(Jefferson City, MO) — State budget challenges have some Missouri childcare advocates expressing caution, amid rising demand for services. Kids Win Missouri lobbyist Robin Schelp says while state lawmakers and Governor Kehoe are very supportive of childcare programs, but current and future state budget pressures could be difficult for families.  There is no reduction in […]

A House bill is back this session that would toughen Missouri’s initiative petition process. State Rep. Brad Banderman, R- St. Clair, is pushing a bill that would tighten signature‑gathering rules, add stricter formatting requirements, and increase penalties for fraud. He said the measure would also require petition circulators to meet new residency requirements. “By requiring […]

West-central Missouri Congressman Mark Alford has introduced legislation he says could help keep rural hospitals from closing their doors. The bill known as Sustaining Rural Healthcare Act would create a new designation for hospitals—one Alford believes will expand access to care and give struggling rural hospitals a much‑needed financial lifeline. “Right now, the law is […]

The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether the so-called “Missouri First” map is unconstitutional. The map, passed by Republican lawmakers in September and signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe, stretches the boundaries of the 5th Congressional District, a Democratic stronghold, eastward into heavily Republican regions of the state. It also moves part of the […]

Missouri’s long-running debate over the death penalty returned to the Capitol on Monday, as Rep. Jim Murphy, R-St. Louis County, pushed once again to abolish it. He said one myth is that executions save the state money. “Fact of the matter is, anybody that’s put on the track to the death penalty costs the state […]

In Missouri and the rest of America, we put Mark Twain on a pedestal- literally. It’s the human and flawed side of Mark Twain that is just interesting, says writer Ann Ryan. Her book, The Ghosts of Mark Twain, was recently published by the University of Missouri Press. She talks with Ashley Byrd.

Among the election-related bills being promoted in Jefferson City this year is one that would require nonprofit groups that sponsor ballot initiatives to verify that their volunteers are U.S. citizens. Marshall Griffin spoke with the bill’s sponsor, Republican State Representative Jeff Vernetti of Camdenton.

A rare collection of nine original Founding‑era documents is hitting the road, well, the skies, as the National Archives launches its Freedom Plane National Tour. The traveling exhibition will fly aboard a custom‑painted Boeing 737, bringing these cornerstone pieces of American history to eight U.S. cities in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. […]

The U.S. is no longer making pennies, so check the couch cushions if you are out. The nation’s penny shortage has led some Missouri businesses to be pinching pennies until the state makes change. The Missouri House of Representatives has passed a bill that aims to help businesses if they are out of cents. State […]

As the number of proposed data centers in Missouri grows, so it seems do the number of lawsuits designed to stop them from being built. Chris Azevedo, economics professor at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, told Missourinet why data center lawsuits are on the rise. “It boils down to local residents feeling like […]

At the Missouri Capitol, Sen. Kurtis Gregory, R-Marshall, is pushing a bill that would overhaul the state’s film and TV production tax credits. During a Senate committee hearing, he noted that when the program passed in 2023, it was split into two separate buckets of money. “$8 million for a film like James Bond that […]

If you’ve been feeling a little off since the time change, you’re not alone.  Matt Pilger talked with MU Health Care sleep specialist Dr. Mike about what actually happens inside your body during those first few days and why Missouri mornings might feel a little tougher this week.

Operations are back to normal at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) following Sunday’s bomb threat. Authorities evacuated passengers and employees from the airport for about two hours Sunday after the threat targeted the terminal and a parking garage, according to the Kansas City Aviation Department. Inbound flights were held on taxiways, and passengers inside the […]

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, has a beef with meatpacking corporations. The Eighth District congressman said that he supports the Trump Administration’s investigation into the “Big 4” meatpackers for alleged price fixing – those “Big 4” being Cargill, Tyson Foods, JBS, and National Beef. “Two of the big four are Brazilian companies. They’re not even […]

Many rural Missouri towns are having a hard time attracting people to live and work there – oftentimes because of a shortage of homes to choose from. A state House committee could soon vote on a bill that aims to boost the housing market in rural areas. State Rep. Greg Sharpe, R-Ewing, is the bill […]

Missouri businesses pay sales tax on the credit and debit card fees they charge their customers. A Senate bill would exempt the sales tax they must pay. The sponsor, State Sen. Joe Nicola, R-Grain Valley, told Missourinet that SB 1534 is designed to provide a bit of relief to business owners in Missouri. “This is […]

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo. 8th District, is defending President Donald Trump’s decision to attack Iran. “Missourians elected him by nearly 20 points,” Smith said in an exclusive interview with Missourinet. “This is exactly what Missourians and Americans voted for, a president who leads from a position of strength and does not discount countries who […]

At the Missouri Capitol, Senator Kurtis Gregory, R-Marshall, is pushing a bill to overhaul the state’s film and TV production tax credits. He noted that when the program passed in 2023, it was split into two separate buckets of money. “$8 million for a film like James Bond that you’ll go watch the movie theater, […]

Kansas City’s Union Station is preparing to bring a powerful piece of world history to the Midwest. Coming in May, the North American premiere of “The Berlin Wall: A World Divided” will open inside the station’s 20,000 square foot gallery. The immersive exhibition explores life before, during, and after the Wall, featuring original artifacts, massive […]

Forest Park is one of the most beloved places in St. Louis. It’s sprawling green spaces, iconic cultural institutions, and history-making events like the 1904 World’s Fair all resonate with locals and visitors alike. In his new book, How Forest Park Was Made, author Ian Sullivan takes us on a journey through the transformation of […]