Missouri Politics Archives

WATCH LIVE: Missouri gubernatorial debate

September 20, 2024 2:02 PM ABC 17 News Team

The candidates for Missouri governor are set to debate Friday afternoon at the Missouri Press Association’s annual convention.

Missouri voluntarily eases enforcement against hemp-based THC products

September 18, 2024 3:58 PM Matthew Sanders

The state agreed Tuesday to curtail its regulation of products that contain THC derived from hemp and are sold at stores without the need for a special license.

More than 5,600 Boone County seniors apply for tax exemption, deadline is Oct. 1

September 18, 2024 2:13 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) With two weeks left to apply, more than 5,600 Boone County seniors have asked for a property tax break, according to a press release from the Boone County Commission. A state law allowing a property tax freeze for seniors went into effect Aug. 28, 2023. The freeze has to be put into effect by

Casinos, sports betting advocates clash over Missouri Amendment 2

September 17, 2024 7:53 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Several casinos have been amongst the biggest donors to an ad campaign against a sports betting initiative in Missouri after millions of dollars were spent on television ads in favor of the measure. Amendment 2, which will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot, asks voters if they want to amend the state

MU students support abortion question appearing on the November ballot

September 10, 2024 7:46 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Some University of Missouri students say the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision to put a question about abortion access back on the November ballot was the right move. The court overturned a lower court’s decision that would have removed a question regarding legalizing abortion from the Nov. 5 ballot on Tuesday. The decision

House committee demands answers as Missouri childcare centers struggle to stay open amid state reimbursement backlog

September 10, 2024 8:09 PM Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Cheryl Howard, the executive director of the Nora Stewart Early Learning Center, is one of thousands of childcare providers across the state relying on state reimbursements to keep their daycare alive. However, due to a backlog in the state, Howard says the NSELC, which has been operating in Columbia for 91

Missouri Supreme Court puts abortion question back on November ballot

September 10, 2024 5:47 AM Jazsmin Halliburton, Gabrielle Teiner, Matthew Sanders

The Missouri Supreme Court has overturned a lower court decision that would have removed a question on legalizing abortion from the November ballot.

Parson creates task force to snuff out hemp-derived THC

September 10, 2024 11:07 AM Marie Moyer, Matthew Sanders

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and Attorney General Andrew Bailey are scheduled to provide an update on the state’s work to restrict sales of THC derived from hemp.

Battle over abortion rights measure intensifies as Columbia, KC, St. Louis mayors fight for ballot inclusion

September 9, 2024 7:40 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) With a ballot deadline looming, mayors of some of Missouri’s largest cities have submitted their arguments for why a decertified measure that would legalize abortion should appear on the ballot. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, St. Louis Mayor Tishuara Jones, Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, and St. Louis County Director Sam Page submitted

Missouri judge says abortion-rights measure summary penned by GOP official is misleading

September 5, 2024 5:08 PM Associated Press

Associated Press COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A judge says an anti-abortion GOP official used misleading language to summarize a ballot question designed to restore abortion rights in the state. Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker on Thursday threw out a description of the measure as written by Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. Walker wrote

Governor’s deputy chief of staff to become DESE deputy commissioner

September 4, 2024 3:21 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The deputy chief of staff for Gov. Mike Parson’s Office will take on a new role on Nov. 1, according to a Wednesday press release from the office. Kelli Jones – who joined Parson’s team while he was the lieutenant governor – will step down from her position on Oct. 31

Report recommends Missouri legislature expand perinatal resources

September 2, 2024 2:49 PM Marie Moyer

Missouri health leaders say the state needs to do more to lower rates of maternal mortality in their annual report.

Judge orders Lake of the Ozarks-area casino question onto November ballot

August 30, 2024 10:18 AM Morgan Buresh, Matthew Sanders

A plan for a casino on the Osage River in the Lake of the Ozarks area will appear before voters in November.

Columbia working on changes to city code amid new law impacting Citizens Police Review Board

August 28, 2024 7:22 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia is working on updating its city code to comply with a new law that officially went into effect on Wednesday, that will limit the power of the Citizens Police Review Board. Senate Bill 754, which was signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson in July, focuses on modifying

Education bill that will allow charter schools in Boone County goes into effect Wednesday

August 28, 2024 11:01 AM Morgan Buresh

A new law goes into effect Wednesday that will raise teacher salaries and allow for charter schools in Boone County.

House Education Committee announces special hearing on DESE childcare payment delays

August 28, 2024 11:26 AM Madison Stuerman

The Missouri House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee announced on Monday it will hold a special hearing to investigate the delays in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education childcare payments.

Bill focusing on cyberstalking, penalties on celebratory gunfire goes into effect Wednesday

August 27, 2024 6:32 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A new Missouri bill will officially go into effect on Wednesday that will make a variety of modifications to public safety laws in the Show Me State. Senate Bill 754 was signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson in July. Some of the biggest changes in the bill include increasing the minimum

Parson says Ashcroft is blocking effort to ban unregulated THC because of hurt feelings

August 22, 2024 3:53 PM Associated Press

Associated Press COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Gov. Mike Parson says Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is blocking an executive order to ban various unregulated forms of the cannabis compound THC over “hurt feelings.” Parson endorsed Ashcroft’s opponent in the state’s recent gubernatorial primary, which Ashcroft went on to lose. Parson said Thursday that Ashcroft

Lawsuit claims Secretary of State’s Office did not count valid signatures for Lake casino question

August 21, 2024 12:55 PM Morgan Buresh

Supporters of an Osage River gambling boat say Missouri’s Secretary of State illegally deprived voters of their rights to put the issue on the November ballot.

Missouri education department still behind on child care subsidy payments

August 14, 2024 11:22 AM Morgan Buresh

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is still behind on payments to child care providers after previously saying issues would be resolved by the end of July.