Connect with us

Missouri

Missouri officials tout new digital platform verifying social service program income

Published

on

Missouri officials tout new digital platform verifying social service program income


Staffers at the Missouri Capitol were abuzz last month when NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal spent time posing for photographs and shaking hands in the historic House Lounge.

But his presence in the Capitol prompted an obvious question: Why was O’Neal in Jefferson City?

O’Neal is a part-owner of Steady, a company that’s partnering with the Department of Social Services to help verify income for Medicaid, food assistance programs and temporary assistance for needy families.

In a brief interview with St. Louis Public Radio, he said the Steady platform amounts to a “win-win.”

Advertisement

“It helps save the taxpayers some money. It helps get people their benefits and get them real quick,” O’Neal said. “And it helps the administration cut down on costs.”

DSS officials launched the SteadyIQ pilot program several years ago and announced they were rolling out the platform to the general public last month.

Marcel Crudele, chief strategy officer for Steady, said participants provide their income source information — which can be a bank or digital wallet such as PayPal or Venmo. SteadyIQ then compiles the income data into a report that can be sent to state officials, Crudele said,

“So the income verification part is more accurate and much faster for them to do, and that accelerates the ability to make a determination,” Crudele said.

Steady chief commercial officer James Haberlen said the platform should provide a quicker response to applicants about whether they qualify for a program and make it easier for the state to process applications more efficiently.

Advertisement

“The state has a solution that can unify how income verification is done to both help the case worker on the state side be more efficient, but also the clients that are looking to get public benefits as quickly as possible,” Haberlen said.

Michelle Wolf, Department of Social Services’ deputy director of the family support division, said SteadyIQ is preferable to a cumbersome process that requires applicants to either gather screenshots or print out paystubs for state officials.

“It was very labor intensive, not only for the participant or applicant by gathering screenshots or printouts, but it’s also labor intensive for the state agency to take those screenshots or printouts and add them together to calculate a monthly income,” Wolf said. “So it’s very labor intensive and prone to error.”

A broader trend

Kimberly Enard, an associate professor of health management and policy at St. Louis University, sees DSS’ embrace of Steady’s technology as part of a broader trend for state social service agencies.

“I think we’ve seen a lot of improvements and changes over the past decade or so in how people who are applying for these types of benefits are able to do so,” Enard said. “It really hasn’t been that long ago when people actually had to show up in person to do this.”

Advertisement

After the passage of the Affordable Care Act in the early 2010s, Enard said states began to modernize application processes. She added that if artificial intelligence programs continue to evolve and improve, more states could implement similar technologies like SteadyIQ.

“I think it’s going to become more and more common as we leverage technology more to streamline some of these processes,” she said.

Enard said one aspect that states like Missouri should watch closely is how these types of technologies protect an applicant’s data.

“I do think there probably are going to be some people who have some concerns about having this type of technology access their information,” she said.

One particular challenge for Department of Social Services officials is that people who may qualify for Medicaid or SNAP food assistance may not have easy access to smartphones or computers with reliable internet access.

Advertisement

Wolf said that since SteadyIQ is browser based, an applicant can access it at a library or at a relative’s house.

“There is some flexibility on how to use this,” she said.

Wolf said the platform won’t cut someone off benefits if their income goes over the limit for a particular program. For instance: Medicaid has a $34,341-a-year maximum for a family of three.

“This will be used in applications,” Wolf said. “We will explore what other options there are to use this technology in the future. But it’s not about looking to cut anyone off. It’s about getting timely and accurate benefits to everyone who applies and who meets this.”

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Missouri

Clergy members, high school student oppose bill to require Ten Commandments in Missouri classrooms

Published

on

Clergy members, high school student oppose bill to require Ten Commandments in Missouri classrooms


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (First Alert 4) – Missouri schools could be required to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom if one lawmaker gets his way.

High school student Calvino Hammerman used to attend a Jewish private school. Now at Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis County, the sophomore appreciates all the diversity of his peers. But as a practicing Jew, Hammerman said he understands what it’s like to have someone else’s religion forced on you.

That’s why Hammerman opposes a bill that would require all public and charter schools in Missouri to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

“My Hindu friends do not believe in this, but who is the government to tell them that that is wrong,” Hammerman said in a Senate Education Committee hearing.

Advertisement

A bill sponsored by Cape Girardeau-area Republican Sen. Jamie Burger would require all Missouri public and charter schools to display the Ten Commandments in the lobby and in all classrooms on a poster no smaller than 11 by 14 inches. If this passes, it would go into effect Jan. 1, 2026. There is no plan to allocate money to schools to pay for the posters, but Burger said he is confident there will be donors willing to fund the posters for schools.

