Correction (May 30, 2024): This story originally erred in how it described a tax-credit scholarship bill. Those credits would go to donors who contribute to a state fund to allow families to send students to the school of their choice, including private schools. Missouri lawmakers set their sights on new laws to make it easier for […]
Missouri
Posted inCivic Engagement, DIY Democracy, State Government
Missouri lawmakers break new ground to stop constitutional amendments — and abortion
Editor’s note (March 25, 2023): This story has been corrected to reflect that the proposal would require a majority support from voters statewide, plus a majority vote in five of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. While state lawmakers across the country stumbled when trying to make it harder for voters to amend state constitutions, Missouri lawmakers […]
Posted inEnvironment, State Government
Missouri Republicans go after ‘woke’ investing to prevent state funds from being used in the fight against climate change
Some Missouri officeholders want to make sure that state funds aren’t used to promote “woke political agendas.” An effort is underway to ban state involvement with banks that prioritize climate action or other socially driven investments. Conservative legislators have joined peers in other Republican-run states in a movement against environmental, social and governance investing. Known […]
Posted inState Government
What to know about buying recreational marijuana in Missouri
On Nov. 8, Missourians voted “yes” on Amendment 3, which legalized recreational use of marijuana, meaning you’ll now be able to buy weed, like marijuana flower or edibles, in the coming months. Starting Dec. 8, the state will begin transitioning its medical marijuana licenses to recreational licenses, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll be able […]
Posted inLabor
Missouri Allows Some Disabled Workers to Earn Less Than $1 an Hour. The State Says It’s Fine If That Never Changes.
This article was produced with ProPublica as part of its Local Reporting Network initiative. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories like this one as soon as they are published. This story is available in plain language. One weekday morning in July, Kerstie Bramlet was at her workstation inside the Warren County Sheltered Workshop near […]
Posted inElections, Local Government
Inside Clay County’s proposed $1.7 million tax cut
Commercial property owners in Clay County may soon see a tax cut if voters decide to roll back the property surtax by 10% on Nov. 8. This represents roughly $1.7 million total in tax revenue and it would make Clay County the first county in Missouri to reduce the surtax since 1985. This proposal has […]
Posted inElections, State Government
These two Kansas City Northland races could make a dent in the Missouri legislature’s power balance
In Kansas City’s Northland, the growing population is becoming younger and more diverse. Democrats are hoping to capitalize on those changes as they try to whittle away at GOP supermajorities in the Missouri legislature. Competitive races in the 12th and 14th state House districts are presenting opportunities to hold on to one seat and flip […]
Posted inHealth
CDC recommends new bivalent COVID boosters to prevent common omicron strain
The new boosters target the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 strains of the COVID-19 virus which are currently the most prevalent in the United States. Two versions of bivalent boosters are available: The Pfizer-BioNTech for people ages 12 years and older and Moderna for people ages 18 years and older.
Posted inKansas State Government
Legalized sports betting comes to Kansas before the NFL season
The amount raised by sports betting will determine how much money is available to lure a professional sports team to Kansas, ideally the Kansas City Chiefs from across the state line. That’s because the majority of tax revenues from sports betting is earmarked for a fund for that purpose.
Posted inEnvironment
How new building codes could help fight climate change
William Davies thinks action on climate change is urgent, and adopting new building codes in Kansas City would be a step in the right direction. “Folks are looking to Kansas City for leadership and we shouldn’t shy away from that,” said Davies, an organizer with the Sierra Club. “We’re not saying that this is the […]