News from the South - Missouri News Feed

Missouri House backs return to presidential primary

Published

3 months ago

April 1, 2025

missouriindependent.com – Shane LaGesse – 2025-04-01 05:55:00

by Shane LaGesse, Missouri Independent
April 1, 2025

The Missouri House on Monday advanced legislation that would reinstate state-run presidential preference primaries and extend the no-excuse absentee voting period from two to six weeks.

Supporters of House Bill 126 cited a widespread positive response to the recently enacted no-excuse voting period as a motivating factor. They also noted negative feedback on the 2024 party-run caucuses, which replaced the state-run primaries after they were eliminated as part of a law passed in 2022.

The no-excuse absentee voting period has been in effect since August 2022 and allows voters to cast their ballot in elections in person or by mail starting two weeks before Election Day.

Supporters of the bill said they hoped that extending the no-excuse voting period would further alleviate stress on election workers and encourage voters to cast their ballot.

The state of Missouri ran March presidential primaries from 2000 until 2020. A 2022 law signed by former Gov. Mike Parson eliminated them. In 2024, the Republican Party held in-person caucuses in Missouri to select their delegates, while Democrats opted for a hybrid caucus with in-person voting and a mail-in ballot.

Low participation in these caucuses, alongside vocal blowback from residents who preferred the state-run primaries, were cited as motivators for reinstating the primaries.

“I believe it’s a lot simpler for our residents of our state going to cast a ballot like they do it in every other way for their preference for the presidential primary,” said state Rep. Brad Banderman, a Republican St. Clair.

Under the bill primaries would be held on the first Tuesday of March during presidential election years. The estimated cost to the state for conducting the primaries is $8 million.

The bill’s supporters also noted that unlike previous years, where the primary results have not been binding to party delegates, both political parties have agreed to adhere to the results for the first ballot at their respective party conventions.

The House needs to approve the legislation one more time before it heads to the Senate.

This story originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian. It can be republished in print or online.

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com.

The post Missouri House backs return to presidential primary appeared first on missouriindependent.com

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News from the South - Missouri News Feed

A crowd saw a man get shot. Decades later, nobody claims to know who did it

Published

11 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Staff Editor

fox2now.com – Megan Mueller – 2025-06-16 13:44:00

SUMMARY: A true crime podcast, *Morbid*, revisits the unsolved 1981 killing of Ken McElroy in Skidmore, Missouri. Known as “the town bully,” McElroy was accused of numerous crimes but avoided conviction through intimidation. On July 10, 1981, he was shot in broad daylight in front of around 50 people, yet no one came forward. The community, fed up with his reign of terror, allegedly took justice into their own hands. Despite FBI involvement, the case closed without indictments. Over 40 years later, with many witnesses deceased, the murder remains unsolved, and locals continue to keep the secret.

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The post A crowd saw a man get shot. Decades later, nobody claims to know who did it appeared first on fox2now.com

News from the South - Missouri News Feed

Joe’s Blog: 90s coming with some nasty storms (6/16)

Published

16 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Staff Editor

fox4kc.com – Joe Lauria – 2025-06-16 08:53:00

SUMMARY: Kansas City has yet to hit 90°F this year, though summer’s heat and humidity are building. A very moist atmosphere will fuel possible storms Tuesday into Wednesday, with flooding downpours the main concern. Models show varying rainfall totals and locations, with uncertainty about where storms will hit hardest. Severe storms are more likely late Tuesday night into early Wednesday, but flooding poses the greatest risk due to moisture-rich conditions and possible training storms. There’s also a chance for strong “wake low” winds Tuesday. The first 90° day could arrive later this week or weekend as the pattern shifts.

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The post Joe's Blog: 90s coming with some nasty storms (6/16) appeared first on fox4kc.com

News from the South - Missouri News Feed

Blair’s Social Second: What hobbies did you enjoy before social media and technology?

Published

18 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – FOX 2 St. Louis – 2025-06-16 06:36:10

SUMMARY: A growing number of people are rediscovering “grandma hobbies” to take a break from constant phone use and social media. According to a Wall Street Journal report, activities like crocheting, scrapbooking, baking, crafting, and reading are on the rise. Eventbrite reports that interest in scrapbooking and junk journaling has doubled since 2023, while Shopify notes an 89% increase in cross-stitch pattern sales. A survey found 71% of U.S. adults have participated in a craft project in 2024. The Blair’s Social Second segment encourages viewers to share the hobbies they enjoyed before smartphones took over daily life.