“I honestly believe that when prayer went out of schools, and religion was removed from schools, that guns came in and violence came in,” Burger said.

In a public hearing of the Senate Education Committee Tuesday morning, far more Missourians stepped up to oppose the bill than support. The committee ran out of time to hear testimony from all of those gathered to oppose the bill, but many of those who did speak were religious clergy members who said it would violate Americans’ religious freedoms.

“As you have already noted, there is a Ten Commandment monument just outside this building, and that has not made the members of this body follow all of those commandments,” said Brian Kaylor with the Christian nonprofit Word & Way.

Bills like this are popping up across the country, at least a dozen other states are considering or have passed similar requirements. Louisiana was the first state to pass this law, but it was blocked by a federal judge. The case could go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Advertisement

Democratic Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern said the legislature shouldn’t act on this bill until the court makes a decision.

“Placing these in a public school classroom is a very frustrating use of our time and what I see as our tax dollars moving forward as we litigate these things,” Nurrenbern said.

While those opposed say this bill would violate religious freedoms, Republican lawmakers like Sen. Rick Brattin argue the complete opposite.

“We just need to be willing to plant that flag that God, and the God of the Ten Commandments, is who gave us this amazing nation and we need to be able to reflect and look at that,” Brattin said.

The bill needs approval from the Senate Education committee to move forward, the committee could vote as soon as next week.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 24, 2025

Published

on

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 24, 2025


The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at March 24, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 24 drawing

06-23-35-36-47, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 24 drawing

Midday: 4-7-1

Advertisement

Midday Wild: 0

Evening: 1-1-0

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 24 drawing

Midday: 4-2-5-6

Advertisement

Midday Wild: 7

Evening: 9-2-4-9

Evening Wild: 0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from March 24 drawing

11-37-51-56-58, Cash Ball: 04

Advertisement

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 24 drawing

Early Bird: 02

Morning: 07

Matinee: 10

Prime Time: 09

Advertisement

Night Owl: 07

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 24 drawing

17-24-26-30-38

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 24 drawing

02-54-59-65-68, Powerball: 03

Advertisement

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

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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

Continue Reading

Missouri

Tax dollars pay for most legal settlements in Kansas City, Missouri

Published

on

Tax dollars pay for most legal settlements in Kansas City, Missouri


KSHB 41 reporter Charlie Keegan covers politics on both sides of the state line. If you have a story idea to share, you can send Charlie an email at charlie.keegan@kshb.com.

When the city of Kansas City, Missouri, has to pay a judgment after losing a lawsuit or reaching a settlement, the money generally comes from tax dollars.

Advertisement

Tax dollars pay for most legal settlements in Kansas City, Missouri

The city places tax dollars in its legal expense fund every year. This account pays for claims in whistleblower, discrimination and other lawsuits involving employees and the public.

“I mean, the taxpayer already got it hard. Got to pay everything,” said Gregory Spikes, taxpayer.

Charlie Keegan/KSHB

Advertisement
Gregory Spikes speaks with a reporter.

At a meeting earlier this month, the city’s finance director explained the city has insurance policies for properties, cybersecurity and workers comp.

The city does not buy insurance or self-insure for all possibilities. The legal expense fund handles claims outside of its covered areas.

“How are we responsible for the mistakes y’all are making? That’s another thing that’s wrong with the system,” said Christian Fly, who lives and works in Kansas City.

Christian Fly.jpg

Charlie Keegan/KSHB

Christian Fly questions how Kansas City, Missouri, spends his tax dollars.

The most recent lawsuit Kansas City lost involved former City Communications Director Chris Hernandez. He said the city manager told him to lie to the media.

Advertisement

A jury awarded Hernandez $700,000 for emotional distress, more than $200,000 in back or lost wages, and the city must pay his lawyer fees.

The city council suspended City Manager Brian Platt the next day.

Hernandez’s attorneys said these lawsuits are about changing the culture in city hall.

“I felt a lot of pressure for this case because I felt like we were fighting for truth, for how our city was going to be run in the future,” said Erin Vernon, of Bratcher Gockel Law.

Erin Vernon.jpg

Charlie Keegan/KSHB

Advertisement
Erin Vernon of Bratcher Gockel Law.

The city has hired a risk manager and revised policies to avoid lawsuits. That way, tax dollars can go where taxpayers want them spent.

“It’s important to have transparency on where those tax dollars are going so that we feel good about the use of our taxpayer money,” said Zane Champie, Kansas Citian.

Zane Champie.jpg

Charlie Keegan/KSHB

Zane Champie would like more transparency in how Kansas City, Missouri, spends his tax dollars.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending