Domestic Violence

Audio: Missouri House gives initial approval to letting domestic violence victims get lifetime orders of protection

Current Missouri law allows orders of protection for one year – potentially forcing domestic violence victims to repeatedly return to court and face their abuser. The Missouri House has given initial approval to a bill that would allow the victims to get a lifetime order of protection.     Representative Tracy McCreery, a Democrat from […]

Budget news graphic

Audio: Jesus’ name invoked by both parties as Missouri House approves $34 billion budget, without Medicaid expansion

After a heated floor debate that included numerous biblical references, the Missouri House voted Thursday afternoon to give final approval to a $34.1 billion state operating budget. The House budget does not contain funding for Medicaid expansion. The operating budget now heads to the Missouri Senate, and Medicaid expansion supporters hope senators will include the […]

Medicaid Expansion

Audio: Governor Parson responds to House’s effort to block Medicaid expansion funding

The Republican-controlled Missouri House has given initial approval to defunding a Medicaid expansion effort approved by voters last year. The chamber could vote to use the governor’s one-point-nine billion dollar budget request for the expansion to instead help seniors in nursing homes, the developmentally disabled, and expand mental health programs, among other things. Here is […]

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Audio: Missouri Legislature to tackle state budget and prescription drug monitoring program This Week

The state operating budget and prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) legislation will take center stage in the Missouri Legislature this week.     Governor Parson has proposed a 34-billion dollar state operating budget. Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith of Carthage tells Missourinet that he hopes to see the House give initial and final […]

Sex Offender

Audio: Missouri Senate gives final approval to legislation keeping sex offenders away from Missouri conservation areas

Legislation aimed at keeping registered sex offenders away from state Conservation areas has been given final approval today (Thursday) by the Missouri Senate. Riddle notes current Missouri law bans sex offenders from being 500 feet of public parks with playground equipment, public swimming pools, and children’s museums.     The only exception would be a […]

Lawsuit news Graphic

Attorney generals from 13 states file suit against Biden administration for ban on future oil and gas leasing, drilling on federal land

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt joined a coalition of thirteen states in filing suit against the Biden Administration for imposing a moratorium on future oil and gas leasing and drilling permits on federal land. The lawsuit contends that the moratorium on leasing through the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and the Mineral Leasing Act […]

Private School

Audio: Lawmakers to question Missouri DSS chief about boarding school abuse investigations

The head of the Missouri Department of Social Services is scheduled to appear before a panel of lawmakers Wednesday about the agency’s handling of abuse investigations within boarding schools. The Missouri House Special Committee on Government Oversight has called a Wednesday afternoon hearing to question the department’s acting director, Jennifer Tidball. The Kansas City Star has […]

President Joe Biden Photo Courtesy of the White House

Biden calls on U.S. Senate to act on background checks after Colorado mass shooting

(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged the U.S. Senate to immediately pass legislation to close loopholes on background checks for guns and to ban assault weapons, following a mass shooting that killed 10 at a Colorado supermarket. “This should not be a partisan issue,” Biden said. “This is an American issue.” Biden’s […]