Jason Hancock
@jasonhancock.bsky.social
Editor-in-chief of The Missouri Independent, a nonpartisan, nonprofit newsroom.
Detective for the people. Raker of muck.
[email protected]
Detective for the people. Raker of muck.
[email protected]
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Federal agents this week seized 73,000 products containing 7-hydroxymitragine, commonly known as 7-OH, from three Kansas City-area warehouses. #moleg #mogov
Feds seize thousands of 7-OH products from Kansas City warehouses • Missouri Independent
Company owner says the seized products were a small portion of the total inventory, and employees were allowed to continue production.
missouriindependent.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Abortion rights returned to Missouri one year ago. Access never did.
Voters legalized abortion, but decades of restrictions and a hollowed-out provider network mean most Missourians still leave the state for care. #moleg #mogov
Voters legalized abortion, but decades of restrictions and a hollowed-out provider network mean most Missourians still leave the state for care. #moleg #mogov
Abortion rights returned to Missouri one year ago. Access never did • Missouri Independent
Abortion rights became law one year ago in Missouri. How few abortions happened since illustrates the difficulty of rebuilding access once it's decimated.
missouriindependent.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:32 PM
One year after abortion rights were officially restored, Missourians sit in the uneasy space between a constitutional right and the reality on the ground — a state where voters restored abortion access, but where it remains largely out of reach. #moleg #mogov
Abortion rights returned to Missouri one year ago. Access never did • Missouri Independent
Abortion rights became law one year ago in Missouri. How few abortions happened since illustrates the difficulty of rebuilding access once it's decimated.
missouriindependent.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins must rewrite the summary ballot language for an initiative petition that seeks to enshrine education as a fundamental right in the state’s constitution, a Cole County judge ruled Tuesday. #moleg #mogov
Judge orders rewrite of ballot summary for Missouri public education initiative petition • Missouri Independent
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins must rewrite ballot language for a public education initiative petition, a Cole County judge rules.
missouriindependent.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Across the country, local newspapers are shrinking — and with them, statehouse reporters are disappearing.
At The Independent, our nonprofit newsroom is working to fill that gap with independent reporting that keeps our elected officials accountable.
At The Independent, our nonprofit newsroom is working to fill that gap with independent reporting that keeps our elected officials accountable.
December 4, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Across the country, local newspapers are shrinking — and with them, statehouse reporters are disappearing.
At The Independent, our nonprofit newsroom is working to fill that gap with independent reporting that keeps our elected officials accountable.
At The Independent, our nonprofit newsroom is working to fill that gap with independent reporting that keeps our elected officials accountable.
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A Missouri appeals court rewrote the language for a proposed abortion ban set to appear on the November 2026 ballot after the judges concluded Thursday the previous wording drafted by Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins was riddled with errors. #moleg #mogov
Missouri appeals court rewrites ballot proposal to clarify a 'yes' would end right to abortion • Missouri Independent
A Missouri appeals court found the ballot language for a proposed amendment to ban abortion failed to state it would repeal an abortion rights amendment.
missouriindependent.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Missouri state senators are hoping to force the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to lower underperforming school districts’ accreditation status a year earlier than the department’s policy allows #moleg #mogov
Missouri senators question education officials about efforts to help struggling schools • Missouri Independent
A Missouri Senate committee questioned the state's Commissioner of Education Karla Eslinger about interventions for struggling schools.
missouriindependent.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Providing financial incentives for school districts to improve student achievement is a new concept, with few states using outcome-based funding models. But under an executive order from Gov. Mike Kehoe, Missouri may be poised to give the idea a try. #moleg #mogov
Missouri schools could see new performance incentives under emerging proposal • Missouri Independent
A working group tasked with creating performance incentives for Missouri's K-12 schools has completed a framework for outcome-based funding.
missouriindependent.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
State Rep. Jim Murphy says the bill was prompted by The Independent’s story about a Nebraska veteran who gave 35 times this year to Bill Eigel’s campaign for St. Charles County executive. #moleg #mogov
Missouri bill targets 'misleading' automatic donations connected to Bill Eigel • Missouri Independent
No Missouri politician should be able to extract recurring campaign donations the way Bill Eigel does, a Republican lawmaker said Monday.
missouriindependent.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Reposted by Jason Hancock
In 2025, our newsroom tracked the impact of federal cuts to Missouri’s social safety net, delved into efforts to overturn the voter-approved constitutional right to an abortion and pulled back the curtain on allegedly predatory practices in the cannabis industry.
December 2, 2025 at 4:15 PM
In 2025, our newsroom tracked the impact of federal cuts to Missouri’s social safety net, delved into efforts to overturn the voter-approved constitutional right to an abortion and pulled back the curtain on allegedly predatory practices in the cannabis industry.
