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Tempers flare in Missouri Senate during GOP fight over initiative petition changes • Missouri Independent

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Tempers flare in Missouri Senate during GOP fight over initiative petition changes • Missouri Independent


The bitter feud between a vocal minority of Senate Republicans and the majority of the GOP caucus erupted Thursday into a fit of name-calling and allegations that certain lawmakers hoped to disrupt the regular process of legislation simply to boost their political fortunes.

For more than nine hours, the intra-party fight kept lawmakers in the Missouri Capitol, a marked contrast to the regular course of business on a Thursday in the Senate when legislators usually head home by the early afternoon. 

Instead, senators spent two hours debating whether to invoke a little-used rule to have the entire Senate act as a “Committee of the Whole” to debate legislation making it harder to pass a constitutional amendment by initiative petition. And when that effort failed on a 7-25 vote, it triggered a filibuster, with members of the recently formed Freedom Caucus holding confirmation of Gov. Mike Parson’s appointees hostage to reverse the earlier vote.

Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, a Columbia Republican who chairs the appointments committee, said he didn’t understand blocking appointments from Parson to highlight disagreements within the Senate.

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These people who have agreed to give up their time to (serve the state) don’t get to do that because a group of people didn’t get their way,” Rowden asked Sen. Andrew Koenig, one of those supporting the filibuster. “Is that where we’re at?”

“Yes,” Koenig replied.

It was honest, but it wasn’t an answer that pleased Rowden.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever been as disappointed in this chamber as I am right now,” Rowden replied. “This is unequivocally, without a doubt, the worst show of bad faith, or the biggest show of bad faith, I have ever seen in my life.”

Opening day of Missouri’s 2024 legislative session echoes past divisions

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Democrats remained silent throughout the day, refraining from joining the internal Republican dispute. Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo of Independence, in an interview, said factionalism in the GOP is getting worse.

This is the civil war within the Republican Party that is showing its face and that has come from outside of the smoke-filled back rooms and is now front and center,” Rizzo said. “This has been going on for years now. The only difference is that now the public is seeing it.”

The “MAGA-Trump” faction in the Republican Party is trying to control the majority, he said.

They’re gaining seats every cycle, and now they’re sick and tired of having to take orders from someone else and they are pushing towards an authoritarian government, as we’ve been saying forever,” Rizzo said.

The issue at the root of the dispute – making it harder for constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petition to pass – has been a Republican priority for several years. The issue is becoming more urgent because Republicans fear a signature campaign will succeed in putting an initiative on the statewide ballot to restore abortion rights.

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With only two elections – April and August – available before the general election, the pressure to pass changes to either increase the majority required, currently 50%, or to add a requirement that the majority be achieved in both rural and urban areas, will only grow.

The personality clashes were on display early and often during the debate.

Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin, debating with Sen. Bill Eigel, a GOP candidate for governor, told him he is the “definition of narcissism” and accused him of employing “terrorist tactics” to get his way.

“The fact that you want to circumvent that process tells me you don’t care about the constitution, or the process, or the opinion of other people here,” said O’Laughlin, a Republican from Shelbina. 

Eigel had just said that Senate Republican leadership was “betraying” the voters who gave the GOP 24 of the 34 seats in the Senate.

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“This is just the latest dance by our leadership telling us what they think we want to hear but then, taking action that in no way reflects that,” Eigel said.

The recently formed Freedom Caucus – mainly members who had previously been aligned under the banner of the “conservative caucus” — announced early in the day that they would focus on Parson’s appointees as a pressure tactic.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” the caucus’s news release stated.

Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, said he knew the filibuster to prevent confirmation of 25 appointees and several reappointments would not be popular. Those on the list include Robert Knodell, director of the Department of Social Services, and Paula Nickelson, director of the Department of Health and Senior Services. 

“When I was elected by almost 200,000 people I didn’t make an agreement with the people that elected me that I’m gonna be pals with everybody that I’m serving with,” Brattin said. “I’m here to advance freedom and liberty at all costs.”

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The hardball tactics could degenerate into a tit-for-tat dispute that lasts until the session ends in May.

With growing frustration, Rowden said he had never used his leadership role to punish members who disrupted the Senate or accused him of being less than faithful to Republican principles.

“​​If this doesn’t change, and we don’t figure out how to act like adults, and the people who sent us here actually have some stake in this game,” Rowden said, “that is going to change.”

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Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, business leaders react to Missouri stadium vote

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Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, business leaders react to Missouri stadium vote


KSHB 41 reporter Caroline Hogan covers development across the Kansas City area. Share your story idea with Caroline.

While Missouri state leaders are discussing the future homes of the Royals and the Chiefs, Kansas City business leaders are discussing much more affordable housing.

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Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, business leaders react to Missouri stadium vote

Those who work, live and invest in the downtown area gathered Wednesday for the monthly KC Downtowners Luncheon. They want what’s best for Jackson County, and they believe the best includes keeping the teams in Jackson County.

“You’re making an investment here that’s gonna last the next 60-100 years. Let’s do it right,” said Kelley Hrabe, a multifamily housing developer.

“The development downtown is doing very well, said Jan Marcason, a former Kansas City councilmember. “I think that [the stadium] would just be the icing on the cake.”

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Jan Marcason

Eddie Crane, who lives and works in downtown Kansas City, expressed enthusiasm for a downtown location.

