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State AGs expand consumer work as prices rise and Trump guts federal protections

3 months ago
Since President Donald Trump has gutted much of the federal government’s consumer protection work, state attorneys general are increasingly left to fight high prices and investigate businesses themselves. Consumer protection work, long a growing focus of state AGs from both parties, has ramped up considerably more in the past two years, legal experts say. The […]
Kevin Hardy

Flap over noncitizens on state voter rolls seen as unlikely to boost SAVE America Act

3 months ago
WASHINGTON — Suddenly there’s evidence that noncitizens were on voting rolls in New Jersey, and there are new questions about the credibility of Alaska’s voter data. Republicans say that’s a big deal and an important boost for their so-far stuck election integrity drive. But look more closely. Congressional lawmakers and independent experts said this week […]
David Lightman

Trump Republicans Are Destroying Decades Of Policy Progress On Affordable Broadband

3 months ago
Quick background: the $8 billion FCC Universal Service Fund (USF) applies a small surcharge on traditional phone lines to fund broadband expansion to unserved rural homes, schools, and libraries (of which the U.S. has a lot thanks to rampant telecom monopolization). While the USF, like all government programs, hasn’t been absent of fraud (usually at the hands of […]
Karl Bode

Most states temporarily house foster children in hotels, offices

3 months ago
More than 9,000 children in foster care had to temporarily stay in hotels, office buildings and other potentially unsafe settings when states couldn’t find suitable places for them, according to a new federal audit. The inspector general’s office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that states had an especially difficult time […]
Robbie Sequeira

Judge promises quick decision on challenge to Missouri property tax caps

3 months ago
A Cole County judge said Wednesday he will rule quickly on a case that will determine if property tax caps voted on in April take effect later this year. At the end of a three-hour hearing, Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh gave attorneys in the case one week to file proposed findings for him to consider. […]
Rudi Keller

What Missouri officials didn’t explain about an LGBTQ+ library story time

3 months ago
Denny Hoskins wants to cut a library’s funding over two books he has not read. He Googled them, saw excerpts and looked at some pictures. For Missouri’s secretary of state, that was enough. The books are “Rainbowsaurus,” the tale of a family searching for a rainbow dinosaur, and “Big Wig,” about a child who wins […]
Jason Hancock

Thursday, July 30 - Amendment 5

3 months ago
On Tuesday, Missourians will decide the fate of a proposed constitutional amendment that gives lawmakers the ability to expand sales and use taxes in order to eliminate the state income tax. While proponents of the measure say it would create growth for Missouri, opponents argue it will increase the cost of living in the state. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg reports.

Nice day Thursday, rain and storms Friday

3 months ago
ST. LOUIS - The high on Wednesday only reached 85 F. It’s nice to have the cooler temperatures and lower humidity around. We’ll enjoy it again on Thursday. Sunshine to start with increasing clouds later in the day. Highs in the mid to upper 80s. Still summer, but easier to handle. Rain returns for the [...]
Angela Hutti