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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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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by Annelise Hanshaw, Missouri Independent
July 10, 2025

Missouri should revisit the way it supports “chronically low-performing schools” over the coming year, state Commissioner of Education Karla Eslinger said as she unveiled her priorities in a State Board of Education meeting Wednesday.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s current approach is “cookie cutter,” she said, lacking individual supports customized to struggling schools.

“When you have a school district in crisis, there’s not a real plan on how to address that,” Eslinger said. “So we need to have a more comprehensive plan to address that.”

Board member Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, of Pasadena Hills, underlined the importance of careful intervention.

Westbrooks-Hodge spoke about a conversation she had with a school superintendent who worked in an Illinois district east of St. Louis when it lost accreditation.

“She described an intense, hands-on approach with the state of Illinois walking hand in hand,” Westbrooks-Hodge said. “She asked why that approach wasn’t done with underperforming school districts in Missouri.”

There are also challenges coming from the federal level with “disruption” in the U.S. Department of Education, Eslinger said. The department is “struggling to draw down federal dollars more consistently.”

She suggested “a shift in the way we manage our federal programs,” such as consolidating programs in a centralized application.

The department should also improve its data handling, she said, adding that DESE “needs to be much better and much more efficient in its data system.”

“I don’t know how many times I sat on the Senate floor, and I didn’t have the ability to rebut somebody’s idea of what was happening in public education because we don’t have the data,” Eslinger said.

The department also needs to improve its website and increase connectivity with the public.

There will be noticeable changes in the communications department, she said. Currently, the department is looking for a new director of communications.

“We have been responsive to people who have questions, but we haven’t talked to the state as a whole,” she said.

She has asked the state board to conduct annual evaluations of the commissioner, which the board wasn’t doing when she took office last year.

The board is meeting Wednesday and Thursday as part of a board retreat to reorient members to the expectations and responsibilities of the board. Half of the board are new appointees, and the department has a number of high-ranking employees in new positions.

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.

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Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article presents a straightforward report on Missouri’s Commissioner of Education Karla Eslinger’s priorities and comments regarding public education challenges without adopting a partisan tone. It focuses on administrative improvements, data management, and tailored support for low-performing schools, avoiding ideological framing or partisan language. The coverage reflects neutral, fact-based reporting, emphasizing practical issues within the education system rather than aligning with a specific political agenda. The inclusion of multiple viewpoints and detailed explanations supports a balanced presentation.