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...
In Memory of Joseph Forshaw IV
Joseph Forshaw IVJanuary 10, 1952 – November 11, 2025 It is with deep sadness that I share the news of...
St. Louis Needs to Stop Dating and Settle Down
I’ve often argued that cities need to have more self-respect—especially when it comes to dealing with sports teams. We love...
Missouri Should Scrap Parking Minimums to Reduce Housing Costs
Across the country, cities are rethinking rules that force developers to overbuild parking—and Missouri should follow suit. A new study...
Jefferson City Residents Should Be Skeptical of Conference Center Project
A version of this commentary appeared in the News-Tribune. On November 4, Jefferson City voters will decide on a proposal to...
Springfield Voters Should Be Skeptical About Convention Center Claims
A version of this commentary appeared in the Springfield Business Journal. On November 4, Springfield voters will decide on a proposal...
The Free-City Project for Missouri
A version of the following commentary appeared in the Columbia Missourian. In 2001, a group of very libertarian-minded activists launched...
What Are My Schooling Options as a Missouri Parent?
Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with a parent who wanted to know what schooling options were available...
Green Means Stop
Earlier this week, the City of St. Louis and the Bi-State Development Agency, better known as Metro, officially cancelled the...
Springfield Needs Charter Schools
A version of the following commentary appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. Of Missouri’s four largest cities—Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, and...
Wildwood’s Big Mistake
During my time at the Show-Me Institute, I have regularly cited Wildwood as an example of a city that exercised...
Tennessee Lands Another Nuclear Project
I really love my hometown of Clinton in East Tennessee. It’s a beautiful place where I grew up, went to...
A Free-Market Guide to Zoning with David Stokes
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Show-Me Institute Director of Municipal Policy David Stokes about his new paper in the Free-Market Guide...
Missouri Should Rethink Fire Code Rules that Block Small Apartments
New research suggests Missouri cities could allow more apartment buildings—without compromising safety—by rethinking outdated fire code requirements. The study by...
Missouri Should Rethink Fire Code Rules that Block Small Apartments
New research suggests Missouri cities could allow more apartment buildings—without compromising safety—by rethinking outdated fire code requirements. The study by...
A Free-Market Guide for Missouri Municipalities, Part Three: Planning and Zoning
This third installment in the free-market municipality series examines the use of planning and zoning in Missouri cities and suggests...
Let’s Privatize the Post Office
A version of the following commentary appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. I will admit that calling for the privatization...
We Shouldn’t Pay Teachers for Master’s Degrees
One of the most consistent findings in education research is that teachers with master’s degrees are no more effective than...
Hy-Vee Wants to Give the Heave-Ho to a CID
The grocery chain Hy-Vee is suing the city of Lee’s Summit over the creation of a Community Improvement District (CID)....
What the Media Gets Wrong About School Choice with Matthew Ladner
Susan Pendergrass talks with Matthew Ladner, senior advisor for education policy implementation at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy,...
