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MoInd šŸ“°

US Justice Department downgrades risk of state-licensed medicinal marijuana

2 weeks 1 day ago
Medicinal marijuana products that are legal at the state level will see looser federal regulation under an order the U.S. Department of Justice published Thursday, while a process that could remove the drug in all forms from the federal list of the most dangerous drugs is set to begin in late June. TheĀ order, signed by […]
Jacob Fischler

US Senate GOP adopts budget blueprint laying path for billions for ICE, Border Patrol

2 weeks 2 days ago
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans approved a budget resolution early Thursday intended to speed the way for billions for immigration enforcement, sending the measure to the House, where GOP lawmakers in that chamber need to adopt it to unlock the reconciliation process.Ā  TheĀ 50-48 vote followed a marathon amendment voting session that Democrats used to highlight […]
Jennifer Shutt

Nitrate contaminates the drinking water of millions of Americans, study finds

2 weeks 2 days ago
Nearly one-fifth of Americans relied on drinking water systems with elevated and potentially dangerous levels of nitrate in recent years, according to a new study released Thursday. The nonprofit Environmental Working Group examined test data collected by water systems across the country between 2021 and 2023, the most recent data available.Ā  Water systems serving more […]
Kevin Hardy

Is competition the answer to Missouri’s growing utility costs?

2 weeks 2 days ago
Late last month, both chambers of the Missouri legislature began hearings on proposals to introduce electrical choice and competition, challenging the state’s long-standing model of electricity generation and delivery. At the core of the debate is a basic economic principle: competition tends to put downward pressure on costs. Currently, because we cannot reasonably expect multiple […]
Jason Walter, Grant Musick

Shackled immigrants targeted for deportation are being flown in and out of Kansas City airport

2 weeks 2 days ago
Missouri’s role in the Trump administration’s campaign to deport millions of immigrants has increased dramatically, up 200%. But it’s not primarily through highly publicized incidents where immigrants have been taken into custody at their workplaces, in apartment parking lots or after check-ins at Kansas City’s immigration court. It’s through Kansas City International Airport. At least […]
Mary Sanchez

For the fifth time, a vote in the US Senate to limit Trump’s war in Iran falls short

2 weeks 2 days ago
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans, and one Democrat, maintained their support for President Donald Trump’s war in Iran, after blocking for the fifth time a resolution that would force the president to seek congressional authorization for further action in the Middle East. The vote failed 46-51, largely following the same split as previous failed measures. Sen. […]
Ashley Murray

US citizens shot by ICE beg Congress to rein in federal immigration agents

2 weeks 2 days ago
WASHINGTON — Nearly all Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee failed to show up for a Wednesday hearing convened by Democrats to highlight President Donald Trump’s aggressive tactics in his mass deportation campaign that have ensnared U.S. citizens.Ā  It marked a rare full committee hearing that Democrats were allowed to conduct because of Minority […]
Ariana Figueroa

St. Louis smoke shop halts sale of THC edibles packaged like candy

2 weeks 2 days ago
A St. Louis smoke shop has agreed to stop selling highly potent THC edibles packaged to mimic popular candy, after Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway sued the store for alleged violations of state consumer-protection laws. Hanaway announced Wednesday that Pressure STL, located just south of downtown St. Louis, will immediately halt operations and destroy all […]
Rebecca Rivas

US Senate Dems to force votes on rising costs, immigration crackdown in marathon session

2 weeks 2 days ago
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that Democrats will use the unlimited number of amendment votes they are allowed on Republicans’ budget resolution to illustrate policy differences on cost-of-living issues and immigration activities.Ā  ā€œWe are for reducing costs for the American people, whether it’s housing or whether it’s health care or […]
Jennifer Shutt

Trump proposal to halt funding for minority-serving colleges criticized by Dems, advocates

2 weeks 2 days ago
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats, advocates, students and leaders on Wednesday blasted attempts by President Donald Trump’s administration to do away with funding forĀ minority-serving institutions in higher education.Ā Ā  U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono led a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol that called on the administration to fully fund and protect the more than 800 minority-serving institutions, […]
Shauneen Miranda

Congress struggles with questions about ethics investigations after 3 members resign

2 weeks 3 days ago
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republican leaders Tuesday defended the secretive process used in that chamber to investigate allegations of wrongdoing, though they did confirm referring a complaint made against Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego to the Ethics Committee. ā€œAt the beginning, we always start very, very privately to protect members because we don’t want to […]
Jennifer Shutt

Bill to shield Missouri businesses from ADA website lawsuits heads to governor

2 weeks 3 days ago
A bill that will protect Missouri’s small businesses from frivolous lawsuits now awaits the governor’s signature after gaining final approval from the legislature on Tuesday. The Act Against Abusive Website and Web Content Litigation addresses an issue that legislators say has harmed small businesses in Missouri and across the country. A growing number of businesses […]
Sophia Gromowsky

In Medicaid fraud crackdown, feds now looking to audit all 50 states

2 weeks 3 days ago
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said Tuesday that the Trump administration will require every state within 30 days to turn in a plan to revalidate the health care providers that participate in their Medicaid programs. The Trump administration has pledged to root out what it calls […]
Shalina Chatlani

On sentencing reform, Missouri can be the Show-Them State

2 weeks 3 days ago
Missouri’s moniker as the Show-Me State is said to originate from a Congressman who said that his midwestern roots preferred evidence over eloquence. ā€œI am from Missouri,ā€ he is purported to have said. ā€œYou have got to show me.” Now, 127 years later, Missouri can show other states — and the federal government — how […]
Patrick Tuohey

Missouri AG leading court fight to preserve Donald Trump’s mail-ballot order

2 weeks 3 days ago
A dozen Republican state attorneys general are moving to defend President Donald Trump’s executive order on mail ballots from legal challenges mounted by Democrats. The GOP officials, led by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, argued in multiple court filings Monday and Tuesday in response to Democratic lawsuits that theĀ March 31 order provides states with ā€œoptional […]
Jonathan Shorman

Fed chair nominee says he will be independent of Trump, though Dems see a ā€˜sock puppet’

2 weeks 3 days ago
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, vowed Tuesday the central bank would remain ā€œstrictly independentā€ if he’s confirmed to the top spot, even as the president has broadcast his demand for the new Fed chair to lower interest rates. Warsh, a former Fed board governor, faced questions during […]
Ashley Murray

Plan to replace Missouri income tax with expanded sales tax heads to voters

2 weeks 3 days ago
Missouri voters will decide later this year whether to grant lawmakers power to increase and expand the sales tax in order to raise revenue needed to eliminate the income tax. The Missouri House voted 95-59 Tuesday to send a proposed constitutional amendment directing future legislatures to cut personal income tax rates as state revenue increases. […]
Rudi Keller