Carthage couple charged after 9 children found in unsafe, unsanitary home

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed felony charges Friday against a Carthage couple who allegedly were keeping nine children in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, according to probable cause statements filed Friday in Jasper County Circuit Court.

Caleb Lombard (DOB 1990) and Amber Lombard (DOB 1990) were each charged with nine counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

A third person, Jazzlin Johnson (DOB 2006) who lived in a camper just west of the Lombards' house was charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child for allowing her child to live in the home.

Arrest warrants were issued for the Lombards with bond set at $50,000 cash or surety for each. A condition of the bond is that they have no contact with children.

The conditions in the home were detailed in the probable cause statements.

From Amber Lombard's probable cause statement:

On April 30, 2026, I, Det. McMain, conducted an investigation at 1402 W. Mound Street, Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri, in reference to unsafe and unsanitary living conditions involving children residing at the residence.

Based on my investigation, I have probable cause to believe that Amber Lombard knowingly acted in a manner that created a substantial risk to the life, body, and health of nine (9) children less than seventeen (17) years of age, in violation of RSMo 568.045, Endangering the Welfare of a Child in the First Degree.

Amber Lombard was identified during the investigation as the primary daily caregiver responsible for the supervision, care, and day-to-day needs of the children residing within the home.

During the execution of a lawful search warrant at the residence, officers observed conditions that were unsafe, unsanitary, and hazardous to human health. The residence contained extensive accumulations of trash, clothing, and decomposing food throughout nearly all living areas. A strong odor consistent with mildew, decay, animal feces, and decomposition was present throughout the home.

Animal feces was observed throughout the residence, including in common living areas and hallways used for daily movement. Large numbers of insects, including cockroaches, were present throughout the residence and actively dispersed when areas were disturbed. Rodent activity was also observed, including rodent feces and live rodent movement within the home.

Food items in advanced stages of decomposition were located throughout the residence, including in the kitchen and basement areas. A basement refrigerator contained spoiled meat in an advanced state of decay, actively leaking fluids onto the floor. A substance consistent with dried blood was also observed on kitchen surfaces.

Structural hazards were present throughout the residence, including a primary bathroom with unstable flooring consisting of loose boards that shifted when stepped on, creating a fall and injury risk. 

Excessive clutter and debris were present throughout the residence, in some areas reaching significant depth, limiting safe movement within the home.

Multiple animals were housed within the residence, including snakes kept in enclosures inside a child's bedroom, as well as numerous other animals located throughout the home and property. In total, more than forty (40) animals were located. There were also deceased animals that were left lying to decompose inside the residence. The presence of these animals, combined with the unsanitary conditions, contributed to an environment hazardous to the health and safety of the children.

Information obtained during the investigation indicated that children residing in the home were frequently sent to school in unclean conditions, wearing the same clothing for extended periods, and exhibiting signs consistent with insect bites and untreated skin conditions. Reports from school personnel further indicated ongoing concerns regarding hygiene and potential medical neglect.

As the primary daily caregiver, Amber Lombard had direct and ongoing responsibility for the care, hygiene, and living conditions of the children within the residence. Despite this responsibility and knowledge of the conditions present in the home, the unsafe and unsanitary environment was allowed to persist.

Based on the totality of the circumstances, Amber Lombard knowingly failed to act to prevent or correct condition that created a substantial risk to the life, body, and health of the children residing in the home.

From Caleb Lombard's probable cause statement:

Caleb Lombard is a resident and caretaker of the children within the home and admitted knowledge of the condition of the residence, stating that the house was a mess and that they were working on it. 

Despite this knowledge, the conditions described above were allowed to persist.

Caleb Lombard's probable cause statement included the same information as the Amber Lombard probable cause statement.

Former Neosho teacher/ girls basketball coach under fire after sexual assault allegation

Former Neosho High School girls basketball coach Matt Hixson, who was recently fired from his position as a corporal with the Bella Vista, Arkansas Police Department following a sexual assault allegation, is now in danger of losing his law enforcement certification.

