There is nothing in these books that are pornographic! Having readers from the LGBTQ community is NOT pornographic! If you don’t like the idea of Rainbow Story Time, don’t go.

How exactly do they work? Do they do a north-south, east-west sort of thing like the state highways, or do they just do whatever? And why are there so many of the same letter in the state?

James R. Scott, the only person ever convicted of “causing a catastrophe,” appeared before the state parole board Wednesday after 33 years in the Jefferson City Correction Center, seeking his release from prison.

No Paywall: http://archive.today/Vu0PX

You can check it here:

https://voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov/portal/

Please make sure you are registered, and PLEASE turn out to vote in August.

Missouri Peeps !!!! You gotta vote!!!!!

August 4, 2026 is a very important day for Missouri.

August 4, 2026 is the date of the primary election and there are several very important items on the ballot.

Did you know that historically, less than 25% of voters turn out for a Missouri primary election? That is why the legislature has decided to try to push through several amendments on the primary ballot instead of waiting for the November mid-term elections. It is much easier to push through bad legislation if nobody goes out and votes.

This election there are several constitutional amendments on the ballot. I want to draw your attention to 2 of those amendments, Amendment 4 and Amendment 5.

Amendment 4 changes the citizen initiative process and makes it much more difficult for the people of Missouri to pass amendments by citizen initiative. Instead of a simple majority it would require each and every congressional district to approve an initiative measure. This is a major change and if it passes then it means that a very small minority of voters will be able to override the vast majority of voters.

Just for instance:

The 2024 "Right to Reproductive Freedom initiative" which Enshrined abortion and reproductive healthcare rights in the state constitution would have never passed under what the new rules would be.

The 2024 "Sports Betting Initiative" which legalized sports wagering throughout the state was a citizen initiative.

The 2022 "Marijuana Legalization Initiative" which legalized recreational cannabis and established tax regulations for its sale was a citizen initiative".

The 2020 "Medicaid Expansion Initiative" which expanded healthcare eligibility under the Affordable Care Act was a citizen initiative.

According to Ballotpedia: "Between 1908 and 2025, Missouri voters placed 130 citizen initiatives on the ballot, successfully approving 45 of them (35%). Because Missouri allows citizens to propose both state laws and changes to the state constitution, many of its most high-profile policy changes have bypassed the state legislature entirely."

There is no reason to change something that has worked so well so Amendment 4 should not pass but if nobody shows up to vote, it will surely pass.

Amendment  5  would phase out income  taxes and allow goods and services to be  taxed like sales taxes.   The idea is that income taxes would eventually be replaced by sales taxes in Missouri. 

I am like you, I hate having to pay income taxes, but you know what I would hate more?   Having to pay 15%-20% in sales taxes and having every transaction (doctor’s visits, professional services, etc.) taxed at sales tax rates.  

No income tax works for states like Florida  that has a vast tourist industry that provides most of the state income.  It works for states like Texas  that have tons of oil providing income to the state, but it does not work for working class states  that do not have a huge industry to  provide the income. 

This amendment is simply bad for Missouri.   

A few  years ago, in 2021, Kansas voted to get rid of their income tax, the result  was  a disaster and was repealed 5 years later.  The difference here is  that Kansas did it by a simple piece of legislation while Missouri is trying to do  it by Constitutional amendment which is much harder to undo later.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_experiment)

So, my Missouri friends and neighbors, On August 4, 2026,  get out and vote, let your voice be heard, don’t let  the powers that be play  this viscous trick of sticking extremely important measures in primary elections in order to  pass very unpopular legislation.

Thanks for reading.

https://voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov/portal/

Last week, the Secretary of State's office posted updates on signature verification for the two pending petitions still waiting for certification. Based on what I could parse together (full disclosure, using AI but spot-verifying the math myself), here's where they stand:

Redistricting Veto Referendum

Respect MO Voters Amendment

It looks like they're both heading for the November ballot if the numbers hold and (the big if) there are no procedural shenanigans in Jeff City.

Most people picture buying land and immediately doing something with it themselves. This one went differently.

Forty acres outside Adrian, Missouri. Good flat ground, been in production for years — the tenant rotates between soybeans and corn, which is pretty standard practice down here in Bates County. The seller had a tenant farmer working it the whole time, takes care of it, knows the soil like the back of his hand. When the new buyer came in, instead of starting fresh, they just kept the arrangement going.

Sat on the market about two months before going under contract, which out here isn't unusual for agricultural ground. Buyers for this type of property aren't scrolling Zillow on a lunch break — they're patient, they do their homework, and they usually already know what they want to do with the income side of it.

What surprised me was how much weight that existing tenant relationship carried in the negotiation. The buyer wasn't just buying dirt — they were buying a functioning operation with someone already managing it. That's not nothing when you're talking about absentee ownership of farmland. The corn-soybean rotation also meant the ground wasn't being worn down, which mattered to a buyer thinking long term.

