A coalition of Missouri business advocacy groups says it is exploring multiple avenues to challenge the implementation of Proposition A — a measure that Missouri voters passed on Tuesday that will raise the state’s minimum wage and guarantee sick leave for some workers.
The measure passed with 58% of the vote and had the support of various unions and workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, over 500 state business owners and others.
The minimum wage will increase to $13.75 in January and then $15 in 2026. The paid sick leave provisions go into effect next May.
Hoping to block implementation of the changes is a coalition of business advocacy groups — Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Grocers Association, the Missouri Restaurant Association, the Missouri Retailers Association and the National Federation of Independent Business.
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The coalition is “explor[ing] all available options, including possible legal action,” according to a statement released Wednesday.
“We are deeply disappointed by the passage of Proposition A,” the groups wrote, adding that the measure will increase costs for consumers and employers as well as “poses a legal risk for all employers,” by providing a cause of action for employees to sue.
The focus of concern among these business advocacy groups has been with the sick leave portion of the proposition, arguing it constrains business owner’s freedom to make their own decisions and opens them up to liability if they don’t follow the requirements.
Ray McCarty, CEO of Associated Industries of Missouri, said in an interview with The Independent that groups are exploring a lawsuit to challenge the law on the basis that it doesn’t meet the state constitution’s single-subject requirement, because benefits and wages are distinct issues. They are also looking into advocating for legislative changes when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.
“We’ll look at the legal challenge first,” McCarty said. “If we’re not successful with that, or we’re not able to get that off the ground, or we don’t believe that we have that high chance of success, then yes, we will be looking at bills to try to mitigate some of the problems that we see with it.”
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Supporters of the measure, including Richard Von Glahn, campaign manager for Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages, say efforts to overturn or weaken it are unlikely to succeed. Von Glahn said wages and benefits are part of overall compensation, so fall under the single-subject requirement. He added there were several opportunities for the group to voice an opinion with concerns about the language earlier, and they didn’t.
“They waged a campaign to try to convince voters to reject this. They lost,” Von Glahn said. “And so the idea of a lawsuit now kind of feels a little frivolous to me, and is a waste of time and resources. They would be better off making sure that they are educating their community and businesses about the requirements of the law, and helping for smooth implementation.”The campaign in favor of Prop A, called Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages collected 210,000 signatures to have the issue placed on the statewide ballot (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).
Because the measure changes state law but not the constitution, the legislature could modify or overturn it without returning for a new vote of the people.
In 2018, after the state passed a minimum wage increase, some business interest groups advocated unsuccessfully for lawmakers to change pieces of it, Von Glahn said, “and that might happen again.”
“If I’m a politician, I know I have a limited amount of time in Jefferson City. There’s a limited amount of bills that can be heard and voted on,” he said. “Overturning the will of Missouri voters should not be high on the list.”
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McCarty said the wide margin of passage could make it challenging to convince legislators to tweak the law.
“For 58 to 42, that’s very difficult for any legislator, even experienced ones who have been around a long time, it’s very difficult for them to go against the will of the people, and we understand that,” he said. “Some legislators may look at this and go, we don’t want to goof with it at all because the percentage was so high in support of it.”
Business leaders “have good reasons why we would want to change it,” McCarty said. But while they could try to move a bill through the legislature, he said they’d prefer to “head it off at the pass and just do away with it” through litigation.
A predicted victory
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Prop A’s victorydidn’t come as a surprise to most: Itfollows a trend of progressive initiative petition campaigns finding success in a state that hasn’t voted for a Democrat for statewide office since 2018
Paid sick leave measures also passed in Alaska and Nebraska, bringing the number of states with such laws to 18.
The details of the law are similar to those in states that have already adopted policies to expand access to paid sick leave. Employees can begin accruing and using sick time on May 1, 2025, earning one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to five days per year for small businesses (those with fewer than 15 employees) and seven days per year for larger businesses. Certain workers are exempt, and are listed in the full text of the law, including those employed on a “casual basis” for babysitting, workers employed in a private residence who work occasionally for six or fewer hours, and those who work in retail or service in a business that annually makes less than $500,000 in annual gross volume sales.
Von Glahn said that while canvassing, workers found common ground in their identity with other workers — regardless of party affiliation — who also have the experience of needing to leave work to pick their sick children up from school.
