Briefs
Jay Ashcroft pushes for governor to call special elections for vacant Missouri House seats
Gov. Mike Parson’s refusal to call special elections for six vacancies in the Missouri House is drawing criticism from the state’s top election official. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who like Parson is a Republican, sent a letter to the governor Wednesday pointing to a state law requiring special elections be called “without delay” when […]
Here’s what’s happening in D.C. on the Jan. 6 anniversary
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will deliver a speech Thursday in the heart of the U.S. Capitol to mark the first anniversary of the insurrection there. One year ago, former President Donald Trump incited a mob of his supporters, and encouraged them to storm the Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying the electoral […]
After quiet year, Rex Sinquefield donations start flowing in Missouri again
With the 2022 statewide elections just around the corner, Missouri’s most prolific political donor is breaking out his checkbook once again. Rex Sinquefield, a retired investor from St. Louis, didn’t make a single political contribution in 2021 until Dec. 11 Since then, he has donated $675,000. Most of that comes from two $250,000 checks — […]
Joe Biden debuts $1 billion meatpacking competition plan
President Joe Biden unveiled plans Monday to allocate $1 billion in federal money to increasing competition in the meatpacking industry. “Without meaningful competition, farmers and ranchers don’t get to choose who they sell to,” Biden said. “Put another way, our farmers and ranchers have to pay whatever these four big companies say they have to […]
Schumer says U.S. Senate to consider changing the filibuster if voting rights stalls
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned on Monday that the Senate is prepared to debate changes in the filibuster if Republicans continue to block the advancement of voting rights legislation. In a sternly worded letter to other senators, the New York Democrat set a deadline of Jan. 17 for the chamber to consider revising the […]
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas tests positive for COVID-19
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has contracted COVID-19, his office announced in a statement Friday. Lucas, who received two doses of the COVID vaccine this spring and later a booster, is in quarantine. He said in the statement that because of his vaccination status, his symptoms were mild. “Throughout the pandemic, I have been regularly […]
To protect water, University of Missouri professors recommend tighter regulation of runoff
More than 190 segments of Missouri rivers, streams and lakes are impaired because of pollution from crop fertilizer, livestock waste and urban runoff. And without action, two University of Missouri professors say, more drinking water utilities might have to spend considerable sums to keep their water supplies healthy, raising rates for customers. The professors — […]
Missouri Gov. Parson introduces new directors for Revenue, Mental Health departments
A veteran Republican lawmaker will lead the Missouri Department of Revenue and a long-time administrator in state government will take over the Department of Mental Health, Gov. Mike Parson announced Wednesday. State Rep. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, brings corporate management experience that will help him lead the state’s tax collecting agency, Parson said. Wallingford is […]
Biden extends student loan repayment pause three more months
President Joe Biden will continue a pandemic-spurred pause on student loan repayments until May 1, he said Wednesday. Loan repayments were set to restart Jan. 31, following months of the U.S. Education Department not requiring payments during the pandemic. Biden told the department to extend the moratorium initially placed by President Donald Trump’s administration. It […]
Schumer vows U.S. Senate action on voting rights and social policy, as Manchin rift deepens
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday he plans to force votes on voting rights, a sweeping social policy bill and a change to Senate rules early next year — even as members of his caucus have made clear in recent days Democrats lack the support to pass those proposals. In a letter to […]
Midwest lags in national clean energy policy ranking
An analysis of 100 major cities by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) revealed that nationwide, cities are largely not on track to meet their own greenhouse gas reduction goals and/or they don’t collect data that would allow them to meaningful log such emissions reductions. ACEEE rated cities on building sustainability, renewable energy, […]
Rex Sinquefield drops $250K into GOP primary for Missouri auditor
Republican Scott Fitzpatrick’s campaign for Missouri auditor got a big boost Thursday, with megadonor Rex Sinquefield cutting a $250,000 check to a political action committee supporting him in the GOP primary. Sinquefield, a retired investor from St. Louis, is by far the most prolific donor in recent Missouri political history. Over the last decade, he’s […]