KNWA reports the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards voted April 15 to schedule a hearing on decertifying Hixson.

Hixson's problems began January 14 when a woman reported she had been sexually assailed by a Bella Vista police officer. After an investigation, though the woman eventually refused to press charges, Hixson was fired for violating several department policies, including sexual misconduct, making false statements and sexual harassment.  

Hixson was head girls basketball coach for nearly two season, but was removed from the position with three weeks left during his second season, though he retained his position as a Neosho High School teacher.

At the time, Assistant Superintendent Richie Fretwell told the Joplin Globe, "This is a personnel issue, so we can’t get into much (detail).” We just thought at this time it was time to make a change, and this is the direction we’re moving. Even with three weeks left in the season, we feel it was time for a change and a new voice in the locker room. Hopefully we can move forward for our kids’ sake and get ready for playoffs and finish the year strong.”

Fretwell added, "Mr. Hixson is a good man. I know he cared about our student-athletes and our girls basketball program. We respect that in Mr. Hixson.”

Hixson didn't return to the Neosho R-5 School District after the end of that year.

Three restaurants fail Joplin Health Department inspections

Charley's Cheesesteaks, 101 N. Range Line Road, Taqueria La Heradura (mobile) and Hardee's, 4013 S. 43 Highway, failed Joplin Health Department inspections this week, according to information posted on the department website. 

Charley's Cheesesteaks

Charley's Cheesesteaks had one priority violation for having meats and cheeses in the cooler being cold held above 41 degrees.

Core violations were recorded for having accumulations on the soda dispenser's nozzle and for having employee items improperly stored on food storage containers in the kitchen.

Taqueria La Heradura

Taqueria La Heradura had one priority violation and six core violations.

The priority violation was for having on-site wastewater discharge to an unapproved system. The tank that the sewage is being collected in is not mounted to the vehicle as required.

Core violations were noted for the following:

-Several in-use kitchen knives were improperly stored between prep tables

-Raw beef strips and refried beans were thawing on the bottom of a shelf in the kitchen.

-Wrapping on the outside of the cooler was peeling off and was not easy to clean.

-The handwashing sink basins were sealed with excessive sealant making them uneasy to clean.

-Slip resistant mats were damaged.

-The inside of the reach-in freezer had heavy frost accumulation.

Hardee's

Hardee's had a primary violation for having ham, cheese and roast beef in the cooler being cold held above 41 degrees.

Core violations were recorded for having the mop sink leaking from the bottom of the faucet and for having liquid waste accumulating above food items in the walk-in freezer.

Passing inspection

The following establishments passed their inspections:

Candy Craze, 101 N. Range Line Road

B&B Theatres, 3217 Hammons Boulevard

Auntie Anne's Pretzels, 101 N. Range Line Road

Rumors Cocktail Lounge, 1825 W. 7th Street

Buffalo Wild Wings, 1525 S. Range Line Road

McDonald's, 3140 S. McClelland Boulevard

Applebee's, 2825 E. 32nd Street

Wendy's @ Pilot, 4500 S. 43 Highway

Dairy Queen @ Petro, 4240 State Highway 43

Pho Saigon Vietnamese Noodle and Grill, 2640 E. 32nd Street

Dollar General, 2630 W. 32nd Street

Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School

3401 E. Newman Road

Casey's General Store, 201 S. Maiden Lane (re-inspection)

Firehouse Subs, 1816 S. Range Line

Wings N More, 1318 E. 7th Street

Range Line Eagle Stop, 3504 S. Range Line Road (re-inspection)

Walmart Neighborhood Market (Deli), 1600 E. 7th Street

Joplin Early Childhood, 2825 S. McClelland Boulevard

Pizza Hut, 2802 S. Main Street

Walmart Neighborhood Market (Deli/Bakery), 2426 S. Maiden Lane

Parental bill of rights legislation voted down in the Missouri House

By Kennedy Voss and Anika Austvold

Columbia Missourian

The Missouri House voted down a bill Thursday that would have expanded the rights of parents in their child’s school or doctor’s office.

