KSHB 41 reporter Isabella Ledonne covers issues surrounding government accountability, solutions and consumer advocacy. Share your story with Isabella.
The Missouri General Assembly approved a lot of funding bills that have a direct impact in Kansas City, but Governor Mike Kehoe used his line-item veto power to cut some of those items.
Missouri state lawmakers talk funding, legislation impacts in South Kansas City
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Kehoe issued 208 vetoes, totaling nearly $300 million, on the General Assembly’s approved funding. The statewide cuts impact nearly 30 programs in the Kansas City area.
“As Governor, I have a constitutional obligation to balance the budget, and our administration will always follow the Constitution and rule of law,” Governor Kehoe said. “We support funding for education, and have proudly championed tax cuts for hard-working Missouri families and the desperately needed resources for our fellow Missourians affected by natural disasters this spring. However, these initiatives do not come without budgetary consequences.”
Jake Weller/KSHB 41
Missouri lawmakers at Monday night’s meeting in South Kansas City
Several Missouri lawmakers met Monday night with their constituents in South Kansas City to discuss the budgetary measures and bills approved in the 2025 legislative session.
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Democratic Representative Tiffany Price, Republican Senator Mike Cierpiot, Democratic Representative Anthony Ealy, Democratic Senator Patty Lewis, Democratic Representative Pattie Mansur, and Democratic Representative Mark Sharp were at the meeting to hear their citizens’ concerns on this year’s legislative action.
Price expressed her concerns about Governor Kehoe’s vetoes and cuts in federal funding.
Jake Weller
“If we want our people to be better, then why are we suddenly cutting everything?” Price said. “If we want our children to be better, if we want our city to be better, then everybody has to be taken care of as a whole.”
State funding is an important issue for the dozens of people who met with state legislators, whether the money is for fixing roads in South Kansas City or fixing the lack of affordable childcare.
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Kids Win Missouri is a statewide organization that advocates for accessible childcare and works on solutions for families in need. Kansas City resident Jessica Tran now works with the organization’s outreach team, but saw the metro’s childcare crisis firsthand when she was a childcare provider.
Jake Weller
“We had so many wait lists, we had them broken down by age groups and siblings,” Tran said. “We had people calling every single day.”
Kids Win Missouri is launching a program with the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) called Child Care Exchange. It shares money between the state, providers, and local cities to help open up spots for accessible childcare.
“It’s really exciting to be able to hopefully start this new innovation in Missouri and to make childcare more affordable for families, not only in Kansas City, but all throughout the state,” Deputy Director Casey Hanson said.
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The Missouri General Assembly approved $5 million for the program, but it was cut to $2.5 million.
Hanson said the funding is better than nothing, but expects fewer kids to get into Missouri childcare this year.
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“With $5 million, you’re able to do more,” Hanson said. “With $2.5 million, you’re able to do half of that. We’re still really positive about having that $2.5 million to work with and just getting the program launched, and then hopefully next year, going back and getting a bigger appropriation.”
A veto override is possible, but legislators at South KC’s meeting on Monday night explained it was unlikely in the upcoming September session.
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Representative Price sees funding for South Kansas City as a priority.
“The money is there, so let’s put it where it needs to go,” Price said.
A lack of childcare and childcare funding are two of the issues South Kansas City neighbors hope legislators address in their upcoming session. For Tran, it’s a personal mission to show legislators the impact funding childcare and the Child Care Exchange has in South Kansas City.
“[Missouri] did half, and we’re going to take that half and we’re going to be appreciative of that half,” Tran said. “We’re going to show them that it works and we’re going to show that it’s a great program and it’s going to do everything that we want it to do and probably more.”
Kids Win Missouri expects to have the program running in Kansas City within the next few months.
Some mid-Missouri stores and restaurants will have adjusted hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. KOMU 8 News has compiled a list of what’s open on Christmas in 2025.
If you don’t see your establishment listed, please email news@komu.com with your operating hours.
Stores
Walgreens – East Broadway, Columbia
Christmas Eve: Store open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., pharmacy open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Christmas Day: Store open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., pharmacy closed
Walmart
Christmas Eve: Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
Target – Columbia
Target – Jefferson City
Christmas Eve: Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
Aldi
Christmas Eve: Open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
Dollar General
Christmas Eve: Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
Dollar Tree
Christmas Eve: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
Gerbes
Christmas Eve: Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
Hy-Vee
Christmas Eve: Store open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pharmacy open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
Moser’s Food
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Sam’s Club
Christmas Eve: Store and pharmacy open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
Schnuck’s
Christmas Eve: Open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
Restaurants and Coffee Shops
IHOP
Christmas Eve: Open 12 a.m. to 7p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed, opens next day at 5 a.m.
Waffle House
7Brew
Christmas Eve: Open 5:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
Scooter’s
Christmas Eve: Open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
Starbucks – Broadway & Fairview in Columbia
Christmas Eve: Open 4:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Christmas Day: Open 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Starbucks – Missouri Boulevard & U.S. 50 in Jefferson City
Christmas Eve: Open 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Christmas Day: Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Starbucks – Nifong & Buttonwood in Columbia
Christmas Eve: Open 4:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
Starbucks – West Truman & Country Club in Jefferson City
You can get in on Missouri sports betting with a BetMGM welcome offer for college basketball on Thursday.
BetMGM Bonus code NYPDM1500gets bettors a 20 percent first deposit match up to $1500 when in Missouri.
Mizzou is a 22.5-point favorite over Alabama State. The Tigers step back onto its home floor looking to reset after road losses to Notre Dame and Kansas. Alabama State has struggled mightily against high-major opponents.
BetMGM Missouri bonus code NYPDM1500
The BetMGM Bonus Code NYPDM1500 can be used for any sport and market offered at BetMGM. That includes Missouri State vs. Arkansas State in the Xbox Bowl.
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BetMGM’s Missouri promo code is considered one of the highest valued promotions in contrast to other Missouri bonus offers.
If bettors wanted to snag the maximum value of the offer, they would have to deposit $7,500. Otherwise, they get 20 percent of whatever they deposit, i.e., deposit $100, get $20.
New users must be physically present in Missouri when signing up at BetMGM to take advantage of this welcome offer.
How to sign up for BetMGM in Missouri
Select your bonus offer.
Choose your state.
Fill out your login details.
Enter the BetMGM bonus code NYPDM1500
Make a deposit.
Bet responsibly.
What our Post expert thinks about Missouri vs. Alabama State
Alabama State has already dropped its two power-conference tests by an average of 32.5 points, and its defensive profile hasn’t suggested much resistance.
The Hornets bring two of the SWAC’s top scorers in Asjon Anderson and Micah Simpson, they are giving up 81.4 points per game and allowing opponents to shoot 45.3 percent from the floor.
Missouri’s rebounding edge should matter — the Tigers pull nearly 40 boards per game while Alabama State is giving up 37.4 a night and just surrendered 18 offensive rebounds to UT Martin.
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Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. See BetMGM.com for Terms. 21+ only. MO Only. New Customer Offer (If applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. Please gamble responsibly.
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Road construction on Springfield’s northside is affecting access to the Southwest Missouri Humane Society.
MoDOT is realigning the intersection of Norton and Melville Road as part of the I-44 overpass project. The bridge work and intersection project are both impacting the animal shelter.
The shelter sits on Norton Road just west of where the work is happening. Visitors can only reach the shelter by taking the long way up West Bypass to Westgate Avenue, then onto Norton Road.
MoDOT says the intersection at Norton and Melville is supposed to be closed for two weeks. The bridge project, as a whole, is supposed to be completed by the end of the year.
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