Transgender Students Graphic

Bill banning trans students from sports teams by gender wins support of Missouri House

(Missouri Independent) – After hours of fierce debate that spanned the course of two days, the Missouri House on Wednesday signed off on a prohibition on transgender students participating on the sports teams that match their gender identity. The provision, offered as an amendment by Rep. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, to House Bill 1141 was adopted by a vote […]

Medicaid Expansion

Audio: Senate committee rejects compromise to fund Medicaid expansion on a smaller scale

On a tie vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee has rejected a compromise proposal that would have funded Medicaid expansion on a smaller scale. The effort, led by Springfield Republican Lincoln Hough, would have designated 60-million dollars in state funding to the expansion. Republican Governor Parson requested more than 100-million dollars and the House chose not […]

Dr. Randall Williams

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 […]

Missouri Attorney General obtains $20,000 in restitution in residential fencing company case

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office has obtained and executed a consent judgment against Missouri Fence Company Springfield, LLC, and its owner Justin P. Schmidt. The lawsuit, previously filed by the Attorney General’s Office, alleged that Schmidt, through Missouri Fence Company, solicited upfront deposits from customers on the pretense that Schmidt would […]

Christopher Lindley Booking Photo

Audio: Man who wounded 3 and killed 1 in southern Missouri, jailed without bond

Article note: We were initially sent the incorrect booking photo of the suspect, Christopher Lindley, and have requested and received the correct booking photo.  We apologize for the error. ——————— Prosecutors in far southern Missouri say the suspect charged in that deadly weekend shooting at a Koshkonong convenience store is jailed without bond this (Monday) […]

Audio: Missouri Senate passes transportation package with vaccine passport ban, vehicle safety inspection change

The state Senate has passed a transportation package that would ban entities in Missouri from requiring a vaccine passport to access transportation services. Companies are developing vaccine passports to encourage travel. Springfield-area state Senator Lincoln Hough is sponsoring the legislation that would also waive safety inspection requirements for new vehicles immediately before the vehicle is […]

Vaccine Distribution or Covid-19 or Coronavirus

State vaccination teams surpass one-quarter million doses of vaccine administered to Missouri residents

State of Missouri vaccination teams supporting mass and targeted vaccination events across the state have now administered more than one-quarter million vaccines to Missourians. This total is in addition to vaccines administered by high throughput health centers, local public health agencies, federally qualified health centers, pharmacies, and other community enrolled providers. “Our state teams have been […]

Medicaid

Audio: Will the Missouri Senate back the House’s attempt to defund Medicaid expansion? Senate President Dave Schatz weighs in

The Missouri House has passed the next state operating budget – without funding voter-approved Medicaid expansion. The $34.1 billion budget plan is now in the hands of the Republican-controlled Senate. Missouri Senate President Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, gives his thoughts to Missourinet affiliate KTUI in Sullivan about whether he expects the upper chamber to fund the expansion.   […]

Medicaid Missouri

Missouri House plan to reject Medicaid expansion faces uncertain fate in the Senate

(Missouri Independent) – Republicans in the Missouri House finalized their plan to block funding for voter-approved Medicaid expansion on Thursday, giving final approval to its version of the state’s budget and sending it to the Senate. What happens next remains unclear. House Democratic Leader Crystal Quade said she’s confident the Senate will restore the $1.9 […]

Janssen Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

Audio: 15 million doses of Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine ruined. How will that affect Missouri’s supply?

Workers at a Baltimore plant accidentally mixed up ingredients – ruining about 15-million doses of Johnson and Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine. The state plans to host a mega vaccination event next week in southwest Missouri’s Springfield with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. During a Capitol press conference, Missouri Health Department Director Randall Williams explains if the […]

Missouri and State Flags

Audio: House Committee on redistricting to hear testimony about CD 7, which includes Springfield, Joplin and Bolivar

A Missouri House committee on congressional redistricting will take public testimony today (Thursday) in Jefferson City from residents who live in southwest Missouri’s Seventh Congressional District.     Southwest Missouri’s 7th District is a GOP stronghold and includes Springfield, Joplin, Branson, Carthage, and Table Rock Lake. In-person and written testimony will be taken at today’s […]