In these uncertain times, few things are certain. But one thing we do know for certain is that parents are anxious about schools reopening this fall.

The Missouri State Auditor’s Office has started July off with a bang, publishing an audit of Parma, Missouri, which found that “. . . [m]ore than $115,000 was taken fraudulently over a four-year period from the Missouri Bootheel city of Parma (pop.

Neighboring St. Louis and St. Charles Counties are taking different approaches in handling federal coronavirus relief funds, with potential consequences for taxpayer dollars.

Medicaid is breaking Missouri’s budget, and expanding the program would only make things worse. Every additional dollar Missouri spends on Medicaid is one that can’t be spent elsewhere. Visualizations can help illustrate the scale of the problem.

This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its ruling in the case of Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue. The court held that Montana could not restrict participants in a tax-credit scholarship program from using the scholarship funds to attend private religious schools.

Not long ago, I was having a civil conversation with a colleague with whom I regularly disagree. (I know, this type of thing is rare these days.) We got to the heart of the issue, which was a disagreement on a fundamental principle that led us in slightly different directions.

The Show-Me Institute isn’t typically one to join “coalitions” or issue open letters to officials, but the public debate on a proposed second round of coronavirus-related bailouts to state and local governments deserves a plain response.

There should be no further state bailouts. None.

As the coronavirus pandemic accelerated this spring, governments across the country clamped down dramatically on businesses and associations of all kinds. Churches were closed. Restaurants were reduced to carryout, if they were lucky.

Thanks to COVID-19, Missouri policymakers still have legislative work to do before the year is out.