“I want the Royals stadium in Washington Square, like six blocks from my house. That would be dynamite,” Crane said.

Eddie Crane

Many attendees supported the passage of Senate Bill 3, also known as the Show-Me Sports Investment Act. It’s Missouri’s way of keeping the Royals and Chiefs to stay in Missouri.

The bill passed Wednesday afternoon.

“I’m really excited about getting that support from the state of Missouri,” Marcason said.

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However, the vote on the bill doesn’t finalize any decisions. Kansas and Clay County are still contenders for the new stadium locations.

“Argument can be made that going out towards the Legends or some other location in Kansas still has the connectivity of sports with the soccer stadiums and the speedway out there, and I think that has some merit,” said Jason Osborne of Rosemann & Associates.

 Jason Osborne

Some residents, like Crane, express frustration with the lack of concrete plans.

“It seems that we’re all adults, you can easily present a plan, you can come to a conclusion and we can move forward as a collective,” Crane said.

A baseball stadium in downtown Kansas City could be an economic game changer.

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“Supporting local businesses, hanging out, buying beers, and going to all the shops, etc. They’re going to be spending the money in the local economy,” said Zach Molzer of Molzer Development.

Zach Molzer

That kind of revenue is not something KC business leaders are ready to stop fighting for.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.





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Missouri Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for June 10, 2025

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The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at June 10, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 10 drawing

10-11-14-38-45, Mega Ball: 24

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 10 drawing

Midday: 9-2-7

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Midday Wild: 3

Evening: 5-0-9

Evening Wild: 2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 10 drawing

Midday: 0-0-7-9

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Midday Wild: 3

Evening: 9-7-9-9

Evening Wild: 9

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from June 10 drawing

08-09-35-41-46, Cash Ball: 02

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Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 10 drawing

Early Bird: 04

Morning: 03

Matinee: 10

Prime Time: 10

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Night Owl: 03

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from June 10 drawing

06-07-08-17-33

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

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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

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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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Missouri and Kansas have fewer kids living in poverty, but more are struggling in school

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Missouri and Kansas have fewer kids living in poverty, but more are struggling in school


The latest Kids Count report shows fewer children in Missouri and Kansas lived in poverty in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic years, but many are still struggling to rebound from reading and math learning loss.

The annual child wellness report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks states on kids’ economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. Kansas ranked 14th overall, and Missouri ranked 27th — both a few places above last year.

Both states reduced the number of children living in high poverty areas or in families headed by someone without a high school diploma. In 2023, more children had parents with secure employment. Fewer people had children as teenagers as well.

Pandemic-era support programs like the child tax credit lessened the blow of the worst economic effects of the pandemic, according to the report.

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Jessica Herrera Russell, senior communications manager for Kansas Action for Children, said proposed federal budget cuts could limit families’ access to other support measures like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

“Sick parents aren’t going to be able to consistently work. Hungry kids aren’t going to be able to learn,” Herrera Russell said. “We really need to make sure that we ensure that everybody who is eligible is able to get help from what those programs are for.”

The percentage of Kansas children without health insurance in 2023 was the same as before the pandemic and improved by a couple points in Missouri. But 3,000 Kansas children lost health insurance from 2022 to 2023 because of paperwork issues when states redetermined Medicaid eligibility, Herrera Russell said.

According to the report’s other health indicators for wellness, children in Missouri weighed less at birth than they did in 2019, and mortality rates for both states’ children and teens rose.

The number of children in Missouri living in households that spent a large portion of their income on housing costs also stayed the same, and decreased by a percentage point in Kansas.

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Tracy Greever-Rice, project director for the Missouri Kids Count with the Family and Community Trust, said 1 in 5 of the state’s children live in households that spend at least a third of their income on housing.

“Housing costs… includes things like mortgage and rent, insurance, utilities and other expenses that are just related to keeping that roof over your head,” Greever-Rice said. “We are improving in poverty, but there is additional work to do around being at risk of living in a household that is experiencing poverty.”

Struggle to recover academically

Despite several economic improvements for Missouri and Kansas children, both states have lost ground in nearly all of the report’s education indicators of well-being.

The exception is graduation rates — the number of high school students graduating on time in Missouri stayed the same and increased by two percentage points in Kansas.

But access to early childhood education remains a concern. In Kansas, 55% of young children ages 3 and 4 years old weren’t enrolled in school and in Missouri, 57% weren’t — both a couple of percentage points lower than before the pandemic.

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Greever-Rice said early childhood education for students is predictive of long-term academic success.

Students in Missouri and Kansas are also still struggling to recover in reading and math to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Kids Count data. In Missouri, 77% of eighth graders were not proficient in math and 73% of fourth graders were not proficient in reading.

In Kansas, 74% of eighth graders were not proficient in math and 72% of fourth graders were not proficient in reading.

In addition to targeted learning investments, Herrera Russell said reducing the amount of adverse childhood experiences that children go through will also help them academically.

Adverse childhood experiences are traumatic events that affect children in the long term — like economic hardship, experiencing domestic or community violence, living with someone who has a mental illness or substance use problem or facing discrimination based on race or ethnicity.

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“If their parents are able to keep stable housing, if they’re able to ensure that they can get their kids to school, if they are able to make sure that they have enough to eat for every meal,” Herrera Russell said, “that will decrease the amount of trauma that kids go through and the amount of upheavals, and that will enable kids to go to school, ready to learn.”





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