Missouri’s Reading Crisis: 42% of Fourth-Graders Can Barely Read

Cory Koedel on Dec 5, 2025

State and Local Government

Downtown Kansas City, creative class urbanism, municipal growth, Kansas City>

New Observations Confirm Skepticism of Creative Class Urbanism

In a recent Vox column, Rachel Cohen Booth argues that many American cities pursued a “creative‑class” strategy in the 2000s […]

State and Local Government

Kansas City Homicide Rate May Be National Leader for 2025

A story in the November 20 issue of The Washington Post examines homicide rates in large cities across the United […]

Missouri state capitol, Missouri education leaders, education leadership, Missouri State Board of Education>

Watch: Help Build Missouri’s Legacy of Liberty

As 2025 comes to an end, we reflect on the progress made this year, from expanding MOScholars and strengthening property […]

Giving Tuesday>

This Giving Tuesday, Support Liberty

On this Giving Tuesday, we hope you will stand with us as we work to build a more prosperous future for all […]

It’s Time to Hold DESE Accountable

A version of the following commentary appeared in the Columbia Missourian. For years, the Show-Me Institute has scrutinized the Missouri Department […]

The Missouri School Rankings Project

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State and Local Government

What Should St. Louis County Do about Its Budget Shortfall?

The two largest counties in Missouri are both having difficulties. Over in Jackson County, the assessment system is still a […]

Eliminating Missouri’s Income Tax, Subsidies for Gas Stations, and Early Literacy Reform

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join host Zach Lawhorn to outline what a responsible plan to eliminate Missouri’s […]

Missouri state capitol, state spending, municipal debt, Truth in Accounting, Reason Foundation>

State and Local Government

New National Debt Analysis Offers Fresh Lens for Missouri’s Fiscal Picture

Earlier this year, I wrote about the annual rating by Truth in Accounting (TIA), which found that Missouri earned a […]

What the Government Shutdown Was Really About with Elias Tsapelas

Susan Pendergrass is joined by Elias Tsapelas, director of state budget and fiscal policy at the Show-Me Institute, to explain […]

Apartment buildings, affordable housing, housing regulation, Kansas City housing>

State and Local Government

Shocker! Kansas City’s Affordable Housing Set-Asides Nets Zero Housing Units

In 2021, Kansas City passed an ordinance requiring large market-rate apartment developments to either set aside 20% of units at […]

In Memory of Joseph Forshaw IV

It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of Joseph Forshaw IV, longtime member of […]

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