Columbia Missourian • 11th February 2026

Families push back against developmental disability program cuts

JEFFERSON CITY — Members of the House Budget Committee vowed Wednesday to find a way to fund two programs that help support at-home care and daytime activities for Missourians with developmental disabilities.The committee’s proceedings were swamped Wednesday as dozens of Missouri families testified against two cuts in Gov. Mike Kehoe’s proposed budget for the Department of Mental Health.
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Missouri Independent • 1st May 2025

Missouri bill allowing homeschoolers to participate in school sports nears passage • Missouri Independent

A Senate bill allowing homeschooled student participation in public and charter school activities and athletics passed the Missouri House on Wednesday.
Sponsored by state Sen. Ben Brown, a Republican from Washington, the bill would prohibit public and charter schools from banning homeschooled or full-time virtual students from taking part in school athletics and activities.
A similar bill proposed by Brown in the last session stalled in the House. This year, Brown’s bill passed unanimously out o...

Missouri Independent • 15th April 2025

Push to block enforcement of federal gun laws debated by Missouri Senate committee • Missouri Independent

Efforts to reenact a law preventing the enforcement of federal gun laws in Missouri found opponents from throughout the state Monday at a Missouri Senate Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety hearing.
In 2021, the legislature passed the “Second Amendment Preservation Act,” which prevented Missouri law officers from enforcing federal gun laws that were considered to be “infringements” on Second Amendment rights.
In 2024, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the act un...

Missouri Independent • 26th February 2025

Lt. Gov. David Wasinger is finding a home at the Missouri Capitol • Missouri Independent

Lt. Gov. David Wasinger ran as a “conservative outsider” aiming to shake things up in the capital city.
In his first few weeks on the job, Wasinger has worked at developing friends and supporters in the Senate while setting public safety and government efficiency as his top priorities.
In the 2024 primary, Wasinger beat two experienced Republicans state senators, Lincoln Hough and Holly Thompson Rehder. He went on to beat former Democratic state Rep. Richard Brown for the position.
In one campai...

22nd January 2025

Proposed House bills could make major changes to Missouri taxes

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri House of Representative bills heard by a committee Wednesday could lower the Missouri corporate income tax to zero by 2029 and set a flat income tax rate of 4.7% or lower.

The bills heard by the House Special Committee on Tax Reform have been proposed by freshman representatives who seek to alter the tax system.

5th November 2024

Other initiatives: Ranked choice voting ban passes

There was a mixed bag of results on some of the other ballot questions voters faced Tuesday.

Missourians voted to ban ranked-choice voting in all national, statewide or municipal elections following the passage of Amendment 7 on Tuesday.

Boone County residents voted in favor of the amendment with 48,206 votes for and 35,767 votes against.

Columbia Missourian • 5th November 2024

Onder joins Alford in U.S. House

Republicans Bob Onder and Mark Alford will be representing Boone County and other state residents in U.S. House Districts 3 and 4, respectively.

“The voters of Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District have spoken and I am honored that they have chosen me to represent them in Congress in January,” Onder said in a statement. “I look forward to working alongside President Trump and my colleagues in the House and Senate to Make America Great Again.”

Missouri Independent • 5th November 2024

Officials say Missouri elections take time, but remain secure • Missouri Independent

If the 2020 presidential election is an indicator, determining who the next president will be may not be clear on election night.
Local election officials as well as Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said that voters should be assured that elections in Missouri are secure even if vote counting takes time.
“I trust our elections,” Ashcroft said. “I was on the ballot in August, I lost, and sadly I trust that I lost.”
It could take days after polls close before the final results become clear. The sam...

Columbia Missourian • 27th October 2024

Coyne's run for Senate focuses on limiting government power

“I Love the Constitution.”

Those words can be read on a bumper sticker above the desk of James Coyne, Republican candidate for Senate District 19.

Coyne, a health and life insurance broker for 30 years, said he believes strongly in both the Missouri and U.S. Constitutions, calling them “divinely influenced.”

24th October 2024

House District 44 candidates differ on higher education

House District 44 candidates John Martin and Dave Raithel don’t agree on much. However, Democrat Raithel and Republican Martin both list higher education support, especially for the University of Missouri, as key to their campaigns.

Both candidates have connections to MU. Raithel received his doctorate in philosophy and taught for five years at the university. Three of Martin’s children graduated from MU.

“I am one of those people who likes to remind everyone that the University of Missouri is a land grant university and it is specifically chartered for the public benefit of the people of Missouri,” Raithel said.

Columbia Missourian • 17th October 2024

Dave Raithel campaigns again for House District 44 seat

Dave Raithel is campaigning again for the Missouri House District 44 seat he sought two years ago.

But unlike in 2022, there is no incumbent in his way.

Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch, a Republican from Hallsville, is barred by term limits from running again for the seat she first won in 2016.

16th October 2024

Local Democratic candidates hold on to campaign cash

Senate 19 Democratic candidate Stephen Webber has raised the most of any candidate running for office in Boone County, holding more than $825,000 as of the end of September.

Campaign finance reports, which were due Tuesday and cover the fundraising period ending Sept. 30, show strong union backing for Democratic candidates in local races. The next spending report to the Missouri Ethics Commission is due eight days before the Nov. 5 general election.

