Full time statehouse reporters are now a luxury for many news organizations. Brenden Moore, who reports on state politics and government for Lee Enterprises, said It’s impossible to talk about the decline of full time statehouse reporters without talking about the decline of the newspaper industry as a whole. “If you’re struggling to cover city council, … [Read more...] about Nonprofit news outlets bolster statehouse coverage across the country, including in Illinois
Midwest
News Analysis: Top Missouri politicians fuel political ambitions, campaign chests with election myths
Attorney General Eric Schmitt and U.S. Senator Josh Hawley are filling campaign coffers and building poll numbers by embracing President Donald Trump’s myth about winning the 2020 election. Both led efforts to disqualify electors from swing states and reverse the election. Last month, Schmitt traveled to Mar-a-Lago and stood next to Trump while raising $1.6 million for his … [Read more...] about News Analysis: Top Missouri politicians fuel political ambitions, campaign chests with election myths
The road to Jan. 6 ran through St. Louis
Prominent Missouri Republican office holders and current or former St. Louis-based activists played key roles in trying to subvert the 2020 presidential election and in laying the groundwork for the Jan. 6 insurrection. The cast of characters included fist-raising Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, who may want to be president, and litigious Missouri Attorney … [Read more...] about The road to Jan. 6 ran through St. Louis
Missouri governor attempts to limit access to government through changes to state’s Sunshine Law
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is trying again to restrict access to public information, making it harder and more costly for people to hold the government accountable through open records laws. Parson wants government agencies to have the authority to charge fees for the time their attorneys spend reviewing and responding to records requested by the public. That would be a … [Read more...] about Missouri governor attempts to limit access to government through changes to state’s Sunshine Law
Exit essay: a reflection on more than 50 years of media coverage in the Illinois statehouse
Editor’s Note: This is an abridged version of Simon Review Paper #61, first published by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute before former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan was indicted in March on federal corruption charges. Brown told GJR that “the post indictment comments by Madigan and (former lobbyist Michael) McClain speak for themselves. I find the conduct alleged … [Read more...] about Exit essay: a reflection on more than 50 years of media coverage in the Illinois statehouse