Missouri
Warfare between Missouri Senate Republicans escalates with idea of expelling Freedom Caucus leader
The factional fights making the Missouri Senate a public spectacle are bad enough that Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin told reporters Thursday that she’d vote to expel the leader of the Freedom Caucus from the chamber.
Speaking to the assembled editors and publishers from the Missouri Press Association during their annual visit to the Capitol, O’Laughlin noted that expelling a senator takes 23 votes of the 34-member chamber.
“Two years ago, I said with 23 votes, you can throw somebody out of here,” she said. “And I would do it today.”
Asked who she meant, O’Laughlin named Sen. Bill Eigel.
“I would have to have 23 votes and get 23 votes, I’ll have to get some Democrats to vote for it and then I’ll have to give up something big,” O’Laughlin said. “So….everything here is a trade off you know.”
Soon after the remarks were reported on social media by The Independent, the door to the Senate Lounge, where O’Laughlin was speaking, opened and a Senate doorman said Eigel wanted to talk to her on the floor.
She said she was busy and not available.
A few moments later, the door opened again. Again, O’Laughlin was being summoned to answer questions from Eigel.
“Well, I am busy, so tell him I am not here,” she replied.
When her time was up, and she returned to the floor, she found an angry Eigel demanding to know if what had been reported was true.
“I am not the first senator willing to stand up for my principles and I’ll stay here till Christmas if I have to,” Eigel said.
“I don’t think at anytime, in this chamber, anyone has tied up the floor and stopped every senator from advancing their bills more than you,” O’Laughlin responded.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
After repeatedly asking O’Laughlin if she would vote to expel him from the Senate, Eigel got his answer.
“I’d vote for it, yeah,” she said. “I absolutely would.”
Eigel and the other five members of the Freedom Caucus have filibustered almost every day since the session began on Jan. 3.
On Tuesday, Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden removed the four members he described as “swamp creatures” from committee chairmanships, a move that also cut their office budgets by $10,000 each. Some also had their parking reassigned from the Capitol basement garage.
Rowden said that of 17 hours and 52 minutes the Senate has been in session so far this year, members of the Freedom Caucus have held the floor for 16 hours and 45 minutes for “filibusters of things of no consequence whatsoever relative to a piece of policy.”
Eigel, a candidate for governor, and other members of the Freedom Caucus are demanding that the Senate do no other business until a measure making it harder to amend the constitution through the initiative petition process passes the Senate.
The filibusters have delayed confirmation for 42 appointments made by Gov. Mike Parson.
Rowden tried to break the impasse by referring every bill filed this session – about 500 pieces of legislation – to committees.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
That wasn’t enough and the filibuster resumed to block the appointees Thursday afternoon.
“It was meant to be a show of good faith that obviously wasn’t greeted in kind,” Rowden told reporters at a news conference after the Senate adjourned for the week .
Democrats have stayed silent during the floor fights. Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo of Independence said at a news conference that his caucus is eager to fight over the policy bills, not sit and watch Republicans tear the Senate down.
“We’re all supposed to be jubilant that Republicans are fighting each other,” Rizzo said. “But you know, it’s hard to watch the Senate die.”
Asked if Democrats would join O’Laughlin in voting to expel Eigel, Rizzo said he would not and would not recommend it to his caucus.
“I would advise them to not support removing someone from the chamber that was duly elected,” Rizzo said.
The only people the disputes are helping, Rizzo said, are attention-seekers who want a higher office.
“It’s about gaining more power. It’s about raising the temperature so the cameras stay on them,” Rizzo. “It’s screaming on the floor. It’s pointing at the floor leader. It’s everybody texting me about how insane this is and look at this and look at that. In the meantime, single moms are trying to make ends meet.”
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Along with trench warfare in the Senate, Rowden and O’Laughlin are taking fire from a handful of local GOP committees backing Freedom Caucus members.
Since the ouster, the county Republican central committees in Boone, Camden, Cass, Saline, Perry, St. Charles and Vernon counties have issued statements demanding Rowden and O’Laughlin resign their leadership positions.
Boone County is where Rowden lives. The letter stated members were “thoroughly disgusted and appalled” by the first three weeks of the session.
“So far, the 2024 session has been highlighted by the childish, immature behavior on the part of the Senate leadership,” the letter from the Boone County central committee states.
State Rep. Cheri Reisch of Hallsville, vice chair of the Boone County GOP, said the vote in favor of the letter appeared unanimous at a meeting Tuesday, although she noted that several members were absent.
“A lot of people in Boone County and Missouri are unhappy with the Senate and the leadership that there are Republican caucus priorities, such as (initiative petition) reform that should have gotten done last year and should be made the first priority this year and people talk about education choice that wasn’t done in the Senate last year,” Reisch said. “And we have yet to see anything.”
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Rowden said on the Senate floor that he expects his home county GOP to revisit the decision to send the letter.
“I have heard from numerous members of the Boone County Central Committee who said the letter was never supposed to be made public and it will be retracted in a few days,” Rowden said.
During the Freedom Caucus news conference, Sen. Rick Brattin of Harrisonville said the backing from local committees was validation of the caucus’ tactics.
“They are, by and large, in favor of what we’re doing, and the senator from Boone’s own county has reprimanded him, expecting and wanting him to resign because of his failed leadership,” Brattin said.
The Freedom Caucus has struck fear into Senate leaders, Brattin said.
“You even saw today, the saber rattling of wanting to expel a member of this chamber,” he said. “How outrageous. How far are the lengths they will go to silence, really, the voice of the people of this state.”
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
If the hold on Parson’s nominees is intended to get him to take sides, it hasn’t been successful.
