Missouri
Eight states to vote on amendments to ban noncitizen voting
It is already illegal under state laws and rare, but Republicans in some states say the language needs to be clearer in their constitutions.
Voters will decide minimum wage ballot measures in several states
Measures focused on workers who earn tips and on paid leave have drawn more opposition.
‘Internet to go’ programs get a boost
The FCC recently voted to allow schools and libraries to use federal funds to support Wi-Fi hotspot lending programs, which caught fire during the pandemic. The efforts are viewed by some as a small, but critical, way to help close the digital divide.
Why North Kansas City pays its residents’ internet bills, and your city doesn’t pay yours
North Kansas City built a fiber network almost two decades ago that it now uses to provide its residents with gigabit internet. Here’s how it happened and why other cities in the country are, or aren’t, trying to do the same.
Kansas v. Missouri stadium battle shows how states are reigniting border wars
Kansas may spend billions of dollars to lure pro sports teams from Missouri, just a few miles away.
Freedom Caucuses push for conservative state laws, but getting attention is their big success
Eleven states have formal chapters of the State Freedom Caucus Network, which aims to push Republicans to the right.
Missouri Allows Some Disabled Workers to Earn Less Than $1 an Hour. The State Says It’s Fine If That Never Changes
Sheltered workshops are meant to employ disabled adults as they prepare to enter the regular workforce. In Missouri, these workers rarely graduate to higher-paying jobs.
Missouri’s War on Public Health Shows Extent of National Rift
A public health official who said he was anti-abortion and anti-mandate for masks and covid vaccines did not pass the purity test of a Missouri senator who opposes Covid public health restrictions. The senator killed the official’s nomination to be state health director, highlighting how hands may be tied in the nationwide fight against infectious diseases.
Desperate for State Workers, Governors Offer Raises to Keep Them
There are huge budget surpluses in most states.
‘Am I Even Fit To Be a Mom?’ Diaper Need Is an Invisible Part of Poverty in America
Parents cannot use federal aid to pay for diapers, and are often forced to come up with other solutions, using maxi pads or towels to keep their children clean and dry. In rural America where aid is even harder to access, tiny diaper banks are the only lifeline.
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States Decide if Workers Fired Over Vaccine Mandates Can Collect Unemployment
When employers fire people because they fail to follow company policy, employees are generally not eligible for benefits. But three states have or could make non compliant workers eligible.
As Variant Spreads, Some Regions Bring Back Mask Advisories
In St. Louis and Los Angeles, officials are urging vaccinated residents to wear masks as cases of the Delta strain of Covid-19 are on the rise.
Will This State’s Workers be Forced to Pay Back Mistaken Unemployment Aid?
Missouri lawmakers failed to pass legislation that would have allowed the Department of Labor to forgive unemployment benefit overpayments. Officials are trying to determine what happens next.
An Overlooked Economic Powerhouse for Small Cities
Small-scale manufacturers are well-positioned to compete in the digital economy, but also fill storefronts and contribute to a thriving downtown or business district.
'Here I Am.' Meet Kendall Martinez-Wright, a Black-Puerto Rican Trans Woman Running for State Office Amid Record Numbers of Anti-Transgender Bills.
Martinez-Wright, the first transgender woman to run for the Missouri House of Representatives, says the her campaign is “about showcasing the true beauty of diversity.”
State-Supported 'Clean Energy' Loans Are Putting Borrowers At Risk of Losing Their Homes
Dozens of Missouri homeowners who used PACE loans to fix up their houses ended up trapped in debt and could soon see their homes sold at auction.
Missouri ‘Voted for This Lie,’ Says State Rep Trying to Block Medicaid Expansion
Even with extra federal dollars and a flush budget, Show Me State Republicans are putting up roadblocks to the voter-approved constitutional amendment that would give 275,000 people health insurance.
How One State’s Public Health Defunding Led to Vaccination Chaos
The situation in Missouri is contributing to racial inequity with vaccinations and forcing some people to drive hours to get shots.
U.S. Covid-19 Testing Has Dropped Dramatically
Nationwide, COVID-19 testing has decreased by a third in the past two months, causing public health experts to worry they could miss future surges.
States Look to Forgive Unemployment Overpayments
Missouri lawmakers advanced a bill that would waive the federal but not state portion of any mistakenly paid unemployment benefits.
