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The Missouri Times: Mid-Missouri papers return to local ownership; Scott Faughn buys the Jefferson City News Tribune, Fulton Sun, California Democrat

JCNT: News Tribune sold to Faughn Media

Brownfield Ag News: Missouri, six other Midwest states to receive large investments from Trump’s Rural Health Transformation Program

Missourinet: Missouri will receive $216 million annually over five years to help rural hospitals

P-D: Missouri to get $216 million federal payout for rural health programs (avoid stltoday paywall by reading archived version here)

Roll Call: Cori Bush among former members of Congress seeking comebacks in 2026; AIPAC’s United Democracy Project could get involved again

Rosenbaum: Trump critic Alexander Vindman visits St. Louis, promotes 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary candidate Fred Wellman

JCNT: Cole County begins verifying congressional map referendum signatures

KOMU, via KBIA: Judge stamps approval on “Missouri Right to Education Initiative” ballot language for Missouri public education measure

JCNT: Calendar: 2026 Governor’s Prayer Breakfast to be held Jan. 14

Missourinet: Fitzpatrick: Reduce state spending so Missouri doesn’t run out of money

Columbia Missourian: Missouri is in danger of draining a revenue surplus, auditor says

P-D: Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick: Reduce state spending now to avoid ‘drastic’ cuts later (avoid stltoday paywall by reading archived version here)

Missouri Independent: Missouri auditor warns of vanishing state general revenue surplus as spending rises

Missouri Business Alert, via Columbia Missourian: Tight workforce, slower growth expected to shape Missouri’s 2026 labor market

Missouri Independent: ‘Diluting the rollback’: Missouri’s tool for capping property tax rates gives limited relief

Missourinet: Missouri DOR’s Trish Vincent says FUSION system streamlines DMV services

Missourinet: Missouri Department of Public Safety launches wastewater testing pilot program to detect fentanyl and other drugs

St. Louis Public Radio: Missouri reevaluates efforts to manage chronic wasting disease among deer

P-D: Amid court tussle, St. Louis aldermen plan to nominate sheriff candidates next week; Kehoe, Hanaway say state has authority to appoint interim sheriff (avoid stltoday paywall by reading archived version here)

St. Louis Public Radio: St. Louis aldermen set March 3 special election for sheriff, will review interim candidates

KMIZ (Columbia): Jefferson City NAACP President Nimrod Chapel calls AG Catherine Hanaway “a breath of fresh air” after NAACP’s conflicts with Andrew Bailey; AG’s office will resume publishing “disparity index” in annual report

St. Louis Public Radio: Missouri Supreme Court rules to remove judge best known for his Elvis Presley costumes

P-D: St. Charles County Judge Matt Thornhill removed for talking politics in court, but not for Elvis costume (avoid stltoday paywall by reading archived version here)

Westplex Talk (104.5 FM): Brad & John Show (11/20/25): Brad’s story about dealing with Judge Matthew Thornhill, and Thornhill bending the rules after the ruling (link opens at 5:35)

Instagram post: Brad & John Show returns live on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026

KC Star: Union Station makes impassioned case for Royals playing in a downtown ballpark (avoid KC Star paywall by reading free syndicated version on MSN here)

Southeast Missourian: Charleston woman arrested in Cape County for threatening to kill state worker, hospital staff after newborn baby tested positive for THC (avoid Southeast Missourian paywall by reading archived version here)

Vox’s Kendra Hurley: Josh Hawley and other conservatives want more parents at home. Here’s how to do it. (avoid Vox paywall by reading archived version here)

SNL op-ed: Paul Simpson: Rep. Burlison’s health care plan neither healthy nor caring

P-D letter: Bethany octogenarian mocks Missouri leaders for Chiefs departure (avoid stltoday paywall by reading archived version here)

Amazon.com: John Combest: Stalking, Harassment, Internet Trolling: A Guide to Recovering and Rebuilding After Online Attacks – available in paperback and Amazon Kindle (note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

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