Missouri’s new attorney general Andrew Bailey wants the seven candidates running for Columbia’s school board to take a pledge regarding drag shows. Republican Andrew Bailey tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-MissourI” that drag shows have no place for school-age children. The CPS school board election is in April. General Bailey also tells “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that his office’s investigation into the now-closed Mexico and Fulton hospitals continues. State Rep. Kent Haden (R-Mexico) has told 939 the Eagle that money was taken out of hospital employees’ checks for health care, but the company didn’t pay the insurance premiums:
(AUDIO): Former mid-Missouri hospital employee says money was taken out of check, but company didn’t pay premiums
A former employee of the now-closed Mexico hospital says she has thousands of dollars in medical bills that she didn’t expect.
Marissa Hagedorn has a two-year-son with spina bifida.
“They were taking our premiums out and taking money out of our paychecks. So it looked like we had our self-funded plans. If you went on the websites and that of our health insurance, it said active. So we all thought that our health insurance was there,” Hagedorn tells 939 the Eagle.
State Rep. Kent Haden (R-Mexico) tells 939 the Eagle that money was taken out of hospital employees’ checks for health care, but the company didn’t pay insurance premiums. Ms. Hagedorn lives in Audrain County, north of Columbia
“I mean, hurt and betrayed. It’s something that with my son’s diagnosis at birth and before birth, he has to have health insurance. He will always have medical bills,” Hagedorn says.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has told 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that his office is conducting an investigation into what’s happened at the now-closed Mexico and Fulton hospitals. Representative Haden, whose district includes Audrain and Callaway counties in the Missouri House, says the Legislature should consider holding hearings and has described those areas as “health deserts.”
CPS superintendent sends letter to parents after drag queen controversy; encourages return to civil conversation
The Columbia Public Schools (CPS) superintendent has written a letter to CPS families that apologizes to parents frustrated about the level of communication regarding a January 19th diversity breakfast event that included three drag queens who performed before district students.
The event at Columbia’s Holiday Inn Expo Center, which was organized by the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs, has been blasted by Missouri’s GOP governor and attorney general and by some CPS parents.
Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood’s letter says that for some, the event demonstrated the importance of inclusion. He also apologizes to parents who’ve expressed frustration about the level of communication provided to parents. Dr. Yearwood’s letter says CPS will review its permission slip process that incorporates feedback from parents.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) says transporting students to a drag show likely violates state law. Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe has said that they wanted to reaffirm that Columbia is a community that supports all.
Dr. Yearwood’s letter also encourages “a return to civil and respectful conversation and further express my support of every scholar in our school district.”
Mayor Buffaloe has defended the January 19 breakfast, tweeting that “drag is a cross-cultural art form with a long and rich history that is fun and encourages self-expression.” The mayor says that as hate crimes against drag show locations and performers are being committed elsewhere, she and others wanted to reaffirm that Columbia is a community that supports all.
No meeting between Governor Parson and CPS Superintendent Yearwood, at this time
The Missouri governor’s office says there is no scheduled meeting at this time between Governor Mike Parson and CPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood. 939 the Eagle News checked with Parson spokeswoman Kelli Jones on Thursday.
The Columbia Public Schools (CPS) superintendent had issued an open invitation to the governor to meet with him, after Governor Parson criticized CPS for last week’s diversity celebration that included three drag queens who performed before a sold-out crowd that included about 30 CPS students. Governor Parson says adult performers are not diversity.
Governor Mike Parson says CPS parents weren’t clearly informed of the program’s contents, and the governor is has called on CPS to focus on math, reading, writing, science and history.
Dr. Yearwood says it was not an adult performance, and he wrote a letter to the governor which said Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) had misrepresented some things about the Columbia Values Diversity event. Dr. Yearwood says that type of misrepresentation “is harmful to our students, our staff and our community.”
Columbia Councilwoman Andrea Waner has criticized the governor’s comments. State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) and former Missouri Democratic Party chairman Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) have also defended CPS and Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe.
Attorney General Bailey has slammed Superintendent Yearwood, saying he cares more about indoctrination than about education.
Missouri’s attorney general slams CPS superintendent in second letter
Missouri’s GOP attorney general has sent a second letter to Columbia Public Schools (CPS) Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood regarding last Thursday’s drag queen controversy.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) says CPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood cares more about indoctrination than about education. General Bailey writes, in part: “You have betrayed the trust and confidence of the parents who depend on you to educate their children.”
Dr. Yearwood has disputed the attorney general’s comments that last Thursday’s diversity performance at the Holiday Inn Expo Center from three drag queens was an adult performance. Dr. Yearwood has also said that CPS does not have control over the program at events organized by outside entities.
Attorney General Bailey is reiterating his call that any CPS school official who knew that last Thursday’s diversity breakfast celebration included a drag show should resign or be fired. Dr. Yearwood has said that Bailey is misrepresenting what happened at the event.
Meantime, Missouri’s Senate president will be meeting with CPS’ superintendent, to discuss concerns he’s hearing from CPS parents and other constituents about last Thursday’s drag queen performance at the Expo Center. Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) tells 939 the Eagle that his meeting with Superintendent Yearwod is scheduled for later this week.
Rowden says he wants to heard from Dr. Yearwood and board members on the process that led to this series of events. The superintendent has also issued an open invitation to Missouri’s governor to meet.
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