Missouri state government
Flags to fly at half-staff to honor St. Louis firefighter

Jun. 25, 2021 10:19 AM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has ordered that U.S. and Missouri flags at fire stations statewide will fly at half-staff Monday to honor...

FILE - In this March 2, 2018 file photo, Televangelist Jim Bakker, right, walks with his wife Lori Beth Graham after a funeral service at the Billy Graham Library for the Rev. Billy Graham, in Charlotte, N.C. Jim Bakker and his southwestern Missouri church will pay restitution of $156,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused the TV pastor of falsely claiming that a health supplement could cure the coronavirus. Missouri court records show that a settlement agreement was filed Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton File)
Jim Bakker, his church settle lawsuit over COVID-19 claims

By Jim Salter Jun. 23, 2021 11:30 AM EDT

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga attends a plenary session, during the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, England, Sunday June 13, 2021. (Phil Noble/Pool via AP)
The Latest: COVID-19 cases rise in Missouri tourist areas

By The Associated Press Jun. 16, 2021 01:25 AM EDT

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signs a copy of a bill limiting the duration of local public health orders during a ceremony Tuesday, June 15, 2021 outside the state Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. Parson signed a couple dozen copies of the legislation and provided them to lawmakers and others who had supported the measure, including representatives of the restaurant industry. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)
New Missouri law limits length of public health restrictions

By David A. Lieb Jun. 15, 2021 11:02 AM EDT

Schmitt closes Sunshine complaint against Missouri governor

Jun. 14, 2021 03:30 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri attorney general has closed an open-records complaint filed against Gov. Mike Parson, citing the Republican governor's office...

Fewer 2020 traffic stops in Missouri, but disparity remains

By Jim Salter Jun. 01, 2021 04:17 PM EDT
O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Traffic stops and arrests resulting from those stops declined sharply in Missouri last year due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic,...

Editorial Roundup: Missouri

By The Associated Press May. 18, 2021 12:52 PM EDT
Kansas City Star. May 17, 2021. Editorial: Missouri voucher bill will hurt public education. Does that help low-income kids? ...

Missouri passes COVID-19 liability shield for businesses

By David A. Lieb May. 14, 2021 07:30 PM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A legislative session that began amid a surge in coronavirus cases ended Friday with Missouri lawmakers passing a legal shield...

Missouri lawmakers approve expanded alcohol sales

May. 14, 2021 03:02 PM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Sunday tailgaters could buy beers earlier in the morning and a pandemic allowance for carryout cocktails could become permanent...

Missouri set to require online stores to collect taxes

By Summer Ballentine May. 14, 2021 02:26 PM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri is set to become the last state to require out-of-state online stores to collect sales taxes on residents' purchases after...

A look at bills passed by the Missouri Legislature in 2021

May. 14, 2021 11:52 AM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers faced a 6 p.m. Friday deadline to pass legislation during their annual regular session. Here's a look at some of...

KC and St. Louis area leaders end indoor mask requirements

By Jim Salter May. 14, 2021 11:05 AM EDT
O'FALLON, (AP) — After more than a year of severe restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus in Missouri’s two urban areas, Kansas City, St....

Missouri lawmakers pass high-profile gun bill on last day

By Summer Ballentine May. 14, 2021 06:17 AM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican-led Legislature passed a high-profile measure to ban local enforcement of federal gun laws with just an hour...

Missouri lawmakers OK limits on local pandemic restrictions

By David A. Lieb May. 12, 2021 02:06 PM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers pushed back Wednesday against local coronavirus restrictions, passing legislation limiting the duration of public...

Missouri to drop extra federal pandemic unemployment aid

By Summer Ballentine May. 11, 2021 03:29 PM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gov. Mike Parson on Tuesday announced the state is cutting off all federal pandemic unemployment benefits in an attempt to push...

FILE - In this June 23, 2020, file photo, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page speaks during a news conference in Town and Country, Mo. Republican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, over St. Louis County's COVID-19 restrictions. The lawsuit says the county's restrictions are too severe and asks the court to end them. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Schmitt lawsuit challenges St. Louis Co. COVID restrictions

By Jim Salter May. 11, 2021 12:43 PM EDT

Editorial Roundup: Missouri

By The Associated Press May. 11, 2021 09:00 AM EDT
Kansas City Star. May 7, 2021. Editorial: OMG and get the smelling salts: Missouri agrees to hire more lawyers for the poor ...

Missouri in no rush to spend $2.7B of flexible pandemic aid

By David A. Lieb May. 10, 2021 05:25 PM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri will get nearly $2.7 billion of flexible federal aid under a coronavirus relief law, but it isn't in any rush to spend it. ...

Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith speaks to reporters Friday, May 7, 2021, at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo., after the Republican-led House approved a $35 billion budget. The fiscal 2022 spending plan that Smith helped shape does not include funding for a Medicaid expansion approved by voters. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)
Missouri lawmakers OK $35B budget without Medicaid expansion

By David A. Lieb May. 07, 2021 04:47 PM EDT

Missouri lawmakers pass bill to close public records

May. 05, 2021 06:41 PM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House voted 154-1 on Wednesday to pass a bill limiting public access to a number of government records. ...