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Eastern Missouri woman takes Miss Missouri crown

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Eastern Missouri woman takes Miss Missouri crown

Thirty Missouri women have competed in this year’s Miss Missouri with Katelyn Lewis of Lake St. Louis taking the crown and a $13,000 college scholarship. During Saturday night’s talent portion of the pageant at the Missouri Military Academy in northeast Missouri’s Mexico, Lewis sang “Phantom of the Opera”.

She tells Missourinet affiliate KXEO in northeast Missouri’s Mexico that she hopes to use her platform, Digital Compass, to promote a positive online presence.

This is her fourth year competing for the title.

Other finalists include first runner up Chelsea Arnold of Springfield, second runner up Simone Esters of Columbia, third runner up Katie Moeller of Kansas City and fourth runner up Ali Skinner of Maryville.

Lewis will compete in September’s Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City.

Aimee Higgins of Missourinet affiliate KXEO in Mexico contributed to this story.

Missouri Board of Education’s fresh start brings drastically different mood

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Today’s state Board of Education meeting had a noticeably different feel than the December 1 meeting when former Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven was terminated. Today’s meeting was not awkward, tense or divided like it was in December. Members of the now-functioning board voiced excitement about moving forward. They got down to business, but also shared several laughs throughout the meeting.

Missouri Board of Education meeting on June 14, 2018

The panel has lacked enough members confirmed by the Missouri Senate to hold a public meeting. The upper chamber did not give its blessing to five citizens appointed by ex-Governor Eric Greitens. The former Republican head of state designed a plan to fire former Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven. The move sent ripples through Missouri’s legislative and education communities.

State Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington, the chairman of the Senate’s education committee, attended today’s meeting. Members applauded Romine’s help to get the board functioning once again. Earlier this week, Republican Governor Mike Parson appointed two new members – paving the way for the board to resume business. Peter Herschend of Branson and Carol Hallquist of Kansas City have joined the group.

President Charlie Shields of St. Joseph praised Roger Dorson, who has been serving as the interim commissioner since Vandeven was terminated by Greitens’ mostly last-minute appointed members who are no longer serving.

“We are in no stretch of anybody’s imagination in a crisis because we haven’t named a commissioner,” said Shields. “To the contrary, I think things are going very, very well.”

Shields has given members some homework for the next meeting: gather criteria to use in the hunt for the next education chief.

“I think we need to be very deliberate about this. We need to take our time,” said Shields. “I think this board, between now and the next meeting, I would charge you with going back and thinking about those qualities, those qualifications and things like.”

Time is not something Greitens’ appointees seemed interested in. Their strength in numbers allowed the board to launch a speedy search that resulted in 10 applications being submitted. The next step in the hiring process came to a stop because the controversial appointees had not been confirmed by the Senate – putting all board business in limbo.

Member Mike Jones of St. Louis said the board must address an important question before deciding how to handle a national search.

“Are we at the point in time that we are looking for a change agent or are we looking for somebody who has the leadership skills to build on the foundation and maintain continuity,” Jones said.

Other business today by the board includes agreement renewals of five charter schools: Brookside and Gordon Parks Elementary in Kansas City and Eagle College Prep Endeavor, Lafayette Preparatory Academy and Lift for Life Academy in St. Louis.

Shields said the board and legislature should take another look at the state’s charter school laws. The General Assembly has been wrestling over the issue for years and attempts have been made to expand charter schools statewide. Currently, charter schools are allowed in Kansas City, St. Louis and any other unaccredited Missouri school district.

The main disagreement is about the accountability measures used to determine if charter school students are meeting performance standards. Charter schools do not use the same benchmarks as Missouri’s public schools do to measure student achievement – causing some to argue that public and charter schools should be measured equally. Supporters of charter schools say parents can pull their kids out of a charter school if they are not satisfied with the job the school is doing.

The next board meeting has not been scheduled.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Missouri’s Parson: “We cannot keep kicking that can down the road”

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COLUMBIA, Mo.- Missouri’s new governor said Wednesday in Columbia that infrastructure must be a top priority.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson shakes hands with state senators on June 11, 2018, before he addressed a joint session of the Legislature (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Governor Mike Parson (R) briefed reporters at the University of Missouri-Columbia’s campus.

