Missouri
Missouri Republicans push legislation to curb citizens’ petition power
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KFVS) – The crusade by Missouri Republicans to fortify the state’s constitution against citizen-led ballot measures is poised to take a big step.
The Senate Committee on Local Government and Elections is scheduled to hear 12 resolutions Monday afternoon, January 29 each of which is aimed at making it more difficult for Missouri citizens to make changes to the state’s fundamental governing document.
Republican lawmakers thrust the issue to the top of their priority list when a campaign was launched, despite a litany of court challenges, to collect the requisite signatures for an abortion rights question to be placed on November’s ballot.
“At this point where there’s so much at stake, gloves are off, and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to protect life, and to ensure that our constitution is protected,” said state Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, who is sponsoring one of the resolutions and has been openly critical of the initiative petition as an avenue for direct democracy.
In order to obstruct an increasingly likely ballot measure on abortion rights in November, Republicans said they intend to pass their resolution to put their initiative petition question on the August statewide ballot.
The initiative petition process was utilized by Missouri citizens to legalize recreational marijuana, expand medicaid and overturn the state’s “Right to Work” law.
“Politicians are kept under control of the voters by the citizen initiative process,” said Scott Charton, spokesperson for the political action committee Missourians for Fair Governance. “This is over 100 years time, a good process. It works. It doesn’t need fixing. But politicians want to take away the people’s right to set the agenda and to put laws in place. That’s not right. It shouldn’t be weakened.”
Freddie Steinbach was the finance director for former Gov. John D. Ashcroft’s Finance Director and the first mayor of Chesterfield.
“In 1992, my former boss Governor Ashcroft vetoed similar attacks on the citizen initiative process,” Steinbach said in a press release. “The then-Democratic majority was attacking the will of the people, and trying to make the initiative process more difficult, because the Democrats were bitter that conservatives had been using the citizen initiative, including to pass the Hancock Amendment with only 55% of the vote.”
Steinbach now works as outreach director for Conservatives Against Corruption and plans to speak out against the resolutions before the committee Monday.
“In his veto statement, Governor Ashcroft said, ‘the General Assembly should be reluctant…to enact legislation which places any impediments on the initiative power which are inconsistent with the reservation found in the Constitution.’ I ask that this legislature listen to the advice from our former Governor when considering further legislative action.”
Resolutions to be considered Monday:
SJR 48 – Would require constitutional amendments be approved by a simple majority in a majority of the constitutional districts in the state. This would eliminate the power of “one person, one vote,” by weighting any decision for amending the constitution more heavily on less-populated, rural districts.
SJR 49 – Same as SJR 48 and also bans certain topics from being the subject of an an initiative petition, including raising taxes, reducing money for law enforcements or public education. This also includes a “poison pill” amendment, wherein the entire amendment is automatically deemed unconstitutional if any part of a constitutional amendment is found to be so by a court.
SJR 51 – Same as SJR 48 and also bans tax increases on food sales, real estate and property from being the subject of the IP. Also prohibits foreign governments or political parties from sponsoring IPs, and empowers the general assembly to enforce the rules. Critics say this is merely an avenue for the general assembly to kill whatever initiative petition it doesn’t like.
SJR 56 – Tightens the requirements for how narrow the scope of an IP should be.
SJR 59 – Would require constitutional amendments be approved by a simple majority statewide and a simple majority of the votes cast in a majority of the state senate districts. (SJR 48, 49 & 51 aligned with congressional districts).
SJR 61 – Same as SJR 59, except aligning with state representative districts instead of state senate districts.
SJR 73 – Would impose a litany of new requirements and restrictions for voter-submitted ballot measures, including identification requirements for supporting campaigns, passage thresholds tied to campaign contributions, new bureaucratic steps for reporting contributions. The resolution also creates a public complaint structure as an additional obstacle.
SJR 74 – Same as SJR 48.
SJR 77 – Same as SJR 51.
SJR 79 – Same as SJR 49.
SJR 81 – Same as SJR 51, except aligning with state representative districts instead of congressional districts.
SJR 83 – Same as SJR 49, but without the prohibition on IPs related to reducing spending or raising taxes.
Copyright 2024 KFVS. All rights reserved.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 8, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing
37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 8 drawing
Midday: 4-6-2
Midday Wild: 6
Evening: 1-3-0
Evening Wild: 6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 8 drawing
Midday: 1-1-1-9
Midday Wild: 3
Evening: 8-8-9-9
Evening Wild: 8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 8 drawing
Early Bird: 13
Morning: 11
Matinee: 15
Prime Time: 07
Night Owl: 13
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from May 8 drawing
02-18-20-23-36
Check Show Me Cash 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.
A Jackson County judge on Friday denied Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway’s attempt to immediately stop Kansas City-based CBD American Shaman and several affiliated companies from selling kratom products.
The motion for a temporary restraining order, which was filed alongside the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, took particular aim at the more potent 7-OH products, which Hanaway argues are “hazardous opioids” banned by state and federal law.
Jackson County Circuit Judge Charles McKenzie’s ruling Friday stated there are “competing affidavits” from experts on both sides of the argument, following a hearing on the motion earlier this week.
“The court cannot find, based on the oral argument of the parties, the respective competing affidavits presented and the pleadings, whether the plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits at this juncture in the proceedings in order for the court to grant relief in the form of a temporary restraining order,” McKenzie’s order states.
Hanaway’s argument was backed by sworn statements from an undercover narcotics officer with the highway patrol who said 7-OH is being used to cut fentanyl and a woman whose brother died from a kratom overdose. Her office also submitted a FDA report that points to 7-OH as “a potent opioid that poses an emerging public health threat” and state health data showing synthetic 7-OH was involved in at least 197 Missouri deaths.
American Shaman submitted statements of its own from five toxicology and addiction experts, who largely said there wasn’t enough evidence to show that 7-OH and kratom posed a public health risk. One who researched narcotics said she had never heard of 7-OH being used to cut fentanyl.
Company owner Vince Sanders’ statement detailed how he came up with the idea to create 7-OH products, which now has an “enormous” demand particularly among people who need pain management.
Sanders could not be reached for comment about the ruling Friday.
McKenzie denied a temporary restraining order “without prejudice,” meaning that he would like to see more evidence.
“It is because of this finding that the court determines it necessary to hold an additional hearing,” he wrote, “where it can consider the parties respective positions with the potential of testimonial evidence and other properly introduced evidence, all as more fully developed by the parties, in order to further analyze these issues.”
The judge will consider “other injunctive relief sought in the pleadings at a future hearing to consider the issues,” the order states.
Hanaway filed a similar lawsuit Thursday against Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading LLC, and its owners Dustin Robinson and Ajaykumar Patel.
The group received a warning letter from the FDA for producing 7-OH products last year similar to one received by Shaman Botanicals.
“This is another step in our ongoing crackdown on kratom manufacturers who flout the law and try to justify endangering Missourians in the name of profit,” Hanaway said in a press release Thursday. “Our mission is to safeguard Missourians from unregulated and addictive substances, and we will continue to pursue every legal tool available to protect public health and safety.”
This story was originally published by the Missouri Independent.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 7, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 7 drawing
Midday: 7-3-5
Midday Wild: 7
Evening: 4-7-4
Evening Wild: 3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 7 drawing
Midday: 7-0-4-4
Midday Wild: 3
Evening: 4-3-4-7
Evening Wild: 4
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 7 drawing
Early Bird: 14
Morning: 13
Matinee: 01
Prime Time: 03
Night Owl: 11
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from May 7 drawing
01-08-24-28-34
Check Show Me Cash 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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