Roy Blunt

The Republican senator is leaving public life after serving close to five decades in public office or academia. Blunt is spending some of his remaining weeks in office pointing out how working with his ideological opponents yielded results for Missouri and the nation.

Republican Roy Blunt, Missouri's senior senator, will leave office next month after serving in Washington, D.C. since 1997.

Rep. Chris Sander of Lone Jack has introduced a proposed constitutional amendment to say valid marriages are between “two individuals" rather than "between a man and a woman.” Missouri's current language, adopted in 2004, no longer has any legal authority but will remain on the books until changed.

A bill that would enshrine recognition of same-sex and interracial marriage into law passed the U.S. Senate this week, with support from Republican Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt. That's despite a last minute plea from Missouri's Secretary of State to vote against the legislation.

The Senate has approved a bill to codify federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages by a 61-36 vote. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and Kansas Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran voted against the bill. It now heads back to the House where it is expected to be passed quickly.

The "Respect For Marriage Act" would ensure same-sex and interracial marriages will continue to be recognized regardless of future Supreme Court rulings. Sen. Roy Blunt and 11 other Republicans joined Democrats in a procedural vote, while Missouri's Sen. Josh Hawley and both Kansas senators voted no.

Hundreds of refugees have found housing, jobs and new lives in Kansas City since the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan. But many remain separated from their family members, and are struggling with an uncertain future here.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt held off former Gov. Eric Greitens, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler and others to win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

The Missouri senator discussed the bipartisan gun legislation that he helped pass and expressed support for state-based abortion decisions.

Primary elections in Kansas and Missouri are just weeks away. In Missouri, a crowd of candidates — both Democrats and Republicans — are vying for the chance to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Roy Blunt. Who voters select in the primaries could determine the balance of power in Washington.

Federal officials are responding to Tuesday’s mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas, the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. Many Democrats have called for more restrictions on gun access. While Republican lawmakers have condemned the shooting, critics were quick to point out the tight relationships these lawmakers have held with the NRA.

Many worry that Greitens could present enormous problems for Missouri Republicans — even if he manages to win the U.S. Senate race later this year.