When state Sen. Adam Schnelting and his wife ran the numbers on how much money their investments could generate for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he began to think about how Missouri’s government could utilize investing, too. “We began to realize how powerful compound interest was,” Schnelting said. “So I got to thinking, ‘Why are we […]
After years of states pushing legislation to accelerate the development of data centers and the electric grid to support them, some legislators want to limit or repeal state and local incentives that paved their way. President Donald Trump also has changed his tone. Last year he issued an executive order and other federal initiatives meant […]
WASHINGTON — Republicans and Democrats will spend billions of dollars and countless hours campaigning throughout the country ahead of November’s midterm elections, even though control of Congress likely will be decided by a relatively small number of toss-up races and the voters who actually turn out to cast a ballot for their preferred candidate. There […]
Each Kansas Citian has their own way of answering the tourist’s question: “Is Kansas City in Missouri or Kansas?” Some people curtly respond “Missouri,” knowing that Kansas City, Missouri, is larger in almost every way than Kansas City, Kansas. People with a bit more equanimity will explain that both states have cities with that name, […]
A bill that would make Missouri hunting and fishing permits free for military personnel and disabled veterans faced bipartisan criticism Monday. The legislation would require the conservation commission to remove costs for some service members’ hunting and fishing tags. The free permits would be given to 100% disabled veterans that are Missouri residents and any […]
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration took more steps Monday to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, announcing two additional interagency agreements with other departments that will transfer more of its responsibilities to those agencies. Under the agreements, the agency will partner with the State Department on foreign gift and contract reporting and with the […]
The Missouri House voted Monday to spend state general revenue to serve people enrolled under the Medicaid expansion program for the first time since it was passed by voters in 2020. The $76.7 million item is part of a $3.15 billion supplemental spending bill that would push total appropriations for the year ending June 30 […]
Missouri Senators raised privacy concerns Monday during a hearing on a bill that would put personal information about every registered voter on a state website. Under the legislation proposed by state Sen. Jill Carter, a Republican from Granby, the secretary of state’s office would be required to publish the full list of approximately 4.5 million […]
The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will hear a significant climate lawsuit in which oil companies are seeking to avoid being tried in state court. The fate of several dozen climate lawsuits brought against oil companies by state and local governments could hinge on the decision, which could determine whether the cases can be […]
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Monday to honor families whose loved ones were killed by noncitizens, but spent most of the event complaining about his approval ratings and amplifying the falsehood that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him. While signed Monday, the proclamation designated the day earlier as one to honor […]
When Josh Hammann started having severe breathing problems in the spring of 2023, emergency room doctors were convinced he was having panic attacks. They gave him medication to treat anxiety, but his wife, Megan, said that only made him sicker. “Of course, that medication had alpha-gal in it,” she told The Independent. Hammann, of Cole […]
Kirsti Millar’s water broke when she was 23 weeks pregnant. Against all odds, her team of doctors at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City delayed the delivery of her son, Olson, for 11 weeks. But it required Millar to move into a hospital room until then. She hung photos and string lights across the room […]
Missouri will receive more than $216 million under a sweeping federal rural health initiative, a substantial investment aimed at stabilizing and modernizing care in rural communities. The state received the award on Dec. 29, but the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services required a revised budget for approval. The revised budget has been submitted, and […]
Cannabis and gambling interests had a bit of a roller-coaster week in Jefferson City, with big legislative wins in the Missouri House paired with reminders that neither business is operating in anything close to calm water. Start with a bill aimed at banning intoxicating hemp products: the seltzers and gummies sold at gas stations and smoke […]
As physicians who are proud citizens of our rural communities, we have the privilege of caring for friends, neighbors and multiple generations. But the satisfaction of providing care to our communities turned to frustration when our hospitals in Boonville and Mexico abruptly shut down in 2020 and 2022 respectively, leaving the health care of our […]
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday he plans to keep tariffs in place using different authorities after the Supreme Court ruled he exceeded his power under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act. During the afternoon press conference in the White House briefing room, Trump repeatedly criticized the six justices who wrote “that IEEPA does not authorize […]
OTTAWA, Kan. — When Kansas began requiring residents to prove their U.S. citizenship before voting more than a decade ago, Steven Wayne Fish tried and failed. A first-time father in his 30s at the time, he wanted a say in debates over public school funding despite having never voted before. But Fish, who was born […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a major blow to President Donald Trump’s trade agenda Friday, ruling the tariffs he issued under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act are illegal. In a 6-3 decision authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court said Congress alone holds the power to tax in almost all circumstances. The Trump […]
A Republican judge in Cole County on Thursday ruled that the ballot summary must be rewritten for a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it much harder for Missourians to amend the constitution through citizen initiative petitions. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ordered the first three bullet points of the summary voters will see […]
Fifteen months after Missouri voters approved a constitutional right to abortion, Republican lawmakers are playing the long game, introducing a flood of familiar legislation seeking to roll back some protections in the hopes of ultimately ending access to the procedure altogether. Republicans are moving to expand criminal penalties for doctors who perform abortions and civil […]
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