COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ) Republican state Rep. Jon Patterson, of Lee’s Summit, makes Missouri history as the first Asian American Speaker of the House after a slight hiccup in the voting process. The Missouri House of Representatives and Senate met Wednesday in its first day of session of 2025. But before any committees are made or
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Commission held its first of two readings calling for a special election to further freeze senior property taxes for eligible seniors on Tuesday. The reading comes after a petition from outgoing state Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) gained nearly 5,000 signatures from registered Boone County voters, asking the commission
Continue Reading
As of Wednesday, police can now ticket Missouri drivers for using their cellphones while driving. The law requires the use of cellphones while driving to be hands-free. Police can write tickets but they can’t pull drivers over for this violation — it must accompany a more severe driving infraction to warrant a traffic stop. Do
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Elected officials across Missouri are reacting to an act of terrorism in New Orleans, as the FBI continues to investigate a New Year’s Day truck attack that left at least 15 people dead, with one representative raising concerns that America is vulnerable. Rep. Justin Sparks (R-Wildwood) expressed concern that the attack was
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Outgoing state Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) was fined $100 by the Missouri Ethics Commission last week over yard signs that were used during her bid for northern district commissioner. Toalson Reisch ran an unsuccessful bid this past fall against incumbent Boone County Northern District Commissioner Janet Thompson. Toalson Reisch served in
Continue Reading
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Jay Ashcroft, Missouri’s 40th secretary of state, will not seek another political office. In an interview Friday with ABC 17 News, Ashcroft said he does not see himself running again. “The people, they wanted me to stop, and I’ve done my eight years, so I just don’t see that I’m going
Continue Reading
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says he’s putting life in public office on hold. Ashcroft is ending his second term after losing the Republican primary for governor last summer. A spokesman for his office confirmed that Ashcroft told the Missouri Independent this week that he has no plans to seek
Continue Reading
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A judge has struck down parts of a Missouri law requiring redactions of many court records, including the names of all witnesses and victims involved in lawsuits and criminal proceedings. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a Moniteau County associate circuit judge has ruled Friday provisions of the 2023 law
Continue Reading
Associated Press Opponents of abortion are increasingly focusing on restricting access to pills, which are the most common way to end a pregnancy in the U.S. This month, the Texas attorney general’s office filed a lawsuit against a New York doctor, saying she violated Texas law by prescribing abortion pills to a patient there via
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – A Jackson County judge blocked Missouri’s near-total abortion ban Friday following the passage of a statewide constitutional amendment in November. Judge Jerri Zhang’s 22-page ruling temporarily blocks several state laws regulating the procedure. That includes Missouri’s law banning abortions except for a medical emergency. Planned Parenthood sued the state shortly after
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Governor-elect Mike Kehoe announced the next director to lead the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will be from Mid-Missouri. According to a news release on Thursday, Kehoe named former Boone County state senator Kurt Schaefer as the next director. Schaefer would assume the position on Jan. 13 and wait to be confirmed
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) After winning in the November election, Mike Kehoe will serve as Missouri’s 58th governor next year. Kehoe had served as lieutenant governor since 2018, after he was appointed by Gov. Mike Parson in 2018 and won the seat in the 2020 election. Prior to that, he served in the Missouri Senate. Kehoe
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Income tax changes may be on the table during the 2025 session after six Missouri senators prefiled bills that propose setting a flat tax for the state to ultimately eliminate income tax. Missouri currently has a tax rate of 0.5% for every $1,273 of annual taxable income. This rate caps out at
Continue Reading
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Mark James will be the next Missouri Department of Public Safety, according to a Monday press release from Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe’s Office. The release says that he will assume the role on Jan. 13 and await confirmation from the Missouri Senate. Public Safety Director Sandra Karsten announced her retirement last week.
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Some representatives of Missouri’s business community have filed a petition with the Missouri Supreme Court to overturn Proposition A. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry says in a news release that Proposition A will increase prices for consumers and bring burdens on businesses of all sizes. “I think it’s going to
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia state representative says he wants to let Boone County voters to decide on whether a charter school should be established here. Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) said this week that he’s pushing for a law that would let local voters decide whether a charter school can be set up in
Continue Reading
Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fans in Missouri will be able to bet on sports next year under a ballot measure that narrowly won approval. State election officials on Thursday certified that the sports betting initiative passed with 50.05% support in the November election. Betting won’t begin immediately. The Missouri Gaming Commission said
Continue Reading
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Abortion-rights advocates on Wednesday asked a judge to overturn Missouri’s near-total ban on the procedure, less than a month after voters backed an abortion-rights constitutional amendment. Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang did not immediately rule after Wednesday’s hearing. Planned Parenthood and other plaintiffs had asked her to issue a temporary
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold) prefiled a proposed anti-abortion amendment following the passage of Amendment 3. Members of the Missouri Legislature began prefiling bills on Dec. 1. According to a Tuesday press release, Coleman’s Amendment SJR 25 titled “Protecting Life with Compassion and Clarity,” if approved by voters would ban all
Continue Reading
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Trevor Foley will become the director of the Missouri Department of Corrections, according to a press release from Governor-elect Mike Kehoe’s office. Foley was named the acting director last year after former DOC Director Anne Precythe announced her retirement. “I’m grateful to Governor-Elect Kehoe for this opportunity to continue my service to
Continue Reading