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Missouri Supreme Court hears case on transgender student’s use of school bathrooms • Missouri Independent

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missouriindependent.com – Annelise Hanshaw – 2025-02-11 13:17:00

Lawmakers move to ensure info is available to investigate complaints against state cabinet

by Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern
February 11, 2025

After mediation and a judge’s order, Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball says the legislature needs to codify her office’s access to an important database kept by the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services. 

During a Tuesday committee meeting, Ball told lawmakers the cabinet appears to not be  forwarding every complaint it receives about itself to the ombudsman, housed in her office. She said she wants to make sure no complaints are “missing in the process.” 

“Right now, the cabinet is acting as a gatekeeper on those complaints,” Ball said. “We feel like we don’t need a middleman. Things are being dropped in the handoff. So, this will resolve that situation to make sure we have access to all the complaints when they come in.”

A cabinet spokeswoman told the Lantern that the cabinet “is not aware of any complaints being withheld from the Office of the Ombudsman.”

Judge inks ceasefire in state government battle over new ombudsman’s access to information

This comes almost five months after the  Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the office of the ombudsman settled a dispute over access to a computer system called iTWIST, which stores information about abuse and neglect cases. 

The Senate Families and Children Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 85, which clarifies the ombudsman gets “any software and access rights.” 

Ball’s office assumed oversight of the ombudsman from the cabinet on July 1, thanks to a law enacted in 2023 by the legislature, Senate Bill 48. But her office did not get immediate access to iTWIST. 

The ombudsman, whose job is to investigate and resolve complaints about agencies in the cabinet, including protective services for children and elderly Kentuckians, can’t do that job without access to iTWIST, (the Workers Information System), Ball has said. She eventually filed a lawsuit for the access, and the case was mediated and eventually settled in Franklin Circuit Court. 

“We reached a settlement in that mediation, and we were given access with certain structures in place,” Ball told committee members Tuesday. “We feel like it is now necessary to codify it, make it abundantly clear there’s no possibility of this coming up again, that we have access to iTWIST.” 

The September court order that settled the access dispute said the cabinet would have to provide the ombudsman with read-only access to iTWIST. Judge Phillip Shepherd also said the legislature and the parties would work during the 2025 session to codify any needed clarification. 

A spokeswoman for the auditor said the office “can compare the number of complaints received by the ombudsman before the transition with the current number, which has drastically decreased.” 

“This is due in part to the failure to transfer the previous phone number, resulting in our office not receiving all complaints,” said Joy Pidgorodetska Markland, the auditor’s director of communications. “Upon suspecting complaints were not being forwarded, we used an open records process to request all communications sent to the retained phone number and email and found many un-forwarded complaints.” 

SB 85, sponsored by Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, has an emergency, meaning it would take effect immediately upon becoming law. 

“This is an emergency because we know this needs to be done right away,” Ball said. “That way we can move forward without any more hang ups and make sure the public is provided everything that they need.” 

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Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.

News from the South - Missouri News Feed

Police warn toy gel blaster guns lead to danger

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www.youtube.com – FOX 2 St. Louis – 2025-07-10 20:34:04

SUMMARY: Gel blaster toy guns, popular for their bright colors and fun, can cause serious injury and dangerous situations when mistaken for real firearms. Police warn these toys have led to incidents where bystanders or victims, fearing for their lives, responded with real guns. In one case, a teen using a gel blaster triggered a real shooting after a man thought he was under attack. These toys, sometimes painted or altered to look realistic, pose risks beyond play, potentially leading to felony charges if used to threaten or harm. Authorities urge caution, emphasizing the importance of treating any gun-like object as real for safety.

Gel blaster guns, a popular toy among teens, have caused serious injury. And that isn’t the only danger. The gel blasters, when mistaken for an actual firearm, can lead to even more danger.

St. Louis News: FOX 2 covers news, weather, and sports in Missouri and Illinois. Read more about this story or see the latest updates on our website https://FOX2Now.com

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Ex-Manchester police captain sues city, claims he was forced to resign

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fox2now.com – Joey Schneider – 2025-07-10 13:23:00

SUMMARY: Craig Smith, former captain and deputy chief of the Manchester Police Department, filed a lawsuit claiming he was coerced into resigning in July 2024 without due process amid a city investigation. Smith alleges city officials, including the mayor and city manager, pressured him by threatening criminal charges despite the investigation focusing on minor, non-criminal leadership issues. He claims he was denied a chance to defend himself and that officials damaged his reputation by telling prospective employers he resigned “under investigation.” Smith seeks compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and harm to his career. The city plans to defend the lawsuit.

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Kathy Kaiser returns with some film reviews of some new releases

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www.youtube.com – FOX 2 St. Louis – 2025-07-10 10:15:59

SUMMARY: Kathy Kaiser reviews new releases, starting with tonight’s Cardinals vs. Nationals game, hoping for a strong batting performance in hot weather. She discusses the new Superman film, directed by James Gunn from St. Louis, praising David Corenswet’s portrayal though missing more Clark Kent focus. The film introduces many characters for the evolving DC Universe, earning 4 out of 5 popcorn. Kathy also highlights a Nat Geo documentary on Steven Spielberg’s filmmaking challenges, rating it 5 out of 5. The documentary, co-produced by Amblin, offers a compelling behind-the-scenes look and streams on Disney Plus and Hulu. More reviews to come.

ST. LOUIS – Looking for a new movie to watch? Kathy Kaiser shares her thoughts on new releases such as Superman, The Better Sister, and Jaws @ 50, an anniversary celebration and re-release of Jaws (1975).

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