“We cannot keep kicking that can down the road,” Parson said. “We’re going to have to face the fact that we gotta do something. At the end of the day it’s probably going to cost something.”

Missourians will cast ballots in November on a ten cent gasoline tax increase, which would be phased in over four years at 2.5 cents annually.

House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Reiboldt, R-Neosho, says he hopes Missourians see the need to fund both public safety and roads, with the November ballot issue.

Reiboldt describes the ballot measure as a public safety tax, which would fund the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the road and bridge fund.

“We need to have the people of Missouri where we can present to them what we feel like is the best avenues for the state of Missouri, and let the voters decide at the end of the day whether they want that or not,” said Parson.

Missouri’s current gasoline tax is 17 cents per gallon, which hasn’t been increased since 1996.

U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin, tells Missourinet that Governor Parson discussed infrastructure and transportation during Monday’s meeting with the state’s congressional delegation in Jefferson City.

Meantime, the Missouri Housing Development Commission is expected to meet soon to discuss low-income housing tax credits.

New Governor Parson, who supports the tax credits, said changes are needed.

“For low-income housing, and I’ve always been supportive of the low-income housing, that’s not been a secret. But there does need to be reform. We need to do real reform in that,” Parson said.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson wears special goggles as he tours a research facility at Mizzou in Columbia on June 13, 2018 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

The Missouri Housing Development Commission, which was established in 1969, administers and provides financing for construction of affordable housing.

During a brief press conference at Mizzou’s Gwynn Hall, a reporter also asked Parson if he’ll use the state airplane.

“We’ll be using the state plane when we feel like it’s appropriate to use it. We’ll drive when we can, but yeah I think right now there’s nothing more important than traveling the state trying to find out what are the issues facing all the communities and all of the people of Missouri,” said Parson.

Governor Parson also said businesses must be involved in partnerships with colleges and universities. Parson toured Mizzou Wednesday morning with UM System President Dr. Mun Choi, Mizzou leaders, state lawmakers and reporters.

Parson also traveled to southeast Missouri’s Gordonville and Sikeston on Wednesday, and ended the day at Cortex in St. Louis.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Familiar face returns to Missouri Board of Education today

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For the first time in several months, the state Board of Education meets today and with two new members. Newly-appointed member Peter Herschend of Branson tells Missourinet affiliate KZRK in Branson he volunteered to return to the board.

Peter Herschend

“My 26 years on the state Board of Education is without exception, the best public service work I have ever done. Best in the sense of we made a difference,” says Herschend. I can show you the difference that the state Board of Education has made in education attainments.”

Herschend says the state must increase the quality and quantity of people who want to become teachers.

“There are 36 teaching colleges certified in the state of Missouri,” he says. “I’m here to promise you, they are not all equal. The ones that are less equal are by definition doing less of a job.”

Governor Parson appointed Herschend, a Republican, and Democrat Carol Hallquist of Kansas City this week. The appointments make the board functional again after months of lacking enough members confirmed by the State Senate.

Herschend has served as president during his previous time on the board. He is the founder and co-owner of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation which owns Silver Dollar City.

Carol Hallquist

Hallquist is the founder of a Kansas City nonprofit that provides volunteers to urban schools by matching retired professionals with school principals. She is the former president of the Hallmark Corporate Foundation of Hallmark Cards.

Today’s meeting agenda includes an update on the search for the next Commissioner, renewal consideration for several charter schools and discussion about the development of MSIP 6 – the state’s school accountability system for reviewing and accrediting Missouri’s public school districts.

The meeting will be at the Jefferson State Office Building at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. Missourinet will be covering today’s meeting.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Parson hopes to fill remaining Missouri Board of Education spots in 2019

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Governor Mike Parson continues to work on getting filled three other Missouri Board of Education vacancies.

Photos courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications

“We want to fill those other three positions as soon as we can,” he says. “Hopefully, if we can get that vetted and everything, maybe by the first of the year.”

This week, the Republican governor appointed Republican Peter Herschend of Branson and Democrat Carol Hallquist of Kansas City to serve – making the board functional once again after months of lacking enough official members to conduct business. Parson tells Missourinet affiliate KSSZ in Columbia appointing the two members shows Missourians that state government is still operating.

