Missouri

Missouri budget committee pushes forward $51 million in cuts to childcare subsidy funds

Published

2 months ago

March 14, 2026

Missouri budget committee pushes forward million in cuts to childcare subsidy funds

KSHB 41 News reporter Braden Bates covers parts of Jackson County, Missouri, including Lee’s Summit. Send Braden a story idea by e-mail.

A budget proposal in the Missouri legislature would cut the childcare subsidy program by $51 million.

Missouri budget committee pushes $51 million in cuts to childcare subsidy funds

The proposed cuts have some local families and child care providers are on edge as the bill passed through the budget committee and now goes to the state house floor.

Angela True adopted her two grandchildren and enrolled them at the Little Learning Lodge in Lee’s Summit. Both of the kids get their full tuition paid for through the subsidy program.

“If I didn’t have child subsidy help, I wouldn’t be able to work. It’s too expensive,” True said.

KSHB 41

Angela True

True qualified for the full amount because of the student’s history and adoption status. Other students who fall in the low-income range could only get partial relief.

“I couldn’t afford daycare,” True said. “I mean there’s just no way, like two children probably $450 a week. That’s $1,800 a month. I can’t. I make $2,800 a month. I got to pay rent. I got to pay utilities. I got to buy food. I don’t get any other assistance. Just subsidy assistance.”

State legislators said the proposed budget cuts are designed to ensure the state does not pay 100% of tuition on top of additional incentive funding.

A scenario laid out by House Budget Chair Dirk Deaton, (R-Seneca), asked if students who get 100% of their tuition paid, should they also get the extra funding from state incentives.

“In that instance, state government’s paying more than a private pay individual would be paying for the same service to that provider,” Deaton said.

Some of those incentive funds include bonuses for children with special needs and accredited schools.

At a February budget meeting, lawmakers and representatives from the Missouri Elementary and Secondary Education Department said the incentives were designed when students got less that 100% tuition.

Casey Hanson is the Deputy Director of Kids Win Missouri. She said the incentives offer a lot of benefits.

“Those are really needed to care for those special populations,” she said. “I think, similarly with accreditation, if you want higher quality, which is really what we want in this state, providers aren’t able to achieve that necessarily without that extra bump,” said Hanson

She acknowledged a possible need to look at how the program operates, but not at the expense of its budget.

“I do think we need to be open to conversations about restructuring the program and what that could look like,” Hanson said. “I think there’s a number of different combinations of routes that the General Assembly could take to do that. What we don’t want to talk about, and what’s a non-starter, is cutting $51 million from a program like this.”

Michelle LaPlant owns and runs the Little Learning Lodge and does not receive those added incentives. She said between 35% and 45% of her students receive the subsidy, and she fears the proposed cuts could bring problems for their families.

“It just seems like this is like a backhanded way for them to still not cover childcare,” LaPlant said.

LaPlant pushed back on the idea that the families relying on subsidies are not deserving of the help.

“I see a lot of comments and memes and things, these parents are not lazy, nonworking people that are mooching off of society,” LaPlant said.”They’re working and they’re trying, they’re going to school, they’re trying to better themselves and do right by them and their kids so that their kids have a better life.”

True said her children’s school has been essential to her ability to hold a stable job.

“They helped me eight-hours-a-day while I went to work to make a living for them,” True said. “They’re the ones who taught them everything.”

On March 1, the subsidy program created a waitlist for the first time. Foster families will still automatically get the funds, but low-income families could be forced to wait.

Another change in the bill would be the way the child care centers are paid. In May, the centers were scheduled to switch to upfront payments at the beginning of the month, similar to how non-subsidy users pay.

However, the bill stated it would continue the current payment system with it based on the child’s attendance.

“With subsidy, providers are paid in arrears after the services are rendered, a month after the services are rendered,” said Hanson. “They’re only paid for up to five absences. This just creates less financial stability for providers.”

The budget proposal has passed through the House Budget Committee and will move to the House floor for discussion.

