Local Politics Archives

Columbia City Council lacks residency requirements while Jefferson City debates their removal

February 16, 2023 5:05 PM Marissa Hollowed

Just because someone represents part of a city in a local government, it doesn’t mean they actually live there.

Missouri lawmakers consider legal sports betting after quarter-million bets rejected Super Bowl weekend

February 15, 2023 11:32 AM Hannah Falcon

Attempts were made to bet on the Super Bowl from Missouri at least 250,000 times on Super Bowl weekend, according to data from GeoComply.

Missouri lawmakers again take up transgender issues as legislation impacts Columbia schools

February 14, 2023 10:08 AM Hannah Falcon

The morning after a Columbia Board of Education member left a meeting citing ongoing stress from the Missouri legislature’s continued focus on LGBTQ+ issues, lawmakers were set to meet Tuesday to discuss transgender children.

Missouri lawmakers push for legal sports betting

February 10, 2023 6:45 PM Hannah Falcon

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Around $16 million is expected to be wagered on the Super Bowl, according to the American Gaming Association. But despite Missouri being the home of one Super Bowl team, the state will receive none of the gambling revenue. Sports betting is illegal in Missouri, but lawmakers have been pushing to change

Columbia firefighters’ union endorses Knoth, Bush for City Council races

February 8, 2023 4:34 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia firefighter’s union announced a pair of endorsements for the April 4 election in a press release on Wednesday. In two documents, the Columbia Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 1055 revealed it would be endorsing Nick Knoth in the First Ward council race and Gregg Bush in the Fifth Ward race. Bush

Sports betting and school transfers on the mind of Missouri lawmakers

February 8, 2023 7:22 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Wednesday, Missouri lawmakers are set to talk about a couple of bills and one of those subjects includes sports gambling. One proposed bill would give Missourians over the age of 21, the green light to legally place bets for sports online and in casinos. Sports betting has been a hot topic for

Crowds gather at Capitol for bill hearing on teaching of sexual orientation, gender identity in schools

February 7, 2023 10:38 AM Hannah Falcon

Half an hour before the hearing for Senate Bill 134 on Tuesday morning, a crowd of over 60 was standing outside the Senate Lounge door.

Lawmakers introduce tax breaks while Missouri budget sits in surplus

February 6, 2023 11:18 AM Hannah Falcon

The Missouri budget sits with a $6 billion surplus after the state received federal pandemic relief funds. Now, lawmakers are proposing ways to take advantage of those funds through tax cuts.

Recreational marijuana sales in Columbia put on pause; awaiting City Council approval

February 5, 2023 7:55 PM Abby Landwehr

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia residents over 21 could legally buy recreational marijuana as soon as Tuesday if city regulations are approved at Monday’s council meeting. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issued an emergency rule Friday, giving Missouri dispensaries the green light to legally sell marijuana with a state-wide license. But, the state-wide

Missouri Senate debates Parents’ Bill of Rights

February 1, 2023 10:10 AM Hannah Falcon

Missouri senators spent hours debating the legislation known as the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” Wednesday afternoon.

CPS superintendent apologizes, will review permission-slip process following drag performance

February 1, 2023 4:38 PM Ryan Shiner

Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood apologized to parents in a letter Wednesday following a drag performance at a diversity event held by the city two weeks ago where students were present.

Missouri teachers outline legislative priorities at state Capitol

January 31, 2023 3:48 PM Hannah Falcon

A group that advocates for Missouri’s teachers lobbied legislators in the state Capitol on Tuesday to take action to retain experienced teachers and recruit talented new ones.

Judge directs Boone County clerk to add Basye to Columbia school board ballot

January 31, 2023 4:39 PM Matthew Sanders

Boone County Judge Brouck Jacobs on Tuesday ordered the county clerk to add former lawmaker Chuck Basye’s name to Columbia’s April school board election ballot.

Public comment heard on ‘Save Women’s Sports Act’ for second week at Missouri Capitol

January 31, 2023 4:03 PM Hannah Falcon

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Tuesday, the halls of the Missouri Capitol were again filled with people for and against the “Save Women’s Sports Act.” Last week, a House of Representatives committee heard several versions of the bill. This week, a Senate committee is taking up six slightly different versions of the act that would ban

Missouri AG pressures schools to ban drag performances

January 31, 2023 3:55 PM Ryan Shiner

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey put pressure Tuesday on school boards to adopt resolutions banning drag performances where students are present.

Judge rules in favor of Basye in lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools

January 30, 2023 11:29 AM Erika McGuire

A Boone County judge on Monday ruled in favor of former lawmaker Chuck Basye in his lawsuit to add his name to the Columbia Board of Education ballot for April’s election.

Lawmakers propose incentives for movies filmed in Missouri

January 30, 2023 11:23 AM Hannah Falcon

Some Missouri lawmakers are working to attract filmmakers to the state.

Columbia Citizens Police Review Board schedules first training session after several-month hiatus

January 26, 2023 7:13 PM Marina Diaz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia’s Citizens Police Review Board has scheduled two training sessions for the first two weeks of February. The board was disbanded in August following a series of contentious meetings. The training sessions will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1 and at the same time on Feb. 8. The meetings will

Bench trial scheduled for Basye-CPS lawsuit

January 24, 2023 11:39 AM Erika McGuire

An emergency hearing in a former state representative’s lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools to get his name on the April election ballot is set for Tuesday afternoon.

Nclusion Plus responds to backlash about drag performance at Columbia event

January 23, 2023 11:53 AM Erika McGuire

The organization whose performers dressed in drag at an event Columbia Public Schools students attended last week is responding to the backlash from some parents and conservative state leaders.