SUMMARY: Montgomery County leaders convened a special meeting in Hillsboro after property owners faced staggering tax increases of up to 1500%. Local officials, including state representatives Blain Willauer and Rosenthal, expressed concerns that solutions are unlikely from Springfield. The steep assessment hikes, particularly for wooded acreage, stem from a poorly implemented 2007 state law intended to promote conservation. Assessor Kendra N. has offered to delay increases for landowners committing to conservation plans. However, Willauer argues this compromise undermines private property rights and urges the county to adopt a fairer approach, as other counties manage these assessments differently.

Two local State Representatives are urging the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners to find a solution after some landowners saw a 1500% increase in their wooded acreage assessments.

“At the drop of a hat here they’re going one year to the next with 1000% to 3000% increase in property taxes,” Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-IL 110th) said.

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SUMMARY: Homeschooling has surged in Missouri, with at least 61,000 students, or 6% of the school-age population, now homeschooled, according to a report from the PRiME Center at Saint Louis University. This rise began during the COVID-19 pandemic but has persisted. The number of homeschooled students has doubled since 2019, with no sign of a decline. Despite Missouri’s lack of enrollment data collection for homeschooling, the study uses estimates to highlight the shift in education attitudes. This growing trend signals a permanent change in Missouri’s educational landscape, prompting a need for policymakers to understand the numbers.

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SUMMARY: The St. Louis County E. coli outbreak has resulted in 97 cases, primarily affecting students from Rockwood Summit High School. A lawsuit has been filed against Andres Banquets and Catering, alleged to have provided contaminated salads at various events from November 6-9. An attorney representing a victim noted that many affected individuals shared the common factor of eating from Andres. However, the owner of Andres denies responsibility, asserting that lab results will prove the lettuce negative for E. coli and claiming some students were ill prior to consuming their food. Test results are expected later this week.

The St. Louis County Department of Public Health confirms it is investigating at least 97 cases of sickness from a recent E. coli …

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