Missouri

House committee demands answers as Missouri childcare centers struggle to stay open amid state reimbursement backlog – ABC17NEWS

Published

2 years ago

September 10, 2024

House committee demands answers as Missouri childcare centers struggle to stay open amid state reimbursement backlog – ABC17NEWS

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Cheryl Howard, the executive director of the Nora Stewart Early Learning Center, is one of thousands of childcare providers across the state relying on state reimbursements to keep their daycare alive.

However, due to a backlog in the state, Howard says the NSELC, which has been operating in Columbia for 91 years is in jeopardy.

“In the last two to three years our enrollment has dropped half. We have not received the grants we applied for so that is hurting us real bad,” Howard said.

Howard was one of dozens of daycare providers to testify in front of the Missouri House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on Tuesday after technological issues delayed state reimbursement payments for months, putting daycare centers at risk or out of business entirely across the state. The Department of Secondary Education was grilled by committee members after more than 3,000 childcare providers were left waiting for subsidy payments from the department.

Three members of the Harris family, who have worked in childcare for more than 40 years, said they had to sell their car, shut off their utilities at home and dig deep into their Social Security to keep their daycare center alive. Even with all of that, they say they are $60,000 in debt. They were not alone.

Latonya Williams, the executive director of the Bartlett Center, which specializes in children with trauma, told the committee that if her business closes most of the children they provide service for will have nowhere to go.

“I have over 100 kids in my program and I’m about 98 percent childcare subsidy. Up until a week ago, I had not received any payments,” Williams said during the hearing. “I had eleven thousand dollars in the bank. I have been using my own money to buy cleaning supplies for our program.”

The state has pointed the finger at a new data system launched last December, which has led to a backlog of payments. Many daycares rely on those payments to fund staff and stay in business. The new data system has also caused issues with attendance, with many who testified at the hearing saying they were unable to get any support when they called and asked for help.

“There won’t be a modicum of satisfaction until these providers are paid and paid with some manner of interest. I’m listening to people take out hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans that they’re going to have to pay interest on people who you’re talking about how their lights are off just so they can continue to provide services for this state’s children in alignment with this current gubernatorial administration,” Rep. Raychel Proudie (D-Ferguson) told ABC 17 News after the hearing. “What they were saying is that they were going to provide for these people. Somebody has to make good on what we said that we were going to do for these people. And frankly, we just simply weren’t doing that.”

Minority Floor leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield), who took part in the hearing, says that she would like to see the state issue payments now.

“What we’ve been told over the past few weeks is that this is an IT problem. And it goes down to the fact that they have to recertify not only these parents with these providers in check attendance and all of these things. That is all fine and well, I understand that there is a system that has to be done to verify that the kiddos know where they are and that the payments need to be made,” Quade said. “That said, we have so many providers who are already contract providers with the state of Missouri. We have parents who are already certified to be receiving these subsidies and we could right now issue checks in this moment to those providers to cover these costs for the folks that we know are already qualified.”

Once the new data system was launched in December, the state began to encounter backlogs in payments. The problem snowballed into issues for families trying to apply for subsidy assistance and provider contracts.

Part of the issue is attendance. Under the system, parents are forced to take attendance for their own children, which has been a nightmare for daycares and affected payments. The system only operates for Android users and is outdated. DESE says that the attendance system was put into place in 2018 before the new data system was launched. The vendor contracted to operate the new system and subsidy program is World Wide Technology, which operates out of St. Louis.

Quade said its a multi-layered issue that starts at the top.

“I think that we need to be having conversations about should the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, be the ones overseeing our early childhood subsidy program. The point that was made today, we have a lot of these families who qualify for multiple services,” Quade said. ”It goes back to the fact that we don’t have direct care caseworkers, that our call centers are outsourced and that we have had folks in charge in our state continue to lay off state employees and outsource this stuff to private entities, to their buddies or whoever, instead of actual employees of the state who are doing the job well.“

DESE said during the hearing that it will begin issuing stipends “sometime this week” but for many it’s too little too late.

“It is already too late. There are, especially in the Saint Louis area where I can speak to because that’s where I live, they’ve already closed. There are people who already have creditors closing,” Proudie said. “The apologies that these folks were offered here today can’t pay their electric bill. Their gas bill is not going to pay their rent if they’re renting a space.”

On Wednesday, there will be a budget committee hearing to address concerns about how much these issues cost and what potential solutions could look like. Quade advises parents impacted to contact her office or their local elected official to share their story.

Proudie still has questions.

“I want to know what happened with the differential for people who are opening up their hearts, opening up their centers to take children who are, you know, suffering through poverty there that are lower-income kids, and that’s the majority of their center. They were assured and promised that they would get a 30 percent differential. And if they spent the money on becoming accredited, would get an additional 20 percent all of a sudden, out of the blue, there was a decision made not by the legislature, but by someone in staff to stop doing that, which will certainly hurt centers,” Proudie said. “They weren’t prepared for it. No one told them it was coming. I want to know who made the decision and I want to know why. I also want to know what they intend to do with their money. They’re not going to pay it to providers like they told them that they were going to.”

Check back for updates.

Source link

Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for May 13, 2026

Published

6 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at May 13, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 13 drawing

22-31-52-56-67, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 13 drawing

Midday: 2-6-1

Midday Wild: 7

Evening: 7-8-3

Evening Wild: 2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 13 drawing

Midday: 5-8-3-5

Midday Wild: 0

Evening: 8-7-7-9

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 13 drawing

Early Bird: 11

Morning: 15

Matinee: 14

Prime Time: 12

Night Owl: 11

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from May 13 drawing

04-08-18-19-27

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from May 13 drawing

08-13-39-63-66, Powerball: 02

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.

