Local Politics Archives

Parson signs state worker pay raise bill at Truman office building

February 27, 2023 4:25 PM Hannah Falcon

Hundreds of workers gathered in the Harry S. Truman Building atrium Monday to witness the governor sign their pay raise into existence.

Governor to sign emergency spending budget Monday afternoon

February 26, 2023 9:35 PM abc17news-Newsroom

By Isabella Roberts JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Parson is planning on signing the emergency spending budget Monday at 2 p.m. at the Harry S. Truman office building. House Bill 14 is the supplemental budget for the 2022 fiscal year. It has funds for several state programs, including $149 million for the Department of

Columbia organizations to host a town hall for city council candidates

February 25, 2023 5:14 AM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)Multiple Columbia organizations have partnered together to host a community town hall for Columbia City Council candidates running in the April election for Ward 1 and Ward 5. The event is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church in Columbia. Columbia City Council Candidates Don Waterman and Gregg Bush are

Parson to sign state worker pay-raise bill Monday

February 24, 2023 8:08 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri state workers are about to get a raise. Gov. Mike Parson will sign HB 14 at 2 p.m. Monday at second floor atrium of the Harry S Truman Building in Jefferson City, giving workers an 8.7% pay bump. The location and time were released in a press release from Parson’s

Curbside Collection study shows the majority of respondents are in favor of roll carts in Columbia

February 23, 2023 7:50 PM Marina Diaz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia asked the Solid Waste Utility Group to seek public opinion on the future of automated trash collection. Following years of debates and City Council votes regarding Columbia’s trash issue, the results of a survey conducted by the City have been released. This comes after the City Council voted

Missouri House Democrats introduce pro-abortion rights legislation; Senate Republicans push anti-abortion bills

February 22, 2023 3:21 PM Hannah Falcon

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri was the first state to ban abortions once Roe v. Wade was overturned, but the feud between Republican and Democratic lawmakers over abortion rights continues in the capital city. On Wednesday morning, a Senate committee heard three anti-abortion bills. Two aimed to defund any clinic that provides abortions. One was

‘Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure’ law considered in Missouri Senate

February 22, 2023 10:39 AM Hannah Falcon

Missouri is known among many for lax gun laws, and one Republican Missouri senator is introducing a law to pre-empt more regulations.

Pat Fowler announces she is dropping out of Columbia First Ward race

February 22, 2023 2:31 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Ward 1 Councilwoman Pat Fowler announced on her social media that she will be ending her reelection bid. In a Facebook post, she said family responsibilities was the major contributing factor. “Many of you know that in September 2018 my StepMom moved to Columbia so I could be her decision-maker and

State worker pay raises advance in Missouri legislature

February 21, 2023 4:57 PM Hannah Falcon

An emergency spending budget to raise state workers’ pay unanimously passed out of a Missouri Senate committee Tuesday, putting it one step closer to the governor’s desk.

Muleskinners hold Columbia Ward 1 forum; candidates disagree on solutions to affordable housing

February 17, 2023 6:18 AM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Ward 1 Columbia City Councilwoman Pat Fowler and challenger Nick Knoth had a lot to say about their plans Friday, if they were to be elected to the Ward 1 seat on April 4. At a forum held by the Muleskinners, Fowler said her main focus for the community is on creating equitable

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.