State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch

Monday trial set in Basye lawsuit against CPS regarding Columbia school board ballot

January 25, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Then-State Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on May 2, 2022 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

We should know Monday afternoon whether or not former State Rep. Chuck Basye’s (R-Rocheport) name will be listed on the April Columbia school board ballot.

939 the Eagle News was in Boone County Circuit Court for Tuesday’s hearing, when Judge Brouck Jacobs scheduled Monday’s trial on the case’s merits. Judge Jacobs announced in open court that he intends to rule on Monday.

Basye has filed a 16-page lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools (CPS) and the board, alleging they violated state law when they wouldn’t accept his candidate filing on December 27, the final day of filing under state law. However, the Aslin building was closed that day, due to it being a district holiday. CPS says filing was available by appointment that day, but that appointments needed to have been made by December 22.

County counselor Charles Dykhouse tells Judge Jacobs that Boone County clerk Brianna Lennon will obey any order regarding the ballot. Whichever side loses on Monday is expected to appeal to the Western District Court of Appeals.

Former Missouri House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee chairman Basye sat in the courtroom on Tuesday, along with State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville).

(AUDIO): State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) appears on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

January 16, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) has been appointed as vice chair of the Missouri House Higher Education Committee. Representative Reisch, who’s in her fourth and final House term due to term limits, tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the appointment is huge, adding that Mizzou officials know she’ll go to bat for them on funding issues in Jefferson City. Representative Reisch also tells listeners that she will be a no vote on sports wagering:

(AUDIO): State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) appears on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

November 23, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Veteran State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) is about to begin her fourth and final term in the Missouri House. While her newly drawn district still includes Centralia and Hallsville, it now also includes Hartsburg. Representative Toalson Reisch tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that she’s thankful on this Thanksgiving for her family, including her children and grandchildren. She’s looking forward to January, and also supports an idea from State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) of both sides of the aisle eating meals together in Jefferson City:

EquipmentShare expansion is one of the largest expansions in Columbia history

November 4, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (right) celebrates EquipmentShare’s planned $100-million Columbia expansion with company co-owners Jabbok and Willy Schlacks (November 3, 2022 photo courtesy of the governor’s Facebook page)

Missouri Governor Mike Parson praises EquipmentShare’s decision to build its $100-million new headquarters in Columbia, describing it as great news for the entire state.

Governor Parson (R) joined company executives, Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill and area business leaders for Thursday’s announcement.

“It was a fun day to be here, needless to say. When you get a $100-million investment and 500 new jobs coming to Missouri. It’s a good day for Columbia,” Parson tells reporters.

Missouri Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia), State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reinsch (R-Hallsville) and Columbia Public Schools (CPS) superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood were on-hand as well, along with several hundred EquipmentShare employees.

EquipmentShare will build its new corporate headquarters by the former Ashley furniture building near I-70’s Lake of the Woods exit. It will include a flagship office building and a research and development center. They plan to add 555 new jobs over the next five years, as part of the expansion. Columbia has beaten out Alabama, Louisiana and other states in landing the massive project. That pleases Governor Parson.

“I’ll tell you: game on. Bring it on. You know we’re going to do everything in our powers to bring businesses to our state. And you know, we have to compete with all these other states all the time. Because we know they want these businesses just like we do,” he says.

EquipmentShare currently has about 3,600 employees, with about 470 of them at the former Ashley furniture building. Boone County commissioner Justin Aldred has told 939 the Eagle that the average salary for the 555 new jobs will be $42,000.

EquipmentShare executives say the new 35-acre campus will be something everyone in the state can be proud of.

“So we’re so proud to be able to announce this, a $100-million investment. And this building right here which is really cool, it’s about 50,000 square feet. Our new campus is going to be about ten times that size,” company spokeswoman Meg Judy tells reporters.

Parson to outline timeframe and details about Missouri’s special session on Monday

August 19, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor has called a Monday afternoon press conference to announce details about the upcoming special session in Jefferson City. Governor Mike Parson (R) will announce specifics Monday at 2 pm in his Statehouse office. The governor told 939 the Eagle News earlier this month in Columbia that he’s confident that the GOP-controlled Legislature will …