The bill faced robust debate Tuesday, which ended with the House signaling its approval with a vocal vote. However, the bill was unable to cross the threshold of votes needed Thursday for it to be passed along to the Missouri Senate.

The bill received a vote of 70-60, which falls short of the 82 votes needed to provide a constitutional majority.

Sponsored by state Rep. Ben Keathley, a Republican from Chesterfield, the bill was meant to give parents more control over decisions affecting their children’s health and education.

“We all know and agree that parents are the initial and ultimate people responsible for the upbringing and raising of their children,” Keathley said.

In the classroom, it would have allowed parents to approve reading materials or topics discussed. The language cited moral reasons and also had provisions about excusing their child from school for religious purposes.

For schools, it would have required more oversight by making a database that parents would have been allowed access to for tracking what the district spends its money on.

Opponents argued the added requirements could place additional burdens on school systems.

“Our schools know how to navigate the balance of the parents’ rights and the protection of children, as do our health care providers,” said Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia, who spoke against the bill. “This bill will add challenges to the work they are doing.”

The bill also would have required schools to let parents know if they suspected their child was being abused. Opponents raised concerns during debate Tuesday, warning that if a parent were the abuser, the requirement could put an abused child in further danger.

“This is not about the power of families,” Rep. Elizabeth Fuchs, D-St. Louis, said in opposition to the legislation. “It’s about fortifying a dangerous ideology that prioritizes absolute parental control over a child’s right to safety.”

Though the lack of support was surprising, the bill would have faced many hurdles to final passage.

If the vote had gone in Keathley’s favor, it would have needed to move quickly through the Senate as the legislative session ends in two weeks.

Josh Hawley puts Missouri at center of national fight over abortion pill

By Anna Spoerre

Missouri Independent

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley has opened a new front in the fight over medication abortion, pushing legislation to revoke federal approval of mifepristone, urging the Justice Department to investigate its manufacturer and helping launch a national political group aimed at reshaping abortion debates after a string of losses on the ballot.

The push has made Missouri a central arena in the national fight over mifepristone. 

It’s not just focused on Hawley’s efforts. A major federal lawsuit looking to limit access to the drug is currently playing out in St. Louis after Missouri became the lead plaintiff. The state’s attorney general is pursuing a separate case against Planned Parenthood, testing the ability to wield consumer-protection laws as a means to limit mifepristone.

Later this year, voters will decide the fate of a proposed abortion ban placed on the ballot by Missouri lawmakers.

Nearly 18 months ago, Missouri voters approved a constitutional right to abortion, becoming the first state to overturn an abortion ban through the people’s vote. But medication abortion — which now accounts for about two-thirds of abortions in the United States — remains unavailable through Missouri providers as a state court weighs which regulations on the medication and its providers are now unconstitutional under the new amendment.

In April, Hawley called on acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to open an investigation into Danco Laboratories, the manufacturer of brand-name mifepristone, the first medication taken during a medical abortion that causes the embryo or fetus to stop growing and detach from the uterine wall. If Blanche follows through, it, could disrupt the supply of the drug nationwide. A few weeks earlier, Hawley announced legislation aimed at ending the use of mifepristone for abortion.

“It is time for Congress to do something about this racket, and it is a racket,” Hawley said during a March press conference, calling on his colleagues to withdraw the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, which is also used to treat miscarriages. “It is time for Congress to ban the use of mifepristone for abortion.”

Few Republicans in Washington have made mifepristone as central to their work as Hawley. He has introduced or co-sponsored multiple measures targeting the drug, pressed the FDA and DOJ in letters and floor speeches, and made the medication a recurring theme of his public appearances. Abortion-rights advocates say his focus reflects a broader strategy to restrict abortion nationally, even in states where voters have backed legal access.

That strategy, they argue, is being built in Missouri.

“A lot of what we see happening across the country and at the federal level against reproductive freedom has its roots in Missouri,” said Emily Steinert McDowell, associate director of federal policy with Reproductive Freedom for All. “A lot of that does have to do with the leadership from Senator Hawley.”

