Missouri

Missouri Ethics Commission fines ‘Truth In Politics’ $250K for defying campaign laws

Published

1 year ago

December 28, 2024

Missouri Ethics Commission fines ‘Truth In Politics’ 0K for defying campaign laws

An investigation by the Missouri Ethics Commission found “reasonable grounds” that Truth In Politics — a group which primarily sought to influence the outcome of Springfield school board races — repeatedly violated campaign finance laws.

A consent order filed Dec. 18 and uploaded Friday, making it public, outlined the ways that Truth In Politics broke the rules, according to the MEC.

The five leaders behind the group were assessed a hefty financial penalty totaling nearly a quarter million dollars.

For a two-year period, while taking in more than $127,000, Truth In Politics failed to register as a committee, report contributions and spending, and file the required campaign finance reports.

A fee of $249,446 was jointly imposed by MEC against five leaders of Truth In Politics: Curtis Jared, president; George Husted, secretary and treasurer; and directors Lee Fraley, Royce Reding, and Sam Clifton.

If they pay $20,000 of the fee within 45 days, the remainder will be waived, provided none of the group members violate campaign finance laws for the next two years. If they do, the remaining $229,446 will be due.

Jared, Husted, Fraley, Reding and Clifton — as well as their attorney Lucinda Luetkemeyer — signed the consent order in December, waiving their right to a hearing.

It was also signed by MEC executive director Stacey Heislen.

Formed as a nonprofit corporation in July 2020, Truth In Politics started seeking contributions in March 2021 “with the express purpose of using such resources to influence the outcome of the elections” in April 2021 and 2022, according to the consent order.

In a two-year period ending in March 2023, the group raised at least $127,000 without reporting the contributions to the MEC. The gifts included $18,000 each from Humana and Centene Management, and $17,000 from Rapid Roberts.

They spent $119,826 during the same period “in support of candidates for office.”

Here are examples of ways in which Truth In Politics sought to influence the outcome of April elections in 2021 and 2022, primarily for school board but also Springfield City Council:

A flyer or door hanger that read “Paid for by Truth in Politics, Royce Reding, treasurer” alleged Springfield teachers were “forced to participate in Critical Race Theory, which has roots in Marxism” and urged support for school board candidates Kelly Byrne and Maryam Mohammadkhani. The flyer also touted support for City Council candidate Brent Brown;
Paid for billboard advertising for Brent Brown;
A political attack ad ran on TV falsely alleging incumbent Charles Taylor “hijacks meetings so he can push critical race theories over and over again.” The ad also urged support for candidates Kelly Byrne and Steve Makoski. At the time, Byrne publicly asked that the ad stop running.
Following calls for the TV ad to be removed, Reding issued a statement repeating allegations against Taylor and saying “We stand by our ad and will not back down to those afraid of the community learning the truth.”

In the 2021 board race, Mohammadkhani was elected along with Danielle Kincaid and Scott Crise. Brown, who donated to the Truth In Politics group, was not elected to the City Council.

In 2022, Taylor was defeated and Byrne and Makoski were elected to the school board.

There is no public, direct connection between the Truth In Politics group and candidates Mohammadkhani, Byrne and Makoski and none donated to the group. However, Rapid Roberts — where Makoski is employed — was a major donor. Byrne’s campaign treasurer, Tyler Creach, also donated $2,300 to the group.

In the 2024 school board race, an in-kind donation by a company owned by Curtis Jared also received scrutiny by the Missouri Ethics Commission.

The company placed billboards in support of board candidates Mohammadkhani, Landon McCarter and Chad Rollins in Springfield for more than four months before the April election.

McCarter and Rollins reported an $7,500 in-kind donation from Jared Outdoor LLC but the LLC was not classified as a corporation under federal tax code and it was not registered with the MEC, a required step.

As a result, McCarter and Rollins were each assessed a fee of $7,500 under separate consent orders in December but were allowed to pay only $750 as long as they don’t violate campaign finance laws for two years.

In all, MEC found that Truth In Politics failed to file 12 campaign finance reports, which are due quarterly and on specific dates before and after elections.

Truth In Politics also failed to quickly report large contributions and spending as required by law right before and after elections including four donations of $5,000 or more.

As part of the report, Truth In Politics publicly detailed the funds it accepted and spent. The details were included in the consent order.

Contributions in 2021, 2022

This includes total contributions of $500 or more. In some cases, an individual made a dozen or more contributions over the two-year period.

$18,000 − Centene Management; Humana;
$17,000 − Rapid Roberts;
$7,750 − Curtis Jared;
$5,500 − Ronald Neville;
$5,000 − Jeffrey Caison; Bryan Magers; Brent Davis;
$3,000 − Loren Cook II;
$2,500 − Nicholas Austin; Brent Brown;
$2,400 − Carson Buckman;
$2,300 − Royce Reding; Joe Passanise; Tyler Creach; Kandice Prewitt;
$2,200 − John Ruder;
$2,100 − Caleb Arthur; Sam Clifton;
$2,000 − Candice Ehase; Fraley Masonry; Sam Coryell;
$1,500 − Penn Enterprises; 311 S. Hampton LLC;
$1,200 − Nathan Adams; David Havens;
$1,000 − Judy Beisner; Mavis Busiek; Mark and Margaret Bult; Unknown donor;
$900 − Scott Speight;
$500 − Gordon Kinne; Ginco Facilities Management;

Spending in 2021, 2022

Truth In Politics paid more than a dozen companies and individuals over the two-year period. Here are the amounts of $5,000 or more.

