Missouri Independent

Donald Trump publicly criticized the US Supreme Court after it rejected, for the third time, a Republican-drawn congressional map in Missouri. The rebuke highlights growing tension between Trump and a court shaped by his own appointees, with the dispute centering on gerrymandering claims and how far state legislatures can go in redrawing districts for partisan advantage ahead of upcoming elections.

Private donors are paying for the Missouri State Board of Education's search for a new education commissioner as well as the development of its strategic plan, the Missouri Independent reports. The arrangement is drawing attention because it involves outside money influencing key decisions about the leadership and direction of the state's public education system.

A commentary in the Missouri Independent argues that Missouri should take the time to get its next education commissioner right, cautioning state leaders against rushing the selection process. The piece comes as the state's education department searches for new leadership, and it stresses that the choice will shape schools, teachers and students across Missouri for years to come.