5:55News StoryState Rep. Tricia Derges, R-Nixa (photo courtesy of Missouri House Communications).Xby Rudi Keller, February 10, 2021by Rudi Keller, February 10, 2021A state representative falsely claimed she had a faculty appointment at the University of Missouri when she applied for a medical license in Florida.State Rep. Tricia Derges, R-Nixa, facing 20 federal felony charges under an indictment unsealed on Feb. 1, has been licensed in Missouri as an assistant physician since 2017., Derges was granted what Florida calls a as a medical doctor. The program allows medical professionals from...…5:55News StoryState Rep. Tricia Derges, R-Nixa (photo courtesy of Missouri House Communications).Xby Rudi Keller, February 10, 2021by Rudi Keller, February 10, 2021A state representative falsely claimed she had a faculty appointment at the University of Missouri when she applied for a medical license in Florida.State Rep. Tricia Derges, R-Nixa, facing 20 federal felony charges under an indictment unsealed on Feb. 1, has been licensed in Missouri as an assistant physician since 2017., Derges was granted what Florida calls a as a medical doctor. The program allows medical professionals from...WW…

Rick Roeber, the Republican elected to the Missouri House while facing allegations by his adult children that he physically and sexually abused them when they were young, will not be allowed to caucus with his party when the legislative session begins next month.Roeber will be sworn into office next month, and the allegations against him will be investigated by the House ethics committee.“Our House leadership team takes the troubling allegations against Rep.-elect Rick Roeber very seriously and we have decided he will not be a member of our caucus at this time,” incoming House Speaker Rob...…Rick Roeber, the Republican elected to the Missouri House while facing allegations by his adult children that he physically and sexually abused them when they were young, will not be allowed to caucus with his party when the legislative session begins next month.Roeber will be sworn into office next month, and the allegations against him will be investigated by the House ethics committee.“Our House leadership team takes the troubling allegations against Rep.-elect Rick Roeber very seriously and we have decided he will not be a member of our caucus at this time,” incoming House Speaker Rob...WW…

15:54News StoryState Rep. Wiley Price, D-St. Louis (photo by Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).The report — which was unanimously approved by the bipartisan 10-member committee — said sHouse policies go further than banning sexual harassment. Consent to a relationship is immaterial under House policies, which state that “no state representative or House Officer may engage in any amorous or romantic relationship” with employees or interns.“Now that the House Ethics Committee investigation is complete, the next step will be for the full House to evaluate the evidence and determine the...…15:54News StoryState Rep. Wiley Price, D-St. Louis (photo by Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).The report — which was unanimously approved by the bipartisan 10-member committee — said sHouse policies go further than banning sexual harassment. Consent to a relationship is immaterial under House policies, which state that “no state representative or House Officer may engage in any amorous or romantic relationship” with employees or interns.“Now that the House Ethics Committee investigation is complete, the next step will be for the full House to evaluate the evidence and determine the...WW…

5:55News StoryState Rep. Shamed Dogan speaks on the Missouri House floor (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel/House Communications).Xby Rebecca Rivas, November 11, 2020by Rebecca Rivas, November 11, 2020As state lawmakers mull the idea of restricting police use of chokeholds or no-knock warrants, they are facing pushback from law enforcement organizations who contend decisions should be made at the local level.The House Special Committee on Criminal Justice met for three hours on Monday to explore the possibility of passing legislation restricting these practices next year.They heard testimony...…5:55News StoryState Rep. Shamed Dogan speaks on the Missouri House floor (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel/House Communications).Xby Rebecca Rivas, November 11, 2020by Rebecca Rivas, November 11, 2020As state lawmakers mull the idea of restricting police use of chokeholds or no-knock warrants, they are facing pushback from law enforcement organizations who contend decisions should be made at the local level.The House Special Committee on Criminal Justice met for three hours on Monday to explore the possibility of passing legislation restricting these practices next year.They heard testimony...WW…

15:18News StoryMissouri Gov. Mike Parson delivers his State of the State address in the Missouri Senate on Jan. 27, 2021 (screenshot).Xby Rudi Keller, January 27, 2021by Rudi Keller, January 27, 2021Medicaid expansion will add $1.9 billion to the state budget in the coming fiscal year, with most of it paid for with federal funds and the rest from anticipated savings from a cut in state costs for the current program.The Wednesday anticipates that approximately 275,000 low-income adults will enroll for medical coverage. Missouri voters in August approved expanding Medicaid to everyone in...…15:18News StoryMissouri Gov. Mike Parson delivers his State of the State address in the Missouri Senate on Jan. 27, 2021 (screenshot).Xby Rudi Keller, January 27, 2021by Rudi Keller, January 27, 2021Medicaid expansion will add $1.9 billion to the state budget in the coming fiscal year, with most of it paid for with federal funds and the rest from anticipated savings from a cut in state costs for the current program.The Wednesday anticipates that approximately 275,000 low-income adults will enroll for medical coverage. Missouri voters in August approved expanding Medicaid to everyone in...WW…

