Columbia Police are holding four additional meetings today for you to learn details about CPD’s plans to use the Flock Safety camera system. Columbia Police hope to purchase and implement automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) in the city. CPD has drafted a policy on the appropriate uses of the camera system, and they outlined that policy at four separate meetings yesterday. Columbia Police Officers Association (CPOA) president Matt Nichols joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri", telling listeners that Flock has been in Columbia and Boone County for years.

CPD says the cameras would provide real-time alerts to law enforcement when they detect stolen vehicles or suspect vehicles listed in local, state or national crime databases. Mr. Nichols tells listeners that Jefferson City Police use Flock, as do the Callaway and Cooper County Sheriff's departments. He says they are used for almost every investigation because criminals use vehicles when they commit violent crimes, rather than walk or ride the bus. There has been concerns raised by some progressives and some conservatives about the plan, with some progressives worrying the cameras could be used to track transgender residents or follow residents who have an abortion. Mr. Nichols tells listeners there is no possibility of that happening now or in the future. CPD is holding four additional meetings today. The first one was this morning at the Crossing church. The others are:

** Noon in the Columbia city council chambers

** 3 pm at Gentry middle school on Bethel

** 7 pm at Boone Electric’s community room on Rangeline.

Republicans currently have a supermajority in the Missouri Senate, with a 24-8 margin. There are two vacancies in districts that happened when Governor Mike Parson (R) appointed then-State Sens. Greg Razer (D-Kansas City) and Lauren Arthur (D-Kansas City) to posts. Missouri Senate Majority Leader Cindy O'Laughlin (R-Shelbina) is expected to be Senate President Pro Tem in January 2025. Her district includes Randolph and Monroe counties in the 939 the Eagle listening area, and she joined us live on "Wake Up Mid-Missouri." Senator O'Laughlin tells listeners that education reform and public safety, especially in St. Louis, will be top priorities for Senate Republicans in 2025. She says children need to be taught to read and to do math. Transportation was also a key topic during the interview: she's been critical of outgoing state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) director Patrick McKenna. Senator O'Laughlin voted against the bipartisan gasoline tax that Governor Parson signed into law. She tells listeners that MoDOT has not done enough for rural roads in northeast Missouri and across outstate Missouri. She adds that MoDOT has not spent money wisely. Senator O'Laughlin tells listeners that the next MoDOT director needs to get out of the office in Jefferson City and see rural Missouri more:

There were several upsets in last week's Missouri GOP primaries. State Rep. Chris Sander (R-Lone Jack) was beaten by Carolyn Caton in a GOP primary. And State Rep. Tony Lovasco (R-O'Fallon) was beaten by Deanna Self in the primary. NFIB Missouri director Brad Jones joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri" and admits he's surprised by some of the upsets, including Rep. Sander being beaten. Mr. Jones notes Sander is an NFIB Missouri member. Mr. Jones tells listeners that 38 percent of his members have jobs they can't fill and says raising the minimum wage is not the answer. Mr. Jones say the minimum wage was never meant to be a living wage:

Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek won Missouri's GOP primary for treasurer last week, capturing 42 percent of the vote in a six-way GOP primary. Governor Mike Parson (R) appointed Mr. Malek to the post in January 2023, and Malek hopes to win a full four-year term in November. He'll face Democrat Mark Osmack in November. Mr. Osmack is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. Treasurer Malek joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri", telling listeners that he will be at Thursday's state fair ham breakfast in Sedalia. More than 1,000 people will pack the fairgrounds for the breakfast, and many are farmers and ranchers. Malek tells listeners that the popular MOBUCK$ program has been good for agriculture, including during the drought. He's also touting his office's unclaimed property division, saying he broke the previous record for amount of money returned to Missourians last year with $57-million. He expects to break the record again this year. Treasurer Malek also discussed illegal immigration and school choice during the live interview:

