Joe Mueller
Missouri, St. Louis
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Articles by Joe Mueller
Hydraulic Hose vs. Industrial Hose: Understanding the Differences
If you tell me you “just need a hose,” my first question would be, “What do you need the hose to do?” From there, three more questions help us understand whether the application requires hydraulic or industrial hose: What will the hose carry? What pressure or vacuum must it withstand? What external conditions will it be exposed to? At the most basic level, hose is a flexible conduit used to carry liquids, gases, or dry materials from one point to another.
From Latin Miami to southern Orlando
Miami and Orlando may sit in the same state, but they feel like two distinctly different representations of Florida. One carries the energy and spice of Latin America. The other reveals the warmth, eccentricity and character of the American South. I travelled between the two over a single week, connected by Brightline’s high-speed line, to see how far apart two cities in one state could feel. What I found were two contrasting expressions of the same place, each with its own idea of luxury.
Former Kansas child crime investigator sentenced for child porn; several Missourians plead guilty, sentenced for sex crimes
A former Kansas law enforcement officer who was promoted to investigate online crimes against children has been sentenced to prison for enticing a minor to produce child pornography. “The defendant in this case was a law enforcement officer at the time this crime occurred,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Kriegshauser said in a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.
Supreme Court will hear case of Jewish man harassed for holding prayer services at his home
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of Daniel Grand, an Ohio man who says city officials harassed him for holding prayer meetings in his home. The court announced Tuesday it would hear Grand’s lawsuit after a federal appeals court dismissed it last year. Grand, a Jewish resident of University Heights, Ohio, near Cleveland, found himself at odds with city officials in 2021 after inviting friends to his home for Sabbath prayer.
‘Mere promises, not guarantees’: A call for unity and the duty to keep America’s republic alive at 250
Stuart McMillian is a staff writer for The Lion based in St. Louis. Share Missouri’s top judge is asking citizens to reflect on the July 4th holiday’s true meaning as the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Chief Justice W. Brent Powell released a speech urging citizens to remember the monumental act of cooperation in 1776. He said the founders set aside major differences to chart a united path forward.
BREAKING: Another Missouri man charged in Freedom 250 murder plot
A second Missouri man has been charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack and kill government officials at President Donald Trump’s Ultimate Fighting Championship Freedom 250 event, which was held on the White House lawn on June 14. Jordan Rincker, 28, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was arrested Sunday and charged Monday in a criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit murder, according to a release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
‘We are done being ashamed of America’: Missouri lawmaker repasses Declaration of Independence to combat falling national pride
A Missouri lawmaker took to the Senate floor Thursday and successfully passed a measure reaffirming the Declaration of Independence ahead of the country’s 250th birthday. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, introduced the measure to remind the American people of the nation’s founding principles and push back against declining national pride. “On July 4, 1776, 56 men crossed a line from which there was no retreat,” Schmitt said during his floor remarks.
Judge rules Missouri abortion restrictions unconstitutional, Supreme Court appeal promised
Dozens of Missouri abortion restrictions were struck down Thursday after a circuit court judge ruled they conflict with the state constitutional amendment passed by voters in November 2024. Judge Jerri Zhang issued the final judgment in the case, Comprehensive Health v. Missouri, which pitted Planned Parenthood against the state. The decision dismantled much of Missouri’s hard-fought regulatory framework designed to protect women and the unborn.
Missouri Board of Education president resigns
Missouri Board of Education President Mary Schrag resigned June 2, effective immediately. “With new State Board members well established and more on the way, this is a natural and logical time for me to step away. It’s been an honor to serve Missouri students alongside all the State Board members,” Schrag stated. Former Missouri Gov. Mike Parson appointed Schrag as board president in 2019.
WATCH: Schmitt’s diving catch draws blood, helps propel Republicans over Democrats in congressional baseball game
Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt drew blood with a diving catch and took home the MVP award as Republicans continued their dominance in the Congressional Baseball Game. Schmitt, 50, went viral after going fully airborne chasing a ball hit deep to left field Wednesday. He made the catch but hit the ground face-first. When he got up, blood could be seen on his nose.
Missouri mayor, councilmen face recall election in ongoing AI data center fight
A political shakeup over a multibillion-dollar artificial intelligence data center has escalated in an eastern Missouri city, where petitioners secured enough signatures to trigger recall elections for the mayor and two city councilmen. The petitions follow an April election in which voters ousted four other councilmen who supported the Festus data center project, near St. Louis. Jefferson County Clerk Jeannie Goff certified the signatures last week, which included razor-thin margins.