The Missouri connection extends beyond the senator.

U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, a former Missouri solicitor general, was among the lead donors to the campaign against Missouri’s 2024 abortion-rights amendment. Two federal judges nominated by President Donald Trump — Joshua Divine and Maria Lanahan — worked in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office on litigation challenging the FDA’s approval of mifepristone.

That case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, where Erin Hawley, wife to Josh Hawley, argued against the medication before the court, which ruled that the anti-abortion doctors and organizations challenging the drug lacked standing. The case has since returned to the lower courts and was relocated to Missouri where the attorneys general of Kansas and Idaho joined Missouri in trying to give the challenge new life.

The Hawleys also recently launched the Love Life Initiative. The group, organized as a nonprofit that does not disclose its donors, says it will invest in anti-abortion and pro-family messaging around the country.

“This is more a story about the nature of Missouri politics than it is about the nature of Missourians,” said Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California-Davis and a leading expert on abortion in America. “So this is partly about the efficacy of the anti-abortion movement in Missouri, and the fact that a lot of politicians with national ambitions have made Missouri home, like Senator Hawley.”

Hawley was not available for comment.

The shift in access to medication abortion came under the Biden administration, when the FDA allowed for the mailing of mifepristone and for prescriptions to be made online or through pharmacies without seeing a doctor in-person.

During the March press conference, Hawley decried decisions by the Obama and Biden administrations to expand access to the medication.

“They did it because they wanted to turn mifepristone into the driver of abortion on demand, and we have to admit today they largely succeeded,” he said. “There are more abortions now in the United States than there were when Roe versus Wade was the law of the land.”

In the first six months of 2025, an estimated 15,000 abortions occurred each month using telehealth, according to the Society of Family Planning.

While an estimate is not available specifically for Missouri, it’s widely known that getting abortion medication through the mail is possible.

To test how easy it was to access abortion medication, Sam Lee, a longtime anti-abortion lobbyist in Jefferson City, says he ordered mifepristone and misoprostol for “dirt cheap” off eBay in early 2022. He said the medication arrived at his Missouri home from India within about 26 days. At the time, doctors in Missouri could not legally prescribe the medication.

In the time since, Lee said it’s become more clear to him that without limiting mifepristone on the federal level, abortions will continue in large numbers.

“For years you could say, ‘okay, well, abortions are done at this local abortion clinic. If we just shut down the abortion clinic, if we just shut down Planned Parenthood’s clinic where they’re doing abortions, that will take care of it,’” Lee said. “That’s just not the case anymore.”

Missouri leaders began paying closer attention to medication abortion about a decade ago, Lee said.

In 2017, Republicans passed abortion regulations requiring mifepristone to be administered by a doctor, and only if the provider has a complication plan approved by the state that includes a contract with an OB-GYN who can be on call 24/7 to treat any complications.

That change effectively halted Missouri doctors’ ability to prescribe abortion medication.

The FDA states that mifepristone is safe to use if taken as directed in the first trimester of pregnancy. That conclusion has become a focal point in anti-abortion challenges to the drug.

Hawley has called the medication “inherently dangerous” and “inherently prone to abuse,” noting a dozen instances in the past year where he said men were criminally charged with giving a woman mifepristone without her consent.

He also points to a 2025 study from the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a right-leaning think tank, which concludes that serious complications from mifepristone are much more common than the FDA reports.

That study has been widely criticized by medical professionals as flawed and politically-motivated. The paper concluded that 1 in 10 people who take mifepristone experience a serious adverse event. The FDA data cites serious adverse reactions in less than 0.5% of women who take the medication. Critics of the latest study said the decision to include visits to the emergency room when the patient doesn’t require admission as well as follow-up appointments as adverse outcomes was misleading.

Since the medication was approved for use nearly three decades ago, the FDA has reported only 32 deaths associated with mifepristone. The report evaluates data from 5.9 million women who took mifepristone between 2000 and 2022. Of the three dozen deaths, 11 were the result of sepsis, 20 were homicides and two were suicides.

