Brian Hauswirth | 98.3 The Dove

(AUDIO): Bipartisan Missouri landfill legislation is backed by Congressman Mark Alford

March 24, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

State Rep. Mike Haffner (R-Pleasant Hill) testifies before a Missouri House committee in Jefferson City on March 23, 2023 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The Missouri House has voted to give final approval to bipartisan legislation that creates a one-mile buffer between landfills and neighboring towns.

House Bill 909 is sponsored by State Rep. Mike Haffner (R-Pleasant Hill). This week’s vote on Haffner’s bill was 139-16 and comes after public outcry from Missouri lawmakers in both parties about a proposed landfill that would be built near Raymore and Lee’s Summit. U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-Harrisonville), who represents part of Columbia on Capitol Hill, tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he and U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) both oppose the proposed location.

“This landfill will probably be built, just not there,” Congressman Alford tells listeners.

Supporters of Haffner’s bill say the landfill would impact the livelihoods of thousands of Missourians, in its current proposed location. Congressman Alford notes this is a bipartisan issue.

“I promised when I campaigned to be the voice and the vote for the people of my district. And I’m going to be their voice, I don’t care if it’s here, I don’t care if it’s in the Statehouse (in Jefferson City) or in city hall, that’s what I intend to do,” Alford says.

Raymore’s mayor also supports Haffner’s bill, saying the future of their community is on the line.

(AUDIO): Missouri sports wagering supporters say bill addresses compulsive gambling

March 24, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres), left, and State Rep. Dan Houx (R-Warrensburg), second from left, address Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on March 23, 2023 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Bipartisan sports wagering legislation is now heading to the Missouri Senate, after being approved by the House on a 118-35 vote.

The 23-page House Bill 556 taxes sports wagering at ten percent. State Rep. Dan Houx (R-Warrensburg) tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the Show-Me State is losing tax dollars to neighboring states.

“But it’s most the residual tax revenue we’re losing out. When people go to Kansas or Illinois or Iowa, wherever they go and they spend money in those other states, that’s (the) revenue we’re really missing out on. Besides the tax revenue of bet placed,” Representative Houx says.

Gambling opponents like State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) worry about compulsive gambling. Other opponents worry people will gamble their rent money.

“You know I listen to people like Cheri, I listen to Representative Ben Baker from down south (southwest Missouri’s Neosho) and he was concerned about compulsive gambling. We put $500,000 in there (the bill) to make sure that we’re able to protect people if they have problems. On the mobile apps, it’s a self opt-in or opt-out of being able to do it. Once you opt-out, you’re blocked from that account forever”

Representative Houx, who chairs the Missouri House Fiscal Review Committee, tells “Wake Up” that Chiefs fans from Missouri have traveled to Kansas to place bets on NFL games.

“During the Chiefs-Bengals (playoff) game back in January, around Arrowhead (Stadium) alone, just around the parking lot and inside Arrowhead, there were 4,557 bets attempted to be made during that timeframe. That same day in Kansas, there was 1.14 million bets made. (The) majority of them were around the state line of Kansas”

Under the bill, you would have to be at least 21 years old to place bets. Sports wagering would be taxed at ten percent, and the revenues would be placed in the “Gaming Proceeds for Education Fund.”

The Associated Press reports 33 states and the District of Columbia now offer some form of sports wagering.

Click here to listen to the full “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” interview with State Rep. Dan Houx (R-Warrensburg).

Dateline NBC special on mid-Missouri’s Renick killing airs tonight

March 24, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Sam Renick, Ben Renick’s brother, speaks on-camera to “Dateline NBC” (photo courtesy of “Dateline NBC”)

Production crews from “Dateline NBC” have been in Columbia and mid-Missouri for the past few months, filming scenes and interviews for tonight’s brand-new episode of the Lynlee Renick case.

The two-hour special airs at 8 pm. Lynlee Renick is the Columbia spa owner convicted of killing her husband Ben in 2017 near New Florence, 50 miles east of Columbia. The victim’s brother Sam tells “Dateline” that the murder should have been prevented.

“Anyone could have stopped this murder by calling 911, but they did not,” he tells Dateline NBC. He’s referring to others who knew about the murder plot but did not contact authorities.

Dateline’s Andrea Canning traveled to Jefferson City for an excusive interview with Missouri State Highway Patrol Corporal Devin Foust, who’s the lead investigator in the case. The victim was shot at least eight times, according to testimony during the trial.

The Missouri attorney general’s office says Lynlee Renick killed her husband for sex, money and freedom. She says she’s innocent, and that Michael Humphrey of Jefferson City killed her husband. Humphrey is serving a life prison sentence.

Lynlee Renick’s first parole hearing is set for 2034.

Roger Wilson Boone County Government Center is open in Columbia for voting Saturday/Sunday

March 24, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

You have an opportunity this weekend for no-excuse absentee voting in Boone County.

County clerk Brianna Lennon says the Boone County Government Center will be open Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm. Counselor Lennon notes you’ll need to bring a photo ID with you, which can include a Missouri driver’s license, a passport or a military ID. That’s due to a state law.

The Roger Wilson Government Center is located at the corner of 9^th and Ash in downtown Columbia.

You can also vote tomorrow from 10 am to 1 pm at the Centralia Public Library and on Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm at Columbia Mall.

South Columbia’s Discovery Parkway is proposed location of new Mizzou research reactor

March 24, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

The MU Research Reactor (MURR) in Columbia was built in 1966. This view is seen from above (photo courtesy of the MU News Bureau)

Mizzou officials have unveiled a plan to build a new, larger research reactor aimed at expanding cancer-fighting research at MU. The proposed reactor would be built near Discovery Ridge, off of Highway 63 in south Columbia.

UM System President Dr. Mun Choi says the work they do at the current MU Research Reactor (MURR) saves lives and improves thousands of lives daily. MURR was built in 1966.

Mizzou officials describe medical isotopes as critical national resources and say we must secure our domestic supply to treat patients in Missouri and the nation. President Choi has unveiled a plan to build a new, larger research reactor that will expand medical isotope production at Mizzou. These isotopes are used in cancer treatments and imaging agents to diagnose cancers and heart disease.

The current MU Research Reactor is located near Columbia’s South Providence, down the hill from Faurot Field. It operates 52 weeks a year, 24 hours a day, six-point-five days a week.

This new project ties in with NextGen at Mizzou, which is named for former Senator Roy Blunt. He predicts NextGen will cement Missouri’s place as a leader in biomedical research.