Missouri legislature

Missouri's new congressional map carves up Kansas City into three separate districts, fulfilling the wishes of President Donald Trump. The ACLU filed a lawsuit Friday, and Kansas City Council recently passed a resolution authorizing legal action of its own.

A group called People Not Politicians announced that it's gathering signatures to prevent Missouri's new congressional map from going into effect until there's a statewide vote. Voters will also have to approve of a Republican plan cracking down on citizen-led constitutional amendments.

Opponents say the plan dilutes the power of Black voters around Kansas City and vow to block it in court or with a referendum. The governor, who's expected to sign the plan, says it reflects the state's conservative values.

Missouri senators are expected to debate and then vote Friday on a Republican-drawn map that seeks to oust Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, as well as a plan to make it harder to pass citizen-led constitutional amendments. Cleaver gave an impassioned testimony against the effort Thursday.

John Diehl admitted in federal court Thursday that he used loans that were supposed to support his law firm for personal expenses, including country club dues, college tuition, credit cards and his mortgage.

On the same day that thousands of protesters filled the Missouri Capitol to protest gerrymandering, Republicans used a rare procedural maneuver to cut off debate over the rules of the special session.

Attendees at the National Baptist Convention in Kansas City criticized efforts by Missouri Republicans to carve up the 5th Congressional district, currently held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II. They said such a move silences Black and brown voices in the political process.

Protesters demanded that Republicans halt their efforts to redistrict Missouri and make it harder for voter-led constitutional amendments to pass. After protesting in the rotunda, rally-goers packed the Senate chambers, where lawmakers are set to take up both proposals.

Much of Kansas City and the surrounding metro has long been part of Missouri's 5th Congressional District. But a plan pushed by President Trump and approved by the Missouri House would crack the city's urban core into three different districts — leaving residents feeling angry and dismissed.

The redistricting plan transforms Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-based district into a GOP-leaning seat, by linking part of Missouri’s largest city with a slew of rural counties. The legislation now heads to the Missouri Senate, where it could face a rougher reception.

Currently, constitutional amendments created through Missouri's initiative petition process only need a statewide vote to be enacted. A Republican ballot measure would make winning much more difficult — and it's now headed to the Senate.

The Republican proposal would require constitutional amendments placed on the ballot through the initiative petition process to win a majority of the statewide vote, and to also pass in all eight of Missouri's congressional districts.