“You’re talking about the responsibility of our kids in school all across the state of Missouri,” he says. “A lot of bad things can happen when you don’t have a quorum and when it can’t make decisions. So, it was important for me to get that back up and make sure the state knew that everything is going to be okay.”

Other members of the board include Republican Charlie Shields, President; Republican O. Victor Lenz, Jr., Vice President; Democrat Michael W. Jones. When all seats are filled, the panel is comprised of eight citizens appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. No more than four members of the panel can belong to the same political party.

Brad Tregnago of Missourinet affiliate KSSZ in Columbia contributed to this story.

Parson makes Missouri Board of Education functional again; commissioner search can move forward

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Missouri Governor Mike Parson has appointed today two members to the state Board of Education – making the panel operational once again. Three board seats remain open but having five appointed members allows the group to take action.

Peter Herschend

Parson has appointed Peter Herschend of Branson and Carol Hallquist of Kansas City to serve.

“Governor Parson’s decision to appoint Carol and Peter will help restore and maintain stability,” said Charlie Shields, President of the Missouri State Board of Education. “As a board, we are ready to work together to give Missouri students what they deserve – the best public education.”

Herschend is a former board member who served for 26 years, including as president for a period. He is the founder and co-owner of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation which owns Silver Dollar City.

Hallquist is the founder of PrincipalsConnect. The Kansas City nonprofit provides volunteers to urban schools by matching retired professionals with school principals. She is the former president of the Hallmark Corporate Foundation of Hallmark Cards.

One of the next major orders of business for the board will be to launch a search for a new Commissioner of Education. Roger Dorson has been serving as the interim head since Margie Vandeven was terminated on December 1. Dorson has no interest staying in the position on a permanent basis.

Carol Hallquist

“We owe it to our students to provide the best, high quality public education in Missouri,” Parson said in a news release. “It was important to act quickly to restore and provide functionality to the State Board of Education. We expect the Board will begin conducting a diligent national search, to find a capable, qualified candidate to serve as Missouri’s Commissioner of Education.”

“Delighted to see Governor Parson make balanced appointments to the State Board of Education,” said Missouri State Representative Kathy Swan, Chairman of House Education Committee. “I look forward to continuing to work with the State Board to provide the nearly 900,000 Missouri students the finest public education Missouri can offer.”

The group’s work came to a screeching halt after former Governor Eric Greitens developed a plan last year to find candidates who would vote in favor of firing Vandeven. If they had a change of heart, Greitens replaced the appointees.

The tactics were carried out while the legislature was not in session – frustrating many legislators who said Greitens dodged the Senate’s role of confirming appointments. The chamber responded back by letting the five controversial candidate names ride off into the sunset.

Many Missouri education organizations are likely feeling a sense of relief today because the board can resume its work. Executive Director of the Missouri School Boards’ Association, Melissa Randol, praises Parson’s move.

“We thank Governor Parson for placing such a high priority on appointments to the State Board of Education. The extraordinary experience of the two appointees will enable the State Board to resume its responsibilities quickly. We look forward to working with the State Board on policy issues that will have a positive impact on the education being provided to Missouri’s 900,000 public school students,” Randol said in a news release.

Meanwhile, the board has a meeting scheduled for Thursday. The agenda includes an update on the search for the next Commissioner, renewal consideration for several charter schools and discussion about the development of MSIP 6 – the state’s school accountability system for reviewing and accrediting Missouri’s public school districts.

Thursday’s board meeting will be at the Jefferson State Office Building in Jefferson City at 8:30 a.m.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

For the third year in a row, Mizzou to slash its budget and jobs

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Mizzou Chancellor Alex Cartwright says increased funding in scholarships, staff pay increases and an enrollment decline have led to a $49 million budget shortage. He says the school is proposing to cut 155 unfilled positions and 30 current ones, to close the gap in the budget that begins next month.

For the third year in a row, Mizzou to slash its budget and jobs

“What we wanted to do is make sure we have the services needed first and foremost for our students. Those are where we prioritize and then the details of what are the things that aren’t as frontline,” says Cartwright. “To me that is really a choice in terms of where we are investing: in our students and our faculty and the things we are doing as an academic institution.”

