KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Last November, Missourians voted in favor of Proposition A, which increased the state’s minimum wage and gives employees earned paid time off. As a house bill that would repeal the earned sick pay portion of the proposition makes its way through the Capitol, several workers rights groups organized rallies across the state, including in Kansas City.

Dozens gathered outside Oddly Correct Coffee at the corner of E 42nd and Troost Thursday afternoon in support of the proposition, including Fran Marion, a fast food worker and leader with the Missouri Workers Center. She says wishes she had paid sick leave while her children were growing up, but is happy her now grown children will soon no longer have to make the difficult decisions she had to. One of her children has a son who had to undergo open heart surgery at just three weeks old.

“If I had paid sick days, I wouldn’t have to worry about how my rents going to get paid, how I’m going to get food on the table, and I would be able to be with my sick child,” said Marion. “With paid sick days going into effect next month, it brings me comfort in knowing that Ray can take time off without losing a paycheck and have to suffer over choosing to keep a roof over their head or being home taking care of my grandson.”

Missouri Jobs with Justice, Missouri Workers Center, Stand Up KC, business owners, workers, and more rallied outside the coffee shop, including owner Mike Schroeder. He shared his shop’s success after raising the wages of workers years ago and encourages other businesses owners who may be unsure to keep an open mind.

“It was a gamble, but it worked,” said Schroeder. “People were happier, they did better work, our customers were happier, we saw a 20% increase in revenue after enacting living wages and paid sick leave.”

After the rally, the group took to the streets, going to businesses in Kansas City and speaking with owners to remind them of the changes coming next month. Employers must provide their employees with written notice of their earned paid sick leave rights by next Tuesday, April 15. Earned paid sick leave takes effect May 1.

This comes as a bill is currently making its way through the state capitol that looks to repeal the paid sick time mandate. House Bill 567 has already passed the House and is currently in the Senate. A lawsuit by Missouri business groups in the state wants the results of Proposition A thrown out.

The state Supreme Court heard oral arguments last month, with those who filed the suit requesting a decision preferably by April 15, but at the latest by May 1.

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On July 14, David Richards will become the new dean of Missouri State University Libraries.

He replaces former longtime dean Tom Peters, who retired in December 2024.

“We’re thrilled to welcome David back to Missouri State. His student-centered approach, multidimensional experience and commitment to the community will be great assets as we continue to nurture and strengthen our library services,” said Dr. Tamera Jahnke, interim provost.

More about Richards

Richards previously worked at Missouri State Libraries, joining in 1997. He served as head of Meyer Library’s Special Collections and Archives until 2016, when he joined the Criss Library at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) as dean of library services.

Richards’ career highlights include the implementation of UNO Libraries’ Open Educational Resources initiative in concert with Open Nebraska, a move that resulted in student savings of more than $2 million over a six-year period. During his leadership of the Criss Library, fundraising milestones include the library’s largest in-kind gift and one of its largest support gifts.

Members of the Springfield community will recall his work to develop and launch Missouri State’s “Rare Wine, Rare Books” event, which has become a beloved summer tradition. He brings great expertise to this role, along with enthusiasm for Missouri State’s mission and our libraries’ place in the cultural life of the Ozarks.

Richards holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a Master of Arts in European History from Western Illinois University. He also has a Master of Library and Information Science from Louisiana State University.

“It’s a rare and humbling privilege to return to an institution where one’s early career thrived. I’m honored by this opportunity to give back and serve an institution that enabled my career to flourish for almost 20 years,” Richards said.

“I’m thrilled to reunite with the Meyer Library team, Missouri State students, faculty and staff, and with Springfield!”

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Missouri men’s basketball was hit with two departures Wednesday.

Josh Gray unexpectedly entered the transfer portal. A source within the program confirmed Gray is out of eligibility. Also, assistant coach Rob Summers was announced as the new head coach at Cleveland State.

Gray played the 2020-21 season at LSU, appearing in 10 games, then played three seasons at South Carolina before transferring to Missouri for his final season of eligibility.

Assumedly, the transfer decision is in anticipation of possible rule changes.

Gray averaged 15.6 minutes per game this season and scored 3.2 points per contest, while bringing down 5.3 rebounds per game. His departure does not change any expectations for the Tigers’ roster next season.

After spending one year on staff at Missouri, Summers returns to Cleveland State where he was on head coach Dennis Gates‘ staff from 2019-22. Summers served this season as Gates’ offensive coordinator and was repeatedly praised for his coaching job with the Tigers’ bigs.

“Coach Summers will be a Division I head coach,” Gates said in a release when Summers was hired at Missouri. “He is passionate about the game of basketball. He provides the authentic love necessary in developing young people and possesses an undefeated work ethic. He is great at building relationships within our campus community and nationally. He is a star.”

Gates mentioned multiple times throughout the 2024-25 season that he believes every assistant on his staff will have an opportunity to be a head coach, and Summers is the first to get his shot.

On the recruiting trail, Summers was a big supporter of center Trent Burns, calling the now redshirt freshman a unicorn. The Tigers will begin the search for a new assistant coach, likely focused on bringing on another offensive mind.