Source link

Missouri

YouthBuild students take construction skills to Missouri Capitol

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2026

Press Room

YouthBuild students take construction skills to Missouri Capitol

Janis Reeser
| Columbia Daily Tribune

Job Point YouthBuild participants demonstrated their construction skills and shared their personal stories at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on April 21.

The event, hosted by the Missouri YouthBuild Coalition, brought together trainees, staff and partners from across the state, according to a community announcement. The day included hands-on construction demonstrations, youth-led advocacy and opportunities for participants to engage with policymakers.

A hands-on project

Trainees spent the morning constructing the framework of walls and portable chairs in teams, demonstrating the skills they are developing through YouthBuild programs in Columbia, St. Joseph and Cape Girardeau. At the end of the day, they assembled the walls to create a room, symbolizing the collaboration among trainees from different regions.

“It was a very good day. We had to build the chairs over there. I did a little measurement, cutting, all of that,” one Job Point YouthBuild student said in the announcement.

The experience highlighted not only technical skills, but also the importance of teamwork and communication, according to the announcement.

“Working together as a team, putting things together was exquisite. Communication was key,” another student shared in the announcement.

Sharing personal journeys

The event also provided a platform for participants to share their personal journeys. Many YouthBuild participants have faced significant barriers, including interruptions in education and limited access to employment opportunities. Through programs like Job Point’s YouthBuild, they are reconnecting with education, gaining workforce certifications and building pathways to meaningful careers, according to the announcement.

For students, the experience of participating in a statewide event and demonstrating their abilities in such a visible setting was both affirming and inspiring.

“I loved it! I had a great time. We built chairs. It was a good experience,” another participant said in the announcement.

Jerrell Morton, director of Job Point’s YouthBuild, emphasized the importance of visibility. Morton said in the announcement, “At its core, this day is about visibility — showing lawmakers, community leaders and the public what these young people are capable of. Our students aren’t just learning skills — they’re building confidence, leadership and a vision for their future.”

Addressing workforce needs

The event also highlighted the broader need for investment in workforce development initiatives like YouthBuild at the state level. Across Missouri, employers continue to report unfilled jobs and growing skills gaps. YouthBuild programs are helping to address that challenge by equipping young adults with practical training, work experience and the tools needed to succeed in high-demand industries such as construction, healthcare, IT and manufacturing.

For Job Point, participation in the event reinforced its commitment to empowering opportunity youth to overcome barriers, reclaim their education and achieve self-sufficiency and economic stability, according to the announcement.

“It’s a great experience. I love Job Point,” another student reflected in the announcement.

As the day concluded, trainees left with a new sense of confidence after meeting with their state representatives, senators and their staffers and standing up on the Missouri House and Senate floors, according to the announcement.

Job Point YouthBuild participants demonstrated their construction skills and shared their personal stories at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on April 21.

A hands-on project

“It was a very good day. We had to build the chairs over there. I did a little measurement, cutting, all of that,” one Job Point YouthBuild student said in the announcement.

The experience highlighted not only technical skills, but also the importance of teamwork and communication, according to the announcement.

“Working together as a team, putting things together was exquisite. Communication was key,” another student shared in the announcement.

Sharing personal journeys

For students, the experience of participating in a statewide event and demonstrating their abilities in such a visible setting was both affirming and inspiring.

“I loved it! I had a great time. We built chairs. It was a good experience,” another participant said in the announcement.

Addressing workforce needs

“It’s a great experience. I love Job Point,” another student reflected in the announcement.

This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.

Source link

Missouri

Missouri Supreme Court rules redistricting map meets constitutional requirements

Published

2 days ago

May 12, 2026

Press Room

Missouri Supreme Court rules redistricting map meets constitutional requirements

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Supreme Court issued opinions Tuesday in two cases concerning the state’s latest redistricting map.

Both opinions found the map meets constitutional requirements. As it is already in effect, it will stay in effect.

“Today’s Missouri Supreme Court rulings are a huge victory for voters,” Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a statement. “Missourians are more alike than we are different, and our Missouri values — rooted in common sense, hard work, and personal responsibility — are stronger and far more aligned across both sides of the aisle than the extreme left-wing agendas pushed in states like New York, California, and Illinois. The Missouri First Map ensures those values are represented fairly and accurately at every level of government. This August, Missouri voters will head to the ballot box to vote for candidates in these newly drawn districts.”

The opinion in Elizabeth Healey, et al. v. State of Missouri, et al. stated residents failed to meet the burden required by Missouri law to demonstrate the map was unconstitutional.

This case raised an issue with Article III, Section 45 of the Missouri Constitution, which states that districts “shall be comprised of contiguous territory as compact and as nearly equal in population as may be.” But the court found the concerned residents were unable to prove the “legislature improperly deviated from the directives of article III, section 45.”

The second lawsuit, Jake Maggard, et al. v. State of Missouri, et al., took issue with which map was currently in effect. Residents gathered signatures they believed should stop the new map from going into effect until put before Missouri voters.

However, the court ruled unanimously that nothing in the constitution allows a referendum petition alone to automatically suspend legislation. It has yet to be determined if the referendum petition filing was “legal, sufficient and timely,” per the opinion.

Additional redistricting cases remain ongoing.

NAACP, et al. v. Kehoe will go before the Missouri Supreme Court on May 27. This case argues the governor didn’t have the power to call the “extraordinary session” in which the new redistricting map was adopted.

Additionally, People Not Politicians v. Hoskins will go before a judge in July. Though in a lower court, this case concerns the validity of the signatures people gathered to force a statewide vote on the map.

—

Source link