U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley | 98.3 The Dove

(LISTEN): Missouri state fair’s ham breakfast is a sellout

August 17, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, at least four other members of Missouri’s congressional delegation, Governor Parson and numerous other elected officials are in Sedalia for this morning’s governor’s ham breakfast, which is a sellout.

The state Department of Agriculture (MDA) tells 939 the Eagle that all 1,000 tickets have been sold. Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe tells 939 the Eagle that the breakfast highlights Missouri’s farmers and ranchers.

“It’s a great statement of who we are as a state, an agrarian state, agriculture being our number one industry. It’s just a fantastic event”

U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R) visits with farmers in west-central Missouri’s Sedalia on August 16, 2023 (photo from 939 the Eagle’s Stephanie Bell)

The breakfast begins at 8, under the director’s pavilion. Attendees will be dining on scrambled eggs, country ham and biscuits and gravy. 939 the Eagle’s Stephanie Bell is in Sedalia, covering the event for us.

Meantime, you still have a few more days to make the trip to west-central Missouri’s Sedalia for the 2023 state fair. It wraps up on Sunday. Lt. Governor Kehoe says attendance has been fantastic. He’s encouraging you to attend.

“Time after time again I’m there and I meet somebody who says I’ve never been here before, I can’t believe this. It’s well worth the trip,” says Kehoe.

The First Lady’s pie contest is this morning at 10, in the home economics building. The Missouri State Fair’s draft horse shows begin today at 5 in the Mathewson Exhibition Center.

(AUDIO): State Sen. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) discusses radioactive waste and state budget on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

July 18, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R) says St. Louis-area residents have had their water, air and soil poisoned by radioactive waste that dates back to World War II. Senator Hawley says those residents are asking for justice, not a handout. State Sen. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit), whose district includes part of St. Charles County, says there’s been a significant rise in cancer in the St. Charles area, due to the radioactive waste. He says drinking water has also been impacted. Senator Fitzwater joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” and expresses frustration that his Senate resolution to expand the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act died in May due to GOP filibuster infighting in the Senate. Senator Fitzwater’s SCR 16 would have expanded the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include Missourians exposed to nuclear waste from the Manhattan project:

Missouri’s governor say his AG pick embodies faith, family and freedom

November 23, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Governor Mike Parson prepares to introduce Andrew Bailey as Missouri’s next attorney general on November 23, 2022 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri’s next attorney general is a familiar name in state government and at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.

Governor Mike Parson (R) has appointed his office’s general counsel, Andrew Bailey, to the post. Bailey has also served as a Missouri Assistant Attorney General and as general counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections.

He will be Missouri’s fourth attorney general in six years. Governor Mike Parson says bringing stability to the AG’s office is critical. The governor says he looked for five core things with this appointment.

“Commitment to law and order, patriotism and respect for the (state) Constitution. Conservative values, family values and someone who would promote calm and steady while never afraid to fight for Missourians,” Parson says.

Bailey’s start date hasn’t been determined yet. While the governor didn’t say it, he implied that he expects Bailey to run for the post in 2024. Parson tells Capitol reporters that Bailey has had many accomplishments as general counsel for the governor’s office.

“We fought for the unborn and ended elective abortions in Missouri. We’ve strengthened the Second Amendment protections. Supported law enforcement at every turn,” says Bailey.

Bailey will replace U.S. Sen.-Elect Eric Schmitt, the outgoing attorney general. This is the second time Governor Parson has appointed an attorney general. Parson appointed Schmitt to the post in 2018, when Josh Hawley was elected to the U-S Senate.

Meantime, Missouri’s top House Democrat is calling on Bailey to end what she calls outgoing attorney general Schmitt’s frivolous lawsuits. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) says Schmitt used the attorney general’s office “as a taxpayer-funded arm of his political campaigns,” saying he wasted money on frivolous lawsuits.

‘We are hopeful that Mr. Bailey can succeed in the immense task that awaits him,” Leader Quade says, in a news release.

As for GOP Governor Parson, he says Bailey embodies the ideals of faith, family and freedom, and that he’ll fight for Missouri children like they’re his own.

Treece, Buffaloe see bright future with new COU terminal

November 17, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (right) visits with former Columbia Mayor Brian Treece and others at the October 18, 2022 ribbon-cutting for COU’s $23-million new terminal (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

A former Columbia mayor describes Columbia Regional Airport’s (COU) $23-million new terminal as a six-year project that culminated with the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony and first flight.

Former Mayor Brian Treece is proud of this project.

“It’s really due to no small part to the partnership between local, state and federal government, our two U.S. Senators, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) but also MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation) and the taxpayers of Columbia,” Mr. Treece says.

Treece tells 939 the Eagle that his first vote in April 2016 was one asking voters to increase a hotel tax for economic development. Columbia voters approved that 2016 hotel tax, and it’s the new terminal’s main funding source. He says the new terminal is better than you can imagine. Treece notes the new terminal is 52,000 square feet, compared to the 16,000 square foot terminal that was built in 1968.

“And it really dramatizes how tired our current and now former (COU) terminal is. And what a great front porch this is going to make for the University of Missouri, for people that are visiting Columbia for the first time to see family or friends or visit a doctor. Or to maybe locate a new business here or send their daughter or son to college here,” says Treece.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson predicts the new terminal will help make Columbia a top medical destination. Current Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe agrees. She describes COU’s new terminal as eye-opening.

“So we have the opportunity here already with our regional medical destination but also we have the research that’s now happening with the University of Missouri Health Care System to bring people in from other states, other cities to come here. So we do have that potential,” Treece says.

COU will use the old terminal to house car rental counters until the project’s second phase is finished.

Missouri Republicans will now control every statewide office, following Tuesday’s election

November 8, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Eric Schmitt poses with supporters of his U-S Senate campaign during a GOP rally in Columbia on November 7, 2022 (photo courtesy of Schmitt Senate campaign Facebook page)

Missouri’s governor will soon have to appoint a new attorney general and a new state treasurer, after voters elected Republicans Eric Schmitt to the U-S Senate and Scott Fitzpatrick as state auditor, respectively.

Both won in landslides, helped by strong turnouts in rural Missouri, which remains ruby red.

Schmitt has served as attorney general since being appointed by the governor in late 2018, when Josh Hawley was elected to the Senate. Schmitt was elected to a full term as attorney general in 2020. Fitzpatrick served as the Missouri House Budget Committee chairman before the governor appointed him as state treasurer in 2018, to replace Schmitt, who was appointed attorney general. Fitzpatrick won a full term as treasurer in 2020 and will now be state auditor.

Auditor-elect Fitzpatrick says Missouri Republicans will now control every statewide office for the first time in 100 years. The lone Democrat has been state auditor Nicole Galloway of Columbia, who declined to seek re-election this fall.