Sunday - June 14, 2026
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Missouri Newsletter for Thursday April 30, 2026 ( 33 items )  

10 Years of Shortleaf Pine Restoration in Arkansas
ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 29 [Category: Environment] -- The Nature Conservancy issued the following news: * * * 10 Years of Shortleaf Pine Restoration in Arkansas * LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -Over the past decade, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and partners have restored or enhanced more than 1.58 million acres of shortleaf pine forest in Arkansas, largely through prescribed fire, sustainable timber management and targeted tree planting. After decades of decline, shortleaf pine forests across Arkan  more

AGA Awards Recognize Outstanding Safety Achievements
CHICAGO, Illinois, April 29 [Category: Energy] -- The American Gas Association issued the following news release: * * * AGA Awards Recognize Outstanding Safety Achievements * The American Gas Association today presented a slate of awards recognizing outstanding achievements in advancing safety on behalf of the downstream natural gas industry at its Operations Conference, the natural gas industry's largest annual gathering of utilities, distribution and transmission operators. The awards cele  more

Alford Highlights America First Wins in FY27 National Security Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Mark Alford, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: * * * Alford Highlights America First Wins in FY27 National Security Appropriations Bill * Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) issued the following statement after the House Appropriations Committee passed the National Security, State Department, and Related Programs (NSRP) funding bill for fiscal year 2027. "This FY2027 National Security, State Department, and Related Programs bill advances Preside  more

ASA President Warns Against Broad Tariffs in USTR Testimony
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, April 30 -- The American Soybean Association issued the following news release, on April 29, 2026: * * * ASA President Warns Against Broad Tariffs in USTR Testimony American Soybean Association President and Ohio soybean farmer Scott Metzger testified today before the Office of the United States Trade Representative during a Section 301 hearing, highlighting the importance of international trade to U.S. soybean farmers and the risks of broad tariff actions. Metzger said   more

Attorney General Jeff Jackson Pushes for Changes to Lower Prescription Drug Costs
RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 29 -- North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Jeff Jackson Pushes for Changes to Lower Prescription Drug Costs Attorney General Jeff Jackson and a bipartisan group of attorneys general are pushing the U.S. Department of Labor to help lower prescription drug costs by requiring more transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). "People should be able to afford their medications, and they can't   more

Bipartisan Foster Care Modernization Legislation Advances Out of Ways and Means After Foster Youth and First Lady Melania Trump Advocacy
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release on April 29, 2026: * * * Bipartisan Foster Care Modernization Legislation Advances Out of Ways and Means After Foster Youth and First Lady Melania Trump Advocacy The Ways and Means Committee approved six pieces of legislation with strong bipartisan support that will modernize the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood ("Chaf  more

Bud Light Takes Over Summer UFC Schedule With NEW "Bud Light UFC Summer Series"
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, April 29 [Category: BizFood/Beverage] -- Anheuser-Busch, a brewing company, issued the following news release: * * * Bud Light Takes Over Summer UFC Schedule With NEW "Bud Light UFC Summer Series" * The Official Beer Sponsor of UFC is giving fans plans all summer long with a new platform that features three UFC Numbered Events, two Fight Nights and additional programming from May to August NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 29, 2026 - Summer is right around the corner and Bud Light,  more

Chairman Smith at Foster Care Legislation Markup: Bipartisan Policy Will Help Foster Youth Lead Independent Lives
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement on April 29, 2026: * * * Chairman Smith at Foster Care Legislation Markup: Bipartisan Policy Will Help Foster Youth Lead Independent Lives Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) delivered the following statement at a committee markup of six bipartisan bills modernizing the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (  more

Chairman Smith on Fed Rate Announcement: Inflation Rates Have Fallen to Pre-Biden Agenda Lows - So Should Interest Rates
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement on April 29, 2026: * * * Chairman Smith on Fed Rate Announcement: Inflation Rates Have Fallen to Pre-Biden Agenda Lows - So Should Interest Rates Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) released the following statement after the Federal Open Market Committee announced it would not lower interest rates at the last meeting expected to be led by Chair  more

Class Acts: Hongzhe (Zachary) Wen
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, April 29 -- Washington University in St. Louis posted the following news: * * * Class Acts: Hongzhe (Zachary) Wen * While other high schoolers spent their weekends debating fantasy football picks or teaming up in online games, Hongzhe (Zachary) Wen was studying financial markets, trading cryptocurrency and building his portfolio one careful decision at a time. Early on, Wen discovered he had a knack for understanding the market. But his hobby was very time-consuming.   more

Class Acts: Izzy Caffarelli
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, April 29 -- Washington University in St. Louis posted the following news: * * * Class Acts: Izzy Caffarelli * Isabella (Izzy) Caffarelli, a senior majoring in applied mathematics and minoring in astrophysics, both in Arts & Sciences, is looking forward to a new research challenge after she graduates from WashU. After years of studying black holes, Caffarelli is pivoting to another complex computational task: helping brain scientists use advanced algorithms to sort and un  more