Missouri voters to decide in August whether to eliminate state income tax
Missouri voters will decide the fate of four constitutional amendments during the upcoming primary election on Aug. 4, including one to eliminate the state’s individual income tax. Gov. Mike Kehoe signed proclamations Friday placing Amendment 5 targeting the individual income tax for elimination based on revenue growth. The tax overhaul requires a reduction in property taxes and other local taxes as an offset, all while preserving funding for public schools.
Rededicate 250: What attendees told The Lion about faith and America
Thousands wrapped around Washington, D.C., city blocks over the weekend to attend a festival devoted to rededicating the U.S. to God ahead of its 250th anniversary. Freedom 250, the organization created to plan events related to America’s anniversary,hosted “Rededicate 250” on Sunday at the National Mall. The event featured a video message from President Donald Trump and other members of his administration, as well as various spiritual leaders who spoke from a stage.
Missouri mom wins American Idol; Worship music, ode to motherhood take Hollywood stage
Hannah Harper won this year’s American Idol contest Monday night, and one of her original songs – a tribute to the challenge and beauty of motherhood – is exploding in popularity. Harper, a 25-year-old mother of three boys from Willow Springs, Missouri, auditioned for the 24th season of the show in February with her original song called String Cheese. The song was inspired by her battle with postpartum depression after having her third child, who is now 1.
Missouri Supreme Court delivers unanimous, crushing blow to activists fighting GOP-favored map
The Missouri Supreme Court handed a massive, unanimous victory to Republicans on Tuesday, officially striking down a coordinated legal campaign and cementing the Missouri FIRST congressional map ahead of the 2026 election. A few hours after hearing oral arguments, the state’s high court decisively rejected three separate lawsuits brought by liberal activist groups attempting to dismantle the map and suspend it through unverified referendum petitions.
Hawley urges House to defund abortion, trans drug providers after his Senate amendment protecting children fails
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, is calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to end federal funding for abortion and gender-altering treatments for minors after the Senate rejected his amendment to the 2026 Senate Budget Resolution Wednesday. “Last night the Senate REJECTED my amendment to ban taxpayer money from funding trans treatments for MINORS. It is indefensible,” Hawley said in a post on X.
Filled with honor: Scout troop holds final ceremony for year
Troop 267 held its quarterly Court of Honor last month in Fredonia, marking the final ceremony of the 2024-25 Scouting year. The event celebrated growth, leadership, and a wide array of accomplishments from the troop’s dedicated Scouts and adult leaders. Families, guests, and members of the American Legion joined in the celebration of a successful year of service and personal development.
MU Health 'out of network' for Elevance Health/Anthem patients after insurer fails to reach agreement - The Lion
Declining health outcomes in rural Missouri are getting worse after Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield failed to agree with University of Missouri Health Care on higher reimbursement rates for patient care. Anthem Inc., now known as Elevance Health, is one of the nation’s largest for-profit health insurers, and its Missouri patients now find themselves out of network for MU Health.
Missouri AG establishes first-in-the-nation age verification rule for porn
Missouri will become the first state to require dual age verification for internet users who access pornographic material online. The rule, instituted by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, requires users who are accessing commercial porn sites to verify their age, not just on the website, but on the device that is accessing the website. “This is about making Missouri the safest state in the nation for kids,” Bailey said in a statement.
Chalk it up to faith: Kentucky college students write entire Gospel of John on campus sidewalk
Christian college students in Kentucky have launched a new method of sidewalk evangelism: writing the Gospel of John in chalk. Students at Western Kentucky University (WKU) wrote the entire Gospel of John in just over two hours in March. Around 70 students made quick work of John’s 19,000 words, which ended up spanning more than two miles of WKU’s campus. Pictures of the effort soon began circling social media.
Landmark racial gerrymandering Supreme Court case puts another Missourian front and center
After its record $24 billion COVID award from China and its two U.S. senators’ key roles in a watershed hearing on government censorship this past week, Missouri may be about to make even more history – this time at the U.S. Supreme Court. And in a case that very well could determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026.
Indiana teachers’ union, Democrats oppose charter school funding despite better charter results
An Indiana teachers’ union and Democratic lawmakers are opposing a proposal to distribute education funding fairly between charter and government-run public schools. Indiana, like many other states, provides more funding for traditional public schools than charters. One report from the University of Arkansas found charters across 16 states received just 70% of what public schools were given on average. In Indiana, schools spend over $14,000 per pupil.
Missouri AG orders Planned Parenthood to stop chemical abortions - The Lion
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has issued a cease-and-desist order barring Planned Parenthood from providing chemical abortions. The March 12 order argues Planned Parenthood is in violation of state law requiring it to have an approved plan for treating women who experience complications from the dangerous practice. “You are hereby ordered under penalty of law not to perform any chemical abortions in Missouri,” Bailey’s order reads. “Violation of this order is a felony offense.
