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Legislative gridlock on gambling puts ‘gray-market’ machines before Missouri courts
Despite a felony guilty verdict, a misdemeanor guilty plea and ongoing criminal cases in several counties, another year of legislative inaction means unregulated devices that offer cash prizes to players will continue to proliferate in Missouri. Whether that inaction will also become an issue in the courts — where, in addition to about a dozen […]
Crowded field looking at Missouri’s 4th District as Hartzler pivots to Senate bid
U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler has set the date and place to announce her bid for the U.S. Senate, opening the way for a half-dozen or more Republicans to battle for her safe GOP seat in Congress. The list of potential candidates in the sprawling 24-county 4th District includes three state Senators, a member of the […]
Parson PAC takes $75K as he moves Steelman off University of Missouri curators
The committee that promotes Gov. Mike Parson’s political interests took the largest donation of the year Thursday, the same day Parson replaced a University of Missouri curator who refused to resign amid controversy over an appointee backed by the donor. Ketchmark and McCreight, the law firm founded by Michael Ketchmark, gave $75,000 to Uniting Missouri […]
Missouri Senate Democratic leader says delay in special session will allow tempers to cool
The state Senate’s leading Democrat on Wednesday praised Gov. Mike Parson’s signal that he won’t call a special session to renew medical provider taxes that fund Medicaid without assurances a bill would pass. The taxes, which are expected to provide $2.6 billion to fund Medicaid in the coming fiscal year, will expire Sept. 30. The […]
Missouri Supreme Court gives split decision in corrections overtime case
Missouri prison guards who have waited almost three years to find out if they will receive a share of $114 million in overtime for unpaid activities at the beginning and end of their shifts will have to wait a while longer, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. In August 2018, after six years of litigation, […]
Error forces restart on petition for vote on Missouri gas tax increase
A rejected petition to put the gas tax increase before voters has been refiled and meets the requirements for circulation, said Jeremy Cady, state director of Americans for Prosperity. On Friday morning, Cady received notice that Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office rejected his petition for a referendum because it wasn’t prepared as required by state […]
COVID surge in north Missouri creates worries for summer as vaccinations decline
In the last week of April, the Linn County Health Department signaled that the COVID-19 pandemic had cooled enough that it could discontinue weekly reports on new cases. With only three active cases on April 21, the urgency for frequent updates seemed to have passed. But the coronavirus came roaring back this month, with Mother’s […]
Judge sets trial date for lawsuit over Missouri Medicaid expansion
The lawsuit seeking to force Missouri to expand Medicaid coverage under a voter-approved constitutional amendment will go to trial June 18 in Cole County. On Wednesday morning, Circuit Judge Jon Beetem met in a conference call with Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office and attorneys for the three people suing for coverage. In an online notation with […]
Missouri Senate field expected to expand soon as major Republican gathering nears
Republican activists from around the state will gather in Kansas City next month for the party’s annual Lincoln Days. And by that time, GOP insiders expect the announced field vying for Missouri’s open U.S. Senate seat will grow by one or more candidates. According to several sources familiar with her plans, U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler […]
Parson names Robin Ransom as first Black woman to sit on Missouri Supreme Court
Judge Robin Ransom will be the first Black woman to sit on the Missouri Supreme Court, Gov. Mike Parson announced Monday. Parson selected Ransom, who has almost 20 years experience in judicial roles, over two other nominees made public Friday by the Appellate Judicial Commission. Ransom, a judge of the Eastern District Court of Appeals […]
Missourians, health care providers pause plans as Medicaid expansion heads to court
Nina Canaleo wishes she could have known years ago she would one day be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Maybe then she could have better prepared. Nearly six years ago Canaleo was diagnosed with the chronic nerve disease, which leaves her dizzy and her feet feeling numb all the time. After a recent hospital stay, just […]
Lawsuit seeks to force Missouri to enact voter-approved Medicaid expansion
The least surprising lawsuit of the year, to force Missouri to provide Medicaid coverage to 275,000 people eligible under a 2020 initiative petition, was filed Thursday in Cole County. Filed on behalf of three people who would be eligible for Medicaid coverage on July 1, the lawsuit seeks an order for the Department of Social Services […]