The average caller would never know, but dialing 911 during an emergency isn’t possible in several Missouri counties. While the call will go through, in parts of southeast Missouri, the number is instead rerouted to a traditional 10-digit landline. But that won’t be the case for long. Thanks to federal funds, 911 dispatchers and call […]
Meg Cunningham
Meg Cunningham is The Beacon’s rural health reporter. She graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism, where she covered state government and health. She spent roughly three years covering national politics, including the 2018 and 2020 elections, at ABC News in Washington. She’s spent over five years covering politics and policy, with the last three of those years focused on Missouri state government, developing expertise on state policy and agencies, democracy and representation, and health outcomes in Missouri. She grew up in the Kansas City suburbs.
Posted inState Government
Is 2025 the year Missouri eliminates its grocery sales tax?
Missouri is one of 10 states that impose a statewide sales tax on groceries. As the cost of food soared in recent years, states have moved to reduce or eliminate sales taxes on groceries. Kansas started this year without a state grocery sales tax after gradually reducing it in recent years. Illinois plans to eliminate […]
Posted inHealth
Even after voters, and now a judge, backed abortion rights, access in Missouri will remain difficult
Voters passed Amendment 3 in November to guarantee abortion rights in the Missouri Constitution. That kicked in Dec. 5. But that voter action followed decades of work by the General Assembly to regulate abortion into oblivion. So now state courts must reconcile those myriad regulations attacking abortion with the fresh constitutional amendment that promises access […]
Posted inState Government
Abortion, insulin prices and period products: Here are the Missouri health bills to watch in 2025
Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City in January ready to launch on dozens of health-related bills, including an effort to chip away at abortion rights approved last month by voters, limit how recipients can use government food assistance cards and eliminate the state sales tax on food. Legislation already filed for consideration for 2025 […]
Posted inHealth
Prescription delivery in Missouri faces delays under USPS rural service plan
CORRECTION (Dec. 9, 2024) This story originally misidentified a source as a Beacon board member. But Heidi Lucas told a Beacon reporter only that she knows one of The Beacon’s board members. We misheard her and incorrectly identified her as a board member. We failed to check the listing of our own board. A snowstorm […]
Posted inElections
Amendment 5 results: Missouri voters reject casino at the Lake of the Ozarks
Missouri voters rejected Amendment 5 on Tuesday, which would have amended the state constitution to allow a casino to be built at the Lake of the Ozarks. The measure failed to reach the simple majority needed to pass, with 47.6 of Missouri voters giving their approval according to unofficial results. The measure would have amended […]
Posted inElections
Missouri voters restore abortion rights, but access is still on a long legal path
This story was updated at 1 p.m. on Nov. 8. Missouri voters bucked Republicans who control the state on Tuesday when they voted to add the right to abortion and other reproductive health care protections in the state constitution by passing Amendment 3. The measure was approved 51.6% to 48.4%, making Missouri the first state […]
Posted inElections
Platte County voters to decide fate of sales tax to fund children’s mental health services
Platte County will vote on a new sales tax Nov. 5 to help fund mental health services for children. Backers of the quarter-cent tax include mental health service providers, who argue the money is needed to meet the growing needs in Platte County. The tax dollars would support mental well-being for children up to 19 […]
Posted inElections
Would sports betting boost Missouri school funding? There’s no guarantee, experts say
Missourians are being asked to legalize sports betting by passing Amendment 2. The campaign promises tens of millions will go to Missouri schools.
Posted inElections
Absentee voting, initiative petitions and voter roll audits: Secretary of state candidates Denny Hoskins and Barbara Phifer on running Missouri’s elections
Missourians will have the chance to choose a new top elections official when they cast ballots for secretary of state on Nov. 5. State Sen. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg and state Rep. Barbara Phifer of Kirkwood are running to replace current Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. While the candidates will primarily run Missouri’s elections, they […]