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]

Carl Junction man among 23 appointed by Kehoe to MO Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force

(From Gov. Mike Kehoe)

Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced a slate of 23 members appointed to the newly formed Missouri Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force.

Established by Executive Order 26-04, Missouri's Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force is charged with evaluating and guiding the state’s strategic approach to nuclear energy development. The task force is the next step forward in an action plan developed following Missouri’s first Nuclear Summit, where more than 550 scientists, lawmakers, local leaders, citizens, and stakeholders convened in Columbia last July to join the conversation about the future of energy in Missouri.

Governor Kehoe will kick off the inaugural meeting at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 11, at the Lewis and Clark State Office Building in Jefferson City. Media may RSVP with communications@dnr.mo.gov.

“Combined with the upcoming Missouri State Energy Plan, the members of our Advanced Nuclear Task Force will help chart a clear and strategic path forward for Missouri’s energy future—one that supports reliable power, economic opportunity, and long-term energy resilience for communities across the state,” said Governor Kehoe. “New energy sources will support U.S. energy dominance and reduce reliance on energy imports.”

Governor Kehoe has tasked Missouri’s State Energy Office, housed within the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, as the state’s lead on the task force.

“We are honored to have Governor Kehoe lead the beginning of what we hope will be many fruitful conversations on the future of nuclear energy for Missouri,” said Kurt Schaefer, Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “This is an important step forward to transforming existing conceptual plans for new nuclear deployment in Missouri into definitive and actional projects.”

Missouri Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force members include the following individuals, as outlined in Executive Order 26-04:

Director Kurt Schaefer, of Columbia, will serve as chair of the task force. Schaefer serves as the director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.Kayla Hahn, PhD, of Jefferson City, will serve as vice chair of the task force. Hahn is chair of the Missouri Public Service Commission.

Senator Mike Cierpiot, of Lee’s Summit, is chair of the Missouri Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy, and the Environment.

Representative Bob Bromley, of Carl Junction, is chair of the Missouri House of Representatives Committee on Utilities.

Director Michelle Hataway, of Jefferson City, is director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Representing investor-owned electric utility companies operating in Missouri:

Robert Dixon, of Washington, is vice president of regulatory & legislative affairs for Ameren Missouri.Noel Black, of Washington, D.C., is chief regulatory and external affairs officer at Liberty Utilities (Algonquin Power and Utilities Corporation).

Jaime McCoy, PhD, of Spring Hill, KS, is site vice president at Evergy Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station, and is a native of Puxico, Missouri.

Representing municipal electric utilities:

Steven Stodden, of Columbia, is president and chief executive officer of the Missouri Public Utilities Alliance.

Representing Missouri electric cooperatives:

Caleb Jones, of Columbia, is executive vice president and chief executive officer of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.

Representing a non-profit organization working to expand affordable electricity in Missouri:

Jared Hankinson, of Columbia, is vice president of governmental relations at the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Representing Missouri higher education institutions with nuclear science programs:

Marisa Chrysochoou, PhD, of Columbia, is dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Matt Sanford, of Columbia, is executive director of the University of Missouri Research Reactor.

David Borrok, PhD, of Rolla, is vice provost and dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at Missouri S&T.

John Brockman, PhD, of Columbia, serves as director of research and education for the University of Missouri Research Reactor.

Joseph Newkirk, PhD, of Rolla, is founder and chair of the Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Department at Missouri S&T.

Representing Missouri's agriculture industry:

Ben Travlos, of Ashland, is director of policy at the Missouri Soybean Association.

Other members appointed by the Governor:

Warren Brooks, of Rogersville, is vice president of electrical operations and electrical supply at City Utilities of Springfield.

Douglas Healy, of Ozark, is an attorney at Healy Law Offices, LLC, an energy law firm.

Scott Strawn, of Kansas City, serves as senior vice president and general manager of power at Burns & McDonnell.Julie Carter, of Lake Ozark, is the director of the Office Workforce Development at the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.

