Missouri Politics Archives

Parson seeks more pay for teachers, state workers in proposed budget

January 24, 2024 3:50 AM Gabrielle Teiner, Matthew Sanders

Gov. Mike Parson wants the legislature to continue providing grants to increase teacher salaries.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you have confidence in the Missouri Senate?

January 24, 2024 10:20 AM ABC 17 News Team

The Missouri General Assembly has only been in session for a few weeks now and that short time has been marked by infighting among the Republican supermajority.

Ashcroft calls state audit a political attack

January 23, 2024 1:54 PM Hannah Falcon

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released a report giving the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office a “fair” rating — a downgrade from the office’s “good” rating. The report claims that Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office refused to provide Fitzpatrick’s office with cybersecurity reviews of 116 local election authorities. In addition, the

Rowden removes conservative state senators from committee assignments

January 23, 2024 12:39 PM Matthew Sanders, Hannah Falcon

State Senate Republican leaders held a news conference Tuesday to talk about the rest of the session.

Missouri Democrats push to restore abortion access on anniversary of Roe v. Wade

January 22, 2024 2:59 PM Hannah Falcon

Monday was the 51st anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion across the country.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Will you vote in Missouri’s presidential caucuses?

January 16, 2024 2:18 AM ABC 17 News Team

Iowa kicked off the presidential nominating season Monday with its first-in-the-nation caucuses.

How to participate in Missouri’s presidential caucuses

January 15, 2024 11:44 AM Hannah Falcon

Instead of heading to the polls this winter, Missouri voters will head to caucuses to decide who their party should support for president.

Dispatch notes show timeline of swatting call to Missouri Secretary of State’s house

January 11, 2024 6:48 PM Lucas Geisler

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) First responders got a fake call from a blocked number claiming someone had shot a woman at Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s house on Sunday night. The incident — now being investigated by law enforcement in Jefferson City as a swatting crime — started at 8:55 p.m., according to documents

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Does Missouri need harsher penalties for ‘swatting?’

January 11, 2024 2:15 AM ABC 17 News Team

Police were sent to Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s home Sunday night on a bogus call.

Investigators determine suspicious package sent to attorney general contained meth

January 10, 2024 1:12 PM Hannah Falcon

The suspicious package sent to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in April contained methamphetamine, according to records ABC 17 News obtained from the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

Columbia senator drafting bill to increase swatting punishment after call to secretary of state’s house

January 8, 2024 7:33 AM Hannah Falcon, Erika McGuire

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) is working on legislation that would increase the penalty for swatting, following a swatting call to the secretary of state’s house on Sunday night. Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft was a target of a swatting attempt at his home Sunday night, Ashcroft posted on his social

Longtime Mid-Missouri congressman stepping down

January 4, 2024 1:24 PM Matthew Sanders

A congressman who has represented parts of Mid-Missouri over several terms said Thursday that he’s stepping down when this one ends.

Missouri takes first step toward implementing Summer EBT food program

January 3, 2024 11:20 AM Morgan Buresh

The state of Missouri has taken the first step toward participating in an enhanced food benefits program for children this summer.

Columbia lawmakers identify education as early priority for 2024 legislative session

January 3, 2024 5:52 PM Hannah Falcon

Lawmakers gaveled in for the 2024 legislative session Wednesday afternoon with hopes to continue working on many of the priorities that didn’t make it to the finish line last year.

WATCH: House Republicans hold news conference after first day of legislative session

January 3, 2024 1:21 PM ABC 17 News Team

The Missouri General Assembly kicked off its 2024 legislative session at noon Wednesday.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should lawmakers focus on foreign ownership of farmland?

January 3, 2024 2:20 AM ABC 17 News Team

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order Tuesday that bars ownership of farmland by “foreign adversaries” near military facilities.

Parson bans some Missouri farmland purchases by ‘foreign adversaries’

January 2, 2024 10:53 AM Hannah Falcon, Matthew Sanders

Gov. Mike Parson will sign an executive order Tuesday dealing with foreign-owned farmland.

As lawmakers propose permanent raises for teachers, educators fear it’s not enough

December 13, 2023 10:55 AM Hannah Falcon

After two years of temporary grants, lawmakers are now pushing a permanent raise to Missouri teachers’ base salary.

Abortion bill to be withdrawn after sponsor says it was ‘mischaracterized’

December 12, 2023 10:58 AM Hannah Falcon

At least nine bills have been prefiled ahead of the 2024 legislative session suggesting changes to Missouri’s abortion laws, including one that would make mothers who get abortions criminal homicide subjects.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should women be held criminally liable for abortions?

December 13, 2023 3:13 AM ABC 17 News Team

A southwest Missouri lawmaker has filed a bill for the upcoming session that would see women charged with murder for abortions.