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After backlash to March primary, Missouri lawmakers debate reversing 2022 election change

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After backlash to March primary, Missouri lawmakers debate reversing 2022 election change


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KFVS) – After this year’s presidential preference primary in Missouri, many voters are calling for state lawmakers to return the process to state control.

The 2024 election cycle was the first presidential primary to be administered by a party-run primary system after Gov. Mike Parson signed a 2022 law to shift the burden from state and local election officials.

“My sense is that the clerks obviously didn’t like having two elections within 30 days of each other because of some logistical concerns and evidentiary concerns if there are problems or audits,” Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said. “There was also the concern about the cost.”

The cost to state and local governments of running the presidential preference primary was roughly $10 million, according to Ashcroft.

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Additionally, the new system also allowed the individual parties to restrict participation to only registered members.

Missouri Republicans moved to a caucus system, where participants convene county-level party meetings to choose the candidate through either secret ballots or a public showing of support.

However, those meetings happen on one day in singular county locations, making participation and access far more challenging.

“The way this has played out [reveals] the caucus system really does disenfranchise voters,” said state Rep. Ben Baker, R-Neosho.

Baker is one of several lawmakers who have filed versions of a bill to reverse the 2022 change and reinstate the state-administered preference primary.

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“I’ve probably had more complaints from constituents over this issue than anything that I’ve done – or not done – in the past six years,” Baker told the House Special Committee on Public Policy Tuesday.

The Democratic Party in Missouri organized a state-wide election for its march selection, but House Elections Committee’s ranking member, state Rep. Joe Adams, D-University City, said it was not as well-resourced as an election run by the state government.

“I would like everybody to have the opportunity to have a say in who the presidential candidate will be that they will vote for in November,” Adams said. “I want people to participate.”

With less than a month left in the legislative session, it’s increasingly less likely that this policy change will reach the governor’s desk for passage, but it’s also not a pressing deadline with two more sessions before Missourians would have to vote on another presidential candidate in 2028.

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Missouri

Missouri Baseball Suffers Series Loss to No. 15 South Carolina, The Buzz: May 6, 2024

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Missouri Baseball Suffers Series Loss to No. 15 South Carolina, The Buzz: May 6, 2024


The Missouri baseball team suffered a series loss to the No. 15 South Carolina Gamecocks 9-4 on Sunday afternoon. 

The Gamecocks took Game 1 on Friday 10-2, then the Tigers fought back to even the series on Saturday 8-3 and forced the rubber match. 

South Carolina struck first and scored on a wild pitch in the top of the second inning. The Tigers responded by plating four runs in the home half of the inning on a two-run home run by Danny Corona, a drawn walk by Brock Daniels with the bases loaded, and a sacrifice fly by Jackson Lovich. 

However, the Gamecocks scored eight unanswered runs in the last three innings to seal the series victory. 

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With this loss, the Tigers sit at 7-17 in SEC play, placing the team at No. 13 in the conference standings, only ahead of the Auburn Tigers. 

Tigers Results:

Did You Notice? 

  • The Missouri Tigers softball team finished its regular season on Sunday with 40 wins, the most since 2021. 
  • The 2024 SEC Softball Tournament will be played from Tuesday to Saturday in Auburn, Ala. The Tigers will be the No. 5 seed and play the winner of No. 12 Kentucky and No. 13 Ole Miss on Wednesday afternoon. 
  •  Former Missouri running back Larry Rountree III is headed to the UFL playoffs with the undefeated Birmingham Stallions. So far this season, Rountree has recorded nine rush attempts for 50 yards and a touchdown.

Countdown to Missouri’s football season opener: 

117 days. 

Special Media: 

Check out our… 



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Petition drive succeeds in placing new party on Missouri’s November ballot

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Petition drive succeeds in placing new party on Missouri’s November ballot


A new political party will appear on Missouri’s ballot this year, the brainchild of a candidate hoping to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley in November.

Jared Young, an attorney and businessman from Webb City, last year announced he would run as an independent candidate in the Senate race. In April, he decided to instead submit signatures to create a new political organization, the Better Party, and invited other candidates to join.

Under Missouri law, an independent statewide candidate must submit 10,000 signatures from registered voters to the secretary of state’s office. That is the same number required to form a new political party.

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Young submitted signatures April 19, and of 21,587 signatures checked, 10,696 were valid, Madison Walker, spokesman for the office, wrote in an email. The results were certified Wednesday.

Along with Young, the Better Party has nominated Blake Ashby of Ferguson as its candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Cori Bush.

Those are the only two candidates the party will field this year. Candidate filings had to be submitted with the petitions, Walker wrote.

Young is campaigning as an alternative to politicians out-of-touch with voters.

“Both parties have become overly obsessed with holding onto or regaining power at all costs,” Young wrote on Facebook after the signatures were confirmed. “In their current form, they no longer represent the hopes and beliefs of most Americans.”

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According to his first-quarter campaign finance report, Young has raised $364,377 for his campaign and had $110,650 on hand. Young will be listed fourth on the November ballot for Senate.

Hawley, unopposed for renomination, has raised $7.6 million since January 2023 for his campaign committee and had $5.5 million on hand March 31. Democrat Lucas Kunce leads a four-person field for the Aug. 6 primary with $7.7 million raised and $3.3 million on hand.

The other Democratic candidates are state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis, December Harmon of Columbia and Mita Biswas of St. Louis.



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Missouri farmers attempt to team up with firefighters with safety top of mind

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Missouri farmers attempt to team up with firefighters with safety top of mind


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Missouri farmers are attempting to team up with the state’s firefighters to eliminate forever chemicals and keep first responders safer.

On International Firefighters’ Day, Saturday, May 4, the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council encouraged farmers to discuss the health and environmental benefits of soy-based foam with local fire departments.

As firefighters take inherent risks just by clocking into work, the Council said they rely on many tools to fight fires – including foam. However, traditional foams pose the risk of exposure to PFAS, forever chemicals.

Agriculture officials indicated that SoyFoam, a safer alternative, eliminates exposure and prioritizes first-responder well-being. The SoyFoam TF1122 from Cross Plains Solutions is the first and only GreenScreen gold-level certified foam. It is 100% free of forever chemicals and fluorines and has been biodegradable certified.

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“Farmers know the value of protecting our communities. Just like we nurture our land, firefighters bravely defend our neighborhoods,” said Aaron Porter, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC) chair. “SoyFoam™ isn’t just about crops; it’s about keeping our heroes safe. Let’s stand with our firefighters and support this safer option, ensuring their safety as they protect us.”

The Council noted that another benefit of SoyFoam is that it is made with soy flour. While soy-based products primarily use soybean oil, SoyFoam uses the meal component of the bean. That is a potential of 12 million bushels of soybean.

“We are proud to partner with U.S. Soy to launch this breakthrough firefighting foam for use by fire departments across the nation,” said Cross Plains Solutions’ Managing Partner Alan Snipes. “Our manufacturing plant in Georgia is ready to produce SoyFoam now so fire departments can ask their suppliers to offer it. We also see demand for numerous additional applications, ranging from canisters to sprinkler systems.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reported that forever chemicals have now been found in water, air, fish and soil all across the nation. Exposure has been linked to cancers, reductions in birth weights and thyroid dysfunction. Mitigation through soy-based products could create a real change in quality of life.

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