AGP Executive Report

Royals Stadium Deal in Kansas City: The proposed Crown Center lease would give Kansas City 5% of net profits from non-baseball events, plus free event rights and 30 free tickets per game, with the Royals paying $1 a year in rent and handling stadium maintenance. Local Government & Housing: Blue Springs is moving forward on a funding framework for “The Market at Chapman Farms,” a mixed-use plan anchored by a grocery tenant, with Monday’s vote focused on costs and avoiding taxpayer risk. Ballot Access Fight: A court will hear Respect Missouri Voters’ challenge to Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ rejection of an initiative petition, arguing the measure should be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot. Public Safety Leadership: Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott will resign after confirmation as U.S. Marshal, and Captain Jason Johnson is set to become interim sheriff. Corrections Mental Health: Missouri DOC highlights its PCIS program for staff trauma processing, pairing group work with EMDR. Federal Grants & Politics: The Trump administration admitted canceling billions in grants based on whether recipients were in Democratic states, though some projects were later reinstated. Gun Policy: A federal ruling lifted NFA restrictions on silencers for plaintiffs in Texas, creating a patchwork of rules. State Legal Recognition: Missouri AG Hanaway honored two AGO attorneys with Missouri Bar Foundation awards. Community Healing: Sherman Park marks 10 years since Sylville Smith’s killing with a healing-focused anniversary event.

State Government & Accountability: Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick has launched a petition audit of the small Saline County city of Gilliam after residents gathered enough signatures to trigger a review of city operations and spending. Boards & Commissions: Gov. Mike Kehoe announced eight appointments and reappointments to Missouri boards and commissions, including medical and health-care professionals. Ballot Access Fight: A court hearing is set Wednesday in Cole County over a citizen initiative challenge involving Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and a proposed amendment aimed at limiting lawmakers’ ability to overturn what voters approve. Local Tax & Public Safety: Jefferson City Council will consider whether to put a proposed quarter-cent public safety sales tax increase before voters in the Nov. 3 election, alongside other agenda items including a Third Ward representative selection. Public Safety: A pedestrian was killed early Friday on eastbound I-70 in St. Charles County after being struck by a truck, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Education & Early Intervention: A national report highlights how inconsistent use of developmental screening can delay help for kids—an issue Missouri families and schools watch closely. Agriculture & Economy: USDA-backed research is expanding U-M’s HotHog app to help pork producers manage heat stress before animals show symptoms.

Public Housing Snapshot: HUD data show wide local variation in assisted housing economics, from Schuyler County’s $25,561 average household income (2025) to St. Louis city’s $12,172, with rent typically pegged around 30% of income after deductions. Military & Community: A Military Vehicle Preservation Association convoy—based in Independence—rolled along the Lewis and Clark Trail, drawing about 50 historic vehicles and local VFW/Elks support. Education & Heritage: Ashe County elementary schools will receive a Daniel Boone children’s book and teacher resources through the NC Daniel Boone Heritage Trail, funded by county tourism grants and partners. Veterans’ Remembrance: Central Missouri Vietnam War service members’ anniversaries of death are being observed through Aug. 22. Legal & Professional Benchmarks: Missouri Bar counts highlight uneven lawyer presence statewide, with 13,958 lawyers in good standing statewide as of July and Henry County down to 24. Food & Health Oversight: FDA inspections in Jackson County found three companies in Food/Cosmetics and Veterinary sectors “No Action Indicated.” Energy Watch: GasBuddy price reports show premium and diesel deals across counties, with Missouri averages easing for the week ending Aug. 8. Crypto Policy Fight: A major clash is brewing in Washington over the CLARITY Act, as banks warn they could be harmed without protections for state and local lenders.

Kansas City Royals Ballpark: Kansas City officials are racing to finalize a deal to help finance the proposed $1.9 billion Royals stadium, but key details on funding sources and public impact remain thin as a vote is delayed and legal timelines could force voter input if agreements aren’t signed by Aug. 31. Local Government & Public Safety: Jefferson City’s council will pick a Ward 3 replacement and then consider moving a public safety sales tax increase toward voters, with the seat tied to a recent resignation and the shelter debate still swirling. State Appointments: Gov. Mike Kehoe appointed Rosella Schad of Holts Summit to the Missouri Board of Geologist Registration, continuing a slate of board changes. Abortion Ballot Fight: Missouri’s next major abortion fight heads to the Nov. 3 ballot with Amendment 3, which would repeal 2024’s RRFI abortion protections and also restrict gender transition care for minors. Behavioral Health Nonprofit: Maryhaven’s board adds two new members as the behavioral health provider faces major financial distress, including reported losses and millions owed. Higher Ed Safety Concerns: Mizzou parents are pressing Columbia leaders after recent downtown incidents, citing the university president’s call for more patrols. Housing Data: New county-by-county HUD public housing updates show mixed occupancy across Missouri, including sharp drops in some areas like St. Louis County. Courts & Public Media: Nine PBS sued over access to decades of St. Louis-area historical footage allegedly stranded by a cloud storage dispute.

