Connect with us

News from the South - Missouri News Feed

Missouri bill to overturn voter-approved paid sick leave clears Senate committee

Published

on

missouriindependent.com – Clara Bates – 2025-03-26 15:35:00

by Clara Bates, Missouri Independent
March 26, 2025

A Republican-led push to overturn the paid sick leave law adopted by Missouri voters last year was debated and approved Wednesday by a state Senate committee.

The bill, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Sherri Gallick of Belton, was passed by the House earlier this month and would gut Proposition A, a voter-approved law requiring most employers starting May 1 to provide paid sick time off for hundreds of thousands of qualifying workers.

Gallick called the law, which also increased the state’s minimum wage, a “one-two punch for Missouri businesses” that will increase the cost of goods and services and have an adverse impact on small businesses in rural parts of the state. 

She has said workers will “abuse” the leave.

Gallick’s bill would also modify the minimum wage law by removing the requirement that it be indexed to inflation.

The bill was passed out of committee Wednesday on a 5 to 2 vote party-line immediately following a contentious public hearing, with Democrats opposing. 

The committee chair, state Sen. Curtis Trent of Springfield, said that although usually there is at least one week between the public hearing and committee vote, it’s “extremely clear…there is not really an opportunity for further deliberation by the committee” and that pushing the bill forward immediately would allow “robust debate and consideration” by the full Senate. 

If approved by the Senate without changes, the bill would go to Gov. Mike Kehoe, who has voiced support for the proposal. There is no emergency clause, so it wouldn’t go into effect until Aug. 28 — months after the sick leave law goes into effect. 

Richard Von Glahn, policy director for Missouri Jobs with Justice, the organization that helped lead the campaign for Proposition A, said it was modeled on paid sick leave policies in 18 other states. The initiative petition passed in rural, suburban and urban counties across the state and received 58% of the vote statewide.

“Opponents made their argument, we made our argument and the voters spoke,” Von Glahn said.

Gallick’s bill is “refutation of the public will,” he added. “It will make Missouri workers more likely to have to go to work while sick, jeopardizing their own health, the health of their coworkers and of Missouri workplaces.” 

Many of the same industry groups who are challenging Proposition A in the state Supreme Court testified in support of the bill Wednesday.

Kara Corches, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called the law, especially paid sick leave, a “job killer.”

“We believe that this one size fits all approach to paid sick leave is unworkable,” Corches said.

Buddy Lahl, from the Missouri Restaurant Association, called the requirements on businesses “extremely cumbersome” and said the law is a “slippery slope” for what businesses will be required to provide.

“Fixing Proposition A is not even an option, fixing the sick pay. It just needs to be eliminated. It’s just too erroneous. And I only listed some of the bigger issues. Every line in there is a problem for a small business,” Lahl said.

When Lahl said the only fix is to eliminate the law, state Sen. Stephen Webber, a Columbia Democrat, responded: “That’s not happening, The only path you have is to maybe make some small changes.”

State Sen. Tracy McCreery, an Olivette Democrat, said restaurant workers without sick time who go to work because they need a paycheck for public health.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

SUBSCRIBE

Proposition A passed with the support of numerous unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, as well as over 500 business owners. It guarantees sick leave for hundreds of thousands of workers and gradually hikes the minimum wage to $15. The measure won by a margin of over 400,000 votes. 

Under the law, beginning May 1, the law requires employers with business receipts greater than $500,000 a year to provide at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers with fewer than 15 workers must allow workers to earn at least 40 hours per year, with larger employers mandated to allow at least 56 hours. The law also gradually increases the minimum wage.

Under Gallick’s bill, the minimum wage would still increase to $15 per hour in 2026, as voters approved, but it would not be adjusted for inflation thereafter — a policy that has been in place since 2007. The sick leave provisions would be repealed entirely.

Because the measure changed state law and not the constitution, the legislature can modify or overturn it without returning for a new vote of the people.

The bill passed out of the House on a vote of 96 to 51 earlier this month.

