12/19/22 Missouri Mondays - Thank you for standing up for freedom and democracy in 2022!
Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year!
It’s our final Missouri Mondays of 2022. Thanks for staying informed and taking action each week! We wish you a joyous holiday season and we’ll be back in January with more actions to make a difference!
MISSOURI IN THE NEWS
“Kansas City lawmaker files bills targeting gun violence on anniversary of Sandy Hook tragedy”
“Missouri state lawmaker from Kansas City is using the anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy to take action against gun violence. KMBC 9 took a closer look at the legislation she filed on Wednesday and found out why for her, the issue is personal.
Ten years after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, State Representative Patty Lewis is pushing for change in Jefferson City.
“Across the country, many politicians have shrugged their shoulders and have done nothing,” Lewis said. On the anniversary of the unthinkable tragedy, she filed legislation aimed at reducing gun violence.
The Firearm Violence Prevention Act, a so-called "red flag law," would let family members or police petition a court to stop a person from having firearms if they're believed to be a threat to themselves or others.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Missouri had the fourth highest firearm death rate in the nation in 2020, the most recent year with data available. The numbers include both homicides and suicides. Lewis says the impact is felt across the state and across party lines.
“These are, you know, really nonpartisan issues, and it's just about saving lives,” she said.
Lewis also filed two other bills on Wednesday. House Bill 422 would charge a person with child endangerment, a Class C felony, if they don't have a firearm properly secured around a minor.
House Bill 423 would require all firearms sales or transfers to go through a licensed firearms dealer.”
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“Homicide detective in Lamar Johnson’s case says he had no evidence”
“Friday marked the final day of a long-awaited hearing, where a St. Louis judge will ultimately rule on whether or not to set aside Johnson’s 1995 murder conviction”
“The homicide detective who led the investigation of the 1994 murder that landed Lamar Johnson in prison told a St. Louis courtroom that he had no evidence connecting Johnson to the murder, echoing what the prosecutor in the case said earlier in the week.
Joseph Nickerson, who retired from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department in 1997, testified over the course of Thursday and Friday that he relied solely upon an eyewitness — who has since recanted — that he recalled being a “con-artist.”
Friday marked the fifth and final day of a long-awaited hearing looking into Johnson’s case, where Circuit 22nd Judge David Mason will ultimately rule on whether or not to set aside Johnson’s 1995 murder conviction.
“In a perfect world, I could let [Johnson] know if he’s going home for the holidays or not,” Mason said. “So that means getting the job before Dec. 25. That’s in a perfect world. I got a lot to do.”
Already Mason punched a major hole in the original conviction, calling the police’s handling of the lineup process “almost a textbook case of suggestive identification.”
“I’ve already reached the fact conclusion that the testimony of Elking was overly suggestive,” Mason said Tuesday.”
https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/16/homicide-detective-in-lamar-johnsons-case-says-he-had-no-evidence/ Missouri Independent Dec 16
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“Missouri Republican pushes for constitutional change to recognize same-sex marriages”
“With the right to same-sex marriage now protected by federal statute, a Jackson County Republican lawmaker believes it is time for Missouri to retire a portion of the state constitution that says the only valid marriages are “between a man and a woman.”
Rep. Chris Sander, R-Lone Jack, for the second year has introduced a proposed constitutional amendment to say valid marriages are between “two individuals.”
“My intent with the language is to have the Missouri Constitution in line with federal law because I believe federal law is the correct ruling,” Sander, one of two openly gay Republicans serving in the Missouri General Assembly, said in an interview with The Independent.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, which codifies the right to same-sex marriage recognized in the landmark 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges. Along with protecting same-sex marriage rights, it also protects the rights of interracial couples to marry.
“This country has a history of saying who can’t get married in an ugly way,” Sander said.
The state constitutional language on marriage, adopted in 2004, no longer has any legal authority but will remain on the books until changed.”
https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/15/missouri-republican-pushes-for-constitutional-change-to-recognize-same-sex-marriages/ Missouri Independent Dec 15
NATIONAL NEWS
“Biden signs law extending marriage protections to same-sex and interracial couples”
“Same-sex and interracial couples had many of their marriage rights codified Tuesday when President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan marriage equality bill during a ceremony attended by thousands outside the White House.