Federal Health Policy: The Trump administration directed federal agencies to stop funding gender-transition procedures for people under 18, with the change applying to federally funded hospitals and medical schools and taking effect immediately. Missouri Courts & Civil Justice: A Missouri probate reform group says it scored its first big advocacy win, helping bring a husband home after years of alleged nursing-home neglect and medication concerns. Public Media in Missouri: Nine PBS sued over a cloud-storage dispute that it says could cost it access to about 50 terabytes of historic footage tied to St. Louis history, with a judge siding with the broadcaster in an early hearing. Housing Watch (HUD data): County-by-county public housing occupancy shows wide gaps—St. Louis city at 76% occupied in 2025, while several counties hit 99–100%—highlighting uneven demand and vacancies across the state. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports spotty low-price pockets, including premium at $4.99 in Ozark County and diesel at $4.69 in Crawford County for the week ending Aug. 8. Local Sports & Culture: Kansas City Chiefs preseason kicks off with tailgating traditions at Arrowhead, while Missouri’s Mifflin County Babe Ruth team finished third at the World Series after a late rally.

Federal Health Policy: The Trump administration directed federal agencies to stop funding gender-transition procedures for people under 18, with the change applying to federally funded hospitals and medical schools and taking effect immediately. Missouri Courts & Elections: A lawsuit over Missouri’s newly drawn congressional map is moving through the courts as a deadline nears for November ballots, after a citizen veto petition was rejected by the Secretary of State. Public Safety & Justice: In Boone County, a man accused in a Columbia motel assault case was denied bond and faces a preliminary hearing in September. Health Watch: Hawaii confirmed its fifth cyclosporiasis case of 2026, while federal inspectors began looking at a Mexico facility tied to a multistate outbreak that includes Missouri. Local Government: Columbia leaders laid out downtown safety steps after criticism from the UM System president. Civic Life: The Truman Library broke ground on a $13 million outdoor landscape transformation in Independence. State Politics & Policy: Missouri’s redistricting fight and ballot-measure litigation continue to move toward next-week court action. Community & Economy: Republic was named among Missouri’s fastest-growing cities, citing schools, amenities, and transportation access.

Missouri Redistricting Court Fight: A Cole County judge will decide Tuesday whether voters can weigh in on Missouri’s congressional map referendum after Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the petition as unconstitutional, with a Sept. 8 deadline for ballot changes. Citizen Petition Clash: Hoskins’ rejection of citizen initiative petitions is already sparking lawsuits with national implications, setting up another high-stakes legal showdown. Downtown Safety in Columbia: Columbia leaders laid out new steps to address downtown violence concerns raised by University of Missouri System President Mun Choi, including added security measures. Kansas City Heat Plan: The KC region is rolling out a climate action plan aimed at extreme heat relief, from transit and recycling to cooler infrastructure. Employment & DEI Lawsuit: The EEOC alleges Washington University in St. Louis segregated DEI training by race via separate Zoom breakout rooms and retaliated after complaints. Healthcare Labor Pressure: SEIU workers staged informational pickets at HCA facilities in the Kansas City area, pushing for higher pay and better staffing. Food Safety Watch: FDA and CDC began inspections tied to a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to Taylor Farms’ Mexican plant, with Missouri among affected states. Local Government & Housing: Heartland Resources won a $20,000 grant to expand senior meals and in-home care in northeast Missouri. Public Safety in Courts: A man accused in a Columbia motel assault case had bond denied at his first appearance.

Federal Immigration/College Costs: The DOJ sued New York, Connecticut and Vermont over in-state tuition for non-permanent-status immigrants, continuing a push that has already won court wins in several other states. Civil Rights & Workplace DEI: The EEOC is still pursuing a Title VII case against Washington University after allegations that DEI training was segregated by race and followed by retaliation. Missouri Abortion Access: Planned Parenthood Great Rivers says its Springfield clinic will now offer procedural abortions up to 12 weeks, with appointments already booked. State Politics & Ballot Fights: Missouri’s redistricting referendum and related petition challenges are headed to trial next week, with court dates set. Local Housing: O’Fallon leaders voted down a proposed six-month apartment moratorium. Labor/Policy Push: A coalition is launching a $1M effort to flip a Missouri legislative seat tied to the repeal of paid sick leave and minimum-wage initiative gains. Public Safety/Justice: A St. Louis family is pressing for answers after prosecutors declined to charge the man police identified in a Soulard shooting death. Child Safety Oversight: Sen. Josh Hawley and Sen. Dick Durbin opened an investigation into Roblox’s child safety practices. Military/Service: A pair of Swanson twins marked a milestone with one commissioning into the National Guard after years of separation.