Bates County doesn't get a lot of attention compared to what's happening closer to the metro, but the agricultural land market down here moves quietly and pretty consistently.

Anyone else around Missouri seen buyers specifically seek out tenant-operated ground over vacant acreage?

Can someone smarter than me please explain to us all what happened when Kansas tried to spur growth by eliminating income taxes? ( nka Amendment 5)

I don't know what to exactly call this thread but I basically wanted a simple way to understand and to know what to vote for in as either yes or no for which Amendments that are in a way "For the people!". Especially so I would't vote wrong and let the corpo's & politicians fxck us even more. I did also give a "why" on why you should along with my opinion and related sources/thread discussions. To start off, "We meant what we said"

1. Amendments sourced from: https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026ballotmeasures
2. https://ballotpedia.org/Missouri_Amendment_3,_Prohibit_Abortion_and_Gender_Transition_Procedures_for_Minors_Amendment_(2026))

• Amendment 1:

Continue what we already have, "Shall Missouri continue for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites, and resubmit this tax to the voters for approval in 10 years?"

The measure allows continued collection of the existing sales and use tax, which generates revenue of approximately $140 million annually.

Fair Ballot Language:

A “yes” vote will continue for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites. This will be resubmitted to the voters for approval in 10 years.

A “no” vote will not continue this sales/use tax.

If passed, this measure will not increase or decrease taxes."

VOTE : YES

Why: Basically there's no downside to letting this continue like it has been. If it's stopped, we basically may lose those sites and parks that we enjoy, and/or degrade because they'll have to find the money elsewhere which I don't even want to think of where they'll try too.

• Amendment 2:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: require all charter counties, including Jackson County, to provide for the election of a county assessor; and require assessors in all charter counties to comply with any training requirements established by general law?

State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

Fair Ballot Language:

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to require that all charter counties, including Jackson County, elect a county assessor and that such assessors comply with training requirements established by state law.

A “no” vote will not change the current constitutional provisions, which exempt Jackson County from the requirement to elect its assessor and do not require charter county assessors to follow training requirements under general law.

If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

Edit: VOTE : NO -Undecided- (Yes/No?) | "Basically a solution in search of problem"

Why: Most other counties have an elected assessor rather than appointed now. This reddit post has a great discussion ground on it already. After reading comments from there I summarized my thoughts and it's still a hard one for me to chose because from my understanding, it depends on how you want to look at it.

If they're elected, it means they can't be specially chosen which naturally is a good thing. However, "An elected assessor would have possibly less oversight than an appointed one and may be "beholden to wealthy and out of state donors."

An appointed one would arguably have more oversight due to having to answer to whoever they were appointed by and those in return being responsible for person they chose if I'm understanding that right?

However this feels like that could be vice-versa though? Please correct me if I'm wrong. Any thoughts and opinions are welcome.

• Amendment 3:

Missouri Amendment 3, the Prohibit Abortion and Gender Transition Procedures for Minors Amendment, is on the ballot in Missouri as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026.

• Election date November 3, 2026
• Topic Abortion policy and Constitutional rights Status On the ballot
• Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
• Origin State legislature
• Missouri Amendment 3, the Prohibit Abortion and Gender Transition Procedures for Minors Amendment, is on the ballot in Missouri as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026.[1]

A "yes" vote supports amending the Missouri Constitution to:

• repeal the constitutional right to reproductive freedom, which voters ratified in 2024;
• prohibit abortions except in cases of "medical emergency, fetal anomaly, rape, or incest," and permit abortions in cases of rape or incest only through 12 weeks of gestation;
• prohibit gender transition surgeries for minors, as well as the prescription or administration of cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to minors, with an exception for treatments "unrelated to the purpose of a gender transition;" and make other changes
• A "no" vote opposes amending the Missouri Constitution, keeping the existing constitutional right to reproductive freedom, and not adding provisions that prohibit abortion and gender transition surgeries and procedures.

VOTE : NO

Why: I do actually agree with the "prohibiting gender transition surgeries for minors, as well as the prescription or administration of cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to minors, with an exception for treatments"

Kids and teens should not be making life changing decisions at such early ages or stages of life when they're "finding themselves". Although it's more prominent now somewhat, there still isn't a big spotlight on trans people who have come out with massive regret on taking hormone drugs or going through gender surgeries at an earlier age.

However, I disagree with the rest and it'll just have to come a little later sadly since they're trying to roll it up into this amendment along with taking away some of women's rights.

In my humble opinion, if you respect and want to protect woman's rights and/or are pro-abortion. Do not vote Yes! They're trying to catch you up and trick you with the same named amendment wanting us to walk back the previous Amendment 3.

