2.26 Missouri Update

Gov. Nixon’s father dies at age 90

Jeremiah “Jerry” Nixon, the father of current Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, was reported Friday morning as having passed away in his home in St. Louis.

Jeremiah had a long history of public service. He died at the age of 90.

Read KOMU’s coverage here.

Gov. Nixon vetoes Senate resolution

HCR 46, which opposes higher wages for at-home health care workers, was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon Friday morning.

The veto represents just another policy disagreement between the Democratic governor and the majority Republican General Assembly.

Read KOMU’s coverage here.

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Missouri Supreme Court hears Senate filming case

The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday from both sides in Progress Missouri v. Missouri Senate, a case where an advocacy group’s asserted right to film legislative procedures took center stage.

That group, Progress Missouri, sued after being told it couldn’t film certain Senate committee hearings. The Senate maintains that it was within its constitutional right to make such demands.

Read the Missourian’s coverage of the case here.

Republican candidates for governor face-off in debate

Republican candidates for governor John Brunner, Peter Kinder and Catherine Hanaway square off in a debate held Monday night in Jefferson City.

Four Republicans are currently running for the role of governor, including Eric Greitens, who was not in attendance.

Optimal fire-spreading conditions continue in Missouri

As a result of warm and dry conditions throughout Missouri this weekend, many authorities have taken to discouraging the burning of yard waste.

The National Weather Service had also previously issued a Red Flag Warning for Western and Southwest Missouri for Thursday and Friday.

In addition, firefighters fought a large fire in Northwest Missouri Thursday evening, as reported by the Associated Press.

Read KOMU’s coverage of these stories here.

Child safety bills

Three bills in the Missouri legislature, all concerned with child safety, received attention in public hearings Monday.

HB 1792 would add terrorist threats and statutory rape to the list of offenses that must be reported by school officials.

HB 1656 would require new mandatory suicide prevention training for all public school teachers.

HB 2388 would broaden pre-existing concussion awareness mandates to encompass both school-sponsored and community-organized youth athletic events.

Read the Missourian’s coverage of all three bills here.

Pledge of Allegiance

A new bill in Missouri, if passed, will turn the once-a-week Pledge of Allegiance tradition for public schools into a daily affair.

You can read the bill here, or the Missourian’s coverage here.

Death penalty debate

The Missouri Senate debated SB 816 on Monday, a bill that, if passed, would repeal the death penalty in the state.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Paul Wieland, R-Imperial. During the debate, Wieland identified himself as a devout Catholic interested in preserving the sanctity of life.

Read the Missourian’s coverage here.