JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Mike Kehoe was sworn in Monday as the 58th governor of Missouri.
Along the Missouri River, the stage was set and the capitol grounds were elaborately decorated for a patriotic ceremony celebrating Missouri’s state leaders and their families.
All eyes were on Kehoe as he addressed Missourians.
“I will always remember and honor the solemn oath I just took,” he said on the podium.
Advertisement
KSHB 41
His first moments in office, as promised, were dedicated to fighting crime in Missouri.
He signed into law a number of executive orders in what he calls a comprehensive reformative agenda that gives all law environment officers additional tools to do their jobs.
Kehoe said he’ll follow through by strengthening public education, creating stable jobs, reducing taxes and regulations to attract businesses, and tackling crime.
KSHB 41
Advertisement
“I believe we can work together without sacrificing our core beliefs. Securing Missouri’s future means strengthening public education and expanding school choice so that every single student has the opportunity to get a world-class education. Whether it’s a four-year college or career technical education, schools that teach kids how to think — not what to think — are the key to long-term self-reliance,” Kehoe said. “Securing Missouri’s future means creating stable jobs that provide both a source of income and a sense of purpose.
“My administration will focus on reducing taxes and cutting regulations so families keep more of their own money, and so job creators want to come here, expand here and hire more hard-working Missourians. Finally, securing Missouri’s future means securing our agriculture economy.”
His promise to Missourians is a secure future.
“Too many Missourians don’t feel safe — and too many Missourians aren’t safe,” he said. “When people are afraid for their lives and for their families, they cannot be productive, and they will not prosper. My administration will be relentless in our pursuit to make Missouri a place where it’s easier to be a cop than a criminal.”
KSHB 41
Advertisement
Some of the executive orders signed by Kehoe include:
1. “Operation Relentless Pursuit” is what he explained as a regional anti-crime effort to allow officers to pursue and apprehend “dangerous fugitives” with outstanding warrants.
“No longer will we wait until they are caught in a traffic stop,” said Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.
2. “Blue Shield Program,” which Gov. Kehoe said aims to strengthen community support for all law enforcement agencies. He said communities that participate would receive state grant money.
3. Gov. Kehoe plans to designate specific officers to train on immigration enforcement so “Missouri can assist in immigration enforcement when called upon by President Trump,” Bailey said.
Advertisement
KSHB 41
4. “Immigrant Data Collection,” which Bailey said means anyone being investigated for criminal behavior will also have their immigration status tracked by the state.
5. Gov. Kehoe signed into law a pay grid adjustment to the Missouri State Highway Patrol to reduce the time it takes to reach top salary from 15 years to 12 years of service.
Bailey said they’d look at the staffing levels of various law enforcement agencies across the state and whether or not they choose to opt in.
A spokesperson for the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department said they’d review Kehoe’s crime plan before commenting.
Advertisement
KSHB 41
With the conclusion of his swearing-in ceremony, Kehoe left the crowd with a guarantee.
“Missourians expect results, they deserve results and with my administration, they will get results,” he said. “I will talk to anyone, work with anyone and root for anyone who has a good idea to make our state safer, stronger and better.”
—
KSHB 41 reporter Megan Abundis covers Kansas City, Missouri, including neighborhoods in the southern part of the city. Share your story idea with Megan.
The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether the so-called “Missouri First” map is unconstitutional.
The map, passed by Republican lawmakers in September and signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe, stretches the boundaries of the 5th Congressional District, a Democratic stronghold, eastward into heavily Republican regions of the state. It also moves part of the current 5th District into the 4th and 6th districts, currently represented by Republican congressmen Mark Alford and Sam Graves. Incumbent Democrat Emanuel Cleaver is running for reelection in the 5th District.
Opponents of the Missouri First map’s main argument focused on the map being passed by lawmakers without any new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The congressional boundaries tossed out by the Missouri First map were based on the 2020 U.S. Census.
Advertisement
Attorney Chuck Hatfield represents those challenging the new map passed by Republican lawmakers last fall.
“The whole idea is tethered to the census data. You must do it at the census, and you only do it at the census,” Hatfield told the High Court. “The court’s precedents also support this.”