$35,105 − Ax Media;
$34,926 − Vanguard Field Strategies:
$16,498 − Axiom Strategies;
$6,974 − Remington Research Group;
$5,000 − WPAI.

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Missouri

Missouri lawmakers advance ‘A’ through ‘F’ school grading bill

Published

4 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Missouri lawmakers advance ‘A’ through ‘F’ school grading bill

Annelise Hanshaw
| Missouri Independent

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe’s request to grade public schools on an “A” through “F” scale is pushing House lawmakers to approve legislation some think isn’t quite ready.

With approval and dissent on both sides of the aisle, the House voted a bill to create a new school accountability system through to the Senate 96-53 Thursday despite concerns the letter grades could be a “scarlet letter” for underperforming schools.

“Will this labeling system actually improve schools or will it mostly brand communities, destabilize staffing and incentivize gaming rather than learning?” asked state Rep. Kem Smith, a Democrat from Florissant, during House debate Tuesday morning, March 3.

She said the key metrics that determine the grade, performance and growth, are volatile.

“The label itself can become a self-fulfilling prophecy,” she said. “The bill doubles down on high stakes metrics that are known to be unstable.”

The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Dane Diehl, a Republican from Butler, told lawmakers that a performance-based school report card with “A” through “F” grades is inevitable. The details, though, are negotiable.

“The governor’s executive order, it is going to happen either way,” he said. “I think we tried to make that process a little better for school districts.”

Kehoe’s order directs the state’s education department to draw up a plan for the report cards and present it to the State Board of Education. The board could reject the idea, but with a board with primarily new members appointed by Kehoe, lawmakers have accepted the system as fate.

State Rep. Ed Lewis, a Republican from Moberly and chair of the House’s education committee, told the committee in January that he prioritized the bill as a way to give lawmakers influence over the final outcome. He is happy with the edits the committee made, which gives the education department more leeway to determine grade thresholds and removes a provision that would raise expectations once 65% of schools achieve “A” or “B” grades.

The House also approved an amendment March 3 that would grade schools’ environment. This would be based on the rates of student suspension, seclusion and restraint incident rates and satisfaction surveys given to students, parents and teachers.

The Senate’s version, which passed out of its education committee last week, does not include those changes.

“I think (the House bill) is the best product we have in the Capitol right now,” Lewis said. “I am not saying it’s complete, but it is the best we have right now.”

The changes have softened some skeptics of the legislation, like state Rep. Brad Pollitt.

Pollitt, a Sedalia Republican, said he didn’t support the legislation “for a number of years.” But with the edits, he sees potential for the legislation to usher in changes to the way the state accredits public schools.

The current process, he said, “nobody seems to like,” pointing to widespread concerns with the state’s standardized test.

Some of these changes are already happening quietly. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education received a grant from the federal government to develop a state assessment based on through-year testing, which would measure student growth throughout the school year, instead of a single summative assessment.

The department is poised to pilot the new test in 14 classrooms this spring, hoping to eventually offer it statewide within a few years. But the estimated startup cost of $2 million is one of many department requests cut from the governor’s proposed budget as the state grapples with declining revenue.

Creating the “A” through “F” report cards is estimated to cost a similar amount, if not more, according to the state’s fiscal note. The expense is largely frontloaded, going to the programming and technology support required to create the grade cards’ interface.

When The Independent asked Kehoe’s office about the fiscal note, the governor’s communications director Gabby Picard said he would work with “associated agencies” to determine appropriate funding “while remaining mindful of the current budget constraints and maintaining fiscal responsibility.”

The House’s version of the legislation includes an incentive program for high-performing schools, giving bonuses to go toward teacher recruitment and retention, if the legislature appropriates funding for the program.

The bill originally proposed incentives of $50-100 per student to subsidize teacher pay. This had large fiscal implications, and Lewis surmised that it would violate a section of the State Constitution prohibiting bonuses for public employees.

Making the funding optional and directing it to the school’s teacher recruitment and retention fund remedied those concerns. The Senate Education Committee removed the incentive program in its version of the legislation.

The House’s approval Thursday does not stop discussion and possible amendments. Next, the bill will go to the Senate for consideration, and if any changes are made, it will return to the House for more discussion.

This story was first published at missouriindependent.com.

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Missouri

Car chase ends in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, at intersection of 19th, Main

Published

16 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Car chase ends in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, at intersection of 19th, Main

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A car chase ended Sunday in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, according to police.

Around 2:15 p.m., people downtown reported a large police presence at 19th and Main streets.

Police said a car chase ended at the intersection after the suspect struck other vehicles.

Ryan Gamboa/KSHB 41

19th and Main

The suspect was taken into custody, per KCPD.

Due to the incident blocking the intersection, KC Streetcar service between Union Station and the River Market was temporarily suspended.

Streetcar service to downtown riders was restored before 4 p.m.

A KC Streetcar Authority spokesperson confirmed the streetcar was not involved in the KCPD incident.

This is a developing news story and may be updated.

—

If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.

Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 7, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at March 7, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 7 drawing

17-18-30-50-68, Powerball: 24, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 7 drawing

Midday: 3-3-7

Midday Wild: 4

Evening: 0-8-8

Evening Wild: 5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 7 drawing

Midday: 0-2-7-4

Midday Wild: 2

Evening: 3-4-2-0

Evening Wild: 5

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 7 drawing

Early Bird: 03

Morning: 10

Matinee: 15

Prime Time: 14

Night Owl: 08

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 7 drawing

05-06-21-23-28

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 7 drawing

21-34-46-53-56, Powerball: 23

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.

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