Parson also spoke to the editors during a luncheon for the press association Thursday. He said he is trying to stay out of the Senate fight.
There are ways to salvage the appointments if no action is taken next week, he said, but it is up to the chamber to solve its problems. In the meantime, he said, it disrespects the appointees, many of whom were named to boards or commissions that do not pay a salary.
Parson could withdraw the appointees to avoid a constitutional rule that requires appointments made before the session to be approved within 30 days. But that move requires the Senate to agree.
If the appointees are not withdrawn or approved before the deadline, they would be barred for life from being appointed again to the same position.
“The point of it is, they’re not doing anything wrong, nobody has anything against them, yet they’re in the crossfire of what’s going on here politically, internally, and that’s not right,” Parson said. “It’s simply not right.”
This story was originally published by The Missouri Independent, part of the States Newsroom.
Copyright 2024 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 3 drawing
07-21-53-54-62, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 3 drawing
Midday: 5-8-9
Midday Wild: 8
Evening: 8-8-2
Evening Wild: 7
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 3 drawing
Midday: 0-3-5-7
Midday Wild: 2
Evening: 0-9-9-5
Evening Wild: 6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 3 drawing
Early Bird: 13
Morning: 15
Matinee: 09
Prime Time: 14
Night Owl: 14
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 3 drawing
04-07-09-17-21
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.
Missouri state Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick has launched a review of the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis’ finances.
The audit is in response to complaints from a whistleblower who alerted the office to possible misuse of funds, Fitzpatrick said Tuesday. The auditor’s office then reviewed documents provided by RAC during an initial investigation before launching a full audit.
“We have verified the veracity of the whistleblower complaint, and have seen with our own eyes at this point records that give us enough concern that we want to proceed with an audit,” Fitzpatrick said.
The auditor’s report could be released late this year or in early 2027, he added. It would then be up to state and local authorities to follow up on any potential misconduct.
In an unsigned statement, RAC said it receives an annual audit from a firm selected by the offices of the St. Louis mayor and St. Louis County executive and that it shares the results publicly. “[We] are confident the findings from the state will mirror the success we have come to expect at the local level,” the statement says.
“We welcome the opportunity to provide documentation and context regarding our financial practices and grantmaking processes. As always, RAC will continue to focus on serving the St. Louis region’s arts and cultural community and maintaining the public’s trust,” the statement adds.
Potential issues identified in the state auditor’s initial investigation include the possibilities that RAC’s administrative expenses exceed what is allowed by statute, that leaders issued bonuses disallowed by the state constitution and that large grants were issued with no follow-up to ensure the money was used properly.
Fitzpatrick said his actions are not related to the commission’s choice of grant recipients.
Changes to the grant process
RAC distributes annual grants to arts organizations in St. Louis and St. Louis County. It is funded by a tax on hotel and motel stays. The commission distributed $3.7 million last year.
The organization suspended grant applications for fiscal 2026 due to “continuing financial volatility” and a new five-year plan, according to a note on its website. It will use applications received in 2025 as a guide for its 2026 grants.
Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis
“This pause allows RAC to support eligible and high-scoring 2025 grantees and applicants while navigating financial challenges and planning for a stronger, more sustainable grant program in the future,” the note says.
RAC publishes a list of its annual grants online.
Vanessa Cooksey became president and CEO of the organization in 2020 after it spent a year without a permanent leader. Previous chief Felicia Shaw had stepped down in November 2019. Neither Shaw nor RAC provided a public explanation for Shaw’s departure.
Some smaller organizations had complained that during Shaw’s tenure they stopped receiving annual grants.
The Regional Arts Commission had a $13.4 million budget in 2024, according to tax documents. Cooksey received a $196,253 salary and $28,652 in additional compensation.
Continuing a process begun by Shaw, Cooksey oversaw changes to grant applications that she said were meant to simplify the process – including removing a longstanding split between its funding mechanisms for large and small organizations.
A key arts funder after the coronavirus pandemic
In November 2022, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to direct $10.6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to RAC. A measure that would have allocated another $1.6 million failed to pass the St. Louis County Council, so RAC was statutorily required to distribute ARPA funds only to groups based in St. Louis.
RAC has distributed $9.5 million of the ARPA money so far, funding 195 individual artists and 75 organizations.
Arts leaders said in 2022 that the sector supports more than 19,000 jobs and generates nearly $600 million a year – more than all local sports franchises combined.
The federal money was a boon to St. Louis artists and arts organizations following a steep decrease in funding at the height of the coronavirus pandemic due to decreased tourism in the region.
Tax revenues earmarked for RAC decreased from $9.5 million in fiscal 2019 to $2.8 million the next year. Tax revenue directed to RAC have increased but still lag behind the pre-pandemic total. The commission reported $7.5 million in tax revenue received in fiscal 2024.
RAC presented a new five-year plan with much fanfare in March 2020 but had little initial opportunity to implement it. Not long after, St. Louis officials put limits on public gatherings to tamp down spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Commission officials released a new five-year strategic roadmap in December 2025.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 2, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from March 2 drawing
02-17-18-38-62, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 2 drawing
Midday: 3-3-4
Midday Wild: 2
Evening: 4-8-9
Evening Wild: 7
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 2 drawing
Midday: 6-4-2-2
Midday Wild: 5
Evening: 2-8-2-4
Evening Wild: 1
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 2 drawing
Early Bird: 08
Morning: 12
Matinee: 05
Prime Time: 04
Night Owl: 02
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 2 drawing
13-17-18-23-28
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 2 drawing
21-28-58-65-67, Powerball: 25
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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