Federal Policy & Courts: The Trump administration directed agencies to stop funding gender-transition procedures for people under 18, with the HHS policy applying immediately to federally funded hospitals and medical schools, after earlier court fights involving Missouri AG Andrew Bailey. Local Public Safety: Columbia launched a Community Navigation Liaison program on Go COMO buses after drivers reported frequent violence, placing trained outreach workers on routes to reduce threats. Missouri Courts & Accountability: A former Monroe County public administrator was sentenced to 10 years in prison for stealing from disabled persons under her care, with restitution ordered. Local Government & Growth Fight: Residents in Independence filed a new lawsuit seeking to halt a multi-billion-dollar data center, alleging Sunshine Law violations and improper zoning changes. Gun Policy: A federal ruling is reshaping suppressor purchasing, allowing sales without the usual ATF Form 4 in many states (with exceptions). Energy Prices: GasBuddy reported some of the week’s lowest Missouri prices in select counties, including diesel at $4.74 in Boone and regular at $3.42 in Dallas.

Redistricting Court Fight: A Cole County judge set back-to-back hearings next week on two Missouri ballot challenges—one to force a statewide vote on an anti-gerrymandering referendum over the congressional map, and another over a proposed constitutional amendment limiting lawmakers’ ability to change laws passed by initiative—after Secretary of State Denny Hoskins blocked both questions, with a Sept. 8 deadline looming. Local Governance & Public Safety: Searcy School District in Arkansas installed 183 “safe shelters” across four schools, funded by a 2025 voter-approved debt-service millage extension, after earlier safe rooms existed only at the high school and junior high; the project cost $4.7 million. Election Administration: Texas County voters cast 5,000+ ballots in last week’s primary, with turnout at 28.95%, and the county’s results set up November matchups for state auditor and congressional races. Immigration Enforcement: ICE may soon receive electrically powered shock gloves designed to deliver painful pulses during encounters, according to a DHS notice. State Politics Watch: Missouri’s attorney general and other state leaders have been tied to ongoing legal fights over federal policy and funding—while Missouri’s redistricting cases move fast toward appellate review.

Kansas City Royals Stadium Process: A key KCMO finance committee meeting on Royals downtown stadium ordinances was delayed after detailed agreements arrived late, raising concerns about speed, the city’s financial stake, and public review time. Missouri Courts & Ballot Access: A Cole County judge set back-to-back hearings next week over two blocked Missouri ballot measures tied to redistricting and limits on initiative changes, with a Sept. 8 deadline looming for ballot court orders. Redistricting Fight: The judge also allowed major GOP groups to intervene, keeping the anti-redistricting referendum and related constitutional challenge moving fast. Civil Rights & Corporate D&I: The EEOC dropped a subpoena enforcement action against Nike after the company complied, a move tied to the agency’s broader push against corporate diversity and inclusion policies. Rural Health Funding: Freeman Health System was selected to lead a Missouri rural health “hub” under ToRCH Care, coordinating services across four counties. State Higher Ed: The University of Missouri earned a top national ranking for free expression protections, despite recent campus speech disputes. Energy & Prices: GasBuddy reports show low E15 and diesel prices in parts of Missouri, with statewide averages edging up.

Judicial Appointments: Gov. Mike Kehoe appointed Tom Smith as an associate circuit judge for Missouri’s 21st Judicial Circuit, filling the vacancy left by Judge Joseph L. Green. Elections & Ballot Access: Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice W. Brent Powell told a lower court to move fast in the citizen-led redistricting referendum fight after Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected signatures—setting up another round of court deadlines before November. AI Policy: Missouri lawmakers unveiled a framework and plan for future legislation to set guardrails on AI infrastructure and data centers, including protections for residential customers and limits on AI in health care (bills can’t be introduced until January 2027). Local Government & Immigration: Nixa City Council voted 5-1 to approve a 287(g) task force agreement that would let trained local officers perform certain federal immigration enforcement functions. Courts & Rights: A reporter tied to a 2023 Kansas newspaper raid reached a $850,000 settlement with the city of Marion, underscoring ongoing press-freedom fights. Public Safety & Energy: Liberty’s planning commission recommended denying a proposed 200-megawatt battery storage facility, sending the issue to the City Council. State Politics Watch: MOScout’s update highlights campaign money and political shakeups, including Rep. Dirk Deaton’s resignation.