The enrollment projections were not outlined during a press conference this week to release the budget details.

Severance packages of up to 26 weeks of pay, depending on years of service, are being offered to staff having their positions cut.

The spending plan marks the third year in a row the institution has slashed its budget and jobs.

“When you add even a 2% reduction on top of reductions that have already taken place for many years, they have already cut everything they can cut. Right now, they are having to make some really difficult decisions about what they will not be doing,” says Cartwright.

The state’s proposed funding for the university is the same as last year’s – nearly $396 million. As part of a deal with legislative budget leaders to avoid a smaller share of state funding, Mizzou in turn agreed to only increase tuition next fiscal year by 1%.

The proposed budget also includes:

*Significant reduction of travel by several schools and colleges across the campus.

*Other schools and colleges eliminating courses with low enrollment and reduced emphasis areas for academic programs. The courses being targeted for cuts are unknown.

*Divisions are reducing or eliminating sponsorships of community or campus events.

*Elimination of several print publications and replacing them with internet-based ones.

The budget recommendations head to the Board of Curators later this month for consideration.

Mizzou appears to be digging itself out of a housing problem hole. One year ago, the school had seven empty dorms that prompted officials to rent rooms to the public during football weekends and other major events. Football fans and others visiting Mizzou will have to find another place to stay. Next fall, those rooms will mostly be filled with students absorbing the traditional experience of living on campus.

The success of getting the dorm rooms filled back up with the future leaders of tomorrow is likely because the university dropped its housing rates last year for more than one-third of its more popular residence halls. The reduction was in response to a 2.1% tuition hike last fall at all four campuses.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

B-17 bomber flights will be offered this weekend in Chesterfield

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(This story is written by Missourinet St. Louis contributor Todd Sauter)

The B-17 Flying Fortress at Chesterfield’s Spirit of St. Louis Airport (May 28, 2018 photo courtesy of Missourinet St. Louis contributor Todd Sauter)

The Liberty Foundation has organized a “Salute to Veterans” tour near St. Louis, which gives you the chance to fly this weekend in a B-17 bomber that’s never been available to the public for flight experiences.

The B-17 Flying Fortress is regarded as the most famous bomber of World War II, and the “Madras Maiden” is one of just 12 still flying, with flight and tour opportunities available.

“For those that cannot afford to spend $450 to ride on a B-17, we open the airplane at the end of the day when the rides are complete to the public, free of charge, and they can tour the airplane. Families can come out and they can go through the airplane front to back,” volunteer Captain Bob Hill tells Missourinet.

The airplane is an educational outreach tool, and flights are available this Saturday and Sunday (June 2-3), with proceeds going to keep the plane flying.

A flight costs $450 this weekend at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, which is near the Missouri River. Each flight experience lasts about 45 minutes.

This B-17, which was built in 1944, has nine available seats on each flight.

The B-17 Flying Fortress, from a different angle at Chesterfield’s Spirit of St. Louis Airport (photo courtesy of Missourinet St. Louis contributor Todd Sauter)

The airport’s website notes Spirit has a 7,485 foot all-weather runway, along with a 5,000 foot parallel runway.

You can find more information about this weekend’s flights by visiting www.libertyfoundation.org or by calling (918) 340-0243.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Members of Missouri’s delegation to Washington consider school safety legislation

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WASHINGTON D.C. — Lawmakers are returning to Washington D.C. this week with a new push to pass school safety legislation.

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Missouri)

On Friday, a gunman opened fire in a Santa Fe, Texas high school, killing 10 students and injuring over a dozen more.

Lawmakers say something needs to be done to stop this.

Missouri Republican Congresswoman Vicki Hartzler says as a former public school teacher, she knows all too well how vulnerable students are at school every day.

“We are sitting ducks,” Hartzler said.

Hartzler says her bill, the “Police Officers Protecting Children Act” would allow armed, off-duty or retired officers to provide school security.

“Especially my smaller rural schools who say if something were to happen it could take up to 30 minutes for the county sheriff’s department in order to arrive,” Hartzler said.