Elected officials and candidates from both major political parties will be at Thursday's Missouri state fair ham breakfast in Sedalia, which is almost sold-out. "Missouri Times" publisher Scott Faughn joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri'. We discussed numerous races, including Missouri's November U-S Senate race between U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R) and Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce. We also discussed the gubernatorial race between Republican nominee Mike Kehoe, Missouri's lieutenant governor, and Springfield's Crystal Quade, the Missouri House Minority Leader. Mr. Faughn tells listeners that Mr. Kunce, who is from Jefferson City, will make the race interesting and will be able to raise money. However, Faughn predicts Senator Hawley will be re-elected. Mr. Faughn also believes Mr. Kehoe will be elected governor in November; however, he says Leader Quade could win and that she's a future star in the Democratic Party. Leader Quade is finishing her eighth and final year in the Missouri House due to term limits. She grew up in rural Webster County. Her mother was a waitress and her father worked in a factory. Scott says while Crystal Quade may not win in November, she will get more votes than 2020 Democratic nominee Nicole Galloway and could help Democrats retain two seats in the Kansas City area, the 11th and 17th. Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo (D-Independence) is term-limited out. State Rep. Robert Sauls (D-Independence) faces Republican Joe Nicola in November. In the 17th, State Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern (D-Kansas City) faces former State Rep. Jerry Nolte (R-Gladstone) is the race to replace term-limited State Sen. Lauren Arthur (D-Kansas City). Mr. Faughn also says that if Quade loses in November, she's in a good position to run to replace term-limited State Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) in the Missouri Senate. Faughn also praises Lt. Governor Kehoe, telling listeners that the closing ad was excellent and that Kehoe projected strength throughout the campaign. Mr. Faughn also complained about voters who "whine", during the interview;

Missouri's governor says no other governor has appointed five people to statewide offices. He's pleased with Tuesday's GOP primary, where Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe won the gubernatorial nomination and Andrew Bailey and Vivek Malek won the nominations for attorney general and state treasurer, respectively. Governor Mike Parson joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri", telling listeners that Tuesday was a good day. Governor Parson describes Mr. Kehoe, Mr. Bailey and Mr. Malek as people who came from humble beginnings and have a strong work ethic. Governor Parson also spoke about his international trade mission to Panama, which starts tomorrow morning and runs through Tuesday. Governor Parson says Missouri exported $37 million in products to Panama in 2023. He says agriculture will be a key topic in Panama. Governor Parson says he will also visit Missouri National Guard members who are participating in a multinational exercise focused on ensuring the free transit of commerce through the Panama Canal. He notes the Missouri National Guard has participated in a state partnership program with Panama since 1996. Governor Parson says he'll also meet with representatives of Kansas City Southern, which operates the rail track up and down the Panama Canal. The governor has praised the 2023 merger between between Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern, which established the first and only single-line transnational railroad linking Canada, the United States and Mexico. The company is based in Kansas City. Governor Parson also praises retiring state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) director Patrick McKenna:

Today is day two of the Missouri state fair in Sedalia. It’s Missouri Department of Conservation day in Sedalia, and you’ll be able to visit the Conservation building for live animal exhibits and demos. They will also be celebrating Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday in the conservation building from 10 am to 2 pm, and free vision screenings will be offered in the senior lounge until 6 pm. Thursday was Mizzou day, and UM System President Dr. Mun Choi spoke at the fairgrounds. Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) director Chris Chinn joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri", telling listeners that last night's Foreigner concert went well and that students from Sedalia Smith-Cotton's choir were on stage with the band last night. Director Chinn also says the drone show with fireworks was very popular last night, adding they'll do that again tonight and tomorrow night. Director Chinn emphasizes the importance of safety at the fair, saying the Missouri State Highway Patrol is a huge partner with the fair. She also says there is added security at the state fair's campgrounds and at the grandstand. Director Chinn tells listeners that next Thursday's governor's ham breakfast is almost sold-out, adding that there will be big groundbreaking ceremony after the breakfast for the state fair's new arena. Director Chinn is inviting you to join Governor Parson next Thursday at 10 am for the groundbreaking for the new arena, which will be an enclosed facility that's climate-controlled. She also says they will be able to hold events year-round at the facility:

