Political Reporting

Missouri State Government

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April 10, 2018

Senate adds money for university cooperative programs to proposed state budget

In a daylong session Tuesday, a Senate committee took a different route to funding state university cooperative programs.

March 13, 2018

Seniors look to lawmakers to bridge gap in Missouri Medicaid funding

A bill that would partly address the funding shortfall has been approved by the Senate.

February 28, 2018

Hopeful candidates rely on the luck of the draw

Candidates come wait in line at the secretary of state's office on the first day of filing because a lottery determines where their name will show up on the ballot.

February 04, 2018

Missouri considers work requirement for people on food stamps

The work requirement would only be for able-bodied adults. 

January 18, 2018

Senate leader expects governor's education appointees to be blocked

The governor appointed five members to the Board of Education after the end of the 2017 session, resulting in the firing of Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven.

January 16, 2018

Proposed bill aims to get the government 'out of people's hair'

The bill’s sponsor said aims to get rid of unnecessary burdens on hair braiders so they can earn a decent living without the cost of obtaining a license to legally braid hair.

February 06, 2018

Legislators looking to ease employment restrictions on felons

Bills in the House and Senate would change restrictions for employee involvement with alcohol and lottery ticket sales.

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PolitiFact

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In collaboration with PolitiFact and the Columbia Missourian, I worked on a 12-person team of reporters to fact check claims made by Missouri politicians. As part of this process, I researched and interviewed expert sources to verify these politicians' claims. I, along with my team, collected Missouri Gov. Greitens' primary campaign promises and wrote the initial status reports on these promises for Missouri's first-ever PolitiFact Truth-O-Meter: the Greitens Gauge. Three other reporters and I attended the regional Society of Professional Journalists conference to speak about our work (pictured above with our editor: far right). 

December 20, 2017

FACT CHECK: Missouri informed consent laws found conflicting, controversial and inconclusive

During the summer of 2017, the Missouri legislature passed a bill that changed the state’s abortion laws. Exactly what it means is still in dispute.

November 19, 2017

GREITENS GAUGE: Ban gifts from lobbyists

Eric Greitens campaigned on fixing what he says has become the politically corrupt Missouri capital. Greitens promised during his campaign to “clean up the mess by banning gifts from lobbyists.”

October 23, 2018

FACT CHECK: Hartzler's comment about crash deaths correct but lacks context

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo., issued a press release on Sept. 8, in which she connected a lack of military investment to issues in military readiness and accidents for service members. She said, “The 42 soldiers killed in crashes this summer exceeds the number of soldiers killed in the Afghanistan conflict.”

October 05, 2017

Margaret Sanger, alleged white supremacist?

"It's time to remove any statue of Margaret Sanger who was a white suprematist (sic), spoke at kkk events & supported by democrats. #prolife"

— Andrew Koenig on Friday, August 18th, 2017 in a tweet

September 10, 2017

Claim about in-home care cuts Mostly False

"The governor's cuts would kick over 8,000 people out of their homes."

-- Crystal Quade on Wednesday, August 9th, 2017 in a letter

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Colorado Community Media 

September 05, 2018

All-female team leads Cherry Creek Theatre

The managers of Cherry Creek Theatre (CCT) have made an unprecedented move in the company’s history — some say in the history of all of Denver’s theater community: They have hired an all-female team of directors for the upcoming 2019 season.

June 25, 2018

Thornton checking up on marijuana licensees

Renewal requirements for Thornton’s marijuana-selling establishments could get stiffer under a plan City Councilors are reviewing.

July 02, 2018

Thornton mulls spreading out water rate increase

A planned six percent rate hike for Thornton water customers may get spread out over two years, according to a plan being considered by city councilors.

July 17, 2018

Spread of ash tree-killing insect deemed unavoidable

The green beetle blamed for killing thousands of ash trees continues to spread south, most recently to the town of Superior. This marks the fifth Front Range community the Emerald Ash Borer has infiltrated in five years.

September 06, 2018

Mayor, State Representative candidate spar at meeting

Westminster Mayor Herb Atchison warmed up his State of the City address a few days early, meeting with a small group of city residents Aug. 21 at Legacy Ridge Golf Course to give them insight on city affairs.

July 31, 2018

State politicians debunk partisan myth

Amid what many United States citizens have been characterizing as a highly partisan and divisive time, the Westminster Chamber of Commerce and Colorado Women’s Alliance tried to change the conversation - at least in Colorado.

June 18, 2018

No coincidences for colorful, sweaty, crazy German bicycling from coast-to-coast

Tall, lanky and bald, dressed in a neon orange cycling outfit and bright purple glasses, Jörg Richter walked out of Adams County Fire Rescue Station 14 in flip-flops — and immediately started poking fun at himself.

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