Choose your location
Missouri Independent
Missouri AG criticized by political rivals over alleged lack of action on radioactive waste
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey insists his office is working to hold the federal government accountable for the decades-old radioactive waste contamination that plagues the St. Louis area. “We are fighting to ensure that the federal government protects Missourians from the poison that the federal government injected into the streams and creeks there in eastern […] The post Missouri AG criticized by political rivals over alleged lack of action on radioactive waste appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Missouri is doing an atrocious job distributing federal funds owed to Missourians in need
SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as “food stamps,” is our foremost tool for keeping low-income families and people with disabilities from going hungry. It’s also a deal for the states. The federal government pays 100% of the cost of the food benefits and 50% of the cost to administer them. SNAP not […] The post Missouri is doing an atrocious job distributing federal funds owed to Missourians in need appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Kehoe campaign for Missouri governor riding on bus owned by lobbyist for Chinese pork producer
In his campaign for governor, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe has promised Republican voters he will stop China “from buying up our farmland.” He’s doing so while traveling the state in a bus owned by Jewell Patek, a former legislator who is the only Missouri lobbyist employed by the Chinese business that owns a significant chunk […] The post Kehoe campaign for Missouri governor riding on bus owned by lobbyist for Chinese pork producer appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Police orgs denounce ad accusing Missouri AG of going ‘easy on a violent career felon’
A new ad targeting Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey from a group backing his rival in the GOP primary places the blame for the shooting death of a police officer last year on Bailey’s tenure as a local prosecutor. To deliver the message, the Defend Missouri PAC enlisted Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers, who Bailey […] The post Police orgs denounce ad accusing Missouri AG of going ‘easy on a violent career felon’ appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Missouri children are losing Medicaid coverage at rate that is alarming pediatricians
Dr. Maya Moody, a community pediatrician in St. Louis, knows a new month has begun when her clinic’s billing department runs patients’ names and she hears about the children no longer covered by Medicaid. One of those patients, now 3 years old and deaf in one ear, was scheduled for a cochlear implant. But when […] The post Missouri children are losing Medicaid coverage at rate that is alarming pediatricians appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Missouri uses money, laws to push evidence-based reading instruction
If you drop into an elementary reading lesson, you might see kids learning about the long U sound, building their vocabulary or practicing how to read aloud without sounding like robots. And if you visit Kansas City Public Schools this fall, you should see all students in the same grade learning the same thing. After […] The post Missouri uses money, laws to push evidence-based reading instruction appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Kansas, Missouri clergy argue rise of white Christian nationalism poses threat to democracy
OLATHE, Kansas — The Rev. Bobby Love of Second Baptist Church endorsed a campaign Thursday to awaken Americans to the threat of white Christian nationalism and press for wider appreciation of how democracy could be damaged by a movement intent on undermining inclusive communities. “Together we must reject the notion of placing one race above […] The post Kansas, Missouri clergy argue rise of white Christian nationalism poses threat to democracy appeared first on Missouri Independent.
‘Trump’s lawyer’ Will Scharf pegs bid for Missouri AG on alleged Jeff City corruption
It was late August last year when Will Scharf got a call from a South Florida number he didn’t recognize. “It was a 561 number, and my parents are in that area code,” Scharf said. “So I assumed it was my dad calling me from a landline or something.” As it turns out, it was […] The post ‘Trump’s lawyer’ Will Scharf pegs bid for Missouri AG on alleged Jeff City corruption appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Missouri AG Andrew Bailey argues judge was wrong to order him to sit for deposition
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey doesn’t believe he should have to sit for a deposition over an alleged ethics breach by his office, arguing in a motion filed Thursday that a judge must reverse her “unprecedented order.” Clay County Circuit Court Judge Karen Krauser issued an order last week allowing attorneys for Jackson County to […] The post Missouri AG Andrew Bailey argues judge was wrong to order him to sit for deposition appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Top Trump adviser says 2024 election ‘not over’ until Inauguration Day
MILWAUKEE — A top Trump campaign official said Thursday that the 2024 presidential race will not be over until Inauguration Day, rather than after Election Day on Nov. 5 — when voters across the nation go to the polls to cast their ballots and a result normally is projected. The assertion from Chris LaCivita at a […] The post Top Trump adviser says 2024 election ‘not over’ until Inauguration Day appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Red-state cities and suburbs are becoming more diverse
Growth in Asian, Black and Hispanic communities is transforming cities and suburban counties, especially in red states such as Florida, Indiana and Texas, according to a new Stateline analysis. The presidential swing states of Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania also were among the fastest-changing states. Nationally, the share of the non-white population grew in 47 states […] The post Red-state cities and suburbs are becoming more diverse appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Fate of Missouri’s gag order about ivermectin in the hands of a federal judge
