Missouri News & Current Events | Public News Service

At the state level, Renew Missouri represents renewable and energy efficiency interests before the Public Service Commission. (Adobe Stock)

MO nonprofits join forces to help with power bills for those in need

Some Missouri nonprofit groups have teamed up to help those in need in the rural southeastern part of the state. Many households in these …

The current American Legion Auxiliary Missouri Girls State is being held this week, through June 29, at Lindenwood University in St. Charles. High schoolers interested in attending Girls State in the future should check missourigirlsstate.org. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

MO advocates demand fairness in beef labeling, support for small farms

Family farm advocates are pushing for major changes in the new Farm Bill, including reduced subsidies for large factory farms, mandatory beef country-…

From July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023, Direct Subsidized Loans had a 4.99% interest rate with a maximum of $5,500, while Direct Unsubsidized Loans for undergraduates had the same interest rate and can go up to $20,500, minus any subsidized amounts received. (Small Smiles_dimple/Adobe Stock)

Rising interest rates prompt higher loan costs for MO students

Federal student loan interest rates have surged to their highest levels in over a decade, posing yet another challenge for Missouri students and …

An analysis by the National Bureau of Economic Research found the drop in math scores between 2019 and<br />2022 will reduce lifetime earnings by 1.6% for 48 million pandemic-era students, a total of $900 billion in lost income. (Denis Mamin/Adobe Stock)

Data helps map a brighter future for Missouri's children

Missouri children are making strides in overall health but educational challenges remain, according to the 2024 Kids Count Data Book released by the …

According to a MarketWatch report, during the pandemic, unused credit lines posed a major risk to banks. To manage this risk, many banks reduced people's credit limits if they thought a cardholder's ability to repay might be at risk. (eliosdnepr/Adobe Stock)

Some MO credit-card users see shifts in credit limits

Missouri's two major metro areas are part of a WalletHub analysis of credit-limit decreases among 100 U.S. cities. The WalletHub research looks at …

At the end of 2023 there were more than 1,000 people older than 60 that had been incarcerated for longer than 15 years. (Adobe Stock)

MO lawmakers push for prison reform to address overcrowding, safety concerns

Some Missouri lawmakers want to lower the jail population, especially for older incarcerated people, because of safety concerns and staffing …

This provision was added to an omnibus bill (SB 103) late in the 2023 session, and was introduced by state Rep. Justin Hicks, R-Lake St. Louis. (Grenar/Adobe Stock)

Journalists, advocates challenge Missouri's new redaction rules

The Missouri Broadcasters Association is among the parties filing a lawsuit, claiming a state law that requires extensive redactions in court …

The National Association of Broadcasters says more than 82 million individuals tune in to AM radio. (kittyfly/Adobe Stock)

AM radio in every car? The debate hits Missouri

The "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" now in Congress would mandate all new cars in the U.S. be equipped with AM radios, which is stirring a debate in …

Fibroid Awareness Month is observed in July, with the goal of improving access to care and research funding. (Peakstock/Adobe Stock)

Health care advocates suggest medical collaboration to treat fibroids

May is Women's Health Month and more than 26 million women in the United States have fibroids. Fibroids are benign growths, typically in the uterus …

Solar energy helps provide more than 263,000 jobs across the U.S., according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (spyarm/Adobe Stock)

Surge in solar installations eases energy costs for Missourians

Missouri homes and businesses have installed enough solar energy to power 68,000 homes each year. A new report released by the Solar Energy …

Sen. John Rizzo, D-Independence, said 2024 has been a year of delays in the Missouri General Assembly. The budget came one week later than usual, and even agriculture bills required the support of Democrats. (Helistockter)

Last-minute Missouri House budget heads to governor

Missouri's House of Representatives approved a budget of about $51 billion just before a Friday 6 p.m. deadline. Gov. Mike Parsons has labeled it …

A special session of the Missouri Legislature to complete the budget may be needed if it is not finalized by Friday at 6 p.m.(luzitanija/Adobe Stock)

Critical child care funding hangs in balance as Missouri budget nears deadline

Child care advocates are pushing for increased funding as the budget deadline approaches this Friday. Robyn Schelp, director of policy and advocacy …

The American Heart Association said pregnancy, pre-eclampsia and chronic stress can increase women's risk for high blood pressure, a leading cause of stroke. (Tetiana/Adobe Stock)

Advocates address disparities for women in Missouri's health care system

Women, and particularly Black women, are disproportionately affected by strokes and other health conditions in Missouri. Keetra Thompson, a stroke …

The 340B rule empowers select safety-net providers by providing discounts on outpatient prescription drugs and in reaching more eligible patients to provide comprehensive services. (Banana Images/Adobe Stock)

Big Pharma uses red-meat rhetoric in fight over drug costs

Access to reduced-price medication is a necessity for many rural Missourians with low income. Rep. Cindy O'Laughlin, R-Shelbina, the Senate Floor …

