Missouri Politics Archives

Gov. Parson touts I-70 expansion in State of the State address

January 18, 2023 3:41 PM Lucas Geisler

Parts of Interstate 70 in Mid-Missouri could expand to three lanes under a budget plan put forward by Gov. Mike Parson.

Missouri lawmakers revisit sports betting

January 15, 2023 7:37 PM Abby Landwehr

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A new piece of legislation put the topic of sports betting back on state lawmakers’ agendas. House Bill 581, filed by State Representative Phil Christofanelli (R-St. Peters), aims to add Missouri to the list of states with legalized sports betting. The proposed bill would allow Missouri residents over 21 to legally

Missouri Democrats say House dress code debate a distraction

January 15, 2023 4:12 PM Associated Press

By JOSH FUNK Associated Press Women who serve in the Missouri House will face a tougher dress code when they return to the floor this week after a debate that Democrats panned as a pointless distraction from the issues facing the state. The new rules require female legislators and staff members to wear a jacket

Parson wants nearly 9% raise for state workers

January 11, 2023 11:27 AM Matthew Sanders

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said Wednesday that he wants an 8.7% cost-of-living raise for all state workers.

Democrat Webber announces run to flip Missouri Senate seat

January 9, 2023 11:09 AM Matthew Sanders

Democrat Stephen Webber, who represented parts of Columbia and Boone County for four years in the state House, said Monday that he will attempt another run for Senate.

Forms now available for personal marijuana cultivation

January 8, 2023 7:58 PM Abby Landwehr

Applications to grow your own marijuana for personal use are now open to residents 21 years old and older. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services opened information and forms to the public Saturday as Amendment 3 guidelines continue to be rolled out. The change also joins the newly released application to have sentences

On Capitol attack anniversary, challenge of Hawley announced

January 6, 2023 9:30 AM Associated Press

By JIM SALTER Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two years to the day since U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley’s now-famous raised-fist salute to rioters at the U.S. Capitol, a Marine veteran who ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2022 has announced that he’ll try to unseat Hawley in 2024. Lucas Kunce announced his bid on Friday.

State health department to post personal marijuana cultivation applications

January 6, 2023 9:34 AM Joushua Blount

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The process to make recreational marijuana more accessible to Missourians will take a step forward this weekend. Starting Saturday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will post applications for personal cultivation licenses. The license will allow approved applicants to grow their own marijuana. The future use of recreational marijuana

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should Missouri cut taxes even more?

January 6, 2023 2:48 AM ABC 17 News Team

Last year Republican lawmakers and Gov. Mike Parson celebrated the passage of a massive income tax cut worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Gov. Parson brings in legislative session with prayer breakfast

January 5, 2023 6:30 AM Joushua Blount

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Michael Parson helped kick off the 2023 legislative session in Jefferson City Thursday morning. The governor hosted the annual prayer breakfast at the Capitol Plaza Hotel from 7:30 until 9 a.m. On Wednesday, state lawmakers returned to the State Capitol for the first day of the legislative session. House leadership

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should it be harder to amend the constitution?

January 5, 2023 2:47 AM ABC 17 News Team

One of the priorities set out by Missouri legislators in this year’s session is to change the process of getting an amendment on the ballot via petition.

Missouri legislative session kicks off at noon with fresh faces

January 4, 2023 11:38 AM Hannah Falcon

State lawmakers are returning to the capital city for another session of committee hearings, floor debates and discussing Missouri’s future.

Missouri Senate leaders’ legislative priorities going into 2023 session

January 3, 2023 6:32 PM Hannah Falcon

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The 2023 Missouri legislative session starts Wednesday. As expected, Republicans and Democrats in the State Senate have differing priorities. Republican Party Republican State Sen. Caleb Rowden, of Columbia, returns to the Capitol this year with a new title: Senate President Pro Tem. The position will have to be ratified by the

Bailey sworn in as Missouri Attorney General

January 2, 2023 6:01 PM Erika McGuire

Missouri’s next attorney general was sworn in Tuesday at the Supreme Court Building in Jefferson City.

Wage advocates say new Missouri minimum still not enough

January 2, 2023 8:10 PM Hannah Falcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Thousands of workers in Missouri received a raise at the start of the new year, but the extra money still doesn’t match the cost of living. The Missouri minimum wage increased to $12 an hour under Proposition B. This is the last year under Prop B, passed by voters in 2018, which

New Year, New Laws: Minimum wage, taxes, homeless camping

January 1, 2023 8:21 PM Hannah Falcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) At the start of the New Year, several new laws and taxes will impact Missourians. Minimum wage increases The minimum wage in Missouri increased to $12 an hour starting Jan. 1. This is thanks to Proposition B, passed by Missouri voters in 2018. Under Prop B, minimum wage increased by 85 cents

US may execute its first openly transgender woman

January 2, 2023 9:04 AM Associated Press

Unless Missouri Gov. Mike Parson grants clemency, Amber McLaughlin, 49, will become the first openly transgender woman executed in the U.S. She is scheduled to die by injection Tuesday for killing a former girlfriend in 2003.

Missouri considers raising teacher pay to increase retention

December 29, 2022 8:07 PM Hannah Falcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Half of Missouri teachers leave the profession by their fifth year, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The state is hoping increased salaries will prevent that. The DESE has proposed several ways to extend pay raises for teachers. Missouri still sits at the bottom nationwide when it comes

Proposed House bill would protect those calling for help in college hazing incidents

December 29, 2022 11:31 AM Ethan Heinz

A lawmaker is proposing a bill that he believes would help protect college students in Missouri who report hazing.

Governor extends order to help Gygr-Gas customers

December 29, 2022 5:21 PM Matthew Sanders

Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday signed an executive order to continue to allow customers of a Boonville-based propane supplier to get their tanks filled by other companies.