In a brief speech, Biden told supporters on the South Lawn that “marriage is a simple proposition — who do you love and will you be loyal to that person you love.”
“It’s not more complicated than that and the law recognizes that everyone should have the right to answer those questions for themselves without government interference,” he continued.
Biden used the celebratory signing ceremony to address the November mass shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, as well as other incidences of discrimination and violence, urging Americans to speak out.
“We must stop the hate and violence, like we just saw in Colorado Springs, where a place of acceptance and celebration was targeted for violence and terror,” Biden said. “We need to challenge the hundreds of callous and cynical laws introduced in the states, targeting transgender children, terrifying families and criminalizing doctors who give children the care they need.”
https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/13/biden-signs-law-extending-marriage-protections-to-same-sex-and-interracial-couples/ Missouri Independent Dec 13
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“The Jan. 6 committee will take up criminal referrals against Donald Trump”
“The House Select Jan. 6 Committee will take up criminal referrals against former President Donald Trump on at least three charges: the crime of insurrection, obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress and conspiracy to defraud the United States, according to a source familiar with the committee's discussions but not authorized to speak publicly on the plans.
The referrals will be voted on Monday, during what's very likely to be the last public meeting of the panel before it sunsets at the end of the month.
The referrals will come in the form of a letter from the committee to the Justice Department making its case for prosecution. Insurrection is rarely prosecuted as a criminal charge and remains so even in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Referrals do not carry any legal weight or compel the Justice Department to act.
NPR obtained a small portion of a draft script for the Jan. 6 panel's Monday hearing that shows they intend to accuse lawyers John Eastman and Kenneth Chesebro of being tied to the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election.”
https://www.npr.org/2022/12/17/1143874968/jan-6-committee-trump-criminal-referral
NPR Dec 18
Watch the January 6th Select Committee Business Meeting live on MON DEC 19 at 1pm CST here: https://january6th.house.gov/news/watch-live
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“Scientists announce a fusion breakthrough with big implications for clean energy”
“Scientists at a U.S. national laboratory announced Tuesday that they achieved fusion ignition, a breakthrough decades in the making that could have major implications for clean energy.
Researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory near San Francisco said that on Dec. 5, for the first time anywhere in the world, they managed to produce more energy from a nuclear fusion reaction than was needed to produce it.
“This is what it looks like for America to lead. And we’re just getting started,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
However, at the announcement, officials said it would be years before a commercial application, such as a fusion power plant, might emerge.
“There are very significant hurdles, not just in the science but in technology,” said Kim Budil, director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. “Probably decades. Not six decades I don’t think. Not five decades, which is what we used to say. I think it’s moving into the foreground and probably with concerted effort and investment, a few decades of research on the underlying technologies could put us in a position to build a power plant.”
Granholm said the Biden administration has a goal of getting to a commercial fusion reactor in a decade.”
https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/13/scientists-announce-a-fusion-breakthrough-with-big-implications-for-clean-energy/ Missouri Independent Dec 13
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“White House resumes handing out free COVID-19 rapid test kits”
“The Biden administration is once again offering Americans the opportunity to order free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests from the federal government, a program that it had shuttered amid an ongoing stalemate with Congress over additional funding to address the virus.
The program will allow each household to order four free COVID-19 tests as part of the White House’s plans to try to tamp down the number of diagnoses this winter amid an increase in coronavirus, flu and RSV.
“While COVID-19 is not the disruptive force it once was, the virus continues to evolve, and cases are on the rise again as families are spending more time indoors and gathering for the holidays,” the White House wrote in a fact sheet about its efforts this winter.
The free COVID-19 test kits can be ordered through COVIDTests.gov or by calling 1-800-232-0233 between 8 a.m. and midnight Eastern.
https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/white-house-resumes-handing-out-free-covid-19-rapid-test-kits/ Missouri Independent Dec 15
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“The angry grandmother’s ‘Twelve Banned Books of Christmas’”
All y’all know I love to read, I always have and one of the joys of owning a bookstore was recommending books to customers of all ages. Once someone discovers the pleasure of escaping mentally with a great book, that wanting to read never goes away.
