Missouri Politics Archives

Kalshi files lawsuit against Missouri AG over cease-and-desist letter

October 29, 2026 5:52 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Online prediction market app Kalshi filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway after she issued a cease-and-desist letter last month. Hanaway had sent letters to Kalshi, Polymarket, Crypto.com, Novig, Underdog and Robinhood cease-and-desist letters after claiming sports-related contracts is considered unlicensed sports gambling under Missouri law. Kalshi argues

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should Missouri welcome new data centers, or work to limit them?

October 27, 2026 3:12 AM Matthew Sanders

Should Missouri welcome new data center projects, or work to limit them? Vote and see live results on SquareOffs. Data centers remain a huge issue in Missouri as development continues on two Montgomery County projects and local governments across the area wrangle with citizens’ concerns about them. Regulators told ABC 17 News in a special

More than $32.1 million spent in Amendment 3 campaigns

October 26, 2026 6:47 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The fall election is eight days away and committees were required to file financial reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission on Monday. Finance reports from multiple groups for and against Amendment 3 show $32.1 million has been spent so far. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Amendment 3 aims to reinstate an

Nearly 400 votes cast in Boone County early voting Sunday

October 25, 2026 8:24 PM Melissa Houston

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Early voting or no-excuse absentee voting continued through Sunday at Fredrick Douglass High School, where voters came in to cast their ballots. Brianna Lennon, the Boone County Clerk, said that on Sunday, about 370 residents came out to vote. Boone County is the only county in Missouri open for early voting. On

DESE gives Missouri schools first look at A-F grades; CPS alerts families

October 23, 2026 1:32 PM Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has given school districts their new A-F grades, and education officials are alerting families ahead of their publication. Wheaton R-III Superintendent Alyssa Kennedy told ABC 17 News on Friday that the state has shared a first look at 2024-25 data with districts and schools,

Missouri leaders tout state’s data center consumer protections

October 23, 2026 12:15 PM Haley Swaino

Over the last two years, federal and state regulators have worked to establish what they believe are efficient safeguards to protect average ratepayers from data center power costs.

Amid a surge in large-scale data center projects across the Show-Me State, Missouri Senate Bill 4 helped lay the groundwork for consumer protections.

Kehoe, feds announce anti-fraud Operation Show-Me the Money

October 22, 2026 3:37 PM Demetra Alarcon

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe was joined by state officials and U.S. attorneys in his office Thursday to announce the start of an anti-fraud crackdown dubbed “Operation Show-Me the Money.” This operation is a collaboration between the State of Missouri and the U.S. Department of Justice to prosecute individuals and entities that defraud

Former Columbia fire chief named state fire marshal

October 22, 2026 4:07 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Former Columbia Fire Department Chief Clayton Farr Jr. was appointed by Gov. Mike Kehoe on Thursday, according to a press release from the governor’s office. Farr worked with CFD for more than 25 years and retired as chief in 2024, according to previous reporting. He worked in the fire service for nearly

State education department names new temporary leader after sudden resignation

October 21, 2026 2:27 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced a new head of the state’s K-12 schools on Wednesday. Lisa Sireno will serve as interim commissioner for the department, DESE said in a news release. Sireno was the department’s deputy commissioner of learning services, a job she took over in July. Sireno

Eligibility requirements yet to be released for over $8 billion farm fuel relief program

October 21, 2026 4:28 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri farmers are encouraged to pre-file applications with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the over $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program. The program is a one-time payment that is intended to provide farmers with financial relief during the harvesting season. It is funded by the 1933 Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act,

Missouri interim education commissioner resigns

October 20, 2026 3:52 PM Ellyse Edwards

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Interim Commissioner of Education Stacey Preis resigned effective immediately on Tuesday afternoon, hours after the State Board of Education selected a firm to assist with its search for a permanent commissioner. Preis did not provide a specific reason for her departure. In a statement, she said she submitted her resignation

Amendment 8 takes a back seat for Boone County Sheriff amid campaign for new jail

October 18, 2026 5:09 AM Alison Patton

As the November election approaches, Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey is focusing on Proposition L, which, if passed, would establish a sales tax to fund a new county jail, but another ballot measure, which has taken a back seat, could change how a sheriff is removed from office.

Amendment 8 would establish the county sheriff in the Missouri Constitution, but the role is already outlined in state law. While Carey has other priorities this election season, he said he’s against Amendment 8.

Study on Missouri Cannabis suggests increasing market competition

October 16, 2026 12:06 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services released a new survey Thursday examining the state’s cannabis market over the past year, with the study reporting room for growth. The study, conducted by New York-based Cannabis Public Policy Consulting LLC, used data from 1,200 cannabis consumers over the past 35 months to

Amendment 8 would put sheriffs in the Missouri Constitution; Democrats say be wary

October 15, 2026 1:48 PM Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Amendment 8 would place rules for county sheriffs in the state Constitution, including how sheriffs are elected, what duties they perform, how they staff their offices and how they can be removed. Missouri voters will decide whether to approve the amendment on Nov. 3. Most counties already elect sheriffs to four-year

TRUTH ALERT: Amendment 6 empowers direct democracy in Missouri, but opponents warn of consequences

October 15, 2026 11:31 AM Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Amendment 6, proposed by Respect Missouri Voters, will appear on the November ballot, and would limit legislators’ power to overturn laws enacted by direct vote of the people. The ballot language that will appear before voters reads as follows: expand the initiative and referendum petition process by making it a fundamental right;

Bailey starts his own Amendment 3-supporting PAC

October 14, 2026 6:33 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Former Missouri Attorney General and former Co-Deputy Director of the FBI Andrew Bailey filed paperwork on Tuesday to form a political action committee that supports a ballot initiative. Bailey was listed as the treasurer of “Vote Yes On Amendment 3,” which as it the name implies is supporting the passage of Amendment

Columbia Public Library waiting for response after sending officials Rainbow Story Time records

October 14, 2026 3:27 PM Ellyse Edwards

Editor’s note: Some quotes previously attributed to a library spokesperson have been correctly attributed to its executive director. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Public Library sent state Sen. Rick Brattin an 86-page packet of records about its Rainbow Story Time event on Sept. 16, in response to a request under Missouri’s Sunshine Law. Nearly a

Kehoe expands order allowing dyed diesel on Missouri highways

October 9, 2026 1:16 PM Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe has expanded restrictions on dyed diesel to all drivers, not just farmers. Executive Order 26-20 allows all motor vehicles to use dyed diesel fuel on Missouri highways. The action follows an executive order President Donald Trump signed on Monday. “Haulers in Missouri will now be able to utilize tax-free

Lincoln University students, alumni sue state over higher education funding

October 7, 2026 10:48 AM Lucas Geisler, Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A group of Lincoln University students and alumni want a federal judge to fix what they claim is decades of underfunding from the state. Seven people, represented by Calloway Law and the 1890 Project, filed the federal lawsuit against Gov. Mike Kehoe, the state’s higher education departments, and University of Missouri

Former AG Bailey takes swipe at Buffaloe, shows support for new jail during speech for Boone County Pachyderm Club

October 6, 2026 8:36 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey took aim at Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe during a Tuesday night speech, accusing her of undermining law enforcement and the city, while also voicing support for a proposed new Boone County Jail. Bailey made the comments while serving as the featured keynote speaker at the Columbia