Missouri Press Association
Serving Missouri Newspapers Since 1867
Missouri News Network: Statehouse News for MPA Members
This report is written by Missouri School of Journalism students for publication by MPA member newspapers in print and online.
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Missouri News Network this week reported on a public protest at the Capitol over data centers, Google’s efforts to provide energy upgrades to some homes in Missouri and the latest on the gerrymandered congressional map, including Secretary of State Denny Hoskins defending his actions regarding the map.
If you have thoughts or questions, contact Fred Anklam at anklamf@missouri.edu.
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THURSDAY
Opponents of data centers host rally at Missouri Capitol
By Nolan Haberstroh, Missouri News Network
JEFFERSON CITY — More than 100 people filled the Missouri State Capitol rotunda Wednesday afternoon for a rally calling for a state moratorium on data centers.
It was led by members of the No MO Dirty Data Centers coalition. The coalition is made up of Missouri residents along with the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, a farm and rural area advocacy group based in Columbia, and the Missouri Workers Center, a St. Louis-based workers advocacy group.
Individuals were able to provide testimonials followed by a march to the Governor’s Mansion.
While reasonings varied, all speakers were in favor of a statewide moratorium on the construction of data centers.
Gabe Cotton, a resident of Festus, a small town south of St. Louis, voiced his worries about his town’s soon-to-be 300-acre data center.
“The noise will be excessive and will overwhelm the peacefulness in our town,” Cotton said. “The impact on our utilities will turn what was a relatively affordable place to live into an expensive one.”
Cotton relayed his experience watching several Festus City Council meetings where officials ignored resident concerns, moving forward with plans for a data center.
In April, Festus voted out four council members who had supported data center projects.
“Now, I’ve been a proud union construction worker for 24 years. I am not against development. My livelihood depends on it; my paycheck depends on it,” Cotton said.
“I am against irresponsible and destructive development,” Cotton added. “I have never in my career seen projects as harmful as these data centers are in the communities they’re being forced into.”
New Florence farmer Bob Ridgley said the Montgomery County data center is threatening his fifth-generation farmland, a place first purchased by his grandfather where he hoped to see his own grandchildren grow up.
“Our way of life and the future for my children and grandchildren is being threatened by those who claim to have our best interests at heart,” Ridgley said.
Wren Haffner, a farmer from Ozark County, brought up water preservation concerns amid ongoing shortages, as data centers require large amounts of water resources for cooling.
“Nationwide, we are already facing ravaging droughts and fires making farming difficult for many,” Haffner said.
Haffner called for a moratorium until the state can ensure water resources will be protected for future generations.
Although not present at the rally, state Rep. Colin Wellenkamp, R-St. Charles, expressed his support in a news release. Both St. Charles city and county were among the first in the state to put a local moratorium on data centers earlier this year.
“Protections are especially needed to secure water and power resources, while also requiring transparency and prohibiting increased utility costs from being passed to Missourians that only benefits private AI companies,” Wellenkamp said.
Following the rally, protesters moved down the street to the Governor’s Mansion, starting from the Capitol steps.
Demonstrators held a ribbon made to represent a stream along with several handcrafted fish, meant to bring to mind the wildlife that could be put at risk should these projects continue.
As the march moved down the street, police followed behind, asking demonstrators to get out of the road and onto the sidewalks, claiming they lacked proper permits.
Eventually, the police made their way to the front of the crowd, and at the intersection of Madison Street and East Capitol Avenue, one man was arrested. The man, only identified as Russ, works with the Missouri Workers Center.
“You can delay democracy, but you can’t stop it,” Cotton said, “and we aren’t going anywhere until we the people win.”
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Hoskins defends his job performance at Mizzou's Turning Point USA chapter event
By Anna Kuschel, Missouri News Network
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins defended his performance of his official duties Wednesday at an event hosted by Mizzou’s Turning Point USA chapter.
“Someone told me, ‘Oh, you get sued all the time,’” Hoskins said. “I’ve been sued less on average per year than the last three secretaries of state, Secretaries Ashcroft, Kander and Carnahan.”
Hoskins discussed the duties of his office and his perspective on several lawsuits that he faces. He also wrapped up with a Q&A.
Hoskins has been the subject of a number of high-profile lawsuits in recent weeks, all relating to his administration.
One stems from Hoskins’ insistence on using a gerrymandered congressional map that was eventually struck down by both the state and federal high courts. His handling of the maps led the Missouri Supreme Court to hold him briefly in contempt of its order last week.
In that suit, five Missouri voters allege that Hoskins violated state law in the way he handled a referendum signed by approximately 162,000 Missouri voters.
These voters are seeking $500 for each referendum signer, in accordance with a state statute which requires the secretary of state to pay between $100 and $500 to an aggrieved person if the secretary of state “at any time neglect(s) or refuse(s) to perform any of the duties enjoined on him by law.”
A second suit sharing similar legal reasoning was filed Wednesday in Cole County, just hours before Hoskins spoke at Mizzou.
Hoskins was additionally sued earlier this week by former Director of Election Integrity Nick La Strada, who said he was unjustly fired for reporting illegal conduct regarding how Hoskins is running Missouri elections.
Nate Vass, Mizzou’s Turning Point USA chapter president, said this event was scheduled a few months ago before Hoskins was in the news and seen as a controversial figure.
“The average student has no idea about a lot of things the secretary of state does, and obviously there is a lot going on with the maps, so people can get their questions answered from our very own secretary of state,” Vass said. “Here at Turning Point USA, we are trying to promote civic dialogue and get people talking.”
Hoskins talked about his commitment to the 2025 gerrymandered congressional map, which he first supported in 2022 when the state underwent its decennial redistricting. He said the 2025 map divides fewer counties and is more compact and contiguous than the 2022 map, which will be used in November’s election.
“I think a lot of voters are disenfranchised if we use the 7-1 map in the primary and then a 6-2 map in the general,” Hoskins said. “The referendum is going to be on the ballot, so if you want a 7-1 map, you would vote ‘yes’ on Prop A, and if you want a 6-2 map, you would vote ‘no’ on Prop A.”
As the election approaches, Hoskins said he wants Missouri voters to educate themselves on the issues on the ballot, including the redistricting referendum.
“I would encourage Missourians to do like any election and make sure you research the issues,” Hoskins said to the Missourian. “Make sure you study the candidates and research the candidates, because Nov. 3 will be here before you know it. There’s a lot that’s going to be on the ballot, so reach out to your local election authority and do some research.”
Hoskins also referenced recent discourse on Mizzou’s campus, specifically a recent Yik Yak social media post asking who was going to “Kirk” Hoskins, referring to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, in September 2025.
“I think it’s important that we are here and have this conversation,” Hoskins said. “I’ve always said I won’t be intimidated, I won’t be deterred and I will continue to fight for Missouri state law, the Missouri Constitution and the United States Constitution.”
Brenden Poteet, president of the Mizzou College Republicans, also referenced the Yik Yak post.
“I think that language is disgusting and shows a growing disturbing trend of radical violence, and I think that this needs to be curtailed as much as possible,” Poteet said. “I’m very appreciative of Mizzou’s response and how they looked into the targeted statement on Secretary Hoskins.”
Hoskins engaged with students and went around the room before and after the event to shake hands. Hoskins encouraged students to be active in local politics and campaigns.
“It’s not easy to put your belief out there and put your neck on the line and then have people calling you names or (saying) that you’re stupid (or) people questioning your sanity,” Hoskins said. “I’m here to tell you I’m committed to supporting you all, and I’m committed to doing everything I can to defend our common sense Missouri values.”
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WEDNESDAY
Missouri celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month
By Hudson Kuechler, Missouri News Network
JEFFERSON CITY — State Rep. John Martin, R-Columbia, and state Rep. George Hruza, R-St. Louis, hosted the annual Missouri Jewish American Heritage Month Celebration on Wednesday morning in the Capitol rotunda.
More than a dozen people attended to hear Jewish community leaders and lawmakers recognize Jewish Missourians’ contributions to medicine, entrepreneurship, education and philanthropy.
“It’s an opportunity to appreciate all the stuff the Jewish community has done,” Hruza said.
Acknowledgment of harassment and discrimination was a timely topic of conversation. House Bill 2061, Hruza’s Jewish Student Safety Bill, recently became law. The House of Representatives voted 100-17 in favor of the bill in March, and it has been in effect since Aug. 28.
The bill introduces new standards and guidelines for Missouri schools for handling antisemitic behavior and other hate speech.
“It is giving schools a tool to include in their rules and regulations so that if there is an antisemitic incident or potential incident, they can assess it,” Hruza said.
“It’s really to make sure that Jewish students know that we have their back and ultimately the school has their back, so they can attend school without fear of intimidation or harassment because they are Jewish,” he added.
Speakers at the event affirmed that Jewish heritage in America is a living tradition rooted in family, faith, music and observance of holidays and traditions passed down through generations.
Attendees were reminded that violent harassment and persecution of Jewish people still occur across the globe and in Missouri.
“It is important to recognize that our Jewish fellow Missourians should be treated equally like other people,” Martin said.
Martin and others stressed the importance of Missourians feeling safe and welcomed in our communities.
“The point is to recognize that there are challenges, and we need to bring that to light,” Martin said.
Beginning in 2023, all statewide officials, alongside Gov. Mike Parson and the Missouri chapter of the Coalition of Jewish Values, declared September Jewish American Heritage Month.
The nationally acknowledged month celebrating Jewish heritage is May. However, several major Jewish holidays, such as Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah and the beginning of Sukkot, are observed in September, prompting the state’s recognition of the month.
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Gov. Kehoe orders privacy protections for use of Flock police cameras
By Lydia Zweifel, Missouri News Network
Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order Wednesday that aims to establish parameters around the misuse of automated license plate readers, including the street-level Flock camera system used in Columbia and many other cities.
The signing, known as Executive Order 26-18, comes after months of deliberation on how to best implement government surveillance systems throughout the state of Missouri, including in Columbia, where a $500,000 contract with Flock Safety was approved in October of 2024.
Law enforcement is now required to delete collected license plate reader data within 30 days of capture, unless the vehicle data is being utilized in an active and ongoing investigation. Agencies must also ensure that vendors, including Flock Safety, are contractually obligated to permanently delete data within 30 days of collection.
The Columbia Police Department agreed with Kehoe’s response and shared its own approach to promoting privacy while maintaining civility in Columbia. The Police Department has already issued safeguards to local surveillance and adheres to most of the regulations as stipulated in the executive order.
“Technology can make us more effective, but with that capability comes a responsibility to use it appropriately and transparently,” Police Chief Jill Schlude said in a news release.
The order also prohibits use of government sanctioned license plate reader data by third-party entities for any purpose, and warns that data may only be accessed for legitimate criminal justice purposes, including lifesaving measures. Missouri government employees are now prohibited from using artificially intelligent facial recognition software to supplement the data.
“Protecting citizens also means protecting their constitutional rights,” Kehoe said in a news release.
Kehoe concluded the executive order by charging Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety Mark James with the responsibility of enforcing executive regulations regarding license plate readers and encouraging the development of a legislative proposal to solidify privacy regulations.
Flock Safety issued a news release in response to Kehoe’s order, expressing support for his actions and reflecting the company’s commitment to public safety.
State House Speaker Jon Patterson also praised Kehoe for his dedication to citizen privacy. Patterson also emphasized the necessity for additional legislation by the Missouri General Assembly.
While House Democrats supported Kehoe’s opposition to Flock cameras, they expressed concern that Kehoe’s executive order may be unsatisfactory in protecting citizen privacy without comprehensive legislation.
“If this was an actual priority for the governor, he could have called a special session on the issue for today while lawmakers are already in the Capitol for veto session. He instead chose to issue a press release full of promises he has no authority to keep,” House Minority Leader Ashely Aune said in a news release. “House Democrats look forward to taking substantive action to address the unlawful and unrestricted use of these cameras when the legislature reconvenes in January.”
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Ballot deadline looms as federal court hears map challenge
By Jordan Davis, Missouri News Network
State officials are making one last push in a federal appeals court to use the 2025 HB 1 congressional map favoring Republicans in the November midterm elections.
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and U.S. Rep. Bob Onder are at the forefront of the argument, which comes after Hoskins told local election officials last week to use the 2022 congressional map in adherence with the Missouri Supreme Court’s order.
The Eighth Federal District Court in St. Louis is set to hear the congressional map arguments on Thursday. Whatever the court’s decision, another appeal is expected to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has twice declined to get involved.
Any rulings in the case, while settling what map Missouri will use in the general election, could also set a precedent for other states facing similar arguments in future elections.
Over the last year, the 2025 gerrymandered map has caused the group People Not Politicians to take action. Setting out across the state in the weeks after HB 1 passed the legislature, the group collected over 300,000 signatures from residents seeking a popular vote on the map before it would be used.
Delays in certifying the petition led to the map being used in the Aug. 4 primary election. On the day of the primary, Hoskins rejected the petition. Multiple federal and state court hearings ensued, and differing interpretations of state versus federal law by the courts pushed both parties to appeal again.
Two weeks ago, the Missouri Supreme Court ordered that the 2022 maps be used in the general election. The court also held Hoskins in contempt for pushing county clerks to use the 2025 map instead.
Hoskins argued he was following a federal court order, but he backed down when the U.S. Supreme Court lifted that order during the recess of his contempt hearing. Hoskins then ordered clerks to follow the state Supreme Court’s ruling and use the 2022 map.
Republican candidates such as Onder and state Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, whose candidacies are directly benefited by the 2025 map, are still pushing the federal court to rule in favor of the new map.
Proponents of the new map argue that using the 2022 map in November denies the voting rights of those who voted in primaries using the new map.
If the circuit court rules to keep the 2022 map, Boone County records show that 21,000 of the 46,000 citizens who voted in the August primary in the county would see a different ballot.
The Fifth District contest between Brattin and incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver would no longer be on the Boone County ballot. They would be replaced by incumbent Republican Rep. Mark Alford and Democrat Jordan Herrera in the Fourth District contest.
Ballots must be mailed out to overseas voters by Friday, meaning the circuit court is under pressure to issue a verdict shortly after the hearing. Regular absentee ballots are set to be mailed out next week.
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Google funds energy upgrades as company builds power-hungry data center
By Jana Rose Schleis, Missouri News Network
Tech giant Google is committing to help with insulating homes, upgrading windows and replacing inefficient heating and cooling systems to reduce energy bills as it builds a large data center between Columbia and St. Louis.
The company is spending $1.5 million for home weatherization in Montgomery, Lincoln, Pike, and Warren counties. The Northeast Community Action Corporation, or NECAC, a social services nonprofit that works on anti-poverty initiatives in 12 counties throughout central and eastern Missouri, is carrying out the weatherization, which can mean anything from caulking windows to replacing a home’s HVAC system.
“Weatherization has two main features. First, it cuts down people’s utility bills by adding insulation, by caulking around windows, by replacing furnaces,” NECAC public relations officer Brent Engel said. “You get bills that can be reduced as much as 50%. Second, it helps communities because it keeps those older homes viable for a lot more years.” He said the organization recently finished its first home repair using Google funds.
As Google develops a massive data center used to power artificial intelligence technologies in Montgomery County, the company has committed $20 million overall to support what it calls “energy affordability, efficiency, and community resilience” in Missouri.
Katie Ottenweller works on energy market development for Google and said the company will announce how the rest of the funding will be allocated across Missouri later this year.
“Coming into Montgomery County, we feel like what better way to come into the neighborhood than to help our neighbors cut their electric bills,” Ottenweller said.
In documents before the Missouri Public Service Commission, Google said the company has a “long-term interest in ensuring the state’s electric grid remains reliable, clean, resilient, and affordable for all users.”
“Large corporations play a big part in helping pick up where government services leave off,” Engel said. “If we can be assisted by any company that’s willing to boost the energy efficiency of homes in the Midwest and especially in Missouri, we’re all for it.”
