By Jason Hancock | Editor-in-Chief

Good morning,

The final days of session often turn bills into bundles, and today's lead story from Steph Quinn is a good example. A proposal centered on connecting struggling families with community resources also carries a separate effort to improve access to interpreters and communication services for deaf Missourians.

Both provisions deal with gaps people tend to encounter at the worst possible moment — when a family is trying to stay out of foster care, or when basic communication breaks down during a medical emergency.

We also have a judge’s early ruling in Missouri’s legal fight over 7-OH kratom products, expanded autism care in Missouri, a proposed settlement over Evergy retirement funds and a Kansas City hearing tied to the federal push to expand plutonium production for nuclear weapons.

(Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)

by Steph Quinn

A bipartisan bill headed back to the Senate would create a referral system for families in need, while adding new scrutiny over guardrails and communication access for deaf Missourians.

(Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)

by Annelise Hanshaw

The University of Missouri Health Care’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment unveiled a 74,000 square-foot building Friday its leaders say will pave the way for better autism care in Missouri.

(Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)

by Rebecca Rivas

A Jackson County judge said competing expert claims require more evidence before he can decide whether Missouri can immediately block sales of 7-OH kratom products.

(Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

by Morgan Chilson

Current and former Evergy employees who invested in certain retirement funds could be affected by a proposed settlement over how the company’s 401(k) plan was managed.

(photo submitted)

by Suzanne King

Kansas City activists fought for a chance to question the federal government’s nuclear weapons expansion plans, and now they want clearer answers about the city’s role and risk.

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