Latest news, breaking stories, and expert analysis on Missouri. Stay informed with comprehensive coverage from trusted sources.
Four Missouri family members face child and animal abuse charges after police found a 12-year-old girl with autism who had been sleeping in a dog cage for nearly two years. The discovery followed an extensive search involving police, a drone, and railroad workers. Police also found 80 animals in squalid conditions, with five dead on the property.
A Cole County judge scheduled hearings for next week on two Missouri ballot measures blocked by Secretary of State Denny Hoskins. The measures include a referendum on the congressional map and a constitutional amendment limiting legislative power over initiative-passed laws. The court must decide by Sept. 8 to add them to the Nov. 3 ballot.
Patrick Tuohey argues that Kansas City officials ignored a consultant's report warning that its minority contracting program was legally vulnerable, and only responded after Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a lawsuit. He contends that Mayor Quinton Lucas and the city council have failed to provide substantive justification for continuing the program, and that their recent actions appear reactive rather than proactive.
This commentary examines how one law firm, Lauber Municipal Law, handles public records and open meetings for small Missouri towns, suggesting that its practices may hinder transparency. It argues that outsourcing legal services to a single firm can create conflicts and reduce public access, as seen in Belle, Vienna, and Sedalia.
Missouri's appeals court rewrote the ballot summary for a congressional map referendum, stating the legislation repeals the existing plan and replaces it with boundaries that keep more counties intact. The ruling follows a lawsuit over the rejection of the referendum petition.
Kansas City, Missouri's Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee advanced ordinances to replace the 45-year-old Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program with a small business-focused program. The full council votes Thursday. All nine public testifiers supported the existing program, and a disparity study recommended the change.
Missouri House's Future Caucus introduced the AI Infrastructure Community Evaluation Framework (AICEF), a 14-page toolkit to help local governments assess data center projects. The bipartisan framework addresses both benefits and drawbacks, with lawmakers planning AI-related bills next session.
The St. Louis County Planning Commission is considering new zoning regulations for data centers in unincorporated areas, including a four-tier classification system, prohibitions in residential zones, noise studies, and energy/water reporting. Supporters cite tax revenue potential, while residents express concerns about proximity to neighborhoods. No projects are currently pending.
Missouri's chief justice requested expedited appellate review to ensure enough time for ballot changes before an early September deadline. The case concerns a redistricting ballot measure that could alter the state's process.
Missouri reported 1,577 cyclosporiasis cases as of Sunday, up from 1,095 the previous week. About 1,500 cases are likely linked to the national outbreak, with the state seeing nearly 28 times its average. The outbreak has been tied to Taylor Farms lettuce from Mexico, and a spike in foodborne illnesses is attributed to fewer resources and funding cuts.