Bleeding and cramping are expected side effects. More rarely, there can be hemorrhaging and infection. Those prescribed mifepristone are urged to call their doctor if they experience heavy bleeding, abdominal pain or a fever. This guidance also applies to those who recently underwent surgical abortions, experienced miscarriages or delivered a baby.

“Missouri is leading the way in restoring commonsense limits on abortion that reflect the state’s longstanding priorities, including health and safety standards for women and clarifying parental consent,” Sue Liebel, director of state affairs with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said in a statement.

She pointed to the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot in Missouri this year that will ask voters if they want to reinstate a ban with limited exceptions for medical emergencies and survivors of rape and incest. It would also ban gender-affirming care for minors, which is already illegal in Missouri.

The ballot measure is among the recent strategies Ziegler has seen emerge from Missouri. She said she’ll be watching closely to see whether the decision by the Missouri legislature to tie the amendment to transgender issues may prove to be a reliable “Trojan Horse” strategy that could be copied by other anti-abortion legislatures.

A recent SLU/YouGov poll found that while almost 60% of Missourians support abortion access until at least the eight week of pregnancy, even more Missourians — 67% — oppose puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and gender transition surgeries for minors.

“For the national anti-abortion movement,” Ziegler said, “Missouri is sort of a laboratory for other strategies that could be exported elsewhere to shut down access to abortion.”



She said this includes the “vanguard” consumer protection lawsuit against Planned Parenthood challenging its portrayal of mifepristone’s safety.

Last July, then-Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey sued Planned Parenthood Federation of America for $1.8 million in damages, claiming the nonprofit violated the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act for stating on its website that mifepristone is “safer than many other medicines like penicillin, Tylenol, and Viagra.”

In November, current Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway asked a federal court to roll back the FDA’s decision to approve a new generic brand of mifepristone.

“For Missouri and other states with strong protections for unborn life and maternal health, the widespread mail-order distribution of mifepristone directly undermines state law and burdens state hospitals, emergency rooms, and taxpayers,” Hanaway said at the time.

Hanaway in a statement Wednesday said she will continue advocating for additional regulations around mifepristone use, including in-person appointments.

“As Missouri Attorney General,” she wrote, “I am proud to lead the fight to protect women’s health and safety, ensure every unborn child has a voice, and defend the rule of law.”

A majority of Americans support at least some access to abortion, including medication abortion, polling by the Pew Research Centers shows.

It could be why some Republicans on the national level have been quieter on the subject, especially ahead of the midterms. Many anti-abortion activists have expressed frustration with the second Trump administration’s reluctance to talk about abortion. But Missouri’s leaders haven’t shied away from the issue.

“Folks who are being rewarded,” Steinert McDowell said, “Despite doing this advocacy — or perhaps because of doing this advocacy — to undermine access to abortion care.”

Signing event held for 53 new Freeman nurses

(From Freeman Health)

Smiling, sharing hugs and waving to a max-capacity audience, a graduating class of 53 graduate nurses (GNs) and graduate practical nurses (GPNs) were honored during a unique Freeman Health System ceremony held Wednesday evening.

Just as athletes sign letters of intent to play at the collegiate level, these nurses signed their names to join “Team Freeman.”

“Tonight is a celebration,” said Freeman Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer Jeanee Kennedy. “This moment marks your transition from preparation to performance, from training to team. Each of you deserves your place here for your great discipline, long nights, and an unwavering commitment to care.”

During the ceremony, held on the Missouri Southern State University campus, family and friends gathered around the signing table to celebrate their loved one’s hard-earned achievement, often punctuated by cheers and chants from the audience.

“You are signing on to a profession that changes lives every single day,” Kennedy continued. “You are choosing a department, a mascot, and a team that will shape you, and will be shaped by you.”

The nurses—who will enter various Freeman departments such as the birthing center, pediatrics, cardiology, emergency department, orthopedics, and transitional care unit (TCU), among others—will take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Upon passing the exam, they will become either registered nurses or licensed practical nurses at Freeman.

