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WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci defended his decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday, testifying before Congress about his work on the virus as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases during two presidencies. House Republicans who called the hearing grilled Fauci during the contentious three-hour session about the origins of […]

The post Fauci defends his work on COVID-19, says he has an ‘open mind’ on its origins appeared first on Missouri Independent.

A state law requiring secrecy in court filings violates the Missouri Constitution’s requirement for open courts and imposes steep new costs on litigants, especially those pursuing appeals, a lawsuit filed last week argues. The lawsuit, filed in Cole County by the Missouri Broadcasters Association, two attorneys and William Freivogel, editor of the Gateway Journalism Review, […]

The post Lawsuit claims new Missouri court secrecy law is unconstitutional appeared first on Missouri Independent.

MARIETTA, Ga. — Just after 3 p.m. on the third Tuesday of May, Lamont Hart began his shift outside a suburban precinct as a scorching Georgia sun reflected heat off the white-bricked Worship with Wonders Church. Tall, thin, wearing a backward flat cap and holding a notebook, Hart introduced himself to exiting voters and asked […]

The post Election monitors nervously practice for the ‘big dance in November’ appeared first on Missouri Independent.

A United States District Court judge in St. Louis heard arguments Monday morning on whether the federal government can continue with a student-debt-forgiveness plan due to begin next month. The lawsuit, filed last month by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, seeks to block an income-driven repayment plan for borrowers proposed by President Joe Biden’s administration.  […]

The post Missouri AG argues to block Biden administration’s second student loan forgiveness plan appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Missouri lawmakers gave counties a dose of much-needed clarity in May when they passed a bill aimed at clarifying a 2023 law that lets counties pass a senior property tax freeze, aimed at those 62 and older. The law passed last year gave counties the power to freeze property tax rates for Missourians who were […]

The post Missouri lawmakers clarify confusion to let more counties freeze property taxes for seniors appeared first on Missouri Independent.

During Missouri’s 2024 legislative session, 338 bills addressing education were filed: a mix of proposals to change curriculum, increase funding, boost oversight and others. The House appeared poised to expedite more K-12 legislation by forming a Special Committee on Education Reform in addition to its usual Elementary and Secondary Education Committee. Chair of the existing […]

The post Missouri education package establishes long-time priorities, stomping smaller bills appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Not voting in the presidential primary and general election is tantamount to an act of dereliction of duty, even desertion when it comes to defending and protecting our democratic republic. At a bare minimum, it certainly can be considered cowardice and laziness. Offended? We should be. Being disappointed or disgusted with the candidates seeking our […]

The post Will you be AWOL in the upcoming elections? appeared first on Missouri Independent.

More than half of the nation’s jobs created in the past five years have come in two states: Texas and Florida. They’re at the forefront of a job creation revolution in which states with lower wages and a lower cost of living are gaining the highest share of new jobs, according to a new Stateline […]

The post Low-wage states with cheap housing dominated the post-pandemic jobs boom appeared first on Missouri Independent.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Former Marion Councilwoman Ruth Herbel alleges in federal court that city officials orchestrated an illegal raid of her home — alongside the raid of the Marion County Record — as part of a conspiracy to silence criticism. The Institute for Justice, a Virginia-based law firm that says it represents “everyday people” in […]

The post Former Kansas councilwoman files federal lawsuit over ‘conspiracy’ to silence her and newspaper appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Facing ongoing concerns about rural hospital closures, Capitol Hill lawmakers have introduced a spate of proposals to fix a federal program created to keep lifesaving services in small towns nationwide. In Anamosa, Iowa — a town of fewer than 6,000 residents located more than 900 miles from the nation’s capital — rural hospital leader Eric […]

The post An obscure drug discount program stifles use of federal lifeline by rural hospitals appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Natasha Jackson was four months pregnant when she told her supervisor she was expecting. It was 2008, and Jackson was an account executive at a rental furniture store in Charleston, South Carolina — the only female employee there. “I actually hid my pregnancy as long as I could because I was scared about what could […]

The post New rules protect pregnant workers, but red states sue over abortion provisions appeared first on Missouri Independent.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told leading Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday he will not meet with them to discuss the court’s code of ethics, following revelations of displays of politically oriented flags at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito. Individual justices will continue to decide their own […]

The post U.S. Supreme Court chief declines to discuss Alito flag uproar, ethics with Senate Dems appeared first on Missouri Independent.

WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump, now a convicted felon, vowed to launch an appeal based “on many things” he considered unfair during his New York trial, he said Friday in the lobby of Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan. Meanwhile Friday, legal and political analysts predicted he will spend little if any time in jail […]

The post An angry Trump pledges to appeal ‘this scam’ conviction as Republicans vow resistance appeared first on Missouri Independent.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war. Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure […]

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war  appeared first on Missouri Independent.

The top staff member of the Missouri House filed a lawsuit Friday accusing Speaker Dean Plocher and his chief of staff, Rod Jetton, of harassment and intimidation during battles over ethics charges and hiring decisions. House Chief Clerk Dana Miller’s lawsuit follows months allegations about misconduct by Plocher and a House Ethics Committee investigation that […]

The post Missouri House chief clerk sues Dean Plocher, Rod Jetton alleging whistleblower retaliation appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Missouri’s Medicaid enrollment has shrunk by around 200,000 people since last summer, as the state continues the process of undoing a COVID-era pause on eligibility checks. The federal suspension on annual renewals expired last year and since then, states have been undergoing the process of re-verifying each participant’s eligibility. From June to April, Missouri’s net […]

The post Missouri Medicaid enrollment continues decline, down 200,000 since last June appeared first on Missouri Independent.

One of Montana’s largest health clinics that serves people in poverty has cut back services and laid off workers. The retrenchment mirrors similar cuts around the country as safety-net health centers feel the effects of states purging their Medicaid rolls. Billings-based RiverStone Health is eliminating 42 jobs this spring, cutting nearly 10% of its workforce. […]

The post Safety-Net Health Clinics Cut Services and Staff Amid Medicaid ‘Unwinding’ appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Reactions by Missouri politicians to the felony conviction Thursday of former President Donald Trump fell predictably along partisan lines, with Republicans condemning the verdict and Democrats expressing satisfaction or trolling their partisan foes. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a candidate for the GOP nomination for governor, blamed President Joe Biden for the state of New […]

The post Reactions to Trump conviction fall along party lines in Missouri appeared first on Missouri Independent.

WASHINGTON — Taxpayers across the United States could be guaranteed a free public option to file federal tax returns online as the Internal Revenue Service announced plans Thursday to make its Direct File program permanent. The pilot program offered in 12 states from March to April drew roughly 140,000 accepted returns this filing season and […]

The post Free direct filing of federal taxes may be offered soon throughout the U.S. appeared first on Missouri Independent.

WASHINGTON — Jurors in New York state court on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star ultimately to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president wrapped up in […]

The post Trump found guilty on 34 felony counts in NY hush money trial appeared first on Missouri Independent.