6:00News StoryThe Southeast Missouri Food Bank has seen the number of people coming to food pantries and mobile food distribution sites increase as much as three times since the pandemic began. Counties in southeast Missouri have some of the highest rates of food stamp applications in the state. (Photo courtesy of Southeast Missouri Food Bank.)This story has been corrected to reflect that the Southeastern Missouri Food BankXby Rebecca Rivas, December 28, 2020by Rebecca Rivas, December 28, 2020In normal times, the Missouri Bootheel has the highest rates of hunger in the state.“But when the...…6:00News StoryThe Southeast Missouri Food Bank has seen the number of people coming to food pantries and mobile food distribution sites increase as much as three times since the pandemic began. Counties in southeast Missouri have some of the highest rates of food stamp applications in the state. (Photo courtesy of Southeast Missouri Food Bank.)This story has been corrected to reflect that the Southeastern Missouri Food BankXby Rebecca Rivas, December 28, 2020by Rebecca Rivas, December 28, 2020In normal times, the Missouri Bootheel has the highest rates of hunger in the state.“But when the...WW…

BRIEFDeaths from COVID-19 in Missouri are much higher than previously reported, and available hospital capacity is much lower, after two adjustments to statewide data were made on Monday.The grim news comes as many cities and counties are considering ordinances requiring face masks, following and as KFVS television in Cape Girardeau reported that the health director of St. Francois County in eastern Missouri to herself and her family.The state Department of Health and Senior Services on Tuesday reported 189 additional COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, including 161 found during a weekly review of...…BRIEFDeaths from COVID-19 in Missouri are much higher than previously reported, and available hospital capacity is much lower, after two adjustments to statewide data were made on Monday.The grim news comes as many cities and counties are considering ordinances requiring face masks, following and as KFVS television in Cape Girardeau reported that the health director of St. Francois County in eastern Missouri to herself and her family.The state Department of Health and Senior Services on Tuesday reported 189 additional COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, including 161 found during a weekly review of...WW…

15:56News StoryRep. Wiley Price, D-St. Louis, discusses the effort to censure him during House debate on Jan. 13, 2021 (Photo by Ben Peters/Missouri House Communications).Xby Rudi Keller, January 13, 2021by Rudi Keller, January 13, 2021JEFFERSON CITY – After failing to muster the two-thirds majority needed to expel state Rep. Wiley Price, the Missouri House on Wednesday voted for lying about an alleged sexual encounter with an intern and attempting to cover it up by threatening a House employee.After a debate that took about two hours, the House voted 140-3, with eight members voting...…15:56News StoryRep. Wiley Price, D-St. Louis, discusses the effort to censure him during House debate on Jan. 13, 2021 (Photo by Ben Peters/Missouri House Communications).Xby Rudi Keller, January 13, 2021by Rudi Keller, January 13, 2021JEFFERSON CITY – After failing to muster the two-thirds majority needed to expel state Rep. Wiley Price, the Missouri House on Wednesday voted for lying about an alleged sexual encounter with an intern and attempting to cover it up by threatening a House employee.After a debate that took about two hours, the House voted 140-3, with eight members voting...WW…

19:04News StoryThe Missouri House chambers during the 2019 State of the State address (photo courtesy of the Missouri Governors Office).Xby Rudi Keller, January 14, 2021by Rudi Keller, January 14, 2021The Missouri House of Representatives will not meet next week because of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Capitol Building, Republican leaders announced Thursday evening.Without giving details, House Speaker Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, and Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher, R-St. Louis, issued a statement about the decision.The Senate Republican caucus,...…19:04News StoryThe Missouri House chambers during the 2019 State of the State address (photo courtesy of the Missouri Governors Office).Xby Rudi Keller, January 14, 2021by Rudi Keller, January 14, 2021The Missouri House of Representatives will not meet next week because of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Capitol Building, Republican leaders announced Thursday evening.Without giving details, House Speaker Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, and Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher, R-St. Louis, issued a statement about the decision.The Senate Republican caucus,...WW…

11:55News StoryThe Missouri Supreme Court building in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of FLICKR/David Shane, licensed under CC BY 2.0).Xby Rudi Keller, December 23, 2020by Rudi Keller, December 23, 2020Sometimes people feel like the government is dumping on them, and this week that person is Charlie Gott.For 35 years, Gott has been the answer to the call of nature for thousands of people on construction sites and outdoor events. His company, — slogan “Call on Charlie Gott when you’ve Gotts TO GO!” — rents portable toilets in southwest Missouri, including the Springfield and Branson areas.“It...…11:55News StoryThe Missouri Supreme Court building in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of FLICKR/David Shane, licensed under CC BY 2.0).Xby Rudi Keller, December 23, 2020by Rudi Keller, December 23, 2020Sometimes people feel like the government is dumping on them, and this week that person is Charlie Gott.For 35 years, Gott has been the answer to the call of nature for thousands of people on construction sites and outdoor events. His company, — slogan “Call on Charlie Gott when you’ve Gotts TO GO!” — rents portable toilets in southwest Missouri, including the Springfield and Branson areas.“It...WW…