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Ruling on Missouri transgender health care restrictions expected by end of year
A ruling on Missouri’s restrictions on gender-affirming care is likely to come by the end of the year, with the trial complete and attorneys’ reports due within 30 days. After a 13-day trial ended last week, Wright County Circuit Court Judge Craig Carter waived closing statements and asked instead for plaintiffs and defendants to submit […]
Credibility of state’s expert witnesses questioned in Missouri transgender health care trial
Missouri’s defense of a state law barring minors from beginning puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones will depend on whether the judge in the case puts stock in expert witnesses touting retracted studies and conspiracy theories about Jerry Sandusky. Wright County Circuit Court Judge Craig Carter, who is presiding over a lawsuit challenging Missouri’s gender-affirming care […]
Former caseworker testifies in defense of Missouri transgender health care ban
The former caseworker whose account of her time working at a pediatric gender clinic in St. Louis jumpstarted the legislative push to outlaw gender-affirming care for minors testified in defense of Missouri’s restriction on Monday. Jamie Reed, who for four and a half years worked as a case manager at the Washington University Transgender Center, […]
Patients hurt by Missouri’s ban on gender-affirming care, providers testify
After three days of battling over scientific papers and expert testimony, the trial of a lawsuit challenging Missouri’s restrictions on gender-affirming treatments on Thursday turned to the impact the law has on patients and providers. Nicole Carr, a nurse practitioner at Southampton Community Healthcare in St. Louis, said anxiety, fear and depression first increased in […]
Battling experts: Qualifications of witnesses a key in Missouri gender-affirming care case
A case that will determine whether Missouri can continue restricting adolescents’ access to gender-affirming care began Monday in Cole County Circuit Court. The plaintiffs — which include transgender minors, gender-affirming care providers and loved ones — will argue that medical treatments for gender dysphoria are “safe and effective,” attorney Omar Gonzalez Pagan said in opening […]
Lawsuit seeking to block Missouri ban on gender-affirming care for minors heads to trial
A lawsuit filed by transgender children and their parents challenging a one year-old Missouri law restricting minors from accessing cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers heads to trial in Cole County Circuit Court beginning Monday. Plaintiffs are asking Circuit Court Judge Craig Carter, who typically serves in Wright County, to block the law’s enforcement. Pretrial briefs […]
Missouri education officials face second day of tough questions over child care subsidy
The Missouri House Budget Committee grilled state education officials for over two hours Wednesday morning over the backlog of payments in the child care subsidy program. House Budget Chair Cody Smith, a Republican from Carthage, pressed subsidy administrators about how the backlog may affect the state budget. Officials were not able during the meeting to […]
Missouri lawmakers hear from child care providers about massive subsidy payment backlog
Julita Harris has worked in child care for 47 years and has refused to shut down her business, Peter Rabbit Learning and Development Center in St. Joseph, despite mounting financial concerns. The preschool has become a family affair, with her son Edwin helping with administrative tasks. Lately, that’s meant watching for payments from the state’s […]
Missouri education department says state funding for school year is $100 million short
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is asking for over $174 million in supplemental funding for this school year after receiving $1 billion less in appropriations compared to the previous year. When the State Board of Education reviewed the budget bill approved by lawmakers in May, Board Chair Charlie Shields predicted that “the […]
Attempt to block Missouri sports betting amendment lacks evidence, judge rules
A Cole County Circuit Court judge rejected an attempt to invalidate an initiative petition on sports betting Friday, allowing voters to decide whether to enshrine sports wagering in Missouri’s Constitution on the November ballot. “Lawsuits seeking to remove an initiative petition from the ballot after it has been certified as sufficient by the secretary (of […]
Voter records put under microscope in Missouri sports betting amendment trial
A Cole County Circuit Court judge must soon decide whether Missouri voters will be able to enshrine sports betting in the state’s constitution. A lawsuit brought by two political strategists questions the validity of the signature verification process used by the Secretary of State’s Office. The proposal was certified for the November ballot after being […]
Missouri schools lack public enforcement policies for transgender athlete restrictions
It has been a year since a state law required Missouri schools to have athletes compete according to their sex as assigned at birth, and few student manuals and school-board policies reflect the change. Enforcement, which was murky last year, remains unprescribed with many districts stating that they will follow the law without describing how. […]