A politically charged Missouri law that would prevent pharmacists from counseling patients or doctors about ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, two treatments that have been debunked for COVID-19, has been on hold for two years in federal court. Yet the Missouri Board of Pharmacy posted a guidance statement at the end of June that doesn’t mention that […] The post Fate of Missouri’s gag order about ivermectin in the hands of a federal judge appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Andrew Bailey says his approach as Missouri Attorney General is shaped by faith, war
Andrew Bailey was 16 years old and vice president of his high school Republican club when asked by a reporter if he supported the death penalty. “I do have a serious problem with the taking of a human life,” he told the Columbia Daily Tribune in 1997 for a story about the law, which remains […] The post Andrew Bailey says his approach as Missouri Attorney General is shaped by faith, war appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Our words have the power to create, to heal, to injure and to kill
We do not yet know the motive of the would-be assassin who attempted to take Donald Trump’s life. We do know that he was, like all of us are, confronted with a constant barrage of words promoting hate and divisiveness at every level of our politics. Have we created a climate that says violence is […] The post Our words have the power to create, to heal, to injure and to kill appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Survivors of childhood abuse ask for trial for former Missouri boarding school owner
Survivors of abuse are asking Missouri’s attorney general to proceed with the trial of the co-owner of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch, a now-shuttered boarding school for troubled girls in Cedar County. Stephanie Householder, who ran the school with her husband Boyd Householder, faces 21 charges of child abuse and neglect alleged by former Circle […] The post Survivors of childhood abuse ask for trial for former Missouri boarding school owner appeared first on Missouri Independent.
University of Missouri employees voice concerns about benefits, wages at union town hall
University of Missouri custodian Cathy Persinger had to move out of Columbia, because she can no longer afford to live in the city, she said during a town hall Saturday afternoon at the Unitarian Universalist Church. “When I asked (the university) for a raise because I was stressed out, they told me about food banks […] The post University of Missouri employees voice concerns about benefits, wages at union town hall appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Nearly 140,000 Missouri kids under 5 get free books every month
At the beginning of each month, 4-year-old Ada Caldwell, 4, runs to the mailbox to see what new book is inside. “She gets excited about going to get the mail,” said Ada’s mother, Tara Caldwell. “Not many things come in the mail anymore. She really likes that part of it.” The free books are sent […] The post Nearly 140,000 Missouri kids under 5 get free books every month appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Eight Republicans face off in primary to be Missouri’s top election official
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s decision to forgo a third term in order to run for governor set off a mad dash of Republicans hoping to replace him. Early entrants included online personality Valentina Gomez, Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller and state Rep. Adam Schwadron. They were eventually joined by longtime GOP strategist Jamie […] The post Eight Republicans face off in primary to be Missouri’s top election official appeared first on Missouri Independent.
More states enact salary transparency laws to fight gender, racial pay gaps
To combat gender and racial wage gaps, nearly a dozen states recently have enacted pay transparency laws that require employers to be more open about the wages and benefits they offer. Most of the laws require employers to disclose wages in job postings and some bar them from asking a job candidate about their salary […] The post More states enact salary transparency laws to fight gender, racial pay gaps appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Fundraising in Missouri governor’s race tops $21 million, with most going to Kehoe
Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe’s campaign for governor has raised almost $13 million over the past two years and the two funds supporting him have lapped the field in the Republican primary. During the second quarter of the year, Kehoe raised $907,288 for his campaign and his joint fundraising committee, American Dream PAC, took in $3.6 […] The post Fundraising in Missouri governor’s race tops $21 million, with most going to Kehoe appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Missouri Independent
4K+
Posts
49M+
Views
The Missouri Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization covering state government, politics and policy. It is staffed by veteran Missouri reporters and is dedicated to its mission of relentless investigative journalism that sheds light on how decisions in Jefferson City are made and their impact on individuals across the Show-Me State. Our journalists adhere to the ethics guidelines of the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Press Photographers Association, as well as the practices embraced by organizations like the Associated Press, ProPublica and The Center for Investigative Reporting. The Independent is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. We retain full editorial independence, and all editorial decisions are made by our journalists. Donors have no influence over content.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.