The word “volition” comes from Latin and French roots meaning “wish” or “will.” Titus Kottwitz, a seventh-grader at Trenton Middle School in northwest Missouri, got his wish when he spelled the word “volition” correctly to earn a spot in this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee. “I’m excited that I got this far because […]
Tag: Missourinet
Audio: Missouri’s Governor to sign Second Amendment Preservation Act on Saturday
Legislation establishing a Second Amendment Preservation Act will be signed into law Saturday afternoon by Missouri’s governor, in the Kansas City suburb of Lee’s Summit. Governor Mike Parson will sign SAPA Saturday at 2 p.m. at Frontier Justice. House Bill 85 is sponsored by State Rep. Jered Taylor (R-Nixa) and State Sen. Eric Burlison (R-Battlefield). They say […]
Audio: Missouri astronaut talks about his experience aboard the International Space Station
One year ago, Missouri astronaut Bob Behnken was in space as part of a historic mission. Behnken, who grew up in St. Louis County, piloted the first commercial space launch with astronauts aboard and the first U.S. space mission in nearly a decade. He tells Missourinet he missed his family and many other things while […]
Audio: Missouri House Corrections Chair calls on Governor to release Kevin Strickland from prison
A key Missouri lawmaker who chairs the House Corrections Committee is calling on Governor Parson to grant an immediate release to an inmate that prosecutors say was wrongly convicted of murder 40 years ago. Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth has our report: GOP State Representative Andrew McDaniel of southeast Missouri’s Deering tweeted that Thursday night […]
Hawley calls for Fauci resignation, full investigation into COVID-19 origins
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) called for Dr. Fauci’s resignation following the release of his emails and recent investigative reporting regarding the origins of COVID-19. Sen. Hawley also called for a full congressional investigation into the origins of COVID-19, including determining the NIAD’s involvement in funding research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Last week, […]
Audio: Missouri Supreme Court issues unanimous decision in major corrections officer overtime case
The Missouri Supreme Court issued a 6-0 decision on Tuesday in a case filed by corrections officers seeking $113,000,000 in overtime pay. Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth has our report. Longtime Cole County Judge Pat Joyce, who’s since retired, had found the Missouri Department of Corrections liable for paying for all the officers’ pre and […]
Missouri Governor says federal unemployment programs have given public incentive to stay out of the workforce
Saying that there’s a labor shortage across Missouri, Governor Mike Parson (R) has issued a directive to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to end all federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits. Missouri’s House Democratic Leader is blasting the decision. Governor Parson made the announcement during a Tuesday afternoon briefing at the Statehouse in Jefferson […]
Audio: Missouri House Speaker disappointed Senate did not approve photo ID and initiative petition reform
Missouri’s GOP House Speaker and the House Elections Committee chairman are disappointed that the GOP-controlled Senate did not approve legislation on voter ID and initiative petition reform. Speaker Rob Vescovo tells Missourinet he’ll review Election Chairman Dan Shaul’s request that the governor call a special session. The Missouri House gave final approval in […]
Audio: Key bills passed in the final day or days of the Missouri Legislature’s session
Another session of the Missouri Legislature has come and gone. Of the 1,559 House bills and 689 Senate bills filed this time around, 69 bills will make it to Gov. Mike Parson’s desk. Here are some key bills left up to the governor to sign or veto: Missouri lawmakers vote to pump up […]
Audio: Legislation banning police chokeholds heading to Missouri Governor Parson’s desk
Bipartisan law enforcement legislation that bans most police chokeholds and eliminates residency requirements for Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) officers is now heading to the Missouri governor’s desk after receiving final House approval Thursday afternoon in Jefferson City. Senate Bill 53 is sponsored by State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville) and State Rep. Lane Roberts (R-Joplin). Representative Roberts […]
Lawmakers approve Missouri operating budget
Missouri foster care advocates are praising Friday’s passage of the $35.1 billion state operating budget, saying it provides unprecedented support for the foster families who care for the thousands of children in Missouri foster care. House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage) tells Missourinet that the budget provides a $90 million increase for foster and adoptive […]
Audio: Missouri Senate-House bill boosts protections for police, punishment for protests
The House and Senate will soon confer on a bill to boost protections for police officers and to boost penalties for repeated protesting in public streets. Senate Bill 26, deemed “the public safety bill of the session” by supporters, also comes with an array of amendments tacked on by the House Tuesday. The […]
Audio: Jury deliberates two hours before convicting northern Missouri man of killing his secret fiance
A jury in mid-Missouri’s Cole County deliberated for more than two hours on Thursday before returning guilty verdicts against a northern Missouri man charged in the 2018 death of his secret fiance. 54-year-old James Addie has been convicted of first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the April 2018 death of Molly Watson, […]
Audio: Missouri Senate sides with House; chooses not to fund Medicaid expansion
The Missouri Senate has passed a $34 billion state budget proposal without funding an expansion of Medicaid. The upper chamber sided with the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Missouri House of Representatives by rejecting attempts to put expansion funding into the budget that begins in July. Gov. Mike Parson’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2022 […]
Audio: Closing arguments set for Thursday in high-profile Addie Murder trial; Court TV has live coverage
Closing arguments are set for Thursday in Jefferson City in a high-profile northern Missouri murder trial that’s being broadcast live nationwide on Court TV. 54-year-old James Addie is charged with first-degree murder for the 2018 death of Molly Watson, his fiance. Addie and Watson both worked at the Moberly Correctional Center (MCC). The case was […]
Audio: Missouri House gives key approval to chokehold restrictions
The Missouri House gave initial approval to a bill limiting police use of a chokehold and other changes. Ballwin Republican Shamed Dogan’s bill includes more background checks and tracking excessive use of force. Dogan explained to fellow lawmakers that after the Chauvin killing of George Floyd, it was more important to have clear […]
Audio: Stress from the pandemic will cause 10% of Missouri teachers to quit
A Missouri State University survey of eight-thousand K-12 public school teachers says 1 in 10 educators plan to leave the field this year. Doctor Jon Turner, an associate professor at the university, says about 62-percent of those likely to quit point to challenges caused by the coronavirus. He says rural teachers have weathered the pandemic […]
Audio: Jury hears opening statements in northern Missouri murder trial; Court TV airing live coverage
A jury listened to two vastly different stories during opening statements Monday in Jefferson City, in a high-profile northern Missouri murder case. 54-year-old James Addie’s murder trial is being broadcast live nationwide on Court TV. Addie and the victim, Molly Watson, both worked at the Moberly Correctional Center. The case has been moved from […]
Audio: Senator Hawley calls for federal agencies to return to work and resume full duties
United States Senator Josh Hawley is asking federal agency leaders to ramp up operations again at some field offices. He says pre-CVOID 19 services should be restored. Many of these complaints have been directed at the National Personnel Records Center, which is based in St. Louis and houses military records for veterans nationwide. […]
Audio: Missouri House Health Committee Chairman says former DHSS Director Williams “Did a fine job”
Two key Missouri lawmakers from opposite parties view Tuesday’s resignation of state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director, Dr. Randall Williams, very differently. Missouri House Health and Mental Health Policy Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Stephens (R-Bolivar) praises Dr. Williams, while House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) says the resignation was long overdue. Chairman Stephens says Williams […]