“And immediately what I get is people nodding their heads, ‘yeah, I have that too,’ and saying, it doesn’t make sense that some workers get punished for having to do that. “
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Alejandro Gallardo, a restaurant worker who helped collect signatures and canvass for Prop A (photo submitted).
Alejandro Gallardo, a restaurant prep cook in Columbia who canvassed with the campaign, said people he spoke to were surprised to hear about “what it’s really like in the restaurant industry,” and some were surprised to hear the minimum wage isn’t already $15.
Coworkers come into work sick “all the time,” he said, in his experience in the restaurant industry. One coworker who had the stomach flu, he remembers, came into work, saying “my stomach tells me I need to stay home, but my wallet tells me I need to come to work.”
Gallardo will qualify for sick leave for the first time in his career come May. He’ll no longer have to choose between going without pay or coming into work sick, calling it a “huge improvement for a lot of workers in the state.”
The ballot measure will make sick leave guaranteed for 728,000 workers who currently lack it statewide, or over 1 in 3 Missouri workers, according to an analysis from the progressive nonprofit the Missouri Budget Project.
The minimum wage increase is slated to affect over 562,000 workers in the state, according to the Missouri Budget Project, or nearly one in every four workers.
“This is a vital part of the community that’s not being treated the way it should be treated,” Gallardo said. And I think this proposition will go a long way to fix that.”
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Mark Gronowski threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns and Amar Johnson ran for two touchdowns and South Dakota State overwhelmed Missouri State 45-9 on Saturday and claimed a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference regular-season title.
With the win and North Dakota State’s loss to South Dakota, the Bison, Coyotes and Jackrabbits (10-2, 7-1) all secure a three-way tie for the Missouri Valley Football Conference regular-season title.
Missouri State (8-4, 6-2) entered averaging 37 points per game.
It was Missouri State’s final game as a Missouri Valley Football Conference member before joining Conference USA and the FBS ranks in 2025. Missouri State kicks off next season on Aug. 30 when it travels to Southern Cal.
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STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football has one last chance to win a home SEC game today.
The Bulldogs (2-8, 0-6 SEC) are hosting Missouri (7-3, 3-3) at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday (3:15 p.m., SEC Network). Their only two wins have been in nonconference play.
The Tigers have been in and out of the national polls but are unranked in the US LBM Coaches Poll this week after losing at South Carolina.
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Follow along here for live score updates.
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Mississippi State vs Missouri score updates
Davon Booth scampered for a 43-yard rushing touchdown, putting him over 100 yards for the second game in a row and keeping MSU within striking distance with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter.
The Tigers controlled possession for 8 minutes, 46 seconds before kicking a field goal.
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Kyle Ferrie chipped in a 26-yard field goal with 30 seconds remaining in the half after an MSU touchdown was erased because of a holding penalty.
The Tigers have scored three touchdowns in three straight drives, this time Marcus Carroll’s second touchdown of the first half.
Brady Cook connected with Luther Burden III for a 28-yard touchdown catch with 9:58 remaining in the second quarter.
After the Tigers committed 30 yards worth of penalties on one play, Michael Van Buren Jr. found Jordan Mosely for an 11-yard touchdown with 20 seconds left in the first quarter.
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Marcus Carroll scored a 2-yard touchdown with 2:49 remaining in the first quarter.
Michael Van Buren Jr. fumbled and Mizzou returned it 70 yards for a touchdown with 6:33 to play in the first quarter.
Davon Booth broke a 33-yard run before Kyle Ferrie connected on a 38-yard field goal with 11:43 remaining in the first quarter.
Mississippi State vs Mizzou time today
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Location: Davis Wade Stadium
What channel is Mississippi State vs Missouri game on today?
TV channel: SEC Network
Streaming: ESPN+ (subscribe today)
Radio: MSU Sports Network and Sirius XM channel 374
Mississippi State versus Missouri will be broadcast on SEC Network. Taylor Zarzour will be on the call with analyst Matt Stinchcomb and sideline reporter Alyssa Lang. Streaming is available on ESPN+.
Mississippi State vs Mizzou history
Series record: Tied 2-2
Mississippi State’s last win: 2020 (51-32)
Missouri’s last win: 1984 (47-30)
Mississippi State vs Missouri predictions
Missouri 37, Mississippi State 20: The Bulldogs are allowing 41 points per game in SEC play, and it’s difficult to see Missouri not having the same level of success. Expect big days from Luther Burden III and/or Theo Wease Jr., plus running back Nate Noel as MSU loses another game by double digits.