“This is a huge moment,” said Nathan Cantwell, Director of Freeman’s TCU, Cardiac Medical Unit, and Infusion Center. “What you guys are doing tonight represents all the late nights that you’ve spent studying, all the early mornings, all the caffeine over the years, all the stress and anxiety. I hope tonight you can take a moment to step back and just appreciate the finish line that you are now walking across.”

The 53 GN and GNP class marks the largest graduate nursing class since the ceremony was launched years ago.

“We are deeply grateful that you have chosen Freeman Health System as your place to grow your nursing career,” said Kristan Eaton, Freeman Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resource Officer. “Your journey allows you to provide the care, compassion, and excellence that will make a meaningful difference to our patients and our community.”

Photos from the event can be found at this link.

Arrest warrant issued after Joplin woman sprayed with bear mace, cut with scissors

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office charged a Leesville, Louisiana man with four counts of second-degree domestic assault after he allegedly made a Joplin woman take off her clothes, then choked her, cut with her scissors and sprayed her with bear mace.

An arrest warrant was issued for Marquis Oshay Willis (DOB 2001) with bond set at $40,000 surety and $15,000 cash.

From the probable cause statement:

On 04/16/2026 Officers with the Joplin Police Department responded to a residence located in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri reference an assault. Victim 1 was contacted by officers, and it was documented by officers that victim 1's face was red, her eyes were watery, and she was in an extreme emotional state.

Victim 1 stated she had been in a sexual relationship with Marquis Willis which she met at a local bar
approximately two weeks prior. On the day of this incident victim 1 says that Marquis became with her over food that she had cooked him, accusing her of trying to poison him. 

Additionally, he accused victim 1 of having drugs in the house. Victim 1 and Willis started arguing and the argument turned into a physical altercation. Victim 1 states that Willis forced her into a bedroom, forced her to remove her clothes until she was naked, and sprayed bear mace on the areas of her vagina and face.

During the altercation Willis bent victim 1's right wrist back, causing extreme discomfort, and when she tried to get away he placed her up against a wall, placed his hand around her neck, and in victim 1's words choked her for approximately 15 seconds. Victim 1 states that Willis punched her on her back and used scissors to cut her left arm nine times.

Officers noted that a open canister of bear mace was found in the living room and that the odor of mace
was strong particularly in the bedroom where the physical altercation took place. Additionally, officers
noted that victim 1 had bruising on her neck, the left side of her back had a large red mark around the
shoulder blade area from being punched by Willis, and there were nine vertical cuts on victim 1's left
forearm where she says Willis uses scissors to cut her. Victim 1 {sought} medical attention for her
injuries and exposure to bear mace.

Willis and a female witness left in a blue Kia passenger. A photo lineup was presented to victim 1 on
04/17/2026. Victim 1 positively identified Marquis Willis from a photo lineup. Additionally, victim 1
states that Willis stole her iPhone 16 Pro Max valued at $1,500.00. Victim 1 says that Willis had taken her phone during the time of the assault.

The case was investigated by the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.

Missouri House passes bill creating high school athletics appeal board

By Annelise Hanshaw

Missouri Independent

The Missouri House gave final approval to a bill creating a state-run appellate body to oversee decisions made by the Missouri State High School Activities Association, passing the measure in a 92-39 vote Thursday despite criticism that it was an example of “government overreach.”

The legislation calls for a five-member board appointed by the governor and located within the state’s education department to give high school athletes and coaches a chance to appeal decisions on eligibility.

“This is going to be something that is going to be around for years to come, to ensure that our students have that right to appeal certain decisions made by MSHSAA,” state Rep. Bennie Cook, the bill’s House sponsor, said during Thursday’s debate.

Cook, a Houston Republican, said he became interested in creating a state-run appeals board after the local high school’s volleyball team was forced to forfeit their title as district champions in 2023. Three players had participated in a charity tournament, breaking a MSHSAA rule barring athletes from participating in third-party competitions. The Houston School District took the matter to court, eventually regaining the team’s title.

