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Articles by Michael Ryan
REVIEW: ‘Minions & Monsters’ is chaotic fun, though not without a few speedbumps for families
Michael Foust is a writer with more than two decades of experience covering the intersection of faith, culture and news. He has written for the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Toronto Star, Leaf-Chronicle, Crosswalk and Christian Post. He and his amazing wife, Julie, are the parents of four children. Share For as long as time itself has existed, we’re told, the Minions have roamed the Earth in search of the perfect villain to serve.
‘Young Washington’ brings history to life in time for America 250
Elaine Kutas is a reporter and writing intern at The Lion. She currently attends Hillsdale College, where she is studying English and Journalism.
‘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.
School choice brings higher grades for public schools, new data finds
Public schools perform better when they face competition from private schools in their district, EdChoice said Tuesday in its annual 123s of School Choice report. “What we’re trying to do with the 123s is give you a general sense of what the research looks like,” EdChoice Senior Research Analyst John Kristof said in a webinar about the report’s release.
WATCH: Curaçao World Cup team worships God before match
Curaçao is competing in the FIFA World Cup for the first time ever and going viral – not for exceptional plays on the field but the faith of its players. Curaçao is an island between Aruba and Bonaire in the south Caribbean Ocean. The team’s Instagram page features videos of the team having “morning prayer” together, and a recent video of the players worshipping to Jireh, a Christian worship song by contemporary choir Maverick City Music, has been going viral.
Father’s Day and World Cup matches bring weekend fun to Kansas City
Whether it’s soccer matches or Father’s Day, Kansas City is looking forward to a fun-filled weekend of free celebrations for the family. Futbol Friday Downtown Lee’s Summit is continuing its weekly soccer celebration this Friday with a country-themed night of family fun.
Death sentence announced in murder of Missouri police officer in gas station shootout
A Missouri judge handed down the ultimate punishment Thursday to a man convicted of murdering a Hermann police officer. A Greene County judge sentenced Kenneth Simpson to death, as recommended by the jury earlier this year. Simpson was found guilty of first-degree murder for killing Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith. The jury also convicted him of first-degree assault for severely injuring Officer Adam Sullentrup. The charges stem from a deadly shootout in March 2023.
8 illegal drones seized after flying over World Cup events in Kansas City
Eight drones were intercepted and seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Tuesday in Kansas City during FIFA World Cup 2026 events, less than a week after a coordinated armed drone attack on the White House was thwarted. The drones were flown over Kansas City Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium’s name during the soccer tournament – and the FIFA Fan Festival, located on the grounds of the National WWI Museum, both of which are in temporary flight restriction zones (TFRs).
Sen. Hawley: MLB should not enjoy freedom from antitrust laws after religious discrimination
Major League Baseball should no longer benefit from an exclusion of antitrust laws, especially after the league’s recent religious discrimination against numerous Christian players this week, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, told The Lion in an interview. “Major League Baseball gets a special sweetheart deal that no other sport gets, and no other business gets. They are exempt from the antitrust laws. That is worth billions of dollars to Major League Baseball every year.
Learning again: How brain damage, faith and contentment changed the way I see education
Years ago, I almost died. Encephalitis attacked my brain without warning. One day, I was living a busy life of speaking, writing, leading and teaching. Soon after, I found myself in a hospital room, unable to process information the same way I once had. The illness left permanent damage on the left side of my brain and brought continuing challenges of epilepsy, memory, fatigue and learning. For a while, I wondered if the life I had known was over.
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.
‘Tip of the iceberg’: Ohio reveals the depth of America’s fraud crisis
(The Daily Signal) – Minnesota’s welfare schemes exposed the scale of taxpayer fraud, California’s hospice scandal showed the problem was not isolated, and now Ohio’s Medicaid problem reveals how deep fraud may run. During my appearance Monday on Fox News with Jon Scott, I argued that the fraud uncovered so far in several states is only the tip of the iceberg. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Signal, Sen.
Flesh-eating parasite threatens American beef industry while blame game ensues
Parasitic larvae from flies capable of devastating the agriculture industry breached the U.S. border this week, setting off a round of finger-pointing while authorities scramble to contain the situation. One case of New World screwworm (NWS), which ravaged American livestock in the 1960s, was confirmed in Texas on Wednesday.