Kansas City Contracting Fight: Kansas City City Council advanced a plan to replace its Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprise program with a broader small-business contracting effort, after Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway sued over the city’s race- and sex-based contracting approach and after U.S. Supreme Court limits on local bias remedies. Public Safety & Courts: A Jackson County judge upheld an arbitrator’s decision reinstating Kansas City firefighter Dominic Biscari after a deadly 2021 crash that killed three; the city is weighing an appeal. Ballot Access/Legal Fallout: Court records detail how investigators narrowed on five out-of-state defendants accused in a Lincoln petition signature fraud case tied to proposed city charter election-date changes. Election Watch: St. Louis County reported higher-than-average turnout in the Aug. 4 primary, with turnout varying by district and one competitive GOP House race. Energy & Infrastructure: Gas prices in Missouri eased in the week ending Aug. 1, with multiple county-level “lowest” reports from GasBuddy; separately, Monett-area residents heard concerns about CAFOs, sludge, and data centers at a public meeting. State Government: Missouri Supreme Court is seeking swift action in a redistricting ballot measure dispute, while Missouri lawmakers also took first steps toward regulating AI. National/Defense: Gov. Kehoe highlighted a Panama trade mission focused on Missouri’s economic ties and the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

White House Shake-Up: President Trump named Will Scharf as White House counsel effective Sept. 1, replacing David Warrington, with Scharf previously running Trump’s legal defense in the 2020 election obstruction case and also serving as Missouri AG candidate in 2024. Missouri Abortion Politics: After Missourians rejected two major GOP ballot priorities, abortion-rights supporters are pointing to the momentum heading into November, while opponents argue the issues are different and Gov. Mike Kehoe’s next fight—Amendment 3—could still be decisive. Data Center Fight in Jefferson City & St. Louis County: Rep. Tricia Byrnes canceled a planned Sept. 16 House public hearing on data center regulation and is instead pushing a Capitol rally the same day; in St. Louis County, residents packed a hearing urging a moratorium on new data centers. Public Safety & Health: Springfield expanded free naloxone access with 14 distribution boxes; St. Louis County also held a public hearing on data center rules amid health concerns. Immigration Enforcement in Missouri: ICE detained Sikeston rodeo attendees after beer ID checks, drawing accusations of racial profiling. Courts & State Policy: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway asked a judge to temporarily block Kansas City’s MWBE contracting program, arguing it improperly considers race and sex. Local Government Watch: Jefferson City expects the High Street viaduct to reopen this week after concrete repairs, while MoDOT continues major I-70/Route T interchange work in Foristell with overnight lane reductions. Sports & Education: Westminster College will host a new student convocation featuring trial attorney Anthony Laramore.

Missouri Energy & Prices: GasBuddy reports the lowest midgrade price in Putnam County hit $4.04 (week ending Aug. 1), while diesel lows included $4.79 in Shannon County and $4.69 in Wright County; statewide, midgrade averaged $4.18 and diesel $4.84. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure: A new report warns Iran-linked hackers have targeted municipal water systems across at least a dozen states, pushing lawmakers and water groups to demand stronger federal protections. Federal Policy: The U.S. House moved quickly to advance a sweeping Russia-and-Iran sanctions package after the Senate’s 86-11 approval, setting up debate over tariffs and presidential authority. Missouri Politics & Ballot Access: A Missouri secretary of state fight over ballot petitions continues, with reporting also highlighting renewed legal action around ballot initiative rules. Health Policy: A judge upheld South Dakota’s 340B drug discount law, a dispute that could ripple into how states handle rural healthcare drug pricing. Local Community: Volunteers with Sleep in Heavenly Peace announced new chapters to expand efforts to end child bedlessness.

Abortion Politics: Missouri’s “Stop the Ban” campaign is back in the fight for November, reporting more than $6.5 million raised after a fresh $1.25 million Bloomberg donation, while the opposing “Her Health, Her Future” PAC has about $1 million and is tied to Gov. Mike Kehoe and First Lady Claudia Kehoe. Election Law: Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a citizens’ petition that sought a statewide referendum on a new congressional map, saying congressional redistricting can’t be put to a voter vote; supporters say they’ll challenge the decision in court. Government & Courts: A hearing over the troubled Webster Groves Municipal Court was delayed to Aug. 14 after a show-cause order alleged the court failed to fix issues tied to warrants, reporting, finances, and independence. Public Safety Tech: Jefferson City police defended their use of Flock automated license plate readers, saying data is kept 30 days and that the city has 17 cameras plus additional sites. Veterans & Arts: Columbia nonprofit Access Arts won a National Endowment for the Arts “Creative Forces” grant to expand non-clinical arts programming for military veterans and families. Federal Energy/Workforce: Trump announced $180 million for mining education, including funding tied to Missouri S&T.