Eric Lovelace

1 month ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Atira Feliciano |Jacob Richey |Eric Lovelace

COLUMBIA — The Missouri Supreme Court upheld Proposition A in a decision issued Tuesday. Missouri voters passed Proposition A in November, which raises the minimum wage and requires paid sick leave. The law goes into effect May 1. Prior to Election Day, the ballot measure gained support including over 135 Missouri-based organizations and more than 500 Missouri businesses. The court's ruling focuses on Proposition A's summary statement and fiscal note, which appeared on the ballot.

1 month ago | komu.com | Eric Lovelace

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Senate Democrats filibustered until 1:30 a.m. Thursday in an attempt to protect the paid sick leave portion of Proposition A, which goes into effect next week. Voters approved Proposition A in November, and it is set to go into effect May 1, mandating paid sick leave and raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026. House Bill 567, which would remove paid sick leave from Proposition A, sits in the state Senate after making it through the House earlier this month.

1 month ago | komu.com | Eric Lovelace

ROLLA — The UM System Board of Curators said Thursday morning it will defend research funding by lobbying Congress — among other announcements on the UM System budget. The board discussed its current financial status, as well as plans if the UM System has some of its budget cut. The board said the University of Missouri System will begin limiting hires, implement purchasing controls, and enact a freeze of capital spending and leases to decrease spending.

1 month ago | komu.com | Eric Lovelace

COLUMBIA — Ten days after MU Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield failed to reach a deal, over 90,000 patients are still out of network. Both Anthem and MU Health Care have said they are open to negotiating and want to pursue "meaningful" conversations to reach an agreement. Anthem has been openly critical of MU Health Care's requested rate increase of 39% over the next three years, saying it is four times the rate of inflation.

1 month ago | komu.com | Eric Lovelace

COLUMBIA — Suzette Waters and Erica Dickson have won the Columbia School Board election, beating out Ken Rice for the two vacant seats. The candidates did not run for separate positions. To fill the vacancies, the candidates who received the most and second-most votes filled the spot. Incumbent Suzette Waters is the only candidate who had previously run for Columbia School Board. She was first elected to the school board in 2022 and has served as its president for three years.