Experts believe increasing access to healthy food is not just about nutrition, it is about addressing disparities and improving overall health outcomes. (ARTFULLY-79/Adobe Stock)

Breaking barriers for health equity with nutritional strategies

Missouri residents are gaining new insights into the powerful role of food in health care as experts and organizations advocate for a shift toward foo…

Rep. Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, the House Democratic floor leader, called Missouri politicians

Missouri's Medicaid block: denying patients choice in trusted providers

The Missouri Legislature has approved a law to stop its Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet, from paying Planned Parenthood for medical services …

A joint fundraising committee enables donors to contribute up to $13,200 during an election cycle, which can then be divided among multiple candidates. The individual donation limit of $6,600 per candidate per election cycle remains unchanged. (Wikimedia Commons)

Bush joins 'Squad' in rally for $100 million defense against AIPAC backlash races

In the midst of political tensions surrounding Israel's handling of the conflict with Hamas, Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., is joining forces with …

The Drug Enforcement Administration reported seizing more than 115,000 pounds of methamphetamine in 2020, marking a 55% surge compared with 2018. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Uncovering America's methamphetamine history

Missouri may, at one time, have had a reputation as the "meth-lab capital of the country" - but a five-part podcast uncovers its true history…

$During his 17 years in prison, relatives said Brian Dorsey was committed to improving himself and remained infraction-free throughout his long incarceration. (Felipe Caparr�s/Adobe Stock)$

Missouri carries out its first execution of 2024

Missouri went through with its first execution of the year, as Brian Dorsey was put to death last night, just after 6 p.m. CT. The U.S. Supreme …

Nearly three in 10 (27%) dual-eligible Missourians enrolled in D-SNPs in 2021. (Flamingo Images/Adobe Stock)

Missourians unaware of dual eligible special needs plans for healthcare savings

Dual Special Needs Plans such as Medicare Advantage in Missouri offer low costs with minimal co-pays and deductibles. In Missouri and across the …

Operation Food Search distributes $30 million worth of food and necessities each year to 330 community partners in 40 Missouri and Illinois counties. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

MO summit tackles rising child food insecurity as benefits expire

As COVID-era benefits near expiration, a recent Child Wellness Summit brought together nonprofits to tackle urgent child well-being and food-…

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Missourians anxious over future birth control access

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…

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Missouri's 'Taylor Swift Act' targets AI image threats

Missouri lawmakers are concerned with protecting people from the potential risks of the increasing accessibility of AI-generated images and videos…

OpenSecrets has tracked more than $2.8 billion in dark money spending and contributions reported to the Federal Elections Commission since the Supreme Court's Citizens United v. FEC decision in 2010. (pla2na/Adobe Stock)

'Dark money' floods 2024 elections

Undisclosed funding, or "dark money," is pumping into the 2024 election cycle. Political spending by donors who stay hidden is reaching record …

Corporate partners sign contracts to offer a graduate assistantship and pay the students. In turn, MSU pays the graduate assistant's tuition, fees and salary, so the assistantship is directly tied to the academic experience. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

MSU 'assistantships' give grad students an employment edge

By Victoria Lim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Missouri News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Col…

Although food insecurity can be faced by anyone, Black and Latino children are twice as likely to face hunger. And in 2022, 33% of single-parent families experienced food insecurity. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

MO gears up for participation in kids' summer food program

Missouri is planning ahead to make sure kids from lower-income families have enough to eat this summer. The state has opted into a federal food …

The increase in funding for community health centers also helps alleviate some of the burdens caused by threats to 340B, the low-cost prescription drug program. (1st footage/Adobe Stock)

New funding a boost for community health centers

Community health centers in Missouri and across the nation are getting a boost in funding thanks to Congress' passage of a bipartisan spending package…

Smithfield Foods spilled more than 7.3 million gallons of hog waste throughout Missouri according to a public records search by The Socially Responsible Agriculture Project. (Alberto/Adobe Stock)

A California regulation with big Midwest consequences

Family farm advocates in Missouri are concerned a regulation on the other side of the country could have unintended effects on rural Missourians…

In 2018, the nonprofit Decolonizing Wealth Project defined reparative philanthropy as

Report: Older foundations, regardless of intent, may have racist beginnings

A recent report details how great wealth that later made philanthropy possible around the country but most evidently in the District of Columbia…

Missouri's Senate Bill 1314, similar to House Bill 2365, prohibits funds from being expended by any state department for interdepartmental programs, staffing or other initiatives associated with

New report reveals high economic risk of anti-DEI laws in Missouri

A new report finds some Missouri laws and prospective laws are perceived as discriminatory regardless of their actual intent - and it outlines some bi…

When schools have automated external defibrillators, 70% of children survive cardiac arrest, according to American Heart Association data. (hooyah808/Adobe Stock)

MO schools and health advocates promote cardiac emergency response plans

Missouri Senate Bills 1032 and 1081 would require public schools to develop and implement cardiac emergency response plans and advocates are stressing…

