Government + Politics
Jay Ashcroft touts integrity of Missouri’s 2020 election, but supports an audit
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is confident Missouri’s 2020 election was safe and secure. And while he has concerns about things that transpired in other states last year, he dismisses the idea that fraud cost Donald Trump the presidential election. “Under our Constitution, Joe Biden was duly elected by our presidential electors. End of story,” […]
Missouri has paid $30K to defend Eric Greitens in age discrimination lawsuit
The state has paid private attorneys more than $30,000 since 2019 to defend former Gov. Eric Greitens from an age discrimination lawsuit filed by a former employee of the Missouri Department of Revenue. Mark Ausmus filed a lawsuit in 2018 alleging he was fired from a senior counsel position during the early months of Greitens’ […]
Despite Chase Bank reversal, Donald Trump Jr. event in St. Charles remains canceled
A Missouri conservative group cannot go ahead with an event featuring Donald Trump Jr. despite a reversal from the nation’s largest bank saying it will broker tickets for the speech, organizers said Thursday. There is too little time left to make the Dec. 3 Defense of Liberty PAC event in St. Charles a success, said […]
Donald Trump Jr. event canceled after Chase bank ends deal with Missouri conservative group
The biggest bank in the United States is walking back its refusal to do business with a Missouri conservative group that forced cancellation of an event next month featuring Donald Trump Jr. The Defense of Liberty PAC hired WePay, a payment processor owned by JPMorgan Chase, for the Dec. 3 event at the St. Charles […]
New director vows changes at Missouri’s troubled social services department
The new acting director of Missouri’s troubled Department of Social Services pledged to lawmakers Tuesday that he would work to address the agency’s long list of challenges and “tears in our safety net.” The Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect heard for the first time from the new acting department director, Robert Knodell. Knodell […]
Billions headed to Missouri transportation fund from gas tax hike, infrastructure bill
With $6.5 billion on the way from the federal infrastructure bill and a newly increased gas tax, Missouri is ready to take a big bite out of $4.5 billion in unfunded highway needs, Patrick McKenna, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, said this week. But that doesn’t mean the state is ready to tackle […]
Missouri to provide teachers credit monitoring after reporter found security flaw
Nearly a month after a reporter identified a security flaw in a state website that exposed teachers’ social security numbers, the state announced Wednesday it was offering a year of credit monitoring services to hundreds of thousands of teachers whose personal information was put at risk According to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education […]
Corizon loses challenge to Missouri prisoner medical care contract award
The company providing health care to state prisoners failed to prove a competitor misled state purchasing officers to win the $1.4 billion contract, Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled Thursday. Corizon Health, which has been the state’s vendor for prisoner medical needs since 1992, accused the state Purchasing Division of giving the contract to […]
Redistricting commissions near end of public hearings on Missouri House, Senate maps
The two redistricting commissions created to design new district maps for the General Assembly are moving into their work phase. Each has held the constitutionally mandated three public hearings on how the maps should look for the 163-member Missouri House and the 34-member Missouri Senate. They have heard requests to protect incumbents, suggestions on where […]
No need to start again on Missouri prison health contract, state tells judge as trial begins
The company fighting in court to hold onto Missouri’s prison health care contract targets “puffery” language of little meaning to show a competitor misled the state, an assistant attorney general said Wednesday as a trial began in Jefferson City. Corizon Health, which has held the contract since 1992, zeroed in on statements about the stability […]
Trial set to begin in dispute over $1.4 billion Missouri prison health care contract
As both sides of a dispute over Missouri’s $1.4 billion prison health care contract prepare to face off in court Wednesday, the current provider is being accused of bad faith in its lawsuit seeking to hold on to the contract. Long-term contractor Corizon Health is accusing the winning bidder, Centurion Health, of failing to disclose […]
Missouri governor continues attack on reporter who found security flaw in state website
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson once again on Sunday took aim at a reporter who notified the state of a security flaw in one of its websites, questioning the journalist’s motives and noting he’d support prosecution of any state employee found to have assisted the reporter. In a TV interview with Scott Faughn, a longtime Parson […]