CMS Proposes 2028 Medicaid Home And Community-Based Services Quality Measure Set
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, April 29 [Category: Health Care] -- The Missouri Hospital Association posted the following news: * * * CMS Proposes 2028 Medicaid Home And Community-Based Services Quality Measure Set * The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a notice for public comment on the Home and Community-Based Services Quality Measure Set. The proposal would require states in 2028 to begin reporting on mandatory measurements mirroring the "Money Follows the Person" program. T  more

Congressman Cleaver's Statement on the Supreme Court's Decision to Gut the Voting Rights Act
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Missouri, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Cleaver's Statement on the Supreme Court's Decision to Gut the Voting Rights Act * (Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the Supreme Court released their decision in Louisiana v. Callais, effectively gutting the Voting Rights Act of 1965. "For over sixty years, the Voting Rights Act has been a vital pillar  more

Dr. Mindy Dilley appointed Dean of Students
EDWARDSVILLE, Illinois, April 29 -- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus posted the following news: * * * Dr. Mindy Dilley appointed Dean of Students * Following a national search, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Miriam Roccia, has named Melinda (Mindy) Dilley, EdD, as Dean of Students. Dr. Dilley has served as Interim Dean of Students since February 16, 2026, following her arrival at SIUE as Assistant Dean of Students in July 2024  more

EPA Announces $80 Million in Funding to Protect Waterways from Sewage Overflows
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * EPA Announces $80 Million in Funding to Protect Waterways from Sewage Overflows * U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of approximately $80 million through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program to help communities address stormwater and sewer infrastructure needs. These grants will strengthen systems that safely capture and manage sto  more

From Rural Roots to Medical Ambitions, Aaron Zoellner Finds His Path at Millikin
DECATUR, Illinois, April 29 -- Millikin University posted the following news: * * * From Rural Roots to Medical Ambitions, Aaron Zoellner Finds His Path at Millikin * DECATUR, Ill. -For Aaron Zoellner, a junior Biology major at Millikin University, the path to becoming a physician began far from the lab -on a farm in southeast Missouri. Raised in a rural community near Cape Girardeau, Zoellner grew up surrounded by livestock and long days of work. His family managed hundreds of sheep, catt  more

Independent Women Drives 250+ Public Comments Supporting Independent Contractor Rule as Comment Period Closes
WASHINGTON, April 29 [Category: Political] -- The Independent Women's Forum posted issued the following news release: * * * Independent Women Drives 250+ Public Comments Supporting Independent Contractor Rule as Comment Period Closes As the public comment period closes on the U.S. Department of Labor's proposed independent contractor rule, Independent Women announced today it has driven more than 250 public comments from women in support of flexible work and freelance opportunities. In a for  more

Johnson Testifies in Support of His Eastern South Dakota Rural Water Bills
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Johnson Testifies in Support of His Eastern South Dakota Rural Water Bills * Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a hearing on U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson's (R-S.D.) bills to conduct feasibility studies on supplying Missouri River water to communities in eastern South Dakota. "As South Dakota continues to  more

Joint Commencement for Evangel University and Assemblies of God Theological Seminary to Be Held May 7
SPRINGFIELD, Missouri, April 29 -- Evangel University issued the following news release: * * * Joint commencement for Evangel University and Assemblies of God Theological Seminary to be held May 7 Evangel University and its seminary, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, will host a joint commencement on Thursday, May 7. It will be held at 6:30 pm at Great Southern Bank Arena on Missouri State University's campus. The university is celebrating 651 graduates, including 551 from Evangel and   more

Larson Blasts Supreme Court Decision Gutting the Voting Rights Act to Greenlight Jim Crow Racial Gerrymanders
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * Larson Blasts Supreme Court Decision Gutting the Voting Rights Act to Greenlight Jim Crow Racial Gerrymanders * Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) blasted the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which effectively gives the green light for states to ignore Voting Rights Act redistricting requirements. Today's decision comes on the heels of Republican mid-d  more

Longtime Missouri Botanical Garden President Peter Raven's legacy includes strengthening biology program at UMSL
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, April 29 -- The University of Missouri St. Louis campus posted the following news: * * * Longtime Missouri Botanical Garden President Peter Raven's legacy includes strengthening biology program at UMSL * Missouri Botanical Garden President Emeritus Peter Raven speaks at Whitney R. Harris Center's World Ecology Award Gala in 2010. Raven, who passed away on Saturday at age 89, was a longtime supporter of the center and the Department of Biology at UMSL. (Photo by August Je  more

Lost history recovered: KU digital humanities team adds missing pages to The Call archives
LAWRENCE, Kansas, April 29 -- The University of Kansas posted the following news: * * * Lost history recovered: KU digital humanities team adds missing pages to The Call archives In a cardboard box tucked away in an office in the 18th and Vine District, a decade of Kansas City history was slowly turning into a collection of unreadable plastic circles. These were the archives of The Call, Kansas City's legacy African-American newspaper founded in 1919. While much of the paper's storied past is  more

