MO State News

State auditor says the Bates County Mo. Sheriff wasted more than $178,000 in public money

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.– What do horses named Bandit, Tater, and Duck have in common with a sno-cone machine, a dunk tank, and a go-kart? They’re all part of the wasteful spending by the Bates County Sheriff’s Office uncovered in a new report released last week by Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick.   The audit conducted […]

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Senator Schmitt introduces the BOASBERG Act to block judicial shopping

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) has introduced the Blocking Overt Attempts at Shopping By Enforcing Randomization Guidelines (BOASBERG) Act to combat judicial bias by requiring courts to implement processes that randomly assign cases among judges at both the district and circuit level. Enforcing random case assignment will promote confidence in judicial impartiality and help prevent erroneous rulings.  “Judge Boasberg is

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Program helps neighbors become community leaders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missourians interested in strengthening their neighborhoods and communities have until Aug. 21 to register for the 2026 Neighborhood Leadership Academy, a 10-week leadership development program offered through a partnership of University of Missouri Extension and University of Missouri-St. Louis. The program runs Sept. 8 through Nov. 12 and is offered online, making

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Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is August 7 – August 9

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri’s annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 7, and runs through midnight on Sunday, August 9. During this time, certain purchases such as school supplies, computers, clothing, and other qualifying items as defined by statute are exempt from all state and local sales tax.  During this

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Discover Nature with MDC at Missouri State Fair Aug. 13 – 23

SEDALIA – Discover nature with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia Aug. 13 – 23. Visit the MDC Conservation Building from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to see live fish and other native animals such as snakes, turtles, and amphibians. Ask MDC staff conservation-related questions, get educational materials,

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Food insecurity rises to 1 in 5 across Southeast Missouri

SIKESTON – Hunger is rising across Southeast Missouri, according to new Feeding America data showing nearly 69,210 people, about 1 in 5 Southeast Missourians, experienced food insecurity in 2024, a significant increase from just one year earlier when 63,790 individuals faced hunger. More than 20,680 children, or more than 1 in 4 children, are now

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MU weed science team seeks ways to reduce soil weed seed bank

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s weed science team is working on ways to understand and eradicate the millions of weed seed buried in every acre of U.S. cropland, especially seeds of highly invasive, herbicide-resistant weeds like waterhemp and Palmer amaranth.     Only 5%-10% of these buried seeds germinate and emerge each year,

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PSC requests public comment on utility assistance programs

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) is requesting public comment from Missourians who have personal experience with receiving assistance as part of investor-owned utility assistance programs.   Investor-owned utilities with assistance programs in Missouri include Ameren Missouri, Evergy Missouri Metro, Evergy Missouri West, Spire, Missouri American Water, Liberty Utilities and Summit

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Missouri Air Conservation Commission will hold public hearing

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Air Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area, Oak and Acorn Meeting Rooms, 1401 Northwest Park Road in Blue Springs. The commission will hear testimony related to the following proposed action:  Missouri State Implementation Plan

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