New conversion therapy ban drafted for Kansas City amid repeal backlash
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas introduced a replacement for the city’s prior conversion therapy ban on Tuesday. Lucas and Councilman Johnathan Duncan developed a new ordinance with the LGBTQ Commission to ban “dangerous and life-threatening therapeutic practices.” The proposed law would outlaw non-medically sanctioned therapies to be performed for money, which could include conversion therapy.
Republican bills on women’s rights, spaces stalled
(Daily Caller News Foundation) – Republican lawmakers expressed frustration over their failed attempts to pass any standalone transgender-related bills into law with the midterm elections looming. Lawmakers have introduced 127 bills in 2026 so far to fight transgenderism, which included prohibiting men from competing in women’s sports, ensuring parental rights and barring medical procedures for minors, according to counts from Trans Legislation Tracker. Republican Florida Rep.
Senator charges Missouri school board president posted coded death threat against Trump
The president of the Kirkwood, Missouri, school board posted what Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, described as a thinly veiled call for the assassination of President Donald Trump. Judy Moticka, president of the Kirkwood School District Board of Education, near St. Louis, posted a message mourning the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Poll: 2 in 3 proud to be American
(The Center Square) – Sampling 1,000 adults nationwide ahead of America’s 250th anniversary on July 4, a poll released Tuesday finds 68% are proud to be American and 69% believe signers of the Declaration of Independence would feel more disappointment than pride about modern American democracy.
Court clears way for Missouri income tax elimination vote in August
Missouri voters are one step closer to deciding whether to eliminate the state’s individual income tax after a court rejected a legal challenge aimed at blocking the measure from the August ballot. The decision clears the way for Amendment 5, which would direct the Legislature to phase out the individual income tax based on state revenue growth if voters approve it.
Kansas City-area man receives 110-year sentence for child sex crimes
A Kansas City-area man was sentenced Wednesday to 110 years in prison after a jury convicted him of sex crimes against multiple children. Billy Gene Burney III sexually assaulted three sisters between 2010 and 2017. The girls’ mother met Burney when he started dating someone in the family, according to court documents. He often offered to watch the girls but would abuse them while they were in his care.
REVIEW: Nate Bargatze’s ‘The Breadwinner’ offers big laughs and family-friendly fun
Nate Wilcox is a middle-aged businessman at the top of his game. A star performer at the local Toyota dealership, he has earned Salesman of the Year honors six times. Legend has it he once sold a car to a customer who stopped in only to use the restroom. His success even landed him coveted seats to watch his beloved Tennessee Titans play. But Nate’s seemingly perfect world is about to be turned upside down.
‘Making St. Louis safe again’: FBI violent crime crackdown a ‘huge shot in the arm’ for local police
The FBI and police from the St. Louis region have removed dozens of dangerous fugitives from the streets, showcasing the power of federal resources to fight crime. The two-week crackdown called Operation Viper netted 91 arrests. The initiative targeted suspects wanted for homicides, aggravated assaults and illegal gun trafficking. Investigators seized 36 guns and more than $310,000 in cash. FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey and Sen.
Missouri elementary SRO sentenced for child pornography
A school resource officer in southwestern Missouri has been sentenced to nine years in prison for trading child pornography. Darrin Marshall Skinner, 52, was arrested in summer 2023 after social media network MeWe alerted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s cyber tip line about a user uploading child pornography images, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice for the Western District of Missouri.
Sen. Hawley: Legislation to fund federal agents to protect children from trafficking may pass ‘as early as today’
The largest effort against child trafficking in the history of the federal government may pass as the Senate considers a reconciliation bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Senator Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, told The Lion in an exclusive interview on Thursday. “There are 10s of 1000s of children in the United States who are trapped in sex trafficking,” Hawley said. “Federal investigators have 90,000 images of kids who are being sexually exploited posted online.
Vance fights back at reporter, stands firm on stock ban
(The Daily Signal) – During a White House press conference Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance pushed back on what he characterized as an “inflammatory” question from The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg, reiterating both his and President Donald Trump’s opposition to insider trading. “I am a big fan of banning members of Congress from trading stocks,” Vance said. “So is the president of the United States.
DHS: In Virginia’s largest county, at least half of murder suspects are illegal aliens
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin says that roughly 50% of murders in liberal Fairfax County, Virginia, are committed by illegal aliens. “That’s just in Fairfax. You think about what’s happening in Virginia,” Mullin said last week of the murder rate tied to illegals.
