South County Mail

Missouri and the World

missouri economy

Missouri voters could decide whether to eliminate the state income tax

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Missouri voters may soon decide one of the biggest tax policy questions the state has faced in decades: whether to gradually eliminate the state income tax and potentially replace much of the lost revenue with expanded sales taxes.

The proposal, approved by the Missouri Legislature this year, would phase out Missouri’s top individual income tax rate over time if certain state revenue targets are met.

Supporters say the plan could make Missouri more competitive economically, while critics warn it could increase costs for ordinary families and reduce funding for public services. [Read more…] about Missouri voters could decide whether to eliminate the state income tax

Missouri marijuana workers win union vote after two-year legal battle

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Workers at a marijuana cultivation and manufacturing facility in south St. Louis, Missouri have officially voted to unionize after a two-year dispute over whether they were legally eligible for federal labor protections.

Employees at the Sinse cannabis facility, owned by BeLeaf Medical, won the union vote 11-3 after sealed ballots were finally opened Friday following a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board.

The vote marks a significant labor development within Missouri’s growing marijuana industry, where workers and employers have increasingly clashed over working conditions, representation and labor rights. [Read more…] about Missouri marijuana workers win union vote after two-year legal battle

Missouri lawmakers approve tougher penalties for businesses hiring undocumented workers

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Missouri lawmakers have passed legislation that would give the state attorney general significantly expanded powers to investigate and penalize businesses accused of knowingly hiring undocumented immigrants.

House Bill 2366, sponsored by State Rep. Jeff Vernetti, was approved during the final weeks of the legislative session and now awaits action from Gov. Mike Kehoe.

Supporters say the measure is aimed at businesses that deliberately circumvent labor laws and gain unfair competitive advantages by employing unauthorized workers outside legal hiring systems. [Read more…] about Missouri lawmakers approve tougher penalties for businesses hiring undocumented workers

Why Trump’s meeting with Xi matters to American jobs, prices and manufacturing

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The meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping last week was dominated by familiar geopolitical flashpoints – trade, technology, Iran and Taiwan – but the broader significance for ordinary Americans may lie much closer to home.

While headlines focused on tensions over Taiwan and military posturing in the Asia-Pacific region, economists and manufacturers will be watching for something more practical: whether Washington and Beijing can stabilize a relationship that remains deeply intertwined with the American economy.

Even after years of tariffs, reshoring initiatives and political hostility between the world’s two largest economies, the United States still relies heavily on China for manufacturing, industrial supply chains, electronics, consumer goods and critical materials. [Read more…] about Why Trump’s meeting with Xi matters to American jobs, prices and manufacturing

Missouri opens applications for specialty crop grants as state seeks to expand fruit and vegetable production

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The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for a new round of grants designed to support specialty crop production across the state, with funding available for projects involving fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, honey, nursery crops and other nontraditional agricultural products.

State officials said applications for the 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program must be submitted by May 28. Individual producers, universities, nonprofits, research institutions and community organizations are eligible to apply for projects intended to strengthen Missouri’s specialty crop sector.

The program, funded through the US Department of Agriculture, offers grants of up to $50,000 for projects running over a two-year period. [Read more…] about Missouri opens applications for specialty crop grants as state seeks to expand fruit and vegetable production

Missouri at risk: How Trump’s tariffs could hit farming, manufacturing, and logistics

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By South County Mail Staff Writer

As global markets continue to tumble in the wake of former President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs, industries across Missouri – from soybean fields to factory floors – are bracing for impact.

The tariffs, which have triggered retaliation from key trading partners like China and the European Union, are expected to hit especially hard in states like Missouri that rely heavily on exports, manufacturing supply chains, and freight logistics. [Read more…] about Missouri at risk: How Trump’s tariffs could hit farming, manufacturing, and logistics