Engel said it generally costs $8,000 to $10,000 to weatherize a home in NECAC’s service area and that $1.5 million will “go a long way” over the next year.
Google’s donation to aid energy affordability comes as the Missouri Public Service Commission conducts a “working case” to study the effectiveness of electricity bill assistance programs in the state — initiatives that help low-income residents avoid getting their power disconnected.
Geoff Marke is participating in the case as chief economist at the Missouri Office of Public Counsel, the state’s consumer representative. He said Google’s commitment to energy efficiency is an encouraging development.
Marke and other public counsel staff have been recommending this type of community support be required for companies that want to build AI data centers in the state.
“We are largely aligned, at least conceptually, with what Google’s exploring here. But the devil’s in the details, like most things,” he said.
As Missouri utilities are ramping up plans to build new power plants due to surging electricity demand from forthcoming AI data centers, some state officials are questioning whether policy can protect Missouri residents from footing the bill. Ameren has announced multiple solar, gas and battery projects to meet surging demand.
In documents filed with the Missouri Public Service Commission, Marke has expressed concern that proposed power plants being planned by the state’s largest utilities are solely intended to meet demand caused by AI data centers.
Google’s Ottenweller said the tech company does not want to put “strain on the grid” or have their AI facilities increase Missourians’ utility bills.
“Google’s commitment is that we are going to build our data centers the right way, and that involves us paying for 100% of the power costs to serve our data center operations,” she said.
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VA announces over $17 million in grants to help combat homelessness
By Lucas Shugarman, Missouri News Network
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Wednesday that it has awarded a total of $17 million to 17 community organizations across Missouri in an effort to assist veterans who are experiencing homelessness.
The $17 million will be distributed through two different programs.
A portion of the money will be allocated toward the Supportive Services for Veterans Families . According to the VA website, the program works to “provide housing stability services to low-income veteran families who are experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of experiencing homelessness through compassionate and responsive services.”
The other program the grant money will be distributed through is the VA’s Grant & Per Diem program, which aims to “provide transitional supportive housing and case management grants to end veteran homelessness.”
Paul Hopkins, the medical center director of the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia, said in a news release that the grant funding would boost efforts to help Missouri veterans.
“VA medical centers across Missouri remain committed to ensuring veterans have access to safe, stable housing and the supportive services they need to thrive,” Hopkins said. “These grants strengthen our partnerships with community organizations and help us reach veterans where they are, providing resources that make a meaningful difference in their lives.”
Among the 17 community organizations receiving funds across Missouri, funds will be given to one location in Columbia: Welcome Home, a nonprofit organization that “empowers homeless and at-risk veterans to return to society as productive self-supporting citizens.”
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MONDAY
Voters sue Hoskins to the tune of $80 million over his handling of referendum signatures
By Max Quinn, Missouri News Network
Five Missouri voters have filed a class-action lawsuit against Missouri's Secretary of State over his handling of the state's congressional map ahead of the November election.
The plaintiffs claim Denny Hoskins' conduct affected their rights under the Missouri Constitution. They are asking that all registered Missouri voters who signed the petition and still live in Missouri receive $500.
The group said 162,171 signatures were verified by local election authorities before Hoskins disallowed them, meaning the payout could potentially top $80 million.
The political campaign committee People Not Politicians started the initiative petition, which the plaintiffs signed, to force a statewide vote on the gerrymandered 2025 congressional map.
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins refused to certify the petition hours before the deadline on Aug. 4, declaring it was unconstitutional.
But after a legal battle between Hoskins and the campaign group, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the sufficient petition froze the gerrymandered map, which had been used in the August primaries.
The 2022 map will be used in November, while voters will decide whether the 2025 gerrymandered map is valid.
Plaintiffs Fernando Bermudez, Joseph Welling and John Payne are from the city of St. Louis, while Gregory Fletcher and Cara Mengwasser are from St. Louis County, according to online court documents.
Bermudez, Mengwasser and Welling work in law, Fletcher is a certified accountant and Payne is a small business owner, according to their court filing.
Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker is assigned to the case.