A former Mizzou football captain and state lawmaker from Marshall is optimistic about winning a Missouri Senate seat in November. State Rep. Kurtis Gregory (R-Marshall) won a bruising GOP primary Tuesday for a state Senate seat that includes mid-Missouri’s Cooper, Howard and Saline counties. Rep. Gregory defeated State Rep. Doug Richey (R-Excelsior Springs) by a vote of 14,940 to 11,442. That’s a margin of 56 to 43 percent. Representative Gregory, who chairs the Missouri House Rules Regulatory Overnight Committee, joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri." He tells listeners that he's been in a lot of high-pressure situations before and focused on doing things like knocking on doors. He'll face Liberty Democrat Jim Bates in November. Rep. Gregory says he'll continue to put in hard work by knocking on doors, listening to voters and going to events. He says if he wins in November, he hopes to be appointed to the Senate Agriculture and Appropriations committees. Agriculture is a major component in the rural district, including the ethanol plant in Malta Bend and the apple trees in the district as well. Rep. Gregory also led the successful bipartisan efforts to pass name, image and likeness (NIL) legislation at the Missouri Capitol. He tells listeners that voters in Clay County and other rural parts of the district are worried the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals may leave for Kansas. Representative Gregory tells listeners that he agrees with former State Rep. Jerry Nolte (R), who is running for a state Senate seat in the Kansas City area. Gregory says he wants to make sure it's the best thing for taxpayers, adding that he doesn't want to see the Chiefs or Royals move to Kansas:

Former State Sen. Bob Onder (R) captured 47 percent of the vote in Tuesday's seven-way GOP primary to try to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) on Capitol Hill. Mr. Onder received about 49,000 votes, defeating former State Sen. Kurt Schafer (R-Columbia) by about 10,000 votes. The district includes Columbia south of Broadway, Jefferson City, Ashland, Fulton, Boonville, California, Kingdom City, Wentzville and O'Fallon. Congressman Luetkemeyer taped a radio ad before the election saying former Senator Onder does not live in Missouri's third congressional district. That is correct; Missouri's congressional boundaries are redrawn every ten years and Onder's current home is just outside the third district in Augusta. That's in St. Charles County. Senator Onder tells listeners that he's lived in the 3rd district for 24 of the last 25 years and that he and his wife are currently working with a realtor and will move. He also says that if he defeats Democratic nominee Bethany Mann of Wentzville in November, he hopes to be able to serve on the U,S. House Ways and Means and the House Education and Workforce committees:

Missouri’s lieutenant governor and the House Democratic leader will face off in November’s gubernatorial election. Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe captured 39 percent of the vote in a bruising nine-way GOP primary Tuesday, getting more than 274,000 votes. State Sen. William Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) finished second in the GOP gubernatorial primary, getting 227,000 votes. Kehoe served as Missouri Senate Majority leader from a Jefferson City-area district before being appointed lieutenant governor by Governor Parson in 2018. Kehoe won a full four-year term in 2020. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) received almost 189,000 votes on Tuesday, getting 50 percent of the vote in a five-way Democratic primary. She beat Springfield businessman Mike Hamra, who captured 119,000 votes. Leader Quade was first elected in 2016 and is finishing her fourth and final term in the House, due to term limits. She represents Springfield, which has traditionally been a Republican area. She has helped Democrats win seats in the Missouri House, which has a GOP supermajority. Libertarian nominee Bill Slantz is also on your November ballot. Lt. Governor Kehoe joined us live this morning on "Wake Up Mid-Missouri", telling listeners that a working kid from north St. Louis has just captured the GOP nomination for Missouri governor. Kehoe tells listeners that the Missouri Republican Party is more hooked to working men and women than ever before. He also credits his volunteers for his primary win, along with support from Missouri's commodity groups like Farm Bureau, as well as support from police officers and firefighters: