Missouri Legislature 2026: Session Begins | News

WIND CHILL VALUES IN THE 20S. CODY, HEADS UP YOUR NINE THINGS TO KNOW. BEGIN WITH BIG DAY IN JEFF CITY, MISSOURI. LAWMAKERS RETURN TO THE STATE CAPITOL TO START THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THEY PLAN TO TACKLE SEVERAL TOPICS, INCLUDING MANY COST OF LIVING ISSUES AND TAX REFORM. SESSION BEGINS AT NOON TODAY TO COUNT ON KMBC NINE NEWS FOR COVERAGE. KANSAS LAWMAKERS WILL RETURN TO TOPEKA MONDAY, A TOPIC THEY’LL LOOK TO DISCUSS IS BANNING CELL PHONES IN K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS. A BIPARTISAN BILL WAS FILED TUESDAY. LAWMAKERS SAY A PHONE FREE SCHOOL BENEFITS STUDENTS AND PROTECTS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. THE LEGISLATION WOULD IMPACT BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN KANSAS. SEVERAL LOCAL DISTRICTS ALREADY HAVE CELL PHONE BAN POLICIES IN EFFECT, INCLUDING OLATHE AND SHAWNEE MISSION. I DON’T THINK EITHER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OR VENEZUELAN PEOPLE ARE EVER GOING TO GET THE BENEFIT OF THAT MONEY. REGARDLESS, PRESIDENT TRUMP CLAIMS VENEZUELA WILL TURN OVER 30 TO 50 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL TO THE U.S., THE MOVE CAUSING SOME SKEPTICISM AND CONCERN THIS MORNING. PLAN FOR THE COUNTRY STILL VERY MUCH UNCLEAR AFTER THE U.S. REMOVED PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO OVER THE WEEKEND, A JUDGE HAS CANCELED TESTIMONY TODAY IN THE TRIAL OF THE UVALDE, TEXAS, POLICE OFFICER ACCUSED OF ABANDONING CHILDREN IN A 2022 SHOOTING AT ROBB ELEMENTARY. THE JUDGE SAYS THAT PROSECUTORS WITHHELD EVIDENCE IN THE CASE. ADRIAN GONZALEZ HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO 29 COUNTS OF CHILD ENDANGERMENT OR ABANDONMENT. STATE TROOPERS ARE INVESTIGATING A MAN’S DEATH IN JOHNSON COUNTY, MISSOURI. 34 YEAR OLD BEN DOROTHY DIED WHILE IN CUSTODY. THE MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPERS SAY THEY ENCOUNTERED HIM WHILE INVESTIGATING A REPORT OF A VANDALISM. INVESTIGATORS SAY HE HAD A KNIFE, SO TROOPERS USED A TASER. AFTER THEY TOOK HIM INTO CUSTODY, HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND MEDICS COULDN’T SAVE HIM. TODAY, I’M AT THE POINT WHERE I’M OUT OF MONEY. I’VE GOT NO DOG. LESSON LEARNED. OLATHE A WOMAN IS WARNING OTHERS TO JUST BEWARE OF ONLINE DOG SELLERS. THAT’S AFTER A SCAMMER TOOK OFF WITH AROUND $1,500 OF HER MONEY. KRISTIN CRANDALL TRIED TO GET THE DOG OFF OF FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE. THE MERCHANT USED AI PHOTOS AND WANTED PAYMENTS AND GIFT CARDS ALSO MADE PROMISES. WELL, THE DELIVERY OF THE PUPPY THERE NEVER CAME. CITIES AROUND THE METRO MAKING CHANGES AHEAD OF THE 2026 FIFA MEN’S WORLD CUP LATER THIS YEAR, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ITS SPECIAL EVENT SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROGRAM. YOU CAN RENT YOUR HOUSE AT COST $50 FOR A LICENSE. LAWRENCE IS EXPANDING HOW MANY RENTAL PROPERTIES SOMEONE CAN LICENSE AND WHERE THEY CAN BE, AND LEE’S SUMMIT IS CONSIDERING LIMITING HOW LONG ITS BARS CAN STAY OPEN DURING THE WORLD CUP. 3 A.M. IS THE PROPOSED CUTOFF. KANSAS JAYHAWKS MANAGED TO COME BACK FROM A 15 POINT DEFICIT TO BEAT TCU HORNED FROGS DURING BIG 12 OPENER LAST NIGHT IN LAWRENCE. FRESHMAN DARREN PETERSON PLAYED A BIG PART IN THAT SCORED THREE FREE THROWS WITH TWO SECONDS LEFT TO FORCE OVERTIME. JAYHAWKS WITHIN 104 100. KC RESTAURANT WEEK KICKS OFF FRIDAY AND RUNS THROUGH JANUARY 18TH. NOW. DURING THIS TIME, RESTAURANTS ALL OVER THE METRO WILL OFFER SPECIAL MENUS AT DISCOUNTED PRICES IN ORDER TO DRAW NEW CUSTOMERS AND BOOST BUSINESS DURING A TIME THAT REALLY TENDS TO BE A DIFFICULT ONE IN THE DINING INDUSTRY. MORE THAN 250 RESTAURANTS ARE TAKING PART IN THIS YEAR’S EVENT, MORE THAN 30 FOR THE FIRST TIME. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A FULL LIST, JUST GO TO KC RESTAURANT WEEK.COM. SO OFTEN THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT’S, YOU KNOW, COLD AND GLOOMY AND HARD TO GET OUT. AND SO THAT’S WHY RESTAURANT WEEK KIND OF INCENTIVIZES PEOPLE TO TO GET O