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Abortion providers send patients out of Missouri after ban effectively reinstated

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Abortion providers send patients out of Missouri after ban effectively reinstated


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KFVS) – Missourians seeking abortions are fleeing to Kansas or Illinois after a court judgement essentially reinstated the state’s abortion ban.

Since the Missouri Supreme Court decided a Jackson County judge’s ruling was not efficient, abortions are effectively banned in Missouri again unless the lower court can rule again. Abortions providers in and out of Missouri have noted that patients are going out of the state to receive care just one day later.

After the Dobbs decision, Missouri was the first state to ban abortion. In November 2024, Missouri voters legalized abortion in November when 52% of them voted “yes” on Amendment Three.

Amendment Three was put on the ballot by initiative petition, having to receive thousands of signatures from people all over Missouri. It faced several legal challenges along the way, going all the way to the state’s Supreme Court before the matter was settled.

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A Jackson County Judge stopped Missouri’s licensing requirements for abortion providers, saying they were unfairly restrictive and singled out abortion providers in February. Shortly after, Planned Parenthood started offering abortions at several locations.

Tuesday, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the legal reasoning behind the Jackson County ruling was not sufficient, which puts all the abortion regulations back into effect.

When abortion was banned in Missouri after the Dobbs decision but before Amendment Three, data from the Guttmacher Institute shows about 10,000 Missourians traveled to Kansas or Illinois each year to receive abortions.

Rianne Hawkins with Planned Parenthood Great Rivers said the clinic is determined to continue providing abortions, even if it can’t do so in Missouri.

“We’re working really hard to make sure that all the patients that need that care are able to receive that abortion care, whether they have to go to Kansas or Illinois,” Hawkins said.

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Hope Clinic in southern Illinois said about 40% of its out-of-state patients since Roe v. Wade was overturned are from Missouri. Co-owner Julie Burkhart said she will continue to work with Missouri abortion clinics during this uncertain time.

“We’ve seen firsthand how they struggle to deal with rising travel costs and logistical barriers like taking time off work and finding childcare. Beyond making it harder for people to access abortion, restrictions also create fear and stigma around this safe, common form of reproductive health care.”

The Jackson County judge can reverse the decision with another ruling. Planned Parenthood said its legal team has already filed a response to Tuesday’s ruling.

Meanwhile, anti-abortion advocates have already turned their attention to the next battle. Another vote on abortion will take place after lawmakers passed a bill to put abortion back on the ballot. Anti-abortion advocates like Brian Westbrook with Coalition Life said Amendment Three was misleading and this new measure will clear things up.

“There’s a lot of work being done behind the scenes,” Westbrook said. “Rallying the troops, getting synergy around this ballot initiative.”

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Under the bill passed by the Missouri general assembly, abortion will be on the ballot again in November 2026.



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Missouri man arrested for Fond du Lac Co. road rage incident involving FedEx driver on I-41

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Missouri man arrested for Fond du Lac Co. road rage incident involving FedEx driver on I-41


FOND DU LAC COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) – A 26-year-old man from Missouri was arrested after a FedEx driver reported an alleged road rage incident on I-41 in Fond du Lac County early Friday morning.

Around 1:15 a.m., deputies with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office say they got a 911 call from a FedEx driver reporting a road rage incident. The delivery driver stated the incident happened on I-41 near CTH N within a construction zone.

The caller stated that a vehicle driving in front of him stopped in the only open lane of traffic directly in front of him and “appeared to have a firearm.”

Authorities responded to the area and founf the suspect vehicle in Winnebago County. After a coordinated high-risk traffic stop, the 26-year-old driver from Missouri was detained and arrested for disorderly conduct.

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After the man consented to a search of his vehicle, no gun was found.

No other details were provided.



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Prosecutor will not charge Missouri residents who sign redistricting repeal petition twice

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Prosecutor will not charge Missouri residents who sign redistricting repeal petition twice


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Jackson County prosecutor announced that her office will not pursue criminal charges against those who may have signed the Congressional Redistricting petition twice.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins stated Oct. 15 that he had approved the sponsor of a petition for repealing the recently passed redistricting map to begin collecting signatures.

To qualify for the November 2026 general election ballot, proponents must collect signatures from at least 5% of registered voters in six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts by the statutory deadline.

Hoskins said any signatures gathered before his approval will not count.

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Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said that Hoskins’ statement has left many Jackson County residents uncertain about whether their signatures would count and whether their voices would be heard.

“State officials announced that signatures collected before Oct. 15 for the redistricting petition would not be counted. They also indicated that circulating the petition early is not a crime,” Johnson said. “If any Jackson County residents had already signed the redistricting petition before Oct. 15 and then learned their signatures may not be counted, they may have signed again to ensure their voices would be heard, unaware that signing a petition twice is technically a misdemeanor criminal offense under Missouri law. ”

Johnson said she will not pursue charges against people who may be caught in that predicament.

“People may have signed again after October 15 because of mixed messaging, not because they were trying to break the law,” she said. “They simply want to ensure their voices were being heard on an issue that directly affects their representation in Congress.”

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe had convened Missouri’s General Assembly for a special session to enact an updated congressional map, which included a significant change to the Fifth District in Kansas City.

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FBI investigating second bank robbery Wedensday afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri

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FBI investigating second bank robbery Wedensday afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri


KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A robber took money from a bank Wednesday afternoon just south of the Country Club Plaza, not far from a bank robbery less than two hours earlier.

The second robbery happened at 3:36 p.m. at the UMB Bank, 4920 Main St.

Like the first robbery, the suspect handed a bank employee a note demanding money.

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He took the money and left the bank on foot. He is still being sought.

No one was injured in the robbery.

The first bank robbery happened at 1:56 p.m. at the US Bank branch, 221 West Gregory Blvd.

According to the FBI, the suspect in the first robbery also handed a bank employee a note demanding money.

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The FBI is investigating whether the two robberies were done by the same person.

If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.

Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.





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