Solicitor General Louis Capozzi, representing the Missouri Sec. of State’s office, disagreed, saying the Missouri Constitution is silent on mid-decade redistricting.
“Mid-decade redistricting had happened in Missouri in the 1870s, and mid-decade redistricting was common around the country in the first half of the 20th century,” he argued. “Article III, Section 45 of the Missouri Constitution sets out only three requirements for the redistricting of seats in Missouri, ‘The district shall be composed of contiguous territory, as compact, and as nearly equal in population as may be.’ And as long as the General Assembly complies with those three rules, this court said that Missouri courts, ‘shall respect the political determinations of the General Assembly.’”
Meanwhile, roughly a hundred demonstrators held signs across the street from the Missouri Supreme Court building, condemning the Missouri First map and calling for the Missouri Supreme Court to strike it down.
Advertisement
“Voters should choose our politicians,” said Missouri League of Women Voters Director Kay Park. “The League (of Women Voters) believes redistricting should keep communities of similar culture and race together to strengthen their vote and promote partisan fairness.”
The Missouri Supreme Court will rule on the congressional district map later.
Missouri senior forward Mark Mitchell was recognized Monday with a second-team selection to the All-Southeastern Conference teams.
Mitchell has led the Tigers all season long and tops the team in scoring (17.9 points per game), rebounding (5.2) and assists (3.6). He would be the just the second player in program to lead all the categories in one season, joining Albert White from the 1998-99 season.
Mitchell is also on pace to become the first player in program history to average at least 17 points, five rebounds and three assists since Anthony Peeler in 1992, the year he took home the Big 8 Conference Player of the Year award.
Mitchell was the only Missouri player to be recognized in SEC postseason awards.
Advertisement
Five players were named to each of the three All-SEC teams.
Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee), Thomas Haugh (Florida), Labaron Philon Jr. (Alabama) and Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt) made the first team.
Acuff was named the conference’s player of the year and freshman of the year.
Joining Mitchell on the second team were Nate Ament (Tennessee), Rueben Chinyelu (Florida), Otega Oweh (Kentucky) and Dailyn Swain (Texas), while Rashaun Agee (Texas A&M), Alex Condon (Florida), Keyshawn Hall (Auburn), Aden Holloway (Alabama) and Josh Hubbard (Mississippi State) were named to the third team.
The All-SEC defensive team consisted of Chinyelu, Somto Cyril (Georgia), Felix Okpara (Tennessee), Billy Richmond III (Arkansas) and Tanner. Chinyelu was selected as the defensive player of the year.
Advertisement
Appearing on the all-freshman team were Acuff, Amari Allen (Alabama), Ament, Malachi Moreno (Kentucky) and Meleek Thomas (Arkansas).
Swain was selected as the newcomer of the year, while Urban Klavzar of Florida was named the sixth man of the year.
The 2026 Missouri high school basketball state championship brackets continue on Monday, March 9, with eight games in the sectional and quarterfinal round of the higher classifications.
High School On SI has brackets for every classification in the Missouri high school basketball playoffs. The championship games will begin on March 19.
Missouri High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (MSHSAA) – March 9, 2026
Advertisement
Sectionals
Doniphan vs. Potosi – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
Advertisement
St. James vs. St. Francis Borgia – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
Notre Dame de Sion vs. Oak Grove – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
Smithville vs. Benton – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
Cardinal Ritter College Prep vs. Clayton – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
Advertisement
Orchard Farm vs. Kirksville – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
Advertisement
Boonville vs. Strafford – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
Reeds Spring vs. Nevada – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
Advertisement
Quarterfinals
Festus vs. Lift for Life Academy – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
Grandview vs. Kearney – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
MICDS vs. St. Dominic – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
Advertisement
Helias vs. Marshfield – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
Advertisement
Quarterfinals
Jackson vs. Marquette – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
Advertisement
Rock Bridge vs. Staley – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
Incarnate Word Academy vs. Troy-Buchanan – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
Kickapoo vs. Lee’s Summit West – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