Mississippi State vs Mizzou betting odds
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
Spread: Missouri -9
Over/under: 57.5
Moneyline: Missouri -330/Mississippi State +285
Mississippi State vs Missouri injury updates
Mississippi State reported no new injuries this week, but will be without wide receiver Mario Craver due to a suspension. Missouri starting quarterback Brady Cook was probable but removed from the report on Friday.
Mississippi State vs Mizzou weather update
According to AccuWeather, it will be 61 degrees at kickoff with 6 mph winds and a 0% chance of rain.
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Mississippi State football 2024 schedule
Aug. 31: vs. Eastern Kentucky (56-7, W)
Sept. 7: at Arizona State (30-23, L)
Sept. 14: vs. Toledo (41-17, L)
Sept. 21: vs. Florida (45-28, L)
Sept. 28: at Texas (35-13, L)
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Oct. 12: at Georgia (41-31, L)
Oct. 19: vs. Texas A&M (34-24, L)
Oct. 26: vs. Arkansas (58-25, L)
Nov. 2: vs. UMass (45-20, W)
Nov. 9: at Tennessee (33-14, L)
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Nov. 23: vs. Missouri
Nov. 29: at Ole Miss
Buy Mississippi State football tickets this season with StubHub
Missouri football 2024 schedule
Aug. 29: vs. Murray State (51-0, W)
Sept. 7: vs. Buffalo (38-0, W)
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Sept. 14: vs. Boston College (27-21, W)
Sept. 21: vs. Vanderbilt (30-27, W)
Oct. 5: at Texas A&M (41-10, L)
Oct. 12: at UMass (45-3, W)
Oct. 19: vs. Auburn (21-17, W)
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Oct. 26: at Alabama (34-0, L)
Nov. 9: vs. Oklahoma (30-23, W)
Nov. 16: at South Carolina (34-30, L)
Nov. 23: at Mississippi State
Nov. 30: vs. Arkansas
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Mississippi State football news
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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Former Utah Tech University President Richard “Biff” Williams will keep his new job in Missouri, which he stepped into about six months after he resigned here while under investigation for misconduct.
The governing board at Missouri State University voted unanimously Friday during a closed session to support Williams and continue to have him lead the school despite the allegations that have drawn widespread attention.
The decision comes, too, after the Faculty Senate at Missouri State took a vote of no-confidence in Williams’ leadership the day before. The school’s Board of Governors said in a statement released to The Salt Lake Tribune that it considered that faculty resolution before deciding to stand by Williams.
“This decision was made after thoughtful consideration of the viewpoints heard from all constituencies,” the board said. “Missouri State University has very high expectations for our leaders personally and professionally, and President Williams is working with the board on actions that he will take as part of his commitment to strengthening relationships across our campus community.”
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The school did not provide details on what those actions from Williams will include.
Williams has already apologized to the Missouri State community for the attention the allegations from Utah have brought there. But he has not apologized to the Utah Tech campus.
The Faculty Senate at Utah Tech also passed a no-confidence resolution Thursday, noting that omission and saying that members are concerned with how school leaders responded to the accusations against Williams.
Those first came to light in a lawsuit filed earlier this month. Three employees — Utah Tech attorneys Becky Broadbent and Jared Rasband, as well as Title IX Director Hazel Sainsbury — said in their filing that the university has a toxic culture that stems from the top and was often encouraged by Williams. Their efforts to address it, they say, were ignored or mocked.
It culminated in November 2023 when Williams gave what he’s since acknowledged he meant as a gag gift to a member of his Cabinet after the man had surgery. It was vegetables made to look like male genitalia, alongside a note wishing the man a speedy recovery.
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Only Williams didn’t sign the note from himself. Instead, he used the names of Broadbent, Rasband and Sainsbury. When they tried to report that, their lawsuit says, they faced further retaliation and harassment.
Meanwhile, Williams quietly stepped down two months after they reported, saying he planned “to pursue other professional opportunities” after a decade at the helm of Utah Tech. He continued to receive pay from the school for six months until he started in Missouri. He was inaugurated there last month.
Williams told students, according to reporting by the Springfield Daily Citizen, after the lawsuit came out that the board at Missouri did not know about the allegations prior to hiring them because the Title IX process is private.
However, Williams says he personally told the board chair shortly after he was selected as the next president there. He has also denied some of the allegations included in the lawsuit.
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