One law firm, 174 Missouri cities

By Jason Hancock | Editor-in-Chief

Good morning,

One law firm has become a major presence in Missouri’s small-town city halls.

Lauber Municipal Law serves 174 cities across the state, advising officials on everything from public records to prosecutions. But in several communities, its growing role has become a source of controversy, with residents and elected officials raising questions about transparency, legal fees and just how much influence an outside law firm should have over local government.

Genevieve Smith and Annie Goldman from the Columbia Missourian have the details.

by Genevieve Smith and Annie Goldman

In a small town where everyone knows everyone, it’s hard to keep secrets. So when local governments hide their business, it can be especially galling to the residents they represent, and faith in local governance begins to plummet.

by Rudi Keller

The fate of two proposed ballot measures — a referendum on Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map and a constitutional amendment limiting legislative power to alter laws passed by initiative — will go on trial next week.

by Greg Frazier

When Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins asked Congress for $11 billion for another farm rescue, she followed the boss’s lead — into the fantastical.

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