Author
Rudi Keller covers the state budget and the legislature. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, he spent 22 of his 32 years in journalism covering Missouri government and politics for the Columbia Daily Tribune, where he won awards for spot news and investigative reporting.
Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Donald Trump endorses Bob Onder over GOP rivals in Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District primary
By: Rudi Keller - July 8, 2024
Former state Sen. Bob Onder, one of the leading Republican candidates in Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District, on Monday landed the endorsement of former President Donald Trump in the seven-way contest for the Republican nomination. Trump, via statement on the Truth Social platform, said Onder “is an incredible America First Patriot” and a “highly respected physician […]
Missouri GOP snubs state convention results in new presidential delegate selections
By: Rudi Keller - July 6, 2024
All of Missouri’s votes at the Republican National Convention are pledged to the nomination of former President Donald Trump, but the fight over who will cast those votes is putting new rips in the fabric of the state GOP. On Wednesday, the executive committee of the Missouri Republican Party chose 27 at-large delegates and 26 […]
Appeals court dashes Missouri GOP hopes of blocking ‘honorary KKK member’ from ballot
By: Rudi Keller - July 3, 2024
An “honorary KKK member” will lead the list of Republicans on the ballot for Missouri governor in the Aug. 6 primary, in part because it is too late for an appeal court to hear a case seeking to remove his name. And eight candidates for county office in Vernon County will also be on the […]
Missouri presidential delegates rejected by Republican National Convention committee
By: Rudi Keller - July 2, 2024
The Missouri Republican Party must replace 54 national convention delegates and alternates selected at its chaotic state convention because of “alarming irregularities” in the process, the Republican National Convention Committee on Contests ruled Friday. The list of rejected delegates includes two of the major GOP candidates for governor, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and state […]
Missouri corrections officers charged with murder in death of inmate in restraints
By: Rudi Keller - June 28, 2024
Four former Missouri correctional officers face murder charges and a fifth is charged with involuntary manslaughter for the December death of a man incarcerated at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. Othel Moore, 38, was pepper-sprayed in the face multiple times, had his face improperly covered by a hood that blocked his nose and mouth and […]
Missouri governor slashes $1 billion from state budget approved by lawmakers
By: Rudi Keller - June 28, 2024
More than 170 items were struck from the Missouri state budget Friday as Gov. Mike Parson cut $1 billion from the spending plan passed this year by lawmakers. In a statement explaining his cuts, Parson said he vetoed earmarked items that he believes were loaded into the budget for special projects and organizations without considering […]
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson says he plans to veto hundreds of earmarked spending items
By: Rudi Keller - June 27, 2024
Hundreds of earmarked items in the $51.7 billion budget passed by lawmakers this year will be vetoed, Gov. Mike Parson said Thursday, just days before the new fiscal year begins. Speaking with reporters after groundbreaking for a new multi-agency state laboratory, Parson had two criticisms for the budget plan — it goes overboard on earmarks […]
State budget loaded with earmarks nears deadline for action by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson
By: Rudi Keller - June 27, 2024
For years, state Sen. Mike Moon has railed against the unfairness of businesses being told they owe money when the Missouri Department of Revenue revises the list of things covered by the state sales tax. That happened after 2008, when the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that fitness clubs were places of “amusement, entertainment or recreation” […]
Missouri GOP files appeal in hopes of striking ‘honorary KKK member’ from ballot
By: Rudi Keller - June 18, 2024
The Missouri Republican Party is continuing its effort to remove an “honorary KKK member” from the primary ballot for governor, but his attorney says the move comes too late and the party should know it. On May 17, Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker ruled that Darrell McClanahan III of Milo would remain on the […]
Warden of Missouri prison replaced after investigation of inmate death
By: Rudi Keller - June 17, 2024
The warden of Jefferson City Correctional Center, where four corrections officers were fired earlier this year following the investigation of a December death of an inmate, has been replaced. An acting warden has taken over for Doris Falkenrath, Karen Pojmann, spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Corrections, said in an email to The Independent. Falkenrath […]
Rex Sinquefield drops big donations into GOP governor, AG primaries
By: Rudi Keller - June 17, 2024
Missouri’s most prolific political donor dropped another $1 million into the campaign of his preferred candidate for governor last week, bringing the total he’s spent during the 2024 election cycle to almost $3 million. Retired investor Rex Sinquefield has given more than $45 million in contributions since he became a significant donor around 2006 mostly […]
Billions at stake as national battle over drug pricing plays out in Missouri
By: Rudi Keller - June 13, 2024
In a battle that pits some of the biggest players in health care against each other, the Missouri General Assembly has come down on the side of hospitals who want unlimited access to discounted drugs for their pharmacies. On the last day of this year’s legislative session, the Missouri House passed a bill making it […]