Scott Ramshaw, of St. Louis, serves as a government relations and business development professional for the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562.

Representative John Black, of Marshfield, serves as a Missouri State Representative for District 129.

For more information about the task force, its members, and future meetings, visit Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force | Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

New DESE tools put school district data at your fingertips

(From the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has launched the new School Building and District Matrix data visualization tools designed to support families. These resources enhance access to clear, user-friendly, and high-quality education data for communities across Missouri.

“When parents have clear, easy-to-understand information, they can make confident decisions about their children’s education and their communities,” said Commissioner of Education Dr. Karla Eslinger. “These tools make data easier to access and use.”

Visualization Tools

It’s now easier than ever to explore how schools and districts across Missouri are performing. With just a few clicks, users can dive into key information — such as enrollment, attendance, test results, and staffing. These tools give educators, parents, and community members direct access to statewide data. Missourians will quickly get a clearer picture of how schools are supporting students.

The updated data visualizations provide greater clarity around complex data points, allowing users to:

Compare schools’ data
Explore data through interactive charts and maps
See how performance has changed over time
Use simple filters to focus on what matters most
View state, district, and school-level data
Spot trends and differences across schools
Access consistent, statewide data
Download data for deeper review
Get a clear, at-a-glance view of school performance

Families, educators, and community members can begin exploring school and district data today. Click here to access the free School Building and District Matrix tools.

Jill Carter: Bill offers access to lifesaving medicines

(From Sen Jill Carter, R-Granby)

Missouri families count on their local pharmacies more than most people realize. Whether it’s the corner drugstore in a small town or the independent pharmacy that’s been part of a rural community for decades, these are the places where pharmacists remember your name, catch potential harmful medical interactions, and make sure your medications are ready when you need them. But for years, out-of-state pharmacy benefit managers have been quietly making it harder for these local businesses to survive.

That changes with the legislation I sponsored this session. The Senate substitute for Senate Bills 984 and 968 delivers real protections for Missouri pharmacies and the patients they serve. It puts common sense back into a system that has too often favored big middlemen over the hardworking people right here at home.

The bill sets clear, reasonable rules for audits. Pharmacy benefit managers must now give at least fourteen days’ written notice before showing up for an on-site review. Audits are limited to a manageable number of prescriptions, and pharmacies get thirty days to respond to any preliminary findings. Most importantly, simple clerical or record-keeping mistakes can no longer trigger massive clawbacks if the medication was properly dispensed and the patient received the care they needed. Clinical decisions will be reviewed by a pharmacist licensed right here in Missouri who understands our laws and our patients.

For families, the reforms mean lower costs at the counter. No longer will patients be forced to pay more for a prescription than the pharmacy’s contracted rate. Pharmacists can freely share information about more affordable options without fear of punishment. That kind of open conversation saves Missouri families money and helps them manage their health more effectively.

Rural Missouri gets special attention through strong protections for critical access care pharmacies — the stand-alone and small-group pharmacies that serve our smallest communities. These pharmacies will finally be reimbursed at least their actual cost to acquire the medication. No more losing money on prescriptions as part of “accepted business practices” just to keep the lights on and the doors open for neighbors who depend on them.

The bill also brings long-overdue transparency. Pharmacy benefit managers must disclose conflicts of interest and any financial ties to affiliated pharmacies so that employers and plan sponsors know exactly how their dollars are being spent. These changes promote fair dealing and help keep overall prescription costs in check.

I’ve heard from pharmacists, patients, and small-business owners across my district who are tired of watching their local pharmacies struggle. This legislation grew directly out of those conversations. It shows what happens when Missourians speak up and lawmakers listen.

Our local pharmacies are essential to healthy communities. They provide convenient care, and the personal touch that big chains can’t match. By passing this bill, we’re standing up for the people who show up every day to serve Missouri families. We’re making sure those trusted pharmacies remain a cornerstone of our neighborhoods for years to come.