Kansas City Public Schools needs more accountability, not money, critics say - The Lion
Critics of Kansas City Public Schools’ impending $474 million bond proposal say the district needs more accountability, not money. If approved in the April 8 election, the bonds will reportedly increase personal property taxes for Kansas Citians by almost $240 a year for homes valued at $200,000. KCPS says it will use the funds for upgrades to existing facilities, including improved learning spaces, updated HVAC systems and enhanced safety and security features.
Missouri mulls legislation allowing homeschool students to join public-school extracurricular activities
Missouri homeschoolers may soon be able to participate in any extracurricular activities hosted by school districts, according to a new bill under review by the state House. Sen. Ben Brown, R-Washington, is sponsoring SB 63in efforts to help students “in nontraditional educational settings” participate more in public-school activities.
With Missouri lawmakers looking at allowing more public universities to offer advanced degrees, one might wonder: Why not allow community colleges to offer more four-year degrees? Community colleges are typically more affordable and more accessible than most four-year institutions; indeed, the state purposely spread its 12 community colleges out to cover every region.
Disney show features first Christian character in 20 years, nixes trans character
Is Disney losing the woke and making room for Christian expression? It certainly appears so, from one show at least. Win or Lose, a Pixar eight-part series that debuted on Disney+ last month, features Disney’s first openly Christian character in nearly two decades. The Inside Out-styled series features one character per episode, with their inner thoughts and emotions being revealed.
Soaring levels of non-English speaking students may be driving national reading test scores into ground
(Daily Caller News Foundation) – Rapidly-increasing levels of non-English speaking students in schools across the nation may be contributing to the abysmal reading scores reported in recent years nationwide.
Colorado committee finds strong scientific opposition to transgender death certificate designations, penalties - The Lion
Should people who ‘misgender’ someone on their death certificate face jail time and fines? A plan to do that received robust opposition from experts and one state legislator during a hearing before the Colorado House Health and Human Services committee Tuesday.
Springfield news outlet’s deep MSU ties raise questions about independence
A Springfield news organization that claims to be independent has extensive financial and personnel ties to Missouri State University (MSU), raising concerns about its objectivity. The Springfield Daily Citizen, which lost $527,181 in 2023 according to financial documents examined by The Lion, appears to depend in part on funding from Missouri State University (MSU) or people with ties to the university, while also frequently publishing opinion pieces from university advocates.
Schools that mandate COVID-19 vaccine run risk of losing federal funds under Trump decree
(The Daily Signal) – President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to defund schools with COVID-19 vaccination mandates. The directive comes one day after the confirmation of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has raised questions about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. The executive order also applies to education service agencies, and state and local education agencies, Breitbart first reported.
University of Missouri splits with NPR stations. Will other universities follow suit?
Early radio stations were often run by college engineering professors, but nearly a century later, some schools are finding public radio no longer aligns with their mission. Two schools in the University of Missouri System announced Monday they will begin the process of transferring the licenses of their National Public Radio-affiliated stations to nonprofits.
AG Pam Bondi represented mom in case against school district that tried to secretly transition daughter
(The Daily Signal) – One of Pam Bondi’s clients says the newly-confirmed U.S. attorney general took her case suing the school district that tried to secretly transition her daughter when no one else would consider it. In 2021, Erin Lee’s 12-year-old daughter was invited by her art teacher to come to art club after school in the Poudre School District in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Arkansas bill that would teach fetal development in schools gaining traction - The Lion
Arkansas lawmakers want to give elementary schoolers a more pro-life education. The state’s House Education Committee Tuesday voted to advance the Baby Olivia Act (HB1180) along party lines; Republicans supported it and Democrats opposed it. That means it is ready for a full House vote, which could happen in the coming weeks.
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has announced it will investigate Denver Public Schools in response to reports East High School converted an all-female restroom into an “all-gender” restroom. DOE’s initial assessment of the situation found that labeling the restroom an “all-gender” restroom has resulted in female students having no designated restroom on the second floor of the high school building.
Ohio must foster competition in higher ed, stop favoring four-year degrees, policy expert says - The Lion
A new report by Ohio’s Buckeye Institute features numerous recommendations to help college education better equip the next generation. “The reforms outlined in The Buckeye Institute’s report will foster competition in higher education, reduce academic overhead, and encourage students to pursue studies that yield stable incomes after graduation,” said Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at Buckeye and co-author of the Jan.
