Top Missouri Democrat stepping away from state party duties
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Democratic Party’s chairwoman is stepping aside until at least September.
Jean Peters Baker announced this week that she’s stepping back from her state party duties because of recent developments in her job as Jackson County prosecutor, The Kansas City Star reported. The announcement did not specify the developments, but homicides in Kansas City have reached historic levels with more than 100 barely halfway through the year.
Missouri Democratic Party Vice-Chairman Clem Smith, who is from St. Louis County and served in the Missouri House, will become acting chair. Baker has led the party since 2018.
The announcement did not make clear whether Baker will return as party chairwoman. State party spokesman Andrew Storey said the arrangement is effective until at least the party’s third quarter committee meeting in September.
The switch in party leadership comes as critical elections in August and November approach. State Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway, a Democrat, is running to unseat Republican Gov. Mike Parson.
For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, The Kansas City Star.
Related to this story
Most Popular
Blackfeet Tribe closes eastern boundary of Glacier Park
KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council has voted to close the eastern boundary of Glacier National Park for the rest of the tourist season after a recent spike of COVID-19 cases in Montana.
Ohio voting ballot campaign suspended after signature fight
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Backers of a ballot proposal aimed at changing Ohio’s election laws to make it easier to vote suspended their campaign Thursday, citing their inability to collect signatures during the coronavirus pandemic.
More Florida beaches announce closures as virus cases rise
MIAMI (AP) — Officials are announcing more beaches will be closing again in Florida to avoid further spread of the new coronavirus as they try to tamp down on large gatherings amid a spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Hundreds line up for tests as Florida cities close beaches
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Hundreds of people lined up at coronavirus testing sites around Florida on Monday, as the state remained in the virus’s grip.
+3
New outbreaks push inmate coronavirus cases past 50,000
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The number of prison inmates testing positive for the coronavirus soared well past the 50,000 mark last month, as recent outbreaks threatened to undo control measures put in place earlier in the pandemic.
+3
Minnesota governor, insulin activists blast industry lawsuit
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota officials and insulin activists blasted the pharmaceutical industry Wednesday for suing to overturn a new state law mandating that drug makers provide emergency and longer-term insulin supplies to diabetics who can’t afford them.
+16
2 dozen health clubs disobey Arizona’s gym closure order
PHOENIX (AP) — For the third straight day, two dozen health clubs in metro Phoenix were defying Gov. Doug Ducey’s order Thursday to close gyms, leading officials who had been criticized for acting indecisively during the pandemic to threaten to sue two club chains if they didn’t shut down.
+7
Couple draw guns at crowd heading to St. Louis mayor’s home
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A white couple who stood outside their St. Louis mansion and pointed guns at protesters support the Black Lives Matter movement and don’t want to become heroes to those who oppose the cause, their attorney said Monday.
+4
Louisiana lawmakers pass tax breaks as virus recovery effort
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — In their special session that ended Tuesday, Louisiana lawmakers agreed to expand and extend business tax credits, exemptions and incentive programs, bills that were pitched as a coronavirus recovery tactic and are estimated to siphon millions from the treasury each year.
Nevada mulls EPA reversal of Obama era drinking water rules
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Trump administration has decided a chemical with a notorious legacy in Nevada will not be regulated in drinking water, but state officials say the reversal of the Obama-era policy shouldn’t result in any decline in drinking water standards across the state.
