Annelise Hanshaw

An appeals court ruled Tuesday that the Missouri Attorney General's Office may receive protected health information in its investigation of adolescent gender-affirming care, though it rejected the attorney general's claims of broad investigative authority.

One ballot campaign hopes to amend the Missouri constitution to declare education a “fundamental right.” The other would prohibit most public funding of nonpublic schools, including charters. Both accuse the state's top election official, Denny Hoskins, of trying to mislead voters.

A community needs a vaccination rate of at least 95% to be adequately protected from measles outbreaks. In Missouri, the rate of vaccinated kindergarteners stands at 90%, while some areas have rates as low as 75%.

State tax dollars have already started flowing out of the Missouri Treasurer’s Office to fund private-school scholarships. Missouri teachers are suing to stop the payments, calling it an unauthorized use of taxpayer dollars.

Missouri is the only state that still operates separate day schools for special education. But the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled are struggling with declining enrollment, with 36% fewer students over the past 16 years.

State law says the Missouri State Board of Education should have a teacher in an advisory position, but the governor has yet to appoint someone to that spot — and has not given a reason why not.

The law mandates that "three cueing," which teaches students to read using context clues, can be used to supplement lessons, but phonics should be the majority of instruction.

The Missouri National Education Association is suing to stop the state from using general revenue to fund private school scholarships. A new lawsuit says the Missouri legislature "far overstepped its authority" in appropriating general funds to MOScholars.

The state could soon join 27 others banning hair discrimination if Gov. Mike Kehoe signs the proposal into law.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been seeking medical records on gender-affirming health care for minors from providers across Missouri. An appeals court said Planned Parenthood must produce "de-identified" medical records or otherwise cite exemptions.