Mandi Maser Named 2026 NAIA Nfinity Competitive Dance Coach of the Year
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, April 30 -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics posted the following news release on April 29, 2026: * * * Mandi Maser Named 2026 NAIA Nfinity Competitive Dance Coach of the Year After leading Concordia (Neb.) to the most successful season in program history, Head Coach Mandi Maser has been named the 2026 NAIA Nfinity Competitive Dance Coach of the Year. Under Maser's leadership, the Bulldogs qualified for the 2026 NAIA National Competitive Dance Cham  more

Members of Congress Seek Removal of Phosphate Duties
CHESTERFIELD, Missouri, April 30 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news: * * * Members of Congress Seek Removal of Phosphate Duties Author: Bryan Goodman A bill that would remove countervailing duties from phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco was introduced today in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Sen. Marshall (R-Kan.) sponsored the legislation, entitled the Lowering Input Costs for American Farmers Act, and it is co-sponsored by Sen  more

Memorial garden honoring Heflin twins dedicated at Missouri School of Journalism
COLUMBIA, Missouri, April 29 -- The University of Missouri School of Journalism issued the following news release: * * * In photos: Memorial garden honoring Heflin twins dedicated at Missouri School of Journalism * Creeping phlox blooms in the foreground of the newly dedicated Heflin Memorial Garden, where two benches face each other -one honoring Lance, one honoring Vance. The Missouri School of Journalism now has its first memorial garden -a tribute to twin alumni Steven "Lance" Heflin,   more

MGMA Urges Strengthened Oversight of No Surprises Act Implementation
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- The Medical Group Management Association issued the following letter on April 27, 2026: * * * The Honorable Scott Bessent, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20220 The Honorable Keith Sonderling, Acting Secretary, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20201 The Honorable Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20201 D  more

Morrow-Howell, Distinguished Professor of Social Policy at the WashU Brown School, Guide to Foster Age Inclusivity in Higher Education
WASHINGTON, April 29 (TNSrep) -- Nancy Morrow-Howell, Betty Bofinger Brown distinguished professor of social policy at the Washington University St. Louis George Warren Brown School, authored a guide to help colleges and universities communicate more effectively about aging. The document, titled Age Inclusivity in Higher Education Quick Start Guide, was released by the Gerontological Society of America. It builds upon tools from the National Center to Reframe Aging and the Age Inclusivity Doma  more

NSF to support undergraduate scholarships in ceramic engineering at Alfred University
ALFRED, New York, April 28 -- Alfred University issued the following news release: * * * NSF to support undergraduate scholarships in ceramic engineering at Alfred University * Advanced ceramic and glass materials are critical to aerospace, semiconductor manufacturing - including hardware for quantum computing - clean energy systems, healthcare and more. Ceramics-defined as inorganic, non-metallic materials-perform where other materials fail. They are perhaps the widest class of materials wi  more

Pollution management: FSU researchers create global data set of microplastic in urban stormwater runoff
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, April 29 -- Florida State University issued the following news: * * * Pollution management: FSU researchers create global data set of microplastic in urban stormwater runoff * As rain falls, lurking within stormwater runoff are hidden microplastics, polluting the water sources they drain into. Even though microplastics originate in urban environments such as cities, existing data sets focus on marine and coastal areas. Without data sources on microplastics in cities, sc  more

Scott Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Louisiana v. Callais
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Scott Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Louisiana v. Callais * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Co-Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, issued the following statement: "The Voting Rights Act has long protected minority communities from disenfranchisement, but over the years conservative Supreme Court justices have steadily weakened those protections. Sectio  more

UC San Diego Debate Team Dominates with National and International Wins
LA JOLLA, California, April 29 -- The University of California San Diego campus posted the following news: * * * UC San Diego Debate Team Dominates with National and International Wins * Key Takeaways * UC San Diego's Speech & Debate team turned years of regional success into a breakout season on national and international stages. * University support helped students travel farther, compete more broadly and earn major wins. * The team has grown into a large, diverse and close-knit   more

Wagner Introduces Bill to Support Local Police
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: * * * Wagner Introduces Bill to Support Local Police * Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) and Congressman John Rutherford (FL-05), Co-Chair of the House Law Enforcement Caucus, released the following statement after they introduced the Local Law Enforcement Support Act:  "I will always stand with our brave men and women in blue. Our local law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to p  more

Washington University in St. Louis: Managing Mythos
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, April 29 -- Washington University in St. Louis posted the following news: * * * Managing Mythos * Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has been preparing for the release of its newest foundational model, Claude "Mythos." It and other new models are increasingly effective at finding and potentially exploiting vulnerabilities in any software. Anthropic has been working to get in front of the security threat as similar tools become more ubiquitous. To that end, the com  more