Canvas defends paying off hackers who disrupted online university platform
Canvas operator Instructure paid a ransom to hackers after a cyberattack disrupted colleges and universities during finals week and threatened to expose private user data. Hackers tied to the group ShinyHunters claimed they obtained information connected to roughly 275 million users at more than 8,800 colleges and universities. Instructure did not disclose the amount of money it paid the group, the College Fix reports. The attack caused widespread problems at schools worldwide last week.
Faith on display: New bill would mandate ‘In God We Trust’ on all federal buildings
A new bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to permanently display the national motto in every federal building across the country. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Illinois, introduced the House companion to a bill spearheaded by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri. The In God We Trust Act requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to display or inscribe the phrase prominently within one year of enactment.
Keir Starmer tries to consolidate power amid scandals
(The Daily Signal) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is barely keeping his head above water amid electoral defeats for his Labour Party, a scandal involving an affiliated nonprofit, and the resignation of a key Cabinet official. “Keir Starmer is governing like a man who knows his mandate is evaporating,” Paul McCarthy, senior research fellow in European affairs at The Heritage Foundation, told The Daily Signal on Thursday.
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.
Gas prices show why climate shakedowns must end, GOP Rep. Hageman says
(Daily Caller News Foundation) – Wyoming Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman joined the Daily Caller News Foundation to discuss how her Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026 may shut down climate activists’ legal crusade against energy companies. Hageman arrived at Congress after defeating Liz Cheney in a contentious 2022 primary election. Her new legislation would clamp down on climate lawfare bilking companies for billions.
Beleaguered former St. Louis sheriff claims political targeting, asks judge to dismiss federal charges
An ousted St. Louis city sheriff is asking a federal judge to toss the federal charges against him. Lawyers for former St. Louis City Sheriff Alfred Montgomery filed a motion to dismiss his federal indictment, arguing his ongoing prosecution violates his Fifth Amendment rights. Montgomery is saying he was targeted for political reasons after he refused to step down at the request of the state’s top prosecutor.
Kansas continues to fail competitiveness test, ‘Green Book’ report finds
(The Sentinel) – Kansas Policy Institute’s 2026 “Green Book” shows the Sunflower State continually becoming less competitive by spending and taxing too much. Indeed, as the Green Book notes, between 1998 and 2025, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Kansas ranks 41st in total private sector jobs created. Kansas would have 162,000 more people working in the private sector if job growth just kept up with the national average. KPI owns The Sentinel.
May Day rallies hit Kansas City: protestors hold communist signs, target ICE, income tax phase-out plan
Hundreds of Kansas City residents, including some teenagers encouraged to skip school, joined socialist-inspired May Day protests Friday. Protesters voiced opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, President Donald Trump and a proposal to phase out Missouri’s income tax. “No hate. No fear. Immigrants are welcome here,” chanted dozens of Plaza Academy students as they skipped class to participate in International Workers’ Day – or “May Day Strong” – protests across the city.
WATCH: Golf legend Gary Player champions love of country, warns of ‘war against America’
Golf legend Gary Player praised President Donald Trump, America and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Tuesday, saying he’s “never seen a president who loves the country as much as you do.” Player, 90, joined other sports figures in the Oval Office as part of a ceremony to restore the Presidential Fitness Test Award, which will be administered annually in schools. It’s part of the administration’s push to improve youth health and fitness.
DOJ: Biden admin ‘penalized Christians who lived according to their beliefs’
The Biden administration targeted and harassed Christians in education, family, health care, small businesses and military service, according to a new report released Thursday by the Trump administration. “The Biden Administration’s policies regularly clashed with a Christian worldview and burdened traditional religious practices,” the report states. “These conflicts frequently arose over abortion, gender ideology, and sexual orientation.
WATCH: ‘I can do all things through Christ’: Jockey posts Bible verse before Kentucky Derby win
Jocky Jose Ortiz’s come-from-behind win at Sunday’s Kentucky Derby was preceded by a Bible verse: Philippians 4:13. Ortiz, a devout Christian, posted the verse before the race: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Soon after, he piloted Golden Tempo, a 23-1 long shot, to a stunning victory. Entering the final turn at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, the horse and jockey were in last place. But Golden Tempo surged down the stretch, and “all things” soon became possible.
Unanimous: Supreme Court secures pro-life org’s right to federal litigation after state harassment
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled Wednesday that a group of New Jersey pregnancy centers can pursue a First Amendment challenge in federal court – after the centers alleged state harassment. “This is a huge win, not only for First Choice, but for every American who values donor privacy and every organization that values donor privacy,” Gabriella McIntyre, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, told The Lion in an interview.
