Keri Ingle

The Salem Republican recently held a hearing on child welfare issues at a time when Missouri’s Children’s Division has struggled with staff retention and executing key programs.

The head of the agency that oversees the Missouri Children’s Division says he wants investigators to treat evidence of fentanyl as an imminent danger to kids.

The legislation comes after several unsuccessful attempts to stop public funds from going to abortion providers or affiliates through the budget process. The bill now goes to Gov. Mike Parson.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson reduced Britt Reid's sentence after Reid crashed his truck into two vehicles near the Chiefs’ practice facility in February 2021 while drunk, permanently injuring a 5-year-old girl. Reid is Kansas City Chief head coach Andy Reid's son.

The Lee’s Summit Democrat has served in the Missouri House since 2019, representing a portion of Jackson County.

Only 16 investigators are looking into child abuse and neglect claims in St. Louis and St. Louis County. The head of the Missouri Children’s Division says that number should be closer to 60.

The passage comes less than a week after the House gave the bill first-round approval. The House has also sent to the Senate its own version of a bill restricting access to gender-affirming health care for transgender minors.

One of the transgender bills was added to a bill containing multiple measures about Missouri elections, including the requirement that voters show a photo ID in order to cast their ballot.

The measure also increases the penalty for illegally distributing abortion-inducing drugs to a felony.

The lawmakers also discussed how bipartisanship can help cool tensions in an often-contentious legislative arena.