Missouri Politics Archives

House committee endorses proposed gasoline tax increase

April 27, 2021 12:30 PM Associated Press

A Missouri House committee unanimously endorsed a proposal to increase the state’s gasoline tax.

State House gives vocal approval to chokehold bill

April 27, 2021 5:37 AM Zach Boetto

The bill features a measure that prohibits law enforcement officers from using a respiratory choke-hold unless deadly force is authorized under the law.

Gov. Parson: LIHEAP energy assistance program changes to help more Missourians pay energy bills

April 23, 2021 11:24 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Parson is extending the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Energy Assistance (EA) Program for one-time primary heating bill payments through May 31 of this year. The state is expanding eligibility for both the heating and cooling programs for Missouri households with incomes up to 135 percent of the

Parson hopes to pick new Missouri health director quickly

April 22, 2021 4:22 PM Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson says he hopes to have a new health director within the next two months. Parson said Thursday that he thought it was in the best interest of his office and Cabinet to part ways with former health director Randall Williams. The governor did not elaborate on

Missouri Senate panel votes down Medicaid expansion funding

April 22, 2021 12:07 PM Associated Press

The budget panel voted 7-7 Wednesday on a Republican-sponsored proposal that would have set money aside to pay for the program. The tie vote meant the proposal failed.

Sen. Blunt issues statement on DOJ pattern-or-practice review of Minneapolis police department

April 21, 2021 6:13 PM ABC 17 News Team

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KMIZ) US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the Department of Justice is opening an investigation into police practices in Minneapolis. This comes after former police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted in the killing of George Floyd Tuesday. The DOJ will investigate the policies and operations of the Minneapolis police department. The new investigation

McCloskeys want grand jury to take a new look at their case

April 21, 2021 1:59 PM Associated Press

A St. Louis husband and wife facing criminal charges for waving guns at racial injustice protesters last summer are asking a judge to send their case back to the grand jury, citing concerns about Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s handling of it.

Missouri chokehold ban bill working through state House

April 21, 2021 12:00 PM Meghan Drakas

The measure won approval in the state Senate last month and the House held a committee hearing on the bill last week.

Missouri House expels lawmaker accused of child abuse

April 21, 2021 11:26 AM Associated Press

The Missouri House has ousted a lawmaker accused of sexually and physically abusing his children years ago.

Local health department ‘surprised’ at the news of state’s health director’s resignation

April 20, 2021 5:42 PM Victoria Bragg

COLUMBIA, MO (KMIZ) Missouri state health director, Dr. Randall Williams, resigned from his position at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Kristi Campbell, the director of the Cole County Health Department, said she was surprised when she heard the news of Dr. Williams. Campbell says she hadn’t heard anything in regards to Dr.

Missouri health director out, acting director appointed

April 20, 2021 12:18 PM Matthew Sanders

Gov. Mike Parson’s office said in a news release Tuesday that Parson had accepted Dr. Randall Williams’ resignation. The release was issued as the St. Louis-Post Dispatch reported that Williams and the state’s chief operating officer, Drew Erdmann, were leaving their posts.

Pro-mask candidates leave office as Missouri tires of limits

April 20, 2021 3:45 PM Associated Press

ROLLA, Mo. (AP) — Pro-mask candidates are leaving office and occupancy limits are falling by the wayside in Missouri as communities tire of pandemic restrictions. St. Louis Public Radio reports that in the central Missouri city of Rolla, a slate of anti-mask candidates joined the City Council on Monday after being elected this month even

Missouri House passes bill for guns in churches, buses

April 20, 2021 3:37 PM Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s GOP-led House has passed a bill that would allow guns in churches and on public transportation. The House voted Monday to send the proposal to the Republican-led Senate. Currently, people need permission to bring firearms into places of religious worship. The bill would allow people with concealed carry permits to

Report: Missouri lawmaker should be ousted for alleged abuse

April 19, 2021 9:09 PM Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A state House committee report says a new Missouri lawmaker accused of physically and sexually abusing his children years ago should be ousted. The Missouri House Ethics Committee on Monday released its report on Republican Rep. Rick Roeber. His now-adult children testified to House investigators earlier this year that he sexually

Rep. Billy Long of Missouri to attend Mar-a-Lago fundraiser

April 19, 2021 2:21 PM Associated Press

U.S. Rep. Billy Long of Missouri says he plans to attend a fundraiser at former President Donald Trump’s golf resort in Florida.

Missouri House delays lawmaker resignation to finish review

April 15, 2021 3:21 PM Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House has refused to accept a lawmaker’s resignation to allow the Ethics Committee to fully investigate allegations that he physically and sexually abused his children years ago. The GOP-led House voted 153-0 Thursday to prevent Rep. Rick Roeber from resigning Friday as he had planned. Roeber’s adult children in

Missouri House redirects money meant for Medicaid expansion

April 15, 2021 3:19 PM Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House wants to redirect Medicaid expansion funding to services for people with disabilities, the elderly and other vulnerable groups. The GOP-led House on Thursday voted 143-1 to pass an alternative plan for how to spend the Medicaid expansion money. Missouri voters last year amended the state Constitution to extend

Marshall, Hawley oppose moving ahead with hate crimes bill

April 15, 2021 3:15 PM Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans Roger Marshall of Kansas and Josh Hawley of Missouri were among a handful of conservative U.S. senators who opposed moving forward with a Democratic-sponsored measure for confronting hate crimes against Asian Americans. Marshall’s office said Thursday that an existing federal hate crimes law already prohibits intentionally injuring or trying to

Missouri lawmakers consider day to honor Rush Limbaugh

April 13, 2021 6:44 PM Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers are considering setting aside a day each January to honor the late Rush Limbaugh. The Cape Girardeau native gained national fame before he died in February at age 70 after a battle with cancer. A Missouri Senate committee debated legislation Tuesday to designate Jan. 12, Limbaugh’s birthday, as

Missouri House lawmaker accused of child abuse resigns

April 13, 2021 3:43 PM Associated Press

A Missouri lawmaker exiled from the House Republican caucus over accusations of sexually and physically abusing his children years ago is stepping down.