A new report finds Missouri outpaces the national average on after-school meals, but many eligible children still go without supper after school. Advocates say the federally funded program is underused and could become even more critical as families face rising food costs.

On this episode of 'Going Public', we speak with Elizabeth Shelton, Executive Director of the United Way of Southeast Missouri, about the organization's recent efforts to address rising needs for assistance.

On this episode of 'Going Public', we speak with Elizabeth Shelton, Executive Director of the United Way of Southeast Missouri, about the organization's recent efforts to address rising needs for assistance.

In rural Missouri, faith-based sober-living homes are expanding to fill gaps where accredited treatment beds are scarce. These unaccredited recovery houses provide housing and support for people with substance-use disorders.

Missouri’s new congressional boundaries could take effect as soon as Thursday, even though voters submitted more than 300,000 signatures to block them. The clash between Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and the repeal campaign is now driving one of the biggest election-law battles in the state.

Conservationists in Missouri say a rare cave system is directly connected to the drinking water many residents rely on. A newly protected habitat in Perryville is the only home of the endangered grotto sculpin, (GRAHTTO skull pen), a tiny fish that signals whether the underground water supply is healthy.

While a federal court decision Monday gives Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins the chance to reject the referendum, backers of the plan aren't expecting that move to hold up in state court.

Missouri farmers are feeling the strain after the U.S. Department of Agriculture abruptly pulled funding for the Heartland Regional Food Business Center, a program that helped small producers access markets and upgrade equipment. Local farm leaders warn the loss could stall growth and weaken Missouri’s local food networks.

A Missouri mental health specialist says the holiday season can intensify depression and anxiety in children and teens, which often shows up as irritability rather than sadness. In a Kansas City webinar, she urged families to watch for early signs and connect kids with support.

Missourians narrowly passed Amendment 2 in 2024, which legalized sports betting in the state. The constitutional amendment places Missouri among the nearly 40 states with legal sports gambling.