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 bill to overturn voter-approved paid sick leave clears Senate committee appeared first on missouriindependent.com

News from the South - Missouri News Feed

Illinois family desperate for answers after man goes missing in Mississippi River

Published

on

Illinois family desperate for answers after man goes missing in Mississippi River

www.youtube.com – FOX 2 St. Louis – 2025-04-18 22:22:17

SUMMARY: An Illinois family is urgently seeking answers after 52-year-old Shane Bear fell into the Mississippi River while being chased by police over the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge on Wednesday night. The family fears that the search efforts have slowed and that their loved one may still be alive. Bear, who had mental health struggles and outstanding warrants, was reportedly attempting to climb under the bridge when he slipped and fell into the river. Illinois State Police, alongside the Coast Guard and local fire departments, have conducted aerial and boat searches, but the family demands more thorough efforts.

YouTube video

An Illinois family is demanding police do more after they said their loved one fell into the Mississippi River.

They said it happened as he was being chased by police Wednesday night over the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge.

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

Follow FOX 2 on social media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/FOX2Now
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FOX2Now/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FOX2Now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fox2now/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@fox2now
SnapChat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/fox2now

Source

Continue Reading

News from the South - Missouri News Feed

Missouri health department announces first measles case of 2025

Published

on

missouriindependent.com – Clara Bates – 2025-04-18 14:39:00

by Clara Bates, Missouri Independent
April 18, 2025

Missouri’s first confirmed measles case of the year involves a child in Taney County, the health department announced Friday afternoon.

The child’s vaccination status “has not yet been verified,” according to the press release.

The child, who is not a Missouri resident, was visiting Taney County and was diagnosed “soon after arrival,” Lisa Cox, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a press release.

Taney County is in southwest Missouri, and its largest city is Branson. 

“Exposure is believed to be limited, and known contacts have been identified and contacted,” Cox said, adding that the state is supporting Taney County’s health department to investigate possible exposure. 

The case is “associated with recent international travel,” Cox said.

Measles is a highly-contagious virus the country declared eliminated 25 years ago, but that has resurged with falling vaccination rates. 

“For those unvaccinated or those unsure of their vaccination status, now is the time to review records and get caught up if needed,” Dr. George Turabelidze, state epidemiologist with DHSS, said in the press release.

The percent of Missouri kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella has declined over the last several years, from 95% in the 2019-2020 school year to 91% in the 2023-2024 school year, in public schools, per DHHS data. In private schools, the drop has been even larger, from 92% to 85% in the same period.

Nationally, there are at least 800 reported cases of measles across 25 states, according to Center for Disease Control data as of Friday. That doesn’t include Missouri’s case, Cox said, because the state received lab test results Thursday night, after the federal reporting deadline for this week. 

That is the highest number for a single year since 2019 and is still growing.

The majority of measles infections nationally have been reported in a West Texas outbreak. There have been two confirmed deaths, both in Texas. 

Kansas has reported 37 cases, possibly linked to the Texas outbreak.

There are outbreaks in Canada and Mexico, too, and several states have reported isolated cases as the result of international travel.

At the same time, the federal government has cut grant funding set aside for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to encourage vaccinations, according to St. Louis Public Radio.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

SUBSCRIBE

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 health department announces first measles case of 2025 appeared first on missouriindependent.com

Continue Reading

News from the South - Missouri News Feed

Be Our Guest to Cocina Latina with traditional Mexican dishes!

Published

on

Be Our Guest to Cocina Latina with traditional Mexican dishes!

www.youtube.com – FOX 2 St. Louis – 2025-04-18 10:24:36

SUMMARY: Cocina Latina is preparing for a Cinco de Mayo celebration with traditional Mexican dishes. Chef Mighty Sec has created a vibrant menu featuring tacos, margaritas, nachos, and more. Guests can enjoy an array of flavorful dishes, including French fries, tacos, and a signature sandwich inspired by Texas. The event is set to take place on May 3rd, and attendees can purchase gift certificates at a special price. It’s a great opportunity to savor delicious food and celebrate with festive drinks, including the popular skinny margarita. For more details, visit their website for ticket information.

YouTube video

Named one of St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s top 100 restaurants in 2022, Cocina Latina is bringing classic dishes everyone loves—from chimichangas, fajitas, enchiladas and more!

Source

Continue Reading

Trending