Jason Hancock
@jasonhancock.bsky.social
Editor-in-chief of The Missouri Independent, a nonpartisan, nonprofit newsroom.
Detective for the people. Raker of muck.
jhancock@missouriindependent.com
Detective for the people. Raker of muck.
jhancock@missouriindependent.com
Reposted by Jason Hancock
The lawsuits follow comments Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway made last week to the Missouri House Budget Committee, where she vowed to shut down so-called “gray market” games in bars, restaurants and convenience stores across the state. #moleg #mogov
Missouri AG files first lawsuits in promised crackdown on unregulated slot machines • Missouri Independent
Five retail shops in Dunklin County were sued Tuesday by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who alleges the businesses are operating illegal gambling machines on their premises.
missouriindependent.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A Missouri judge is being asked to decide which congressional district map — the one passed in 2022 or the one passed last year — will be in effect when candidates line up to file for office later this month. #moleg #mogov
Judge to decide whether Missouri's gerrymandered congressional map is in effect • Missouri Independent
A Missouri judge is being asked to decide which congressional district map — the one passed in 2022 or the one passed last year — is in effect.
missouriindependent.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Missouri lawmakers scrounged for unspent or underutilized funds that could be cut from next year’s budget Monday, vowing to protect programs they said are vital to the health of Missourians. #moleg #mogov
Missouri lawmakers scour for savings to shield disability, health programs from cuts • Missouri Independent
Lawmakers sought ways to minimize proposed cuts to disability and other health programs in a budget hearing on the state's health department
missouriindependent.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Lawmakers have been back in the Missouri Capitol for a month. As newsrooms shrink across the state and nation, watchdog reporting has never been more essential.
Will you make a tax-deductible gift today to keep fact-based, nonprofit journalism alive in Missouri? #moleg #mogov
Will you make a tax-deductible gift today to keep fact-based, nonprofit journalism alive in Missouri? #moleg #mogov
Donate • Missouri Independent
missouriindependent.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A bill requiring public schools screen all students to determine if they qualify for gifted education by the time they reach the third grade passed the Missouri House on a 142-8 vote Monday. #moleg #mogov
Bill to require gifted education screening in public schools passes Missouri House • Missouri Independent
The Missouri House passes a bill requiring public schools to screen students for gifted education, bolstering a 2022 law.
missouriindependent.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
While Denny Hoskins has conceded that part of his summary was flawed, his attorneys argued that other portions are neutral and should be retained in the revision that will be drafted by a Cole County judge. #moleg #mogov
Missouri secretary of state wants to keep portions of ballot language for redistricting referendum • Missouri Independent
A trial was held Monday over the ballot language that voters would see if a referendum on redistricting makes the Missouri ballot in November.
missouriindependent.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Cannabis drinks may cut alcohol consumption, study finds, as Missouri weighs hemp THC rules #moleg #mogov
Cannabis drinks may cut alcohol consumption, study finds, as Missouri weighs hemp THC rules • Missouri Independent
Missouri lawmakers are debating the future of hemp-derived THC beverages, which are already sold in bars, liquor stores and convenience shops.
missouriindependent.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Donald Trump wants to federalize elections. Missouri secretary of state says no.
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins told lawmakers he wouldn’t provide the state’s full voter list to the feds w/o a court order. He said his office had only shared a public version of the voter rolls. #moleg
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins told lawmakers he wouldn’t provide the state’s full voter list to the feds w/o a court order. He said his office had only shared a public version of the voter rolls. #moleg
Donald Trump wants to federalize elections. Missouri secretary of state says no • Missouri Independent
State and local election officials are bracing for the prospect of federal action after President Donald Trump’s call to “nationalize” elections.
missouriindependent.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Donald Trump wants to federalize elections. Missouri secretary of state says no.
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins told lawmakers he wouldn’t provide the state’s full voter list to the feds w/o a court order. He said his office had only shared a public version of the voter rolls. #moleg
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins told lawmakers he wouldn’t provide the state’s full voter list to the feds w/o a court order. He said his office had only shared a public version of the voter rolls. #moleg
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A law passed last year to add a measure for grade-level equivalency as part of Missouri’s standardized test reports may be scrapped as a casualty of the state’s budgetary woes. #moleg #mogov
Missouri budget cuts threaten plan to show grade-level performance on state tests • Missouri Independent
Gov. Mike Kehoe proposes cutting funding for a new law that would add a measure for grade-level equivalency to test scores.
missouriindependent.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A proposed $80.7 million funding reduction of Missouri’s services for people with developmental disabilities would eliminate the “community specialist” option — and slash pay rates for families’ care staff by between 21% and 29%. #moleg #mogov
Missouri families worry proposed $80.7 million cut will hobble disability care programs • Missouri Independent
As advocates argued reduced pay would cause care staff to quit, Mental Health Director Valerie Huhn said the workforce impact is unclear.
missouriindependent.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
The state, at the request of federal investigators, joined the probe that has its roots in a federal civil court case where a jury found the games offered by Wildwood-based Torch Electronics are illegal gambling devices, said Attorney General Catherine Hanaway. #moleg #mogov
Missouri attorney general says state and feds are investigating ‘illegal’ slot machines • Missouri Independent
A state and federal investigation of “illegal” slot machines is looking at how “billions” go from Missourians to the game owners.