St. Louis school board member resigns after audit revealing former superintendent’s misuse of public funds
In the latest upheaval for the troubled St. Louis Public Schools, Sadie Weiss blamed a “less than sufficient response and no support” concerning finances when resigning from the school board. “I find it concerning that some members of the board don’t appear to want to address or examine board behaviors around spending of funds,” she said, according to St. Louis Public Radio.
Ohio public-school funding criticized as ‘unsustainable’ amid attendance and discipline issues
Ohio Republicans are questioning the current model of public-school funding, with House Speaker Matt Huffman describing the billion-dollar package as “unsustainable.” “That’s often how a lot of projects go — early on it doesn’t cost very [much] money, but some other governor or General Assembly will have to figure out how to pay for it,” the Lima Republican told WEWS-TV Cleveland.
Missouri State University defies trend, continues DEI spending
Missouri State University is continuing its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) spending, even as public sentiment and many state lawmakers have turned against it. A survey of the DEI programs at MSU by The Lion, however, raises questions about what exactly the DEI money is paying for, besides supporting nearly 20 staff members.
Saint Louis Public Schools accused of suppressing free speech, dissent in new lawsuit
Saint Louis Public Schools faces a lawsuit for allegedly stifling criticism from parents and community members. The lawsuit was filed by Chester Asher, a longtime educator and education advocate, who also founded Coalition With STL Kids, a community group dedicated to improving education and literacy in St. Louis. Asher has been a vocal critic of Saint Louis Public Schools’ (SLPS) leadership, and at one point, was banned from attending school board meetings for six months.
New Hampshire's Republican governor announces plan to ban cell phones in schools - The Lion
(Daily Callers News Foundation) – Republican New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte announced Thursday that she plans to ban cell phones from schools. She stated her intention in her inaugural address alongside a number of other issues, according to a transcript “Screens are negatively impacting our learning environments, drawing students’ attention away from their classes, and becoming a barrier for teachers to do their jobs. No more,” Ayotte said. She posted her statement on X.
Colorado sees steady increase in physician-assisted suicides
Physician-assisted suicides are on the rise in Colorado. Colorado approved the practice by referendum, 65% to 35%, in 2016, and the number of assisted suicides has steadily increased. Colorado had 164 assisted suicides in 2021, 249 in 2022 and 294 in 2023, a 79% increase over just two years, according to Life News. Similarly, there were 218 assisted suicide prescriptions written in 2021, 318 in 2022, and 389 in 2023, a 78% increase over two years.
Judge advances former Colorado principal’s lawsuit against district over free speech, student safety
An attempt by Denver Public Schools (DPS) to dismiss an impending lawsuit has been denied, leading the former principal who sued the district to argue the ruling validates his decision to criticize school safety policies.
Why did Missouri's education agency pull report card resources from its website? - The Lion
Missouri’s education agency removed its mandatory report cards from its website in November for an update and has yet to republish the entirety of previous resources with new 2024 data. “Where did the report cards go?” asked Dr. Susan Pendergrass, director of education policy at the Show-Me Institute, in the title of a blog post Wednesday about the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) website changes.
Proposed bill could split school sports by biological sex, self-identified gender
(The Center Square) – A Republican lawmaker filed legislation on Tuesday that would reclassify school sports into five groupings as an ideological fight plays out across the state over transgender participation in athletics. Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, filed Senate Bill 5012 on Tuesday ahead of the 2025 legislative session next month.
(Daily Caller News Foundation) – The Supreme Court’s forthcoming ruling on state child sex change bans could impact a range of issues related to gender identity, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
What I saw outside the Supreme Court amid oral arguments about whether states can protect minors from sex change medicine
(The Daily Signal) – About 1,000 transgender activists and parental rights champions rallied outside the Supreme Court as it heard oral arguments in a case that will decide whether states may ban transgender medical interventions for children. LGBTQ+ activists with the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, the Human Rights Campaign, the Gender Liberation Movement, the Young Feminist Party, and other groups bused in protesters for the “Free to Be Ourselves Rally” on the court’s left.
Red States paint grim picture in Supreme Court brief if men are allowed to compete in girls’ sports
(Daily Caller News Foundation) – Two dozen states painted a grim picture for the Supreme Court about the future of women’s sports should the high court fail to take up an appeal in a brief filed Thursday. The 24 states raised concerns regarding safety and fairness for female athletes in their brief which asks the Supreme Court to take up Warren Petersen v.
Top law firms backing child sex changes funneled money into group that trains judges on gender ideology
(Daily Caller News Foundation) – Transgender activists using litigation to push child sex changes simultaneously sponsor an organization that teaches judges to view cases through the lens of gender ideology.
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