Right now, the “Federal Gun Free School Zone Act” could prohibit an off-duty or retired police officer from carrying or discharging a firearm on school property. Hartzler’s bill would change that.

But Democrats, like Missouri Congressman Lacy Clay, says the solution is banning guns.

Congressman Lacy Clay (D-St. Louis)

Clay is a cosponsor of the “Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2018”. He said in a tweet that it “already has earned 178 co-sponsors from across the nation. We demand that Speaker Ryan bring it up for a vote.”

“Individuals on both sides of the aisle, Republicans and Democrats are looking at all options and ways to provide more protections for our kids,” Hartzler said.

Right now Hartzler’s bill is included in the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act which is stalled in the Senate.

She says she plans to re-introduce her bill separately on the house floor in the next few weeks.

Missourinet media partner KOLR-TV contributed this story

Richardson and Beatty view Missouri’s 2018 legislative session much differently

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The Missouri House Speaker describes the 2018 legislative session as the most successful implementation of conservative reforms in state history.

The House Democratic leader says Missouri Republicans pushed an anti-worker agenda.

Missouri House Speaker Todd Richardson (at podium) briefs Capitol reporters on May 18, 2018 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, briefed Capitol reporters Friday evening in Jefferson City, after the session ended.

“What we began last year with an aggressive common-sense agenda to tackle our state’s toughest challenges was continued with even greater vigor this year,” Richardson says.

Richardson says the 2018 session has been a historic success.

Republicans control the Missouri House 115-47.

Richardson says House Republicans pushed policies that he says will make Missouri the most competitive economic environment in the nation.

“Tax reform, including tax cuts for personal income tax, corporate tax relief, a balanced budget that fully funds our education formula for the second year in a row,” says Richardson.

The budget approved by lawmakers earlier this month contains a $98 million increase for the k-12 education foundation formula.

The tax reform bill Richardson references is sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield. It reduces the existing individual income tax rate from 5.9 to 5.5 percent. That bill was approved by the Legislature on Thursday evening.

Richardson says House Republicans also successfully restored cuts to higher education this year, made improvements in public safety and invested in agriculture.

He also credits increased cooperation with the Senate, praising both Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, R-Joplin, and Senate Majority Leader Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City.

Despite a GOP supermajority in both chambers, Richardson did not get everything he pushed for.

During his 2018 opening day press conference in January, Richardson told Capitol reporters that ethics legislation from State Rep. Justin Alferman, R-Hermann, was one of his top priorities.

The Alferman bill would have banned gifts from lobbyists, and included exemptions for flowers, plants and any gift that would be given to all 197 state lawmakers, such as the “Taste of Jefferson City” meal event.

The House approved the Alferman bill in January by a 134-12 vote, but it died in the Senate.

Richardson also supports charter school expansion legislation. That bill died as well this year.

Missouri House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty (at podium) briefs the Capitol Press Corps on May 18, 2018 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty, D-Kansas City, also held a press conference on Friday evening, after Richardson concluded.

She is critical of Senate Republicans for not approving the ethics bill.

Beatty says Republican lawmakers approved legislation in 2018 “aimed at rolling back long-held worker protections.”

While Richardson describes the 2018 session as a “historic success”, Beatty describes it as a “session of scandal.”

“Unfortunately, with Missourians’ attention diverted by this sordid saga, Greitens’ party (Republicans) used the opportunity to enact an insidious anti-worker agenda,” Beatty says.

Leader Beatty says Republicans suppressed worker pay by voting to change Missouri’s prevailing wage law.

Beatty also says Republican legislators “defied the will” of more than 310,000 Missourians who signed petitions to place a right-to-work referendum on the November ballot.

The Legislature approved a resolution rescheduling the vote for August.

Beatty does praise the Legislature for approving a gasoline tax increase proposal, which goes to the November ballot.

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens (R) did not hold an end-of-session press conference with reporters on Friday evening.

Greitens issued a statement on Friday, which read, in part: “I’m grateful that members of the General Assembly passed many important bills this session. I’m encouraged to see that so many of our shared priorities – reforms to our foster care system, protections for our veterans, new opportunities for Missouri students, important pro-jobs legislation, and more – are among the many accomplishments.”

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet