LGBT Equal People Equal Rights

Contentious 2016 gay wedding measure part of far reaching Missouri Senate bill

A far-reaching proposal in the Missouri Senate would change laws on how religious beliefs are governed in public settings.     The bill from Republican Senator Bob Dixon of Springfield requires public colleges and universities to offer religious student groups the same benefits as other student organizations. The intent could be similar to legislation currently […]

Governor Eric Greitens

Audio: Governor Greitens’ legal team receives evidence, questions opposition’s choice of investigators

Governor Eric Greitens legal team has received evidence being used against it and has questions about the prosecution’s procedures. Bill Wise from Missourinet reports.     St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner met defense lawyers for Governor Eric Greitens in court to turn over the first round of evidence Tuesday. KMOV-TV reports the evidence includes […]

Missouri capitol

Audio: Missouri House speaker proposes contentious pro-Israel bill

House Speaker Todd Richardson wants to ban state and local governments in Missouri from doing business with companies who boycott Israel. The only bill the Republican from Poplar Bluff is offering this session would follow 24 other states who have taken this pro-Israel business stance.     One opposing view is that a virtually identical […]

Police: Clumsy teen robber shot himself in the groin while attempting to rob drug dealer

Missouri House committee hears parade of gun bills

More than eight pieces of gun legislation were discussed in one House committee hearing yesterday in Jefferson City. Republican Representative Jared Taylor of Nixa said his bill that would prohibit cities from regulating the open carry of firearms was a response to Kansa City Police forcing individuals to empty their guns of ammunition. Democratic committee […]

House member proposes to ban government, Missouri colleges from restricting guns

State Rep. Jered Taylor is proposing to expand the number of locations, particularly private businesses like day care centers, amusement parks, and bars, where guns can be carried without a permit. A Missouri House committee will consider today Taylor’s legislation that would also bar state, local governments and public colleges and universities from restricting the […]

Governor Eric Greitens

Former exotic dancer asks Greitens for pardon; Bases request on governor’s motion to dismiss his own case

A lawyer has cited a motion to dismiss invasion of privacy charges against Governor Eric Greitens as a basis to exonerate his client.     The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports an attorney has asked Greitens to pardon Paul Henreid, a former exotic dancer of the same charges the governor faces. According to the newspaper, Henreid […]

Drugs

Missouri among five states selected to participate in project addressing maternal opioid use

Missouri is one of five states selected by the National Governor’s Association to work on a new project titled, “Addressing Maternal Opioid Use Disorder to Prevent and Reduce the Effects of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Preventing NAS Learning Lab.” This project will be a collaborative effort between the Governor’s Office, Missouri Department of Social Services, Missouri […]

Missouri could play pivotal role in advancing the Equal Rights Amendment

A proposal before Missouri lawmakers would place the country on the threshold of incorporating the Equal Right Amendment into the U.S. Constitution. Democratic state Senator Jill Schupp of Creve Coeur is sponsoring the plan to ratify the legislation on the state level. She says passing the amendment into law is important because its language provides […]

Missouri House of Representatives

Audio: Senator calls on Missouri House speaker to begin impeachment process of Greitens

State Senator Jamilah Nasheed wants House Speaker Todd Richardson of Poplar Bluff to immediately begin impeachment proceedings of fellow Republican Governor Greitens. Nasheed, a St. Louis Democrat, tells Missourinet her call is in response to a St. Louis City grand jury indicting Greitens for a felony invasion of privacy charge.     A statement from […]

Governor Eric Greitens

Audio: Missouri Governor Eric Greitens indicted on felony invasion of privacy charge

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens was indicted and booked Thursday on a felony invasion of privacy charge for allegedly taking and transmitting a non-consensual photo of his partly nude lover shortly before that campaign started. Greitens was accused of threatening his lover with the nude photo, an allegation that isn’t mentioned in the indictment.  He has […]

Josh Hawley

Audio: Missouri Attorney General launches review of state agency policies involving harassment and retaliation

The Missouri Attorney General’s office will take a look at discrimination and harassment policies within state government. Alisa Nelson from the Missourinet files this report.     Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley says his office will partner with the Women’s Foundation to conduct what he calls a comprehensive review of existing discrimination and harassment policies […]

Firefighter

Audio: Missouri program aims to recruit soldiers to fill critical firefighting shortages

Missouri’s fire departments, especially in rural areas, have a critical need for more firefighters and a new state program aims to help recruit more. State Fire Marshal Tim Beam tells Missourinet the “Firefighters Veterans Initiative” is intended to link veterans and active service members to fire service careers.     Missouri has more than 63,000 […]

Economy Graphic

Audio: Missouri pays out $8 million in discrimination, harassment cases in 2017

An annual report shows the state paid more than eight-million dollars in 2017 in worker discrimination and harassment claims. Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley says his office will review policies within the state’s agencies that address such illegal behavior.     During a Tuesday press conference in Jefferson City, Hawley says 100 or more harassment […]

Handcuffs on Money

Law enforcement seized $7 million in property under Missouri’s Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act in 2017

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released a compilation of property seizures made under Missouri’s Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act (CAFA) in 2017. The Auditor’s report shows law enforcement officials seized an estimated $7.05 million worth of property in 658 seizures. Those were increases from 2016 when law enforcement officials seized approximately $6.3 million worth of property […]

Unemployment

Audio: Proposal approved in Missouri House would slash unemployment benefits by 7 weeks

A proposal approved in the Missouri House would have an immediate impact on unemployed workers if it becomes law.     The availability of their unemployment payments would be slashed by seven weeks, effectively ranking Missouri third among states offering the least amount of time to collect the benefits. Missouri now offers 20 weeks of […]

Marriage

Audio: Missouri House passes bill that would ban marriage of kids 14 and younger

The Missouri House has passed a proposal that would ban children under 15 years old from getting married.     The 95-to-50 vote sends the measure to the state Senate.  The bill from Republican Representative Jean Evans of Manchester received unanimous bipartisan support in committee hearings with no one speaking against it. Opposition on the […]

Missouri lawmakers look at resolution to make youth violence a health epidemic

Missouri lawmakers are looking at a proposal to establish youth violence as a public health epidemic. The measure also calls on the General Assembly to support the creation of statewide education for trauma. Sara Baker with the ACLU of Missouri says the education system has failed to accommodate students afflicted with trauma.     The […]