Aviva Okeson-Haberman

House Bill 575 has gotten plenty of attention because it would allow the concealed carrying of guns at previously banned places like college campuses.

What’s gone largely unnoticed is that the bill would also have a major impact on how universities fund their student health centers, putting some at risk of closing, a higher education advocate said.

Public universities would no longer be able to charge each student the fees that fund student health centers. Students who are able to prove they have health insurance wouldn’t be forced to pay the fee.

Senators are considering making cuts to the $29 billion budget passed by the house in late March as revenue reports are coming in lower than projected.

The Senate Appropriations Committee met Tuesday to review the budget line by line. Senator Denny Hoskins proposed saving money by eliminating around 200 state full-time positions that haven’t been filled for over six months.

He gave one example where cutting nine positions would save about $300,000, which is about 20 percent of the total state positions that have been vacant for six months or more.

Missouri lawmakers want to waive penalties for taxpayers who pay their bill late because of confusion over withholdings.

But the legislature likely won’t be able to pass a bill before the tax season ends.

At the House Special Committee on Government Oversight meeting Wednesday, representatives heard a bill that would waive the late fee for taxpayers who establish a payment plan with the Department of Revenue. It would only apply to this tax season.

Governor Mike Parson toured three bridges in Mid-Missouri Thursday to promote his $351 million bond package to repair 250 bridges.

Parson said infrastructure, specifically bridges, and workforce development are his two top priorities this year. 

“As we keep traveling across the state of Missouri we realize that there’s some serious problems with our infrastructure in the state and that we have to face the fact that we have to figure out how we’re going to deal with this.”

Missouri congresswoman Vicky Hartzler is renewing her calls for the state legislature to create a prescription drug monitoring program.

Hartzler spoke with hospital administrators from Boone Hospital Center Tuesday about their work addressing the opioid crisis.

Boone County participates in the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health Prescription Drug Monitoring Program but Missouri doesn’t have a statewide monitoring program.

Former Columbia City Manager Mike Matthes will receive more than $166,000 in severance pay. Matthes resigned from his post last week.

The City council voted Monday in a unanimous decision to approve the mutual severance agreement which gives Matthes a lump sum equal to his yearly salary and compensation for all accrued vacation and holiday leave, totaling almost $180,000.

Mayor Brian Treece said the severance package is consistent with Matthes’ employment agreement.

President Donald Trump is headed to Columbia Thursday for a rally at the Columbia Regional Airport.

The rally marks Trump's first stop in Columbia since his 2016 election. He's expected to rally support for Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley's U.S. Senate run less than a week before the election. Hawley, a Republican, is challenging Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, in a close race that could determine control of the Senate.