This grandmother is stunned to learn that some of the books that I have cherished and recommended are now banned or may soon become unavailable in our school libraries. I read many of these books before I graduated from high school, which was more than a few years ago. My experience has been that any time a book is banned or people are told they cannot read it, that book will rise in popularity. When I was younger I was told I should not read “The Book of Solomon” found in the Bible. Guess what I read next? I could not wait to read “Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger or “Forever Amber,” by Kathleen Winsor because they were considered risqué.
In the spirit of the holiday season, instead of the Twelve Days of Christmas, I am sharing twelve of my favorite books that some want to take out of our public schools. I am also sharing why these books might make elected officials uncomfortable.”
https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/14/the-angry-grandmothers-twelve-banned-books-of-christmas/ Missouri Independent Dec 14 Commentary
CHECK OUT OUR MISSOURI MONDAYS NEWS SUPPLEMENT!
With so much important news each week we don’t want you to miss a thing!
Check out our MISSOURI MONDAYS NEWS SUPPLEMENT here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13cokjWlCh2EkY5K6bM357rjVPizZDzxlMqjAuoBQfoI/edit?usp=sharing
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS
DONATE OR FIND HELP IN KC METRO THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!
Here's where Kansas Citians can donate — and receive — food and gifts this holiday season. The holiday season already has enough stress, and inflation is only adding more. We put together a list of resources if you find yourself in need of assistance, or if you're in a position to help out.
Make a donation or find services here:
Harvesters Community Food Network - https://www.harvesters.org/
Children’s Mercy Toy Drive - https://support.childrensmercy.org/campaign/champions-for-kids-virtual-toy-drive/c431410
Rose Brooks Holiday Store - https://www.rosebrooks.org/holiday-store/
Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City - https://www.jfskc.org/
Find more information and resources here: https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-11-25/kansas-city-food-gift-donation-2022-holidays-christmas-hanukkah KCUR Nov 25
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TAKE ACTION WITH THE MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Join the MOVPC meeting MONDAY JAN 2 at 10 AM
Text “MOVPC” to 66866 or register HERE: bit.ly/protectmovoters
Our work to protect the vote requires our continued attention! So we hope you'll join our next MOVPC call where we will discuss next steps in our fight to protect the right to vote in Missouri. MOVPC is a nonpartisan statewide network promoting access to the ballot and working to remove barriers to voting in Missouri!
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January 6 Anniversary Voting Rights Actions - Our Freedoms, Our Vote
This January 6 marks the second anniversary of the violent attack on our Capitol and our Democracy. Meanwhile partisan actors continue to propagate the big lie as they plan for 2024, states continue to pass restrictive voting laws, and the US Supreme Court just heard arguments in Moore v. Harper, a case that could eliminate checks and balances and allow partisan control of elections. Around the country, voter advocates are marking the two-year anniversary with Pro-Democracy Vigils and Actions. A St. Louis Area Vigil is confirmed for Sat. Jan. 7. Can you join Missouri advocates in planning, promoting and/or attending an action near you or assisting with a virtual event? Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNxq8WmO0ZrR6wIjVL1T1gNrq8ARmXmHYwnWDQeds7qgCTOA/viewform
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TAKE ACTION TO HELP END GUN VIOLENCE WITH EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY AND MOMS DEMAND ACTION MO
Every day, more than 110 people in America are killed with guns. We’re counting on people like you to take actions that will help us pass common-sense laws and implement policies that will save lives. Find actions you can take now to help end gun violence: https://www.everytown.org/actions/
Action is the counterweight to apathy. We can reclaim our safety and save lives by taking action to end gun violence. Join Moms Demand Action volunteers in Missouri who are working to make our communities safer by texting READY to 644-33.
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FIND MORE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
THANK YOU! for answering the Missouri Mondays CALL TO ACTION!
Invite your friends and neighbors to join us and sign up for Missouri Action Alliance and this Missouri Mondays email at moactionalliance.com/signup
Follow us on Twitter at @MissouriAction, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MOActionAlliance and check out our website at http://www.MOActionAlliance.com
