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The fight over the Missouri abortion ban begins with language. Eager to once again legalize the procedure in the state after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year made way for the General Assembly to ban it, abortion-rights supporters have been floating 11 versions of a petition to ask voters for a change in November […]

The post Missouri groups look for the strongest abortion-rights ballot measure voters would back appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Every now and then, a voice can matter. Mahalia Jackson had one of them. Known around the world as the “Queen of Gospel,” Jackson used her powerful voice to work in the Civil Rights Movement. Starting in the 1950s, she traveled with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the South and heard him preach in […]

The post Mahalia Jackson’s suggestion to Martin Luther King Jr. changed a good speech to a majestic sermon appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Call center workers that help Americans navigate the ACA marketplace and Medicare are demanding more paths for advancement, higher pay, and more breaks between calls at this year’s March on Washington. They’re looking to bring government attention to their cause after previous efforts to get the attention of officials with the Department of Labor and […]

The post Federal call center workers join March on Washington to call attention to workplace inequities appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Eight Republican hopefuls took the stage Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee for the first debate of the 2024 presidential primary campaign. The eight-way faceoff, generally chaotic and contentious, included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy; former Vice President Mike Pence; U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.); former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; Trump […]

The post Republican debate highlights candidates’ views on abortion appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Despite federal warnings to slow down, both red and blue states have cut off Medicaid coverage for nearly 4 million people because they lack the proper paperwork. In at least four states, half of all the people who have lost coverage for any reason are children. During the pandemic, the federal government directed states not […]

The post Despite federal warnings, red and blue states aggressively cull Medicaid rolls appeared first on Missouri Independent.

At the end of a historic week at the Fulton County jailhouse, the criminal case against former President Donald Trump and his 18 allies also accused of subverting Georgia’s 2020 presidential election is just beginning. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charged Trump and the rest of the group – which include lawyers, former federal […]

The post One for the books as Trump and rest of Fulton 19 enter Georgia justice system over 2020 election appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Almost two months after workplace accommodations for pregnant workers became law, the rules surrounding what employers can and cannot do have yet to be finalized — but that doesn’t mean the protections are not in place. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s proposed regulations are expected to offer more clarity once finalized, but workers can still […]

The post Pregnant workers have new protections. Here’s what to expect from your boss. appeared first on Missouri Independent.

A St. Louis judge ruled Friday afternoon that a new state law blocking Missouri’s transgender youth from beginning new gender-affirming-care treatments can take effect Monday.  Circuit Court Judge Steven Ohmer denied a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU of Missouri and Lambda Legal. The lawsuit claims a ban on medical treatments to […]

The post Judge turns down bid to block Missouri ban on transgender treatments for minors appeared first on Missouri Independent.

As Missouri awaited a court decision on whether minors will be barred from receiving puberty blockers or gender transition surgery, a poll released this week shows strong public support for the law. After Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer ruled Friday afternoon against an injunction on the state’s new law against transgender medical care for minors, the […]

The post Poll finds Missouri voters back bans on transgender health care appeared first on Missouri Independent.

So you’re heading to the Evolution Festival this weekend in St. Louis, and you picked up a “music festival fanny pack” stuffed with pre-rolled joints, vapes, THC-infused mints, and the works at Hippos dispensary in Chesterfield.  Now that recreational marijuana is legal, you’re thinking you can roll right through the gate with your Barbie-pink fanny […]

The post Can I bring my weed into the music festival at the public park? appeared first on Missouri Independent.

The Pomme de Terre River’s status as an impaired waterway is poised to set up a fight between environmentalists and a meatpacking plant in Southwest Missouri. Missouri Prime Beef Packers has requested permission from the state to discharge treated wastewater from its facility near Pleasant Hope directly into the river. It currently applies the water […]

The post Southwest Missouri river’s listing as polluted may set up fight over meatpacker permit appeared first on Missouri Independent.

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is gearing up for a fall vaccination campaign that not only includes updated COVID-19 boosters, but the annual flu shot and the newly approved RSV vaccine. “We’re going to be encouraging Americans to get their COVID-19 vaccine in addition to their annual flu shot, as well as the immunizations for […]

The post Updated COVID-19 vaccines expected to be available in September, federal officials say appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Former President Donald Trump was booked and quickly released at the Fulton County Jail Thursday evening during a trip from New Jersey to Atlanta that played out on primetime TV and capped a drama-filled day outside the facility. Trump’s sprawling motorcade arrived at the jail at about 7:30 p.m. And he was released after about […]

The post Trump supporters, detractors face off outside jail as he’s booked on Georgia racketeering charges appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Former President Donald Trump, who is accused of trying to overturn Georgia’s election results, has been booked at the Fulton County Jail, according to the county jail website. Trump, who was indicted by a grand jury last week, arrived at the Rice Street jail in a sprawling motorcade at 7:34 p.m. Thursday. Outside the jail, his fans […]

The post Trump, allies surrender in election interference case appeared first on Missouri Independent.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, Louisiana Republican state Sen. Beth Mizell looked for a way to address her state’s abysmal record on infant and maternal mortality, preterm births and low birth weight. Louisiana has one of the nation’s strictest abortion bans, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Mizell […]

The post Abortion-ban states pour millions into pregnancy centers with little medical care appeared first on Missouri Independent.

There’s a growing feeling, among both experts and ordinary Americans, that our democracy isn’t functioning well — and even that it’s under threat. “American democracy is cracking,” the Washington Post reported August 18. “I’m terrified,” one democracy expert told the paper. “I think we are in bad shape, and I don’t know a way out.” […]

The post Americans are worried about democracy. You wouldn’t know it from the GOP debate. appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Reporting on problems with Medicaid, pandemic food benefits and other state issues facing lower-income Missourians earned The Missouri Independent the media award Thursday during Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s annual “For the Common Good Awards” luncheon in St. Louis. The award, given for “significant contributions to promoting equal access to justice in our community” recognized […]

The post The Independent wins annual media award from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Editor’s Note: This article was initially published by Georgia Recorder. Follow their live blog throughout the day for the latest on the surrender of former President Donald Trump. A large crowd of reporters and demonstrators was amassing around the Fulton County Jail Thursday morning in anticipation of the arrival of former President Donald Trump, who […]

The post Crowd grows outside Fulton jail in anticipation of Trump’s Georgia surrender appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Statewide teacher development programs could curb educator burnout, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s blue ribbon commission concluded in its latest set of recommendations. The commission, which is studying teacher recruitment and retention, presented its recommendations to the State Board of Education for review last week after speaking to teachers, administrators and community […]

The post Commission recommends more leadership opportunities for Missouri teachers appeared first on Missouri Independent.

When special counsel Jack Smith announced the charges he was bringing against former President Donald Trump for retaining government documents, he did something unusual: He invited the public to read the formal legal document, known as an indictment, detailing the allegations. And many did – concluding not only that the indictment was well-written but engaging. […]

The post Trump’s classified-documents indictment more than allege crimes − it tells a compelling story appeared first on Missouri Independent.