Read the bill here.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Missouri

Missouri election clerks caught in limbo over disputed congressional map

Published

11 hours ago

May 18, 2026

Press Room

Missouri election clerks caught in limbo over disputed congressional map

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) -Missouri election clerks are updating voter rolls without knowing which congressional map will be used for the August election.

The map passed in a special legislative session last year splits up Kansas City’s vote in a way that is likely to send one more Republican to Washington. More than 300,000 signatures on a veto petition are being checked for authenticity. If enough signatures are valid, the new map will be put on pause retroactively.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins confirms the new map is in effect right now, but the Missouri Supreme Court ruling says it’s “impossible to say” which map will be in effect by the time of the August primary election.

But election officials like Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon are speaking out, saying it’s impossible to know which map to use until the signatures are verified.

“Our hope is that the Secretary of State’s Office makes a determination sooner rather than later so that we can put all this uncertainty to rest,” Lennon said.

Hoskins said he will use the full time available to review signatures.

“I’m going to use the entire time that I have possible in order to review those signatures, let the county clerks do their job and certify those signatures, and then begin my certification process,” Hoskins said.

Lennon said she needs confirmation by early June on which map will be in effect in order to send out military and absentee ballots. Hoskins has until Aug. 4, the same day as the primary election, to certify the veto petition.

Lennon started moving voters into their new districts but is concerned about the potential fallout if there’s no legal confirmation on which map to use. The consequences could be as dire as having to completely redo the election, which brings funding concerns.

“I have full confidence that local elections will make it work,” Lennon said. “It’s going to take resources, and I’m not sure where those resources will come from.”

People Not Politicians, the campaign behind the veto petition, filed a lawsuit against Hoskins and Attorney General Catherine Hanaway on Monday. The lawsuit demands they cease attempts to intimidate and coerce elected officials into using an invalid map for the 2026 elections or issue the referendum as insufficient and move forward with judicial review of that decision.

“The Supreme Court of Missouri made it clear there was one path needed to be able to conduct an election that all Missourians can be confident in. We need to take that path,” said Richard von Glahn, executive director of People Not Politicians. “There are more than enough signatures, verified by election authorities, to qualify the referendum.”

Von Glahn said Hoskins is risking conducting an invalid election by refusing to acknowledge what he called sufficient signatures. If the veto petition is verified, Missourians will vote on which map to keep in November.

To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.

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Missouri

Blue Alert issued after suspect accused of shooting at Missouri officers

Published

1 day ago

May 17, 2026

Press Room

Blue Alert issued after suspect accused of shooting at Missouri officers

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Blue Alert has been issued in southeast Missouri for a man accused of firing shots at law enforcement officers during a traffic stop early Sunday morning.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the incident happened around 2:10 a.m. in Caruthersville, in Pemiscot County.

Authorities identified the suspect as 42-year-old Zachary Rance Walker.

Zachary Rance Walker (Missouri State Highway Patrol)

Investigators say Walker allegedly fired shots at Caruthersville Police Department officers during a traffic stop before fleeing the scene.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said officers returned fire and investigators believe Walker may have been wounded.

Walker is described as being 5 feet, 9 inches tall, around 180 pounds, with gray or partially gray hair, and blue eyes.

Authorities say he was last seen wearing a navy T-shirt with a graphic design on the front, dark-colored shorts, with black lace-up boots

Investigators also said Walker is believed to be armed with both a rifle and a handgun and may have possible gunshot wounds.

Anyone with information about Walker’s whereabouts is urged to call 911 or contact local law enforcement immediately.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for May 16, 2026

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 16, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 16 drawing

08-37-40-44-65, Powerball: 18, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 16 drawing

Midday: 4-6-3

Midday Wild: 3

Evening: 6-7-6

Evening Wild: 0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 16 drawing

Midday: 0-7-0-4

Midday Wild: 1

Evening: 0-0-3-4

Evening Wild: 9

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 16 drawing

Early Bird: 14

Morning: 02

Matinee: 08

Prime Time: 07

Night Owl: 05

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from May 16 drawing

15-25-32-33-39

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from May 16 drawing

11-21-27-41-59, Powerball: 18

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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