Missouri Independent • 16th October 2024

Columbia Missourian editor files lawsuit against Boone County hospital • Missouri Independent

For several months, the Columbia Missourian has requested documents regarding the operations and finances of Boone Health following major layoffs, program cuts and reported losses of $112 million from the hospital in 2021-22.
Hospital officials, including members of the publicly elected board of trustees, have denied numerous requests by Missourian reporters for operational documents. Missourian investigative editor Mark Horvit filed a lawsuit Oct. 10 against the Boone County Hospital Board of T...

Missouri Independent • 7th October 2024

Capitol art captures views of Missouri a century ago • Missouri Independent

Lightning flashed over the Missouri Capitol on Oct. 6, 1924, just 13 years after the building burned to the ground following a powerful lightning strike.
This time lightning flashes were joined by the red hues of celebratory fireworks. This was the grand pageant to celebrate the opening of the new Capitol.
Though the Capitol had been used by the legislature since 1919, it was felt at the time that the building needed a formal opening. It was decided to hold the event on the 13th anniversary of t...

6th October 2024

Thomas Hart Benton painted authentic Missourians to illustrate real history

JEFFERSON CITY — When artist Thomas Hart Benton returned to Missouri in 1935, his name was almost synonymous with his home state.

Benton had risen to prominence as an American regionalist artist in the 1930s, landing his face on the cover of TIME magazine in 1934.

He was the son of Maecenas Benton, a four-time U.S. congressman from Missouri and named after the first U.S. senator from Missouri, Thomas Hart Benton, his great-great uncle.

26th September 2024

Corey Blueitt found not guilty of murder in fatal motorcycle-related shooting

Corey Blueitt was cleared of a murder charge Thursday when a Boone County jury found him not guilty of killing Aaron Badolato.

A dispute over a motorcycle that ended in Badolato’s death in December 2022 resulted in a guilty verdict on a single third-degree assault charge.

Blueitt, 45, was found not guilty of first-degree murder, as well as armed criminal action.

Columbia Missourian • 20th September 2024

Gubernatorial candidates draw distinctions over ballot issues

SPRINGFIELD — Missouri gubernatorial candidates offered contrasting views on state funding and ballot initiatives in a debate Friday hosted by the Missouri Press Association. Republican Mike Kehoe, Democrat Crystal Quade, Libertarian Bill Slantz and Green Party candidate Paul Lehmann all were given an opportunity to clarify their stances on key issues including abortion, taxes, funding and ballot measures.

Columbia Missourian • 10th September 2024

Missouri Supreme Court rules abortion rights will remain on November ballot

JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that an initiative petition to legalize abortion must remain on the November ballot, overruling a Friday decision by a Cole County judge. The Supreme Court ruled hours before the 5 p.m. deadline to finalize the ballot.

Columbia Missourian • 20th June 2024

Capital Region Medical Center gets positive report at Health Affairs Committee meeting

Capital Region Medical Center, acquired by MU Health Care in January, had been expected to operate at a loss of $12.7 million for fiscal year 2024.According to a report Thursday to the UM System Board of Curators’ Health Affairs Committee, the medical center has mitigated this loss to only $7.6 million, $5.1 million less than the projected figure.

17th June 2024

City Council approves firefighter pay increases, new salt facility

Columbia City Council voted unanimously Monday to fund the first phase of construction for a Municipal Service Center in south Columbia.

The first phase of the center would include a salt storage dome and storage for snowplows and equipment. The $2 million facility would be located on Sinclair Road, south of Mill Creek Elementary School.

Columbia Missourian • 15th June 2024

City Council to vote on firefighter raises, consider new salt facility

The Columbia City Council is set to vote on pay increases for firefighters and might vote to approve construction of a new salt storage facility in south Columbia.After negotiations between the city and Professional Firefighters I.A.F.F. Local 1055, an agreement was reached on proposed amendments to the current collective bargaining agreement. These amendments require City Council approval before they become effective.

Columbia Missourian • 13th June 2024

Gov. Parson kicks off I-70 improvements at groundbreaking

Gov. Mike Parson leads officials in the groundbreaking of the Improve I-70 project on Thursday near Interstate 70 in Columbia. The governor was joined at the event by his wife Teresa and granddaughter Sophie along with transportation officials.

Gov. Mike Parson leads officials in the groundbreaking of the Improve I-70 project on Thursday near Interstate 70 in Columbia. The governor was joined at the event by his wife Teresa and granddaughter Sophie along with transportation officials.

8th June 2024

Moberly honors its native son, five-star Gen. Omar Bradley

Five-star Gen. Omar Bradley's legacy was commemorated Saturday at a D-Day wreath-laying ceremony at Rothwell Park in Moberly.

“Wreaths have been laid all over the world this week to remember and honor the courage and sacrifice of those men and women who made the mission successful,” Lt. Col. Walter P Lantzy III said. “We are pleased to be able to do the same here in a place Gen. Omar Bradley loved so much.”

Columbia Missourian • 6th June 2024

New MU vet school dean brings land-grant university experience

The incoming dean of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine said his prior work in land-grant institutions will guide his new role. “I have gotten to learn and appreciate the value of how education should be impactful to the community at heart,” Srinand Sreevatsan said Thursday. “I would use that to help me navigate education and service activities that would actually benefit the state.”