missouriindependent.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
The first bill to clear the Missouri House this year would open the door for health care providers to face the death penalty if they don’t provide life-saving care to a baby born after an attempted abortion. #moleg #mogov
Missouri House passes 'born alive' abortion bill that also targets medication abortions • Missouri Independent
Health care providers would face the death penalty if they don’t provide life-saving care to a baby born after an attempted abortion.
missouriindependent.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
The number of Missourians waiting in jail for services from the state’s mental health department continues to rise, with a backlog of more than 500 people with stalled cases. #moleg #mogov
More than 500 Missourians await court-ordered mental health services, languishing in jails • Missouri Independent
Mental Health Director Valerie Huhn told state lawmakers that of 528 people awaiting services, most are in jails.
missouriindependent.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A bill aimed at curbing the use of automatically recurring campaign donations — a fundraising tactic employed by a prominent GOP candidate — won first-round approval without opposition Wednesday in the Missouri House. #moleg #mogov
Missouri House backs bill to ban candidates from using automatic recurring donations • Missouri Independent
A bill aimed at curbing automatically recurring campaign donations won first-round approval without opposition in the Missouri House.
missouriindependent.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Missouri lawmakers are moving to rein in elementary schools’ use of technology, debating legislation Wednesday that would cap students’ daily use of digital devices at 45 minutes. #moleg #mogov
Bill aims to cap Missouri elementary students’ daily screen time at 45 minutes • Missouri Independent
The Missouri House Education Committee debates legislation seeking to limit screen time in kindergarten through fifth grade.
missouriindependent.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Proposals to stop or rein in large-scale solar projects drew emotional testimony in a Missouri Senate committee — and highlighted growing conflicts over land use and property rights. #moleg #mogov
Missouri Senate considers bills to halt solar development on farmland • Missouri Independent
The conversion of Missouri farm land from food to solar power production creates feuds among neighbors and pits residents against developers.
missouriindependent.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Companies profiting from unregulated convenience store slot machines would have two years to pull their games off the market under a bill advanced Monday in a Missouri House committee. #moleg #mogov
Video lottery bill would allow 2 years to remove Missouri’s ‘gray market’ slot machines • Missouri Independent
A Missouri House committee voted 8-5 in favor of a bill to legalize video lottery terminals and force 'gray market' machines out of the state.
missouriindependent.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
The Missouri Senate Education Committee debated proposals Tuesday that would allow students to enroll in public schools in neighboring districts, but public-education groups say they prefer a version of the bill filed in the House. #moleg #mogov
Missouri public schools want protections in open-enrollment legislation • Missouri Independent
A Missouri Senate committee debates a bill that would open public school enrollment to nonresident students without many limitations.
missouriindependent.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
The new rules raise the bar to end filibusters in the Missouri Senate after Democrats used procedural tactics to block appointments. #moleg #mogov
Missouri Senate changes its rules to make it harder to cut off debate • Missouri Independent
Democrats forced changes to the Missouri Senate’s rules Tuesday, cutting a deal with GOP leadership that ended two weeks of filibusters.
missouriindependent.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A Missouri man fighting a calculation that could keep him in state prison for more than 40 years on a 23-year sentence lost the first round of a court battle seeking to be released. #moleg #mogov
Court rules against Missouri man serving 40+ years on a 23-year prison sentence • Missouri Independent
A Missouri man fighting a calculation that could keep him in prison for more than 40 years on a 23-year sentence lost the first round of a court battle.
missouriindependent.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Why Missouri courts keep tossing the secretary of state’s ballot language missouriindependent.com/2026/02/02/w...
Why Missouri courts keep tossing the secretary of state’s ballot language • Missouri Independent
From abortion to education funding, judges say voters were not given a fair or complete description of what was at stake.
missouriindependent.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Why Missouri courts keep tossing the secretary of state’s ballot language missouriindependent.com/2026/02/02/w...
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A coalition of marijuana companies is filing lawsuits against businesses across Missouri, accusing dozens of stores of illegally selling marijuana under the guise of “THCA hemp flower” and undercutting the state’s regulated cannabis market. #moleg #mogov
Marijuana companies sue dozens of smoke shops for selling THCA hemp flower • Missouri Independent
The lawsuits argue that the arrangement creates an uneven playing field, while hemp businesses say they're following federal law.
missouriindependent.com
February 2, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Missouri Republicans are pushing a change that would move most high-profile legal fights — including ballot initiative challenges — out of the Western District Court of Appeals and into the Eastern District. #moleg #mogov
Missouri Republicans move to change venue for major court cases following recent abortion rulings • Missouri Independent
An attempt to move Cole County to Missouri’s Eastern District Court of Appeals is rooted in abortion rulings.
missouriindependent.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
In a court filing this week that surprised advocates for a statewide vote on the new map, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ attorney wrote that accusations the original ballot language was “argumentative and likely to create prejudice” were true. #moleg #mogov
Missouri secretary of state wants chance to rewrite biased ballot language for referendum • Missouri Independent
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins wants another chance to write ballot language for a vote on Missouri’s gerrymandered redistricting map.
missouriindependent.com
January 31, 2026 at 1:37 PM