MOScout Daily Update: Another Court Ruling on Map? - Zahnd RIP - NYT on CJ Huff - Woods on Layoff and more...
Quick Friday update…
One More Map Twist?
Yesterday the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals returned to the issue of the Missouri Congressional redistricting map. And, as Rudi Keller reports, the indications from the proceeding were that the court intend to make a ruling rather than let the issue lie.
According to Kalshi bettors, we’ll be using the 2025 map…
RIP Zahnd
Missouri was shocked yesterday by the death of Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd.
· Governor Mike Kehoe: This is a tremendous loss for Platte County and the entire state. Eric will be remembered for his strong leadership and dedication to public safety and the rule of law, having established best practices used by prosecutors across the state. Claudia and I extend our heartfelt condolences to Eric’s family, loved ones, and colleagues during this difficult time.
· Attorney General Catherine Hanaway: I have known Eric for many years and have always held him in the highest regard. Eric was a true patriot, a person of remarkable character and integrity, and a public servant who cared deeply about his community. We are very grateful for his dedication to public safety, the rule of law, and Platte County. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Tracy, and sons, Benjamin and Luke, during this incredibly difficult time. We stand ready to assist the Platte County Prosecutor’s Office however they need.
NYTimes: Lessons from Joplin
The New York Times profiles former Joplin Superintendent C.J. Huff, who reopened the district 87 days after the 2011 tornado and now advises disaster-stricken school systems.
· One remarkable takeaway: Fifteen years after Joplin, the federal government still has no clear playbook for restoring schools after disasters.
Woods Reflects on Layoff
Rep. Eric Woods, on social media, talks about being laid off: This week, after 13 years of service, I was laid off by Oracle. I'm usually not one for big life updates via social media. But I have been thinking a lot about how to post about this, or whether I even wanted to do it, because it feels important to get off of my chest. People in my situation tend to say that they have been "impacted by the latest round of layoffs," but that passive voice takes agency and responsibility away from the company. I was laid off.
I started working at Cerner at 24 years old; it was my first serious job out of college. In those days it was a very good place to work. Often difficult, but a company that provided good pay and amazing perks. It was hard to cross the street without running into another Cerner associate. Over the years, I met and worked with so many incredible people who are still my friends today. Since the acquisition, I have also watched a lot of those incredible people fall victim to the now frequent reductions in force that the company has become famous for. An organization that used to employ thousands of people in Kansas City and create huge economic opportunity and activity has been hollowed out.
Last week Oracle boasted of a record quarterly profit of $19 Billion. Just days later, thousands of people lost their jobs. I was one of them. It really sucks. I won't pretend to be "excited for this new chapter," but I know that I am going to be okay. If you're going through the same thing, I know that you will too.
Judicial Awards
Press release: At an annual ceremony honoring service to Missouri and the state’s judiciary, eight judicial officers and six legislators were among those honored for their contributions to protecting and improving the effective administration of justice in Missouri…
Receiving the judicial excellence awards were Judge Jack A.L. Goodman, Judge Robert N. Mayer, Judge Mark D. Calvert, Casey L. Clevenger, Judge Patrick King, Beth Billington, and the Supreme Court of Missouri Historical Society.
Judge Laura J. Johnson received a Chief Justice Special Award, and Athena Dickson received the Maurice B. Graham Award.
The Judicial Conference also recognized six legislators for their efforts to further the administration of justice in service to the judicial system and the citizens of Missouri: Sens. Sandy Crawford and Karla May, and Reps. John Black, Cameron Parker, David Tyson Smith, and Rudy Veit.
Lobbyist Registrations
Rachael Stuart Klarich added Missouri Society of Naturopathic Physicians.
Derek Coats and Shad Burner deleted Missouri Soybean Association.
$5K+ Contributions
Vote Yes on Amendment 6 - $500,000 from Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Missouri-Kansas Area PAC.
Vote Yes on Amendment 6 - $25,000 from Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local No. 1.
Lead the Way PAC (pro-Vogel) - $20,000 from MCR PAC.
General Motors Company PAC Missouri - Federal Committee - $10,000 from General Motors Company Political Action Committee (Washington, DC).
Brad PAC (pro-Hudson) - $10,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
Brad PAC - $10,000 from PENN Entertainment LLC (Wyomissing, PA).
Missouri First Conservative PAC (pro-Wasinger) - $5,650 from MO SWOP LLC.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $20,000 from GOPAC Election Fund.
Missouri Democratic State Committee - $27,400 from Missouri Democracy Project PAC.
Missouri Democratic State Committee - $10,000 from SWMW Law LLC.
Senate Democratic Campaign Committee - $75,000 from Safer Families For Missouri.
Senate Democratic Campaign Committee - $75,000 from Homefront PAC.
Senate Democratic Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Ameren Missouri Company.
Senate Democratic Campaign Committee - $15,000 from Missouri Hospital Association.
Senate Democratic Campaign Committee - $10,000 from CVS Pharmacy Inc (Woonsocket, RI).
MO Soybean Association State PAC (MO SoyPAC) - $6,250 from Meristem Crop Performance Group (Powell, OH).
Catalyst PAC - $19,500 from Tenet Health (Dallas, TX).
Protect Missouri Workers PAC - $15,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy (Alton, IL).
Missouri's Energy Future PAC - $50,000 from Ameren Missouri.
People Not Politicians - $25,000 from Let It Resound (Washington, DC).
Best Start for Kids STL - $25,000 from Elizabeth Mannen Berges and Jim Berges.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Chris Carter, and Don Calloway.