Jefferson City, MO – To ensure continuity of government operations, Gov. Jay Nixon today appointed John Watson as Missouri State Auditor. Watson has agreed to serve as the State Auditor until a permanent appointment by the Governor is made, immediately prior to which Watson will resign. “The Missouri State Auditor’s Office provides a critical public…
Tom Schweich dead from apparent suicide
CLAYTON, Mo. — State Auditor and 2016 candidate for governor, Tom Schweich, died on Thursday morning as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. At a brief press conference, Clayton Police Chief Kevin Murphy said police would continue to investigate and that an autopsy was scheduled for Friday morning. Murphy said that there was “nothing…
Nasheed says Isom set to resign
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Several lawmakers, including St. Louis Democrat Jamilah Nasheed, told The Missouri Times that Dan Isom, Director of the Department of Public Safety, is planning on resigning his post. Nasheed’s press release on the issue reads, in part: “Dr. Daniel Isom confirmed with Senator Jamilah Nasheed that he would abdicate his post…
Treasurer releases midterm report
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel today released a report noting key accomplishments since he took office in 2009. “I consistently strive to make my office more accessible to Missourians, and this report is a way to help those I serve understand the day-to-day role of my administration,” Zweifel said. “I am very proud…
2016 Statewide Tip Sheet
JEFFERSON CITY — Now that the 2015 legislative session has started the 2016 announcements are already flying and speculation is ramping up. The Missouri Times decided to update our statewide tip sheet. U.S. Senate Republicans Senator Roy Blunt. Senator Blunt’s team doesn’t make mistakes that make him vulnerable to a serious challenge from either side. He has…
PSC prepares for a week of Empire Electric hearings
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) will be focusing on a case regarding increased rates for Empire District Electric Company consumers this week, starting with a technical conference tomorrow in the Governor’s Office Building and ending with a public hearing on Friday. Case ER-2014-0351, regards Empire Electric’s authority to file tariffs to…
Nixon announces new head of Highway Patrol
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Hours before lawmakers are set to gather for a hearing about decision-making from Gov. Jay Nixon’s office related to events in Ferguson, Nixon announced the stepping down of Missouri Highway Patrol Superintendent, Col. Ron Replogle. Replogle has served in the post for 5 years, much of Nixon’s tenure, and was charged…
Voters in 2016 could see a long ballot
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – If everyone were to miraculously succeed, the 2016 ballot could be one of the longest seen in Missouri’s history, but the process of getting a measure on the ballot is brutal. Just under 4% of all proposed constitutional measures from either initiative petitions or legislative proposals make it to the ballot.…
OP ED: Opening the door to an historic opportunity for Missouri agriculture
Nearly sixty years have passed since the Cuban Missile Crisis, but many in our generation still remember vividly the events that brought our nation to the brink of nuclear war. Back then, restoring normal diplomatic relations with Cuba – let alone exchanging goods and services – was unthinkable. While there remain serious political, moral and…
MWCA sends Missouri Students to China
Saint Louis, Mo. — For the first time in their history, Missouri Boys State and Missouri Girls State sent a handful of Missouri student leaders to China as part of a broader goal for the Midwest U.S.-China Association (MWCA). In the span of about 9 days, students from Missouri sat with U.S. Ambassador to China,…