Missouri Politics Archives

Missouri Supreme Court permanently blocks key part of voter photo ID

January 14, 2020 5:37 PM Associated Press

The Missouri Supreme Court has upheld a decision striking down a central portion of a 2016 voter photo identification law.

Rep. Dottie Bailey, R-Eureka, presents her bill on school's using seclusion rooms as a disciplinary measure

Proposal to ban most uses of seclusion rooms in Missouri schools nets bipartisan support

January 13, 2020 9:33 PM Barry Mangold

Some Missouri state lawmakers behind an effort to limit to ban most uses of seclusion rooms, which are small rooms with little to no furniture or accommodations, are hoping to find success early in the 2020 legislative session.

Missouri Republicans plan to repeal voter-approved redistricting process

January 8, 2020 9:41 PM Barry Mangold

For a second time, Missouri republicans could attempt an overhaul of the state’s redistricting process, which was put in place by voters in 2018. The current process was included in Amendment 1, also known as Clean Missouri, a petition-borne measure centered on ethics reform that was approved by more than 60 percent of Missouri voters.

Local leaders look to state legislature to combat gun violence

January 7, 2020 10:44 PM Sydney Olsen

The City of Columbia recently expanded the Violent Crime Task Force in an effort to combat gun violence, but city leaders are still searching for more ways to reduce violence, including state legislature.

Missouri could make daylight saving time permanent

January 6, 2020 12:22 PM Amber Tabeling

A bill to establish Daylight Saving as a standard time pact was prefiled in Missouri by Tim Remole in December.

State lawmakers gear up to fight gun violence during 2020 legislative session

January 6, 2020 1:44 PM Connor Hirsch

Several state lawmakers have pre-filed bills regarding gun violence for the upcoming legislative session.

Corporate tax cuts and minimum wage increases take effect in Missouri

January 1, 2020 5:54 PM Amber Tabeling

A new year brings new laws. Missouri’s corporate tax cut is changing and it is unknown whether the state’s businesses will gain or lose money.

DESE’s $400 million plan for teacher raises in Missouri faces challenges

December 31, 2019 3:47 PM Joe McLean

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education presented a plan to the state’s board of education in early December which would provide teachers a pay raise and target hard-to-fill positions with additional pay incentives.

Skelton bows out of State Senate race

December 29, 2019 6:21 AM Joe McLean

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ) Democrat Michela Skelton announced Friday that she will no longer seek to represent Missouri’s 19th Senate District. The Columbia attorney originally announced her candidacy August 22. The 19th Senate District seat is currently filled by Republican Sen. Caleb Rowden, who serves as the chamber’s majority floor leader.

Missouri Corrections Officers Association and State of Missouri seals

Missouri stops withholding union dues for prison guards, service workers

December 27, 2019 12:01 PM Joe McLean

The state of Missouri has stopped withholding union dues from the bi-monthly paychecks of prison guards in what the union’s grievance officer calls a “pitiful attempt to bankrupt” the labor organization.

State approves medical marijuana testing labs in Fayette, Kingdom City

December 19, 2019 5:28 PM Lucas Geisler

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The state health department approved business licenses for two mid-Missouri facilities to test medical marijuana products. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services offered licenses to ClearWater Sciences, LLC of Kingdom City and Inovatia AgriTesting Services of Fayette. They make up two of the ten facilities offered business licenses to

State ramps up water testing in Centertown after lead found in sample

December 18, 2019 7:33 PM Barry Mangold

CENTERTOWN, Mo. (KMIZ) – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources plans to test the drinking water of one village in Cole County after a significant amount of lead was found in one of several samples. The state collected five water samples from the village of Centertown in September, and one stuck out. The amount of

Mid-Missouri lawmaker files bill to raise fuel tax for MoDOT road and Bridge Repairs

December 11, 2019 6:51 PM Connor Hirsch

Rep. Kendrick is proposing fuel tax increase that would create a $450 million bonding proposal by MoDOT.

State Board of Education ironing out legislative plans

December 3, 2019 7:14 PM Molly Stawinoga

The State Board of Education discussed legislative priorities for the next session. Increases to teachers’ salaries dominated the conversation in Tuesday’s meeting. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education held a “Missouri Teacher Table” to establish a teacher salary proposal. They reported the results Tuesday. The proposal would increase the salary of all Missouri teachers

Gun laws among targets of pre-filed Missouri House bills

December 2, 2019 11:39 AM Connor Hirsch

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Monday marks the first day Missouri lawmakers can begin prefiling bills for the General Assembly’s 2020 session, and more than 300 bills had been pre-filed in the House by 4 p.m. To find a list of the 2020 pre-filed House bills, click here. Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) expects big topics for

Missouri leaders want to keep guns from minors, abusers

November 25, 2019 5:28 PM Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, city leaders and police chiefs on Monday proposed a three-pronged plan to fight gun violence that includes keeping firearms from minors, domestic abusers and violent offenders. St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield all have experienced spikes in gun crimes and homicides in recent years. Police say 176

Missouri, voting rights groups settle address-change lawsuit

November 21, 2019 3:37 PM Associated Press

Missouri residents could soon find it easier to update their addresses for voter registration under a settlement that voter advocates reached Thursday with the state’s Revenue Department.

Missouri attorney general: Thousands of rape kits remain untested

November 20, 2019 9:50 AM Zach Boetto

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt will be in Columbia on Wednesday to talk about an initiative meant to address the backlog of rape kits awaiting testing.

Missouri governor launches vaping awareness campaign

November 18, 2019 5:05 AM Brittany Wiley

Governor Mike Parson will hold a follow-up press conference to launch his vaping awareness campaign, “Clear the Air,” on Monday.

Governor Parson tours bridge in Callaway County

November 14, 2019 12:05 PM Zach Boetto

Governor Mike Parson toured the location of an upcoming bridge project Thursday in Callaway County. The project will replace the Callaway County Route D bridge over Interstate 70. “We’re trying to tell the people in the state look we’re going to invest the money wisely and we’re going to go to work,” Governor Mike Parson