House Bill 269, an identical bill to the one proposed last session, aims to establish a system of childcare tax credits for childcare providers and Missouri families. Plagued by infighting in the past, the bill's sponsor is hoping this time it will reach the governor's desk.

A major road improvement project is set to begin on South Sprigg Street in early March 2025. The City of Cape Girardeau has announced a $1.52 million renovation effort, funded through the city's Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), a half-cent sales tax that has supported infrastructure projects since 1995.

More than 130 farmers, ranchers and advocates converged on Capitol Hill last week, urging action on the federal funding freeze and farm bill. Missouri ranks second in the nation with more than 95,000 family-owned farms, many of which depend on federal support.

As many executive orders restricting federal dollars are caught up in court, Missouri lawmakers aren't sure how much money they'll get from Washington.

Universities and hospitals would need to cut their budgets under proposed changes to how medical research grants are funded by the National Institutes of Health. A federal judge on Monday issued a temporary restraining order blocking the cuts in response to a lawsuit joined by 22 states, not including Missouri.

An announcement was made by the United Way of Southeast Missouri on January 22, 2025, allocating funds from the Phase 42 program to aid in emergency food and shelter programs in Cape County.

The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families has released an eye-opening analysis showing in rural Missouri, Medicaid, and CHIP are lifelines for residents, especially children, and local economies. It says proposed federal Medicaid cuts being debated in Congress could be devastating.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. condemned poverty disparities in his 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech. However, a new report from the Economic Policy Institute reveals that today, children of color in Missouri and around the nation still bear the weight of poverty.

Economists are closely examining how President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs and policies could redefine the 2025 economic landscape, both in Missouri and across the nation. From potential import tariffs to labor strikes and even severe-weather trends, every factor is under the microscope.

The Salem Republican is in charge of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which handles taxation and trade policies.