Op-ed: A century-old argument for abolishing the Department of Education
In March 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education [DOE] and return authority over education to the States and local communities.” It raises the question for people of faith: Can someone who aspires to good citizenship advocate for shuttering this department? J.
Americans have forsaken founding values by opposing speech and approving violence, Sen. Hawley says
Americans’ acceptance of political violence and intolerance of free expression marks a departure from the fundamental principles that originally united the country, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, told The Lion in an interview Wednesday. “More and more, the foundational principles that we used to agree on as Americans – our belief in the individual, our belief in God, our belief in the rights that come from God – those things are now attenuated, under challenge, and they’re dissolving,” Hawley said.
WATCH: NC school superintendent defends adult-themed book for kindergarteners
A North Carolina school superintendent defended giving kindergarteners access to a book that depicts men in bondage-style outfits kissing at a Pride parade. State Rep. Brenden Jones, a Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee, grilled Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Superintendent Rodney Trice on Thursday for keeping materials such as Grandad’s Pride in elementary school libraries.
Violence and transgender ideology: Exposing the link that drives some people to kill
The link between transgender individuals and violence, including mass shootings, is difficult to admit but becoming harder to deny. Despite efforts by the mainstream media and others to hide the transgender identity of recent mass shooters, the link is easily seen with a careful check of the data. Media claims such as “transgender individuals don’t commit the majority of mass shootings” fall apart when the tiny size of the transgender population – 1% – is considered.
Chuck Schumer wants Trump to drain oil reserves now – after reportedly blocking it at opportune time
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is urging President Donald Trump to release oil from U.S. reserves, though Schumer has reportedly blocked previous efforts to refill them at more opportune times.
Kansas City airport among weekend security threats amid Democrat government shutdown
A bomb scare at Kansas City International Airport (KCI) Sunday isn’t considered an act of terror – though it comes amid others around the world that are. The Kansas City Aviation Department received a call Sunday morning warning officials of a potential bomb in a parking garage and a terminal at KCI, leading to travelers in nearby terminals being evacuated for two hours to nearby parking lots as a precaution while others remained on stranded planes.
‘American patriot of the deepest conviction’: Trump posthumously awards Charlie Kirk with Presidential Medal of Freedom - The Lion
President Donald Trump on Tuesday awarded Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA who was assassinated during an event at Utah Valley University in September, was an energetic Trump ally and was known for promoting civil discourse on politics and culture on college campuses.
Abstract Online streaming services are increasingly displacing domestic radio and television as the source of the audio and audio-visual programming consumed by Canadian audiences. The enactment of the Online Streaming Act in 2023 invests the federal broadcasting regulator, the CRTC, with authority to require these entities to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of Canadian broadcasting policy in a manner similar to traditional broadcasting media.
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.
Kidnapped American pastor rescued after deadly shootout in South Africa
The American pastor who was kidnapped at gunpoint from his South African church service last week was rescued on Tuesday after authorities engaged his captors in a shootout. Authorities had located the kidnappers and Pastor Josh Sullivan in a car about 20 minutes from his church, CBN reports. After the shootout, which left three captors dead, Sullivan was pulled from the vehicle unharmed.
Popular Republican won’t run for Senate in New Hampshire - The Lion
Republicans won’t be getting help from a popular politician as they seek to hold or expand their slight majority in the U.S. Senate. Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu announced he won’t run next year for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, who is retiring. “I’m not going to run,” the moderate Republican said, according to NH Journal. “I really thought about it. I actually talked to the White House this morning. I talked to (Sen.) Tim Scott.
Kansas lawmakers protect citizens from COVID-style shutdowns, religious discrimination in adoption, foster care
Kansas lawmakers Thursday overrode the governor’s veto of a bill restricting COVID-style shutdowns and another bill protecting people of faith in fostering and adopting children. The Substitute for Senate Bill 29 will convert COVID-style shutdown orders by state and local health officials into recommendations only that must be approved by an elected body. It also prohibits the use of law enforcement officers to enforce health orders on individuals, such as quarantines and mask or vaccine mandates.
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Bombshell’ testimony on Meta’s collusion with China is cause for breaking company up, Hawley says
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg sold out America to the Chinese communist government and should be taken to court and have his company, now called Meta, broken up. That’s the considered opinion of Missouri Sen.
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