The now scrapped House Bill 1708 passed out of the House Rules Committee on Jan. 29. The National Rifle Association describes the bill as

Missouri Dems attempt new legislation following parade shooting

Missouri Democrats have filed legislation which would prompt a vote to return gun possession rules to local governments. The move was prompted by a …

The group Everytown For Gun Safety ranks Missouri as the seventh-highest state for all gun-related deaths. (JJ Gouin/Adobe Stock)

Deadly shooting after Chiefs' victory parade renews calls for reform

Wednesday's Kansas City Chiefs' victory parade turned fatal, prompting gun-law activists to call for reform. One person died and three people are in …

Bryce Shanklin, a career rural mail carrier, in the U.S. Postal Service vehicle he uses for delivering mail. In the second year of USPS' 10-year 'Delivering For America' plan, 50,000 workers were converted from non-career positions to employee roles. (Adobe Stock)

Calls for increased rural Postal Service staffing grow louder

Across the country and especially in rural parts of Missouri, U.S. Postal Service staffing shortages are being blamed by some for delays in mail …

Census data from 2020 included population counts of nearly 1,500 race and ethnicity groups and American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: MO could do better to ensure children's well-being

A new report examined children's well-being in every state and found in Missouri, the outcomes vary greatly depending on race. In its "Race for …

Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, enacted as part of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, provides limited federal immunity to providers and users of interactive computer services. (Aleksei/Adobe Stock)

Social media CEOs apologize to victim families for harm experienced online

A contentious congressional hearing on Wednesday saw a unanimous push for regulations on social media specifically related to children. U.S. Sen…

On average, the lowest-income 20% of taxpayers face a state and local tax rate nearly 60% higher than the top 1% of households in Missouri, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. (tirachard/Adobe Stock)<br />

Missouri's taxes require more from low and middle-income families

New data show Missouri has the 35th most regressive state and local tax system in the country. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found …

Did Parson's abortion stance prompt historic family, education funding?

State legislators applauded Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's State of the State address last week - although for very different reasons. The governor's …

Part of the program allows taxpayers who donate to child-care facilities to receive the tax credits. Another portion would issue tax credits to employers who provide child care for their employees.(Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Child care tax credits gain momentum in MO

While Missouri's legislative session has just begun, child-care tax credits are at top of mind with a bipartisan House bill. HB 1488 takes a three-…

The Jan. 6 Committee's final report revealed members of the Oath Keepers and other Trump allies stockpiled weapons near Washington, D.C., as they waited for the former president to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy the military for domestic law enforcement. (spidey888/Adobe Stock)<br />

Democracy challenged by social media 'networked incitement'

The use of social media to organize the Jan. 6 insurrection marked a turning point in American political protest, according to a leading media and …

Studies show the development and dissemination of vaccines have saved millions of lives and played a critical role in historic increases in average life expectancy, from 47 years in 1900 in the U.S. to 76 years in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

MO groups dispel online vaccination misinformation

Public health experts are saying the rapid spread of health misinformation online is contributing to a dangerous decline in vaccination rates and an i…

After the George Floyd murder, Black Excellence built

'Black Excellence' sees World Cup 2026 as major MO opportunity

Major Kansas City developments -- such as the upcoming 2026 World Cup and building the first women's professional sports stadium -- are driving gentri…

More than 180,000 rural students attend public pre-K-through-12 schools in Missouri, almost double the rural U.S. average. (Song_about_summer/Adobe Stock)

Where's the money for rural Missouri education?

Nearly half of Missouri's public schools are in rural areas, and they serve more than one in five of the Show-Me State's students. But Missouri …

Uninsured people are more likely to support public health insurance programs, but are less likely to vote than people with health insurance, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. Studies show the trend has contributed to a lack of Medicaid expansion in states that could benefit from it. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Doctors: Voting would improve U.S. health care system

Voting is not only good for democracy, it is also good for your health, according to one of the nation's largest medical associations. The American …

The number of mental health providers rose from 184.2 to 256.8 per 100,000 population between September 2018 and September 2023. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Report: Number of MO mental healthcare professionals jumps nearly 40%

The latest edition of America's Health Rankings report is out - and although Missouri ranked 40th overall, the state is showing improvement in the …

In addition to reducing the risk of heart disease, studies have shed light on several other potential health benefits associated with vacationing, including decreased depression, less stress and improved productivity. (Mr. Bolota/Adobe Stock)

Cardiologists suggest heart-healthy holiday travel plans

AAA is projecting a record 7.5 million air passengers will travel over the next two weeks. Cardiologists and the American Heart Association suggested …

In a statement, Edward Mitchell, CAIR's national deputy director, said

Hawley criticized for heated questioning of Muslim American judicial nominee

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has drawn fire for his questioning of the first Muslim American judicial nominee. Hawley, along with Sen. Tom Cotton…

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