Adding another level of recourse could prevent cases like this from going to court, said state Rep. Jim Murphy, a Republican from St. Louis County.

“We don’t need the courts getting involved,” he said. “We just need somebody who can, clear-eyed, make a decision of whether this was right or wrong for the children.”

Few Democrats supported the legislation, with some speaking against what they see as state intrusion into a private entity.

“This is a suppression of local control brought forward by a party who routinely tries to tell us that they’re here to represent local control,” said state Rep. Ian Mackey, a Democrat from St. Louis. “It is upsetting and even nauseating, as much as there has been a lot of work on this bill, to know the origins of it and where it started.”

Earlier in the legislative session, state senators proposed a version of the bill that would oversee payments between public schools and the activities association and take responsibility for appointing MSHSAA’s executive director.

The details of the bill were negotiated as the state simultaneously investigated the association for its policy that established two board positions reserved for members of an underrepresented gender or ethnicity. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is suing MSHSAA over the rule, labeling it discriminatory, and the U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion to intervene at the beginning of April.

The lawsuit and lawmakers’ proposals have called into question MSHSAA’s status as a private entity.

Thursday, Cook referred to the activities association as a “quasi-governmental entity,” pointing to the organization’s acceptance of “taxpayer funding.” The association has repeatedly denied such characterizations.

MSHSAA said in a recent news release that it was “not created by statute, receives no state funding, and is governed by a volunteer board selected by its public, private and charter member schools rather than by the state.”

State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Columbia Democrat, pointed out during Thursday’s debate that MSHSAA did not receive direct funding from the state. Even so, nonprofits routinely receive one-time funding in the state’s budget while remaining independent, she said.

“This legislation is an outrageous overreach by the government on a private nonprofit, self-governed organization,” Steinhoff said.

Even with her concerns, she voted in favor of the bill to “put this to rest,” adding that the compromise brought the legislation to a better place.

“It does provide a level of oversight for the competitions for our high school athletes,” Steinhoff said. “Although I don’t think we need this bill.”

The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature or veto.

Missouri General Assembly passes sweeping public safety bill

By Steph Quinn

Missouri Independent

The Missouri General Assembly passed a sweeping public safety bill Wednesday that Democrats say would correct errors in legislation signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe three weeks ago.

The legislation also combines bills aimed at clarifying the state’s sex offender registry law, establishing procedures for court-ordered outpatient treatment of people with severe mental illnesses, allowing lifetime protection orders for some felony victims and banning stalking and harassment on the internet.

It passed 119 to 18 in the House and 25 to 4 in the Senate and now goes to the governor.

Senate Democrats argued last week that criminal justice legislation already signed by Kehoe would have left no sentence in state law for rape or sodomy of a child under 12 until Jan. 1, 2028.

That’s a claim disputed by both the sponsor of the original bill, Republican state Sen. Nick Schroer of Defiance, and the sponsor of the bill Democrats say would fix the mistake, Republican state Rep. John Black of Marshfield.

Black said during debate in the House this week that while he doesn’t think there is a sentencing gap, the Senate had “amended that [in his bill] to alleviate any concerns.”

Schroer said during debate in the Senate that his bill was “fine, but there were some measures that we said in good faith [that] we’ll make some tweaks to language to make it more consistent elsewhere.”

Senate minority caucus staff told The Independent the disagreement was due to a discrepancy between the effective date of increased penalties for rape or sodomy of a child and the effective date of another section of the legislation defining those penalties.

The amended version of the legislation would change all effective dates to Jan. 1, 2028.

Democrats argued that while it’s unlikely that people convicted of those offenses would be able to avoid incarceration due to the discrepancy, it could have caused litigation and confusion about sentencing for people accused of the crimes.

Black’s underlying legislation, which would add into state law mandatory minimum prison sentences before people are eligible for parole, was passed in March as part of Schroer’s legislation, which also allows a greater role for prosecutors in juvenile court proceedings.

