Tony Luetkemeyer

State legislatures, including Missouri's, are considering a wave of bills that would undermine local control on culture wars issues from education and policing to environmental policy.

Under the legislation, the governor would be able to appoint a special prosecutor for a period of up to five years in jurisdictions where homicide cases exceed a certain rate. Currently, only St. Louis falls under that requirement.

A Missouri Senate committee heard two bills on Wednesday that would legalize sports betting. While one addresses only sports gambling, another also allows the establishment of video gaming terminals.

One of the transgender bills was added to a bill containing multiple measures about Missouri elections, including the requirement that voters show a photo ID in order to cast their ballot.

The lack of action on the appointment came one day after a vocal demonstration against acting Director Don Kauerauf. On Tuesday evening, Gov. Mike Parson appointed Richard Moore as acting director.

Bill would prohibit police from using chokeholds and would establish a use-of-force database for departments. It also eliminates the residency requirement for the Kansas City Police Department.

The proposal, a priority of Gov. Mike Parson and the chamber of commerce, faces long odds with the end of the legislative session looming.

There were not enough votes to tack on an emergency clause that would have allowed the legislation to go into effect immediately.

Missouri State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, joins Julie O’Donoghue for Politically Speaking’s first official “work-from-home” podcast episode…

Brandon Reid remembers watching Barack Obama win the presidential election from his living room couch in 2008. Most of his friends had gone to the polls…