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Reposted by Jason Hancock
The campaign to repeal Missouri’s newly gerrymandered congressional map says it will turn in signatures to put the issue on the statewide ballot next week. #moleg #mogov
Missouri campaign to repeal gerrymandered map plans to submit signatures next week • Missouri Independent
The campaign to repeal Missouri gerrymandered congressional map says it will turn in signatures to put the issue on the ballot next week.
missouriindependent.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Missouri’s AG has yet provide any evidence to support her accusation that the company hired to collect signatures for a referendum is engaging in human trafficking. It’s the latest in a deluge of GOP attacks on the campaign seeking to force a vote on the state’s congressional map. #moleg #mogov
Missouri GOP goes scorched earth to keep its gerrymandered map off the 2026 ballot • Missouri Independent
Missouri Republicans have been doing everything they can to block a referendum on the state’s gerrymandered map from the 2026 ballot.
missouriindependent.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
CALLOUT: I am looking to interview individuals who have sought health care at crisis pregnancy centers, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and want to talk about their experience. The center can be located anywhere. If you or someone you know might be interested, please email or send me a DM.
December 1, 2025 at 8:19 PM
CALLOUT: I am looking to interview individuals who have sought health care at crisis pregnancy centers, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and want to talk about their experience. The center can be located anywhere. If you or someone you know might be interested, please email or send me a DM.
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Many undocumented mothers in Missouri are foregoing medical care out of fear of being detained and deported. And few who work with immigrants were willing to speak on the record, fearful that federal agents could target their offices or the government could restrict funding. #moleg #mogov
Undocumented mothers in Missouri navigate pregnancy, postpartum as ICE threats loom • Missouri Independent
Many undocumented women in Missouri are facing labor or postpartum in isolation, the fear of deportation keeping them housebound.
missouriindependent.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Could Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map backfire and boost Democrats? missouriindependent.com/2025/11/27/c...
Could Missouri's gerrymandered congressional map backfire and boost Democrats? • Missouri Independent
What happens when a gerrymander backfires and accidentally benefits the opposing party instead? Enter what politicos call the “dummymander.”
missouriindependent.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Could Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map backfire and boost Democrats? missouriindependent.com/2025/11/27/c...
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Today kicks off The Missouri Independent’s year-end fundraising drive. We’re aiming to raise $15,000 to power our nonprofit news into the new year.
If our work has helped you understand Missouri better, consider supporting our journalism today. missouriindependent.com/donate/?oa_r...
If our work has helped you understand Missouri better, consider supporting our journalism today. missouriindependent.com/donate/?oa_r...
Donate • Missouri Independent
missouriindependent.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Today kicks off The Missouri Independent’s year-end fundraising drive. We’re aiming to raise $15,000 to power our nonprofit news into the new year.
If our work has helped you understand Missouri better, consider supporting our journalism today. missouriindependent.com/donate/?oa_r...
If our work has helped you understand Missouri better, consider supporting our journalism today. missouriindependent.com/donate/?oa_r...
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A federal lawsuit alleges a lack of reasonable action by the Missouri Department of Mental Health has turned jails into "de facto mental health wards." #moleg #mogov
‘Warehoused in jails’: State accused of denying mental health services to incarcerated Missourians • Missouri Independent
The lawsuit alleges a lack of reasonable action by the state to provide services has turned jails into ‘de facto mental health wards.’
missouriindependent.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Cole County Circuit Court Judge Brian Stumpe must determine whether the use of state funds for MOScholars harms taxpayers and if state law permits the program to use general revenue. #moleg #mogov
Attorneys battle over future of taxpayer-funded private school vouchers in Missouri • Missouri Independent
A trial in Cole County Circuit Court questions whether the state's funding of private school vouchers is constitutional.
missouriindependent.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A federal judge promised Tuesday that he would decide whether or not to block a referendum on Missouri’s gerrymandered redistricting map before petitions to force a vote are submitted. #moleg #mogov
Federal ruling on Missouri gerrymandered redistricting plan to come in early December • Missouri Independent
A federal judge promised Tuesday that he would decide whether or not to block a referendum on Missouri’s gerrymandered redistricting map before petitions to force a vote are submitted.
missouriindependent.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
One person who spoke with/The Independent pays $295 per month for health insurance. Next year, if Congress extends current subsidies, it will be $479. If the subsidies go away Jan. 1, the price will be $1,216 per month, a 312% increase. #moleg #mogov
Missourians brace for health insurance premium spikes with federal subsidies set to expire • Missouri Independent
The open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act plans ends Jan. 16. For some, the extra costs for 2026 will mean they go without coverage.
missouriindependent.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Missouri has been working on updating its computer systems to improve how it administers social safety net programs since 2013. New federal rules mean that work will wait until at least 2028. #moleg #mogov
Federal changes delay long-overdue overhaul of Missouri’s troubled safety net systems • Missouri Independent
Plans to combine eligibility software for SNAP and Medicaid into a single, updated system are on hold due to sweeping federal changes.
missouriindependent.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Advanced Micro Targeting says it has not heard anything from Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway since she alleged, w/o providing evidence, that the company employed undocumented immigrants.
The company said every employee is a legal worker checked thru the federal E-verify system. #moleg #mogov
The company said every employee is a legal worker checked thru the federal E-verify system. #moleg #mogov
Lawsuit details alleged scheme to sabotage referendum on Missouri congressional map • Missouri Independent
A federal lawsuit accuses opponents of a referendum on Missouri's gerrymandered congressional map are poaching signature gatherers.
missouriindependent.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM