Grain Belt Express

Audio: Grain Belt Express debate now in House Committee

The public service commission has approved a high voltage, wind energy transmission line to run through private property along Northern Missouri, and *some* landowners and farmers want the legislature to stop that from happening. Missouri House members heard both sides of the argument: That the lines are in public interest and the company can claim […]

Scholarship

Audio: Missouri Representative wants more focus on funding financial aid programs

State Representative Kip Kendrick is concerned about creating the governor’s proposed Fast Track program when he says Missouri’s three college financial aid programs are significantly underfunded. Bright Flight, A-Plus and Access Missouri are the state’s current programs.     Kendrick says Access Missouri – the state’s only need-based college financial aid program – is being […]

Fiber Optic Internet Access

Net neutrality battle reignites in Washington D.C.

The battle over net neutrality is heating up again – as supporters in Congress have just introduced a bill to reinstate Obama-era consumer protections that were lost after the Federal Communications Commission repealed them in 2017.  The “Save the Internet Act” would bring back rules that prevent Internet Service Providers from slowing down or blocking […]

Offender in Prison with hands on bars

Audio: Northeast Missouri legislator says alternatives to incarceration are important

There’s bipartisan support in the state legislature to focus on shifting the criminal justice system away from mass incarceration. Freshman Republican Representative Louis Riggs of northeast Missouri’s Hannibal says he’s looking forward to GOP Governor Parson’s leadership on the issue.     Riggs of Hannibal says alternatives to incarceration are important.     Riggs sits […]

Crossroads Correctional Center

Audio: Additional details released on proposed shuttering of Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron

Story by Alisa Nelson of Missourinet The Crossroads Correctional Center in northwest Missouri’s Cameron could be closing. Governor Mike Parson’s state budget proposal includes shuttering the prison and moving the inmates and many of the workers to the other prison in town – the Western Missouri Correctional Center (WMCC).     “As governor, I am […]

Audio: Governor Mike Parson delivers State of the State Address to Missouri Legislature

Governor Mike Parson delivered his first State of the State Address to the Missouri Legislature today.  You can listen to his entire speech.     Parson’s budget proposal includes closing Crossroads Prison in Cameron and moving inmates, workers mostly to Northwest Missouri Correctional Center in Cameron. The $20 million in savings would b used to give […]

Advocates to MO Legislature: Leave Amendment 1 Alone

Advocates to Missouri Legislature: Leave Amendment 1 Alone

Hands off Amendment 1. That’s the message from supporters of the “Clean Missouri’ ballot initiative to state lawmakers, who begin the 100th General Assembly next week.  The anti-gerrymandering measure passed by 62 percent of the vote in November, but Gov. Mike Parson and several legislators are already calling for major changes.  Joan VonDras with the Sierra Club’s […]

Democratic Party

Audio: Outnumbered Democrats in Missouri legislature to defend progressive ballot victories, seek bipartisan criminal justice changes

Minority leaders in the Missouri legislature believe they’re taking a realistic approach to the upcoming session. New House Democratic Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield says her party will focus on defending progressive ballot measures passed by voters, noting the new laws are already under threat.     Senate Democratic Leader Gina Walsh of Bellefontaine Neighbors […]