Missouri Politics Archives

Hearing set for next week in state’s lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools mask mandate

September 21, 2021 5:06 PM Matthew Sanders

Judge Brouck Jacobs will hear motions in the case on Sept. 28.

Attorney general warns Moberly schools about new recording law

September 21, 2021 12:47 PM Matthew Sanders

State lawmakers in May passed a law allowing parents to record sessions with educators regarding their students’ individual education plans. The plans are made for students who need special accommodations as part of the learning process. The law took effect Aug. 28.

Court asked to suspend law licenses of gun-waving couple

September 20, 2021 1:31 PM Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A Missouri official is asking the state Supreme Court to suspend the law licenses of a St. Louis couple who gained national attention last year when they waved guns at racial injustice protesters outside their home. Missouri Chief Disciplinary Counsel Alan Pratzel cited Mark and Patricia McCloskey’s guilty pleas to misdemeanors

Attorney general seeks to add more schools to mask lawsuit against CPS

September 17, 2021 4:33 PM Karl Wehmhoener

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt wants to add more schools to the lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools and its mask policy.

New health director on coronavirus in kids: ‘Delta variant is vastly different than the alpha variant’

September 16, 2021 1:24 PM Hannah Falcon

The new health director from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Donald Kauerauf, said the delta variant of COVID-19 is affecting children “vastly” different than the alpha variant and should be treated as an entirely new disease.

Lawmakers, witnesses say Biden’s vaccine plan will harm industry

September 15, 2021 3:57 AM Ben Fein

The Missouri House Judiciary Committee heard testimony Wednesday from witnesses representing prominent industries who lamented the harm they say President Joe Biden’s vaccine plan will cause employers.

Missouri Chamber of Commerce opposes Biden’s vaccine plan, says it raises more questions than answers

September 10, 2021 12:42 PM Hannah Falcon

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry voiced its opposition to President Joe Biden’s vaccine plan on the basis that it takes away businesses’ freedom of choice.

Parson weighs special session to respond to Biden COVID plan

September 10, 2021 10:04 AM Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is considering calling a special legislative session to challenge President Joe Biden’s plan to require COVID-19 vaccination or testing for many workers. Parson told the Kansas City Star in an interview on Friday that Missouri will oppose the White House initiative on “multiple fronts.” He

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you back President Biden’s coronavirus vaccine mandate plans?

September 10, 2021 3:17 AM ABC 17 News Team

President Joe Biden said Thursday that his administration is working on plans to vastly expand the number of Americans required to get coronavirus shots.

Missouri Rep. Sara Walsh resumes campaign for Missouri’s 4th Congressional District after catching COVID

September 1, 2021 10:53 PM Karl Wehmhoener

EDITOR’S NOTE: A reference to Ed Emery filing for election has been removed. Emery died in August. ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Rep. Sara Walsh (R-Ashland) says she will resume her campaign for Missouri’s 4th Congressional District after the passing of her husband from the coronavirus. My full statement below. I am resuming my campaign for

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you support the Missouri AG’s lawsuit against school mask mandates?

August 30, 2021 3:55 AM ABC 17 News Team

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has named Columbia Public Schools in a class-action lawsuit meant to ban districts’ mask mandates statewide.

New laws set to go into place in Missouri to limit health orders, allow college athletes to be compensated

August 28, 2021 3:50 AM Ben Fein

ultiple new laws are set to take effect on Saturday, including compensation for student athletes, limits on health orders, multiple relating to law enforcement and others.

Missouri’s U.S. senators and representatives react to attacks outside Kabul Airport

August 26, 2021 3:46 PM Karl Wehmhoener

Missouri’s U.S. Senators and several congressional members have spoken out about the Thursday morning attacks outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Rep. Hartzler responds to CPS mask mandate lawsuit

August 25, 2021 7:26 PM Karl Wehmhoener

CENTRALIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler made an appearance in Centralia talking with agricultural group leaders to discuss water regulations. During her appearance, Hartzler spoke about Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s lawsuit against mask mandates in schools districts. Hartzler says she believes the parents of students should have the power to determine if their child

Judge bars St. Louis County from enforcing mask mandate

August 19, 2021 1:36 PM Associated Press

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — A judge has barred St. Louis County from enforcing a mask mandate while a lawsuit against it is litigated. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page issued the mandate last month, prompting the County Council to vote to rescind it. Page maintained the mask mandate remained in effect. Attorney General Eric Schmitt

Missouri politicians release comments on the situation in Afghanistan

August 16, 2021 6:53 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Several state and local politicians have expressed their opinions on the situation in Afghanistan. Gov. Mike Parson (R) Like many Missourians, I am concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. The gross negligence demonstrated by the Biden Administration for the safety and security of our service members and our nation’s committed

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Is the state doing enough to help hospitals?

August 13, 2021 2:32 AM ABC 17 News Team

Gov. Mike Parson announced $30 million this week to help hospitals with critical staffing shortages as coronavirus patients continue to strain the state’s health care system.

2020 Census data shows Boone County population growth

August 12, 2021 9:38 PM Zach Boetto

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The 2020 once-in-a-decade Census data shows Boone County growing in population and becoming more diverse. The federal data dropped on Thursday for states to begin redistricting efforts. The new numbers show Missouri added 165,986 residents in the last ten years. Boone County is one of the only mid-Missouri counties which significantly grew

Missouri redistricting commissions schedule public hearings as 2020 Census data is to be released Thursday

August 12, 2021 10:06 AM Molly Stawinoga

Two governor-appointed committees are starting work to redraw Missouri’s district maps.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should businesses be barred from requiring employees to get vaccinated?

August 12, 2021 2:49 AM ABC 17 News Team

Some Republican members of the Missouri Senate want Gov. Mike Parson to call a special session to bar businesses from requiring employees to be vaccinated against coronavirus.