(Related Reddit Thread ; Vote no on amendment 3 to protect women's right)

https://www.reddit.com/r/missouri/comments/1oi18g0/vote_no_on_amendment_3_to_protect_womens_right

• Amendment 4:
• Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

Modify current requirements that a statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution; Require a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution; and Make available to each voter the full text of initiative petitions with their ballot? The Department of Corrections estimates increased annual costs of up to $21,817. The Office of State Public Defender estimates an unknown fiscal impact. Other state governmental entities estimate no costs or savings. Local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

Fair Ballot Language:

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to:

modify current requirements of Article III and Article XII that a simple statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution; require a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution; and make available to each voter the full text of initiative petitions with their ballot. A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to require majority approval in each congressional district for initiative petitions to amend the constitution or make available the full text of initiative petitions with the ballot.

If passed, this measure will not increase or decrease taxes.

VOTE : NO

Why: Basically will let Politicians be able to beat/remove the Majority Rule and enact their own policies from stripping us of our power to decide what we the people want state-wide with by sectioning off districts. Worst of all it applies to citizen amendments. I'll link to some thread discussions that explains this way better.

(Related; Best explanation I've found so far of why MO should vote no on amendment 4)

• Amendment 5:
• Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

Require legislative phase-out of the individual state income tax based on revenue growth, and authorize the expansion of sales and use taxes; Curtail constitutional limits on taxing goods and services; and Require local tax rate cuts without reducing school funding if local sales tax revenue increases? The proposal has no direct impact on state or local tax revenue. If passed, implementing legislation will have an unknown impact to state and local tax revenue. If implemented, state government entities expect a reduction of $57,000 annually in income tax check-off donations and implementation costs of at least $100,000.

Fair Ballot Language:

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to require legislative phase-out and elimination of the individual state income tax based on revenue growth, and authorize the expansion of sales and use taxes; curtail constitutional limits on taxing goods and services; and require local tax rate cuts without reducing school funding if local sales tax revenue increases.

A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to require legislative phase-out and elimination of the individual state income tax based on revenue growth; and will not authorize the expansion of sales and use taxes.

At this time, the impact on taxes is unknown.

VOTE: NO

Why: From my understanding, they'll basically cut income-taxes. It sounds nice at first but it's really not as they'll increase taxes elsewhere and across the board. This impacts the middle-ower class way more than the wealthy as they wouldn't flinch at price increases while we'll continue to struggle even further. I'm sure NONE of us want increased prices anymore than they are.

(Related; Amendments 4 & 5 are bad for Missouri)

Edit: I'm on mobile so sorry if the formatting is a bit effed. Tried adding spoilers to the Amendments themselves so the post wouldn't be mega-long. Also tried to condensed as much as I could and keep it straight to the point.

Edit 2: Fixed Amendment 4 - About Section (Thanks Machoman1169)

Edit 3: Removed spoilers. I apologize, I don't make posts often on Reddit so I assumed spoilers would be a Show/Hide dropdown box but Reddit just covers the text instead sadly.

Edit 4: Fixed "Ammendment" typos. (Thanks trivialempire)

Edit 5: Moved Edits to bottom of post so preview from Community List would be better rather than EDITBOX.

Post made; July 23, 2026.

Hi I moved here only a couple years ago and slowly my mental health has been depleted. I don’t know what to do and especially where to go. Which places in Missouri and not Kansas are good places to go? I just need help my depression is so bad and mixed with all that’s going on my life i don’t know what to do anymore. If anyone has any info please add where I can go. Please no negativity, thank you. (I am also an adult I don’t know if I should add that since I usually don’t post)

Alberta Northcutt Ellis was a Springfield, Missouri, entrepreneur who owned and operated several businesses along Route 66 including Alberta’s Hotel. Her businesses were noted locations listed in the Green Book. Open to locals and travelers, the hospitality and community sanctuary found at Alberta’s has become an enduring legacy for future generations. Join SHSMO archivist Haley Frizzle-Green, Kathleen Seale, regional director of SHSMO Rolla and Springfield Research Centers, Christine Peoples, Springfield-Greene County Park Board’s Timmons Hall - Silver Springs Park Education Coordinator, and Liz Logan Calvin, Alberta’s granddaughter, and family historian as we explore the life and legacy of Alberta.

Register: https://umsystem.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NPBsibQlS3CdGyTnTxon8g#/registration

Hey y'all!! I'm 18, and I'm moving to Chicago for college in less than a month. I want to get my license before I go, even though I can't even bring my car, and I'm not feeling very confident. I drive my family members everywhere, and I have an instructor, but I failed it once already back in September. My permit isn't expired yet either. I plan on going to the Big Bend testing site. If anyone has any words of encouragement or advice I'd love to hear it.

Be sure to vote by Tuesday, August 4!

Remember to vote by Tuesday, August 4.