Missouri House Minority Leader Ashley Aune (D-Kansas City) is considered one of the rising stars in the Democratic Party. Leader Aune joined hosts Randy Tobler and Stephanie Bell on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Missouri." Leader Aune credits State Rep. Betsy Fogle (D-Springfield) for leading the effort to restore funding for those with developmental disabilities. Leader Aune says that was a bipartisan effort. She also predicts Senate Republicans will use the PQ to shut off debate and then will pass the bill to eliminate Missouri's state income tax. If that happens, Missourians would vote on the issue this year:

Columbia College’s new president says his main priority has been listening and learning, since he started on March 1.

Dr. Toby Arquette joined Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Dr. Arquette has started the process of working with faculty, staff, students and the board to co-create the next chapter for Columbia College, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. Columbia College has about 8,000 students between in-person and online learning. President Arquette tells listeners that higher education needs to collaborate more. He has met recently with new Stephens College president Dr. Shannon Lundeen and plans to meet in May with UM System president Dr. Mun Choi:

The Missouri House has approved an approximately $50-billion state operating budget. State Rep. Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City) is pleased with the overall budget, calling it responsible. Representative Griffith, however, voted against the higher education bill due to cuts to Jefferson City's Lincoln University. Chairman Griffith joined "Wake Up Missouri" live in-studio, telling listeners that LU is on the right path. Griffith also tells listeners that he appealed directly to House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Dirk Deaton (R-Noel) to restore the Lincoln University cuts:

Former State Rep. Lisa Thomas (R-Lake Ozark) is one of five Republicans who hope to replace term-limited State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter in Jefferson City. The heavily-Republican district includes Cole, Camden, Miller, Moniteau and Morgan counties. Former Rep. Thomas joined hosts Randy Tobler and Peter Thiele live in-studio on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Missouri" to discuss the race. She tells listeners that she is not a career politician and that it's important to have someone who understands health and mental health issues:

Jefferson City businessman Jake Vogel is seeking the GOP nomination for a mid-Missouri state Senate seat being vacated by term-limited State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City). The district includes Cole, Moniteau, Miller, Morgan and Camden counties. Mr. Vogel is a veteran and served as an Army Ranger. He also advocates for rural health care on the SSM board. Mr. Vogel joined Randy Tobler and Jennifer Bukowsky on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Missouri":

While Columbia/Boone County is seeing cranes and construction equipment across town, there is still a lot of poverty. Love Columbia says one in five Columbia residents are living in poverty and struggle to make ends meet. Housing costs are a challenge for many as well. Jane Williams, who co-founded Love Columbia 18 years ago, joined Fred Parry in-studio for the hour on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." She tells listeners that Columbia has been seeing about a 20 percent poverty rate:

A GOP congressman who represents Columbia, Jefferson City, Fulton and Boonville on Capitol Hill is hopeful Congress will approve the SAVE America Act. U.S. Rep. Bob Onder (R) joined Randy Tobler and Stephanie Bell live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Missouri." Congressman Onder blasted congressional Democrats during the interview. Congressman Onder is also confident that his bill formally designating the National Churchill Museum in mid-Missouri’s Fulton as a national historic landmark will land on President Trump's desk soon:

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R) says about 140 initiative petitions have been approved for circulation. Secretary Hoskins joined Stephanie Bell and Marc Ellinger live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Missouri". Secretary Hoskins tells listeners that candidate filing has been uneventful, which he's pleased with. He says more than 400 candidates have filed so far. He also believes the courts will uphold what he calls the "Missouri First Map" regarding congressional redistricting:

A Cole County Republican who is one of the Missouri House’s senior members has voted against a tax cut bill championed by Governor Mike Kehoe (R). Veteran State Rep. Rudy Veit (R-Wardsville) joined Randy Tobler and Stephanie Bell on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Missouri." Rep. Veit tells listeners that he voted his conscience on the bill, saying there are too many unknowns and that there is no plan. He also worries about taxes being raised on services:

A growing company that crafts premium meat snacks has opened a 300,000 square foot production plant in mid-Missouri’s Mexico. Western Smokehouse Partners’ plant is located in the former Soft Surroundings in Mexico. Western Smokehouse Partners chief executive officer Matt Bormann, a Mizzou graduate, joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Bormann tells listeners that the company invested $60-million in the Mexico plant. It is the largest of the company’s eight plants: