emergency and temporarily reducing restrictions on the types of diesel fuel that can be used for
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Missouri senator announced on Wednesday he is introducing a new bill related to automatic license plate readers like Flock. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the “Stop Flock Abuse Act” to establish basic safeguards for AI-powered cameras and to “protect Americans’ fundamental constitutional rights,” Senator Hawley said. This comes as use of the
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe announced $10 million in grants to cities and counties that participate in the state’s Blue Shield program. The Blue Shield Program was created by Gov. Mike Kehoe on his first day in office and is aimed at increasing public safety. It requires “participating jurisdictions to create comprehensive, sustainable programs to fight
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Office of Administration Commissioner Kenneth Zellers will retire on Sept. 4, according to a Tuesday email from Gov. Mike Kehoe’s office. “As a proud Missourian, it has been a true honor and privilege to serve my state in these roles,” Zellers was quoted in the release. “I am grateful to have
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Aug. 28, pregnancy will no longer be a determining factor for delaying a divorce, updating an over 50-year-old state rule. House Bill 1908 was signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe in April and adds the text, “Pregnancy status shall not prevent the court from entering a judgment of dissolution of marriage or
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Budget Director Dan Haug will retire on Oct. 1, according to a Monday press release from Gov. Mike Kehoe. Haug has served as budget director for 11 years — making him the longest to serve in the position — and has worked in state government for 31 years, the release says.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) President Donald Trump announced on his social media on Monday that he is approving a $24.5 million disaster declaration for the June 4-18 storms that hit Missouri. Gov. Mike Kehoe requested a disaster declaration on July 9 for public assistance for 34 counties, including: Adair, Andrew, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Dade, Daviess,
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Governor Mike Kehoe announced Friday that he is asking for local, state and federal damage assessments from flash flooding and storms over July 9-11. The request comes in advance of an expected request for a federal disaster declaration. Kehoe said in a news release that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The group promoting Gov. Mike Kehoe’s push to eliminate Missouri’s income tax has spent $3 million so far this election. Filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission show Missouri Promise PAC has spent $3.3 million from April 1-June 30 supporting Amendment 5. Most of its spending has gone toward “media” so far. Its
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe signed House Bill 2372 into law Monday that includes several overhauls to healthcare laws in the state. HB 2372, was sponsored by state Rep. Tara Peters (R-Phelps County) and state Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Cole County). One provision in the bill, bans health insurers from placing time limits on anesthesia
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Some rural highways and interstates will go from 70 miles per hour to 75 mph as soon as Aug. 28, after Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a bill into law Monday. However, some driver safety organizations say this could lead to more traffic crashes. “Unfortunately, increasing the speed limit even just five miles
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) June 28 of each year will be recognized in the state of Missouri as Eliot and Muriel Battle Day. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 1544 on Monday, which modifies state designations. Among those designations is a day to honor Eliot Battle, the first Black faculty member at Hickman High School,
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency for the state on Friday because of recent storms and flooding. Kehoe announced on his social media that he signed Executive Order 26-16. Severe weather went through Mid-Missouri on Thursday and continued into Friday morning, with more storms expected to enter the area in
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe on Thursday signed an online age verification rule into a state law. House Bill 1839 was made official Thursday and now requires age verification for websites that have more than one-third of its content containing sexual material, including social media. The sites would have to use a third-party for
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A new audit of former Gov. Mike Parson’s office found insufficient documentation for hundreds of thousands of dollars in state travel expenses, unallowable employee payments and a lack of recordkeeping, leading Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick to give the office a “fair” rating. The State Auditor’s Office rates agencies on a four-point
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (Kmiz) Missouri leaders are getting ready to discuss further restrictions on transgender athletes following Tuesday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision. The higher court upheld the power of the states to ban transgender athletes from participating in certain sports, ruling that these restrictions do not interfere with Title IX regulations. Missouri state Rep. Brian Seitz
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has sent its proposed “A-F” grading system for school districts to the governor’s office. A Tuesday release from DESE says this submission responds to an executive order signed in January. The release says DESE will give annual grades for districts, school and charter schools.
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick on Wednesday urged Gov. Mike Kehoe to balance the state’s budget, saying current spending is jeopardizing Missouri’s fiscal health. Fitzpatrick stated in a news release that the fiscal 2027 budget increased spending from the state’s general revenue fund. The state is expected to spend more than $1.7
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Lawmakers are wrapping up final attempts to pass legislation this week as the legislative session ends Friday. While legislators have addressed many of Gov. Mike Kehoe’s legislative priorities, lawmakers are still working on some.
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