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Dean Plocher testifies to the Missouri House ethics panel investigating him • Missouri Independent

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2 years ago

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Dean Plocher testifies to the Missouri House ethics panel investigating him • Missouri Independent


House Speaker Dean Plocher testified Tuesday evening before a bipartisan committee investigating him over allegations of ethical misconduct. 

Appearing alongside his attorneys — Lowell Pearson and David Steelman — Plocher’s testimony took place behind-closed doors. House rules require proceedings of the ethics committee to be confidential, with none of the discussions, testimony or evidence gathered made public until a final report is issued.

After an hour and a half testifying, Plocher quickly left out of a side door of the hearing room and ignored questions from reporters as he boarded an elevator. He was late for a dinner he was hosting in the House Lounge with former speakers. 

Plocher has been accused over the last few months of, among other things, pushing for the House to enter into a contract with a private company outside the normal bidding process; threatening retaliation against legislative staff who pushed back on that contract; improperly firing a potential whistleblower; and filing false expense reports for travel already paid for by his campaign.  

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The allegations sparked a formal investigation by the House Ethics Committee, which hired an outside attorney to lead the inquiry. He’s also faced calls for his resignation by several members of the GOP supermajority.

Pearson is a longtime GOP attorney who has represented the House Republican Campaign Committee. Steelman is a former lawmaker who also served several terms as a member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators.

Roughly an hour after Plocher left the hearing, state Rep. Dale Wright, a Republican from Farmington, showed up to testify. He is chairman of the House Administration and Accounts Committee, which is in charge of purchasing for the House.

‘Dark cloud’: Ethics investigation of Dean Plocher continues to hang over Missouri House

Plocher’s troubles spilled out into the public in September, when he was accused of engaging in “unethical and perhaps unlawful conduct” as part of a months-long push to get the House to award an $800,000 contract to a private company to manage constituent information.

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A month later, The Independent reported Plocher had on numerous occasions over the last five years illegally sought taxpayer reimbursement from the legislature for airfare, hotels and other travel costs already paid for by his campaign.

As those scandals swirled, Plocher fired his chief of staff. According to the Kansas City Star, that got the attention of the House Ethics Committee, which began looking into whether the staffer was protected as a whistleblower when he was fired.

Plocher even garnered attention from federal law enforcement, with the FBI attending the September legislative hearing where the constituent management contract was discussed and voted down. The FBI, which investigates public corruption, also conducted several interviews about Plocher. 

Since the ethics committee began its probe, Plocher has continued facing scrutiny. 

In December, The Independent reported Plocher spent $60,000 in taxpayer money to renovate his Capitol office, including converting another lawmaker’s office into a makeshift liquor cabinet Plocher referred to as his “butler’s pantry.” 

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The Kansas City Star reported last month that Plocher was the only legislator in the past three years to be granted exemptions from House travel policies, allowing him to spend more than allowed to upgrade a flight to Utah and get reimbursed for a flight to a conference in Hawaii.

Soon after, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the annual payroll for the speaker’s office ballooned more than $250,000 since Plocher took over. 

And Monday, The Independent reported on bipartisan criticism of Plocher after his office arranged a series of meetings in the state Capitol between GOP legislators and an out-of-state technology vendor.

This story was updated at 7:48 p.m. to note state Rep. Dale Wright’s arrival to testify. 

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Missouri

What’s open on Christmas in mid-Missouri?

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10 hours ago

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December 12, 2025

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What’s open on Christmas in mid-Missouri?


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

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

  • Christmas Eve: Open 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
  • Christmas Day: Open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Starbucks – Ninth Street in Columbia

  • Christmas Eve: Open 5 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Christmas Day: Closed



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BetMGM Missouri bonus code NYPDM1500: Get a 20% first deposit match up to $1,500 for Missouri vs. Alabama State

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1 day ago

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December 11, 2025

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BetMGM Missouri bonus code NYPDM1500: Get a 20% first deposit match up to ,500 for Missouri vs. Alabama State


You can get in on Missouri sports betting with a BetMGM welcome offer for college basketball on Thursday.

BetMGM Bonus code NYPDM1500 gets 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

  1. Select your bonus offer.
  2. Choose your state.
  3. Fill out your login details.
  4. Enter the BetMGM bonus code NYPDM1500
  5. Make a deposit.
  6. 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.



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Road construction impacts access to the Southwest Missouri Humane Society in Springfield

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2 days ago

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December 11, 2025

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Road construction impacts access to the Southwest Missouri Humane Society in Springfield


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

Copyright 2025 KY3. All rights reserved.



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