Amendments to Black’s bill in the Senate added provisions sponsored by lawmakers spanning both chambers and parties.

“There are a lot of good things in this bill,” Black told The Independent.

Legislation sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Aaron Crossley of Independence, Republican state Rep. Carolyn Caton of Blue Springs and Democratic state Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern of Kansas City would seek to get adults with serious mental illness into up to two years of court-ordered treatment in their communities before they end up hospitalized or incarcerated.

While Missouri law already allows involuntary outpatient treatment as an extension of the state’s civil detention process, supporters of the legislation say the state’s inpatient facilities are so full that patients end up waiting in emergency rooms before they can be committed.

Black, who chairs the state’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force, said this measure would connect Missourians with substance use and mental health conditions with available treatment.

“Unless people are involved, have a loved one or friend with those kinds of disorders, they don’t realize how troubling it is to try to help the person with the problem if the person with the problem won’t get help,” Black said.

The bill would also make it unlawful to disclose “intimate digital depictions” of someone without their consent, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, or four years for threatening disclosure. This measure is similar to legislation passed by the House earlier this year.

Legislation sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Patty Lewis of Kansas City and added to the bill approved Wednesday would prohibit cyberstalking. It defines the offense as using digital technology or the internet to intimidate, track or follow someone and allows penalties up to $2,000 in fines or one year in jail for the first offense.

Black’s bill also includes a measure sponsored by Republican state Sen. Mike Moon of Ash Grove that would allow courts to enter a lifetime protection order forbidding people convicted of the most serious felonies, such as first degree assault or rape, from contacting their victims.

A measure sponsored by Republican state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold would clarify that people convicted of a sex offense in another state who live, study, work or volunteer in Missouri more than seven days per year must register in the state, even if their primary residence is elsewhere. People convicted of a qualifying offense out of state who move to Missouri must also register in Missouri.

The bill hasn’t totally satisfied Democrats who argue that the criminal justice legislation signed by the governor was pushed too quickly through the legislature, allowing too little time for vetting.

Democratic state Rep. David Tyson Smith of Columbia, a member of the conference committee that negotiated the final version of the bill, told The Independent that he still thinks the criminal justice legislation was “rushed through” and “full of problems.”

“We’re kind of helping them fix their mess, and in turn, from us doing that, we’re adding some things that we like,” Smith said. “I don’t like this process. I don’t like how it’s done.”

State Historical Society program features Route 66 hotel that provided welcoming spot for Blacks during Jim Crow era

 

(From the State Historical Society of Missouri)

Alberta’s Hotel near U.S. Highway Route 66 in Springfield offered Black travelers a reliable and welcoming place to stay during the Jim Crow era.

Run by Alberta Northcutt Ellis and her family, the hotel provided comfort, home-cooked meals, and a sense of ease at a time when many African Americans had to plan every stop with care. 

Drawing on photographs, oral histories, family recollections, and entries from The Negro Motorist Green Book, this webinar traces how Alberta transformed a former city hospital into a trusted stop along one of America’s most well-known highways. Join SHSMO historian Bridget Haney, PhD, and Kathleen Seale, coordinator of the SHSMO Rolla and Springfield Research Centers as we explore how everyday acts of care shaped the meaning of travel for Black Americans who were not always free to move without worry. Alberta’s work also connected her hotel to a wider network of local businesses and families who helped travelers move across Missouri with greater confidence.

Join Kathleen Seale and the staff of the State Historical Society of Missouri on the second Thursday of the month at 11a.m. for Asphalt to Archives webinars about the people and places in Missouri that helped make Route 66 into a national icon. This webinar series is a Route 66 Centennial Certified Project through the National Route 66 Centennial Commission.

To receive a zoom link, please register separately for each monthly program in the Asphalt to Archives series, April through November 2026. This program, sponsored by the State Historical Society of Missouri, is available online and free. Register today!

[Image: Alberta's Hotel circa 1956, Logan Family Collection, MSU Special Collections and Archives]