Eight-term U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) will be retiring in December, after 16 years on Capitol Hill. Missouri’s new third congressional district includes Columbia south of Broadway, Ashland, Hartsburg, Fulton, Boonville, California, Kingdom City, Holts Summit, Jefferson City, Linn and New Florence. It also includes Wentzville and O’Fallon. Former Boone County clerk Taylor Burks announced his run to try to replace Congressman Luetkemeyer, during a live interview on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” this morning. Mr. Burks tells listeners that he’s the only candidate who’s looking at this race from mid-Missouri, and that the district should be represented by someone from central Missouri. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold) and former State Sen. Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis) are also running. Mr. Burks criticized the redistricting process that drew the new boundaries, saying central Missouri “got sliced up by some jokers in Jefferson City.” National security is a top priority for Mr. Burks, who’s a veteran. He’s also touting transportation, saying service roads along I-70 from St. Louis to Columbia literally run out and that must change:
(LISTEN): Former Boone County clerk Taylor Burks announces congressional run on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Eight-term U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) will be retiring in December, after 16 years on Capitol Hill. Missouri’s new third congressional district includes Columbia south of Broadway, Ashland, Hartsburg, Fulton, Boonville, California, Kingdom City, Holts Summit, Jefferson City, Linn and New Florence. It also includes Wentzville and O’Fallon. Former Boone County clerk Taylor Burks announced his run to try to replace Congressman Luetkemeyer, during a live interview on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” this morning. Mr. Burks tells listeners that he’s the only candidate who’s looking at this race from mid-Missouri, and that the district should be represented by someone from central Missouri. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold) and former State Sen. Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis) are also running. Mr. Burks criticized the redistricting process that drew the new boundaries, saying central Missouri “got sliced up by some jokers in Jefferson City.” National security is a top priority for Mr. Burks, who’s a veteran. He’s also touting transportation, saying service roads along I-70 from St. Louis to Columbia literally run out and that must change:
(AUDIO): Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick discusses I-70 and 63 interchange beatification and improvement project on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce has made the beautification of the I-70 and Highway 63 interchange a top priority. Residents have complained for years about trash and litter in that area. Others complain about panhandling in the area. Others want Columbia to consider what Warrenton and O’Fallon have done with their I-70 interchanges. Columbia Chamber president Matt McCormick tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that funding beautification efforts will be a public-private partnership:
(AUDIO): U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) discusses Speaker McCarthy and flood insurance on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) represents parts of Columbia as well as Ashland, Jefferson City, Fulton and O’Fallon. The Republican, who’s now in his eighth term on Capitol Hill, tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he’d like to get House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) to mid-Missouri. Luetkemeyer also outlined his bipartisan flood insurance bill for listeners. He’s working closely with U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Florida). It would provide consumers with an alternative to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) without penalty:
Missouri’s AG says Columbia drag queen performance likely violated state law; Councilwoman Waner slams Governor Parson
Missouri’s governor, attorney general and numerous GOP state lawmakers are slamming Thursday’s Columbia diversity celebration, which included three drag queens who performed before a sold-out crowd that included Columbia Public Schools (CPS) students.
Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and second ward councilwoman Andrea Waner defend the event, with the mayor saying they want to reaffirm that Columbia is a community that supports all.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey sees it differently, saying transporting students to a drag show likely violates state law. He’s referring to a law approved by Missouri lawmakers in 2022 that criminalized providing certain sexual material to a student. The law took effect in August. Attorney General Bailey is slamming Mayor Buffaloe and CPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood, saying they deliberately subjected a group of middle-schoolers to an adult-themed drag show performance and failed to report the incident. Bailey writes “This kind of performance has no place in the public educational system.”
Mayor Buffaloe disagrees, 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.
Attorney General Bailey will be live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” at 7:35 on Monday morning, to discuss the incident and the new law he’s referring to.
Meantime, GOP Governor Mike Parson is also weighing in, blasting Columbia’s Values Diversity Celebration. Thursday’s event took place at the Holiday Inn Expo Center. Governor Parson says the middle school students were “subjected to adult performers during what is historically a MLK Day celebration,” adding that is unacceptable.
Columbia second ward Councilwoman Andrea Waner is blasting the governor’s comments, tweeting that “to characterize a three-song, 8:30 am drag set as ‘adult performers’ is incredibly dangerous. You know what you’re doing here and that, my guy, is what’s unacceptable.” Governor Parson says CPS parents weren’t clearly informed of the program’s contents, and the governor says adult performances are not diversity. He is calling on CPS to prioritize math, reading, writing, science and history.
Mayor Buffaloe says Columbia is a community that supports all, tweeting that “We felt that it was important and appropriate to showcase members of our LGBTQIA+ community during a celebration about our diversity.” Thursday’s celebration was organized by Columbia’s Office of Cultural Affairs. There were a number of complaints about the event from parents and Columbia-area residents, during Friday afternoon’s “Randy Tobler show” on 939 the Eagle. The CPS district boundaries extend outside of Columbia.
Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) says CPS has responded to his request for a meeting with Superintendent Yearwood and school board members to discuss what happened on Thursday. Senator Rowden tells 939 the Eagle that they’re working on a time for this week. He says his office has been inundated with phone calls and emails about the drag queen performance, including from upset parents whose children attended. Rowden says he wants to hear from Superintendent Yearwood and the board on the process that led to the event.
State Sen. Nick Schroer (R-O’Fallon) is calling on CPS to testify before the Missouri Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee, saying parents are outraged. Senator Schroer serves on the committee.