Health Care
Duckworth pushes military IVF coverage as critics warn taxpayers could pay(The Center Square) – Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Schaumburg, criticizes the House speaker and the president after a provision expanding in-vitro fertilization coverage for military families was stripped… Read More
Missouri
More than 40 conservative groups unite to support governor’s fight to end Missouri income taxMissouri lawmakers are reviewing a proposal to modernize the state’s tax system for the first time in nearly a century – and conservatives can’t wait. A conservative coalition of more… Read More
Kansas City
Report: Kansas no longer seeking move by Kansas City RoyalsThe state of Kansas is no longer interested in luring the Kansas City Royals away from Missouri, a Topeka television station is reporting. Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins “confirmed with… Read More
Kansas
Bipartisan K-12 cell phone ban bill hits Kansas Senate, swift passage expectedKansas Senate leaders of both parties Tuesday proposed a bill banning cell phones in the state’s K-12 schools. In a remarkable show of bipartisanship, Republican Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi,… Read More
Eric Schmitt
Democrat ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ hits high fever with opposition to surgical extraction of Venezuela’s Maduro, Schmitt saysDemocrat opposition to President Trump’s extraction of Nicolás Maduro in “a very exquisite and specific limited action” Saturday shows “that Trump Derangement Syndrome isn’t just the domestic policy of the… Read More
Supreme Court
Supreme Court to kick off New Year with major cases, including on transgender athletes in female sportsTransgender athletes in women’s sports will take center stage as the Supreme Court kicks off 2026 with a blockbuster docket including two high-stakes transgender cases poised to set nationwide precedent.The two… Read More
Crime
Police rush to JD Vance’s home, suspect apprehended(Daily Caller News Foundation) – Law enforcement officials arrested a man outside Vice President J.D. Vance’s Cincinnati home early Monday morning. The U.S. Secret Service and Cincinnati police responded to… Read More
AI, Immigration
Artificial intelligence, immigration bills awaiting Tennessee lawmakers(The Center Square) – A bill on whether schools should check student immigration status and one on artificial intelligence are in the hopper for Tennessee lawmakers when they return to session… Read More
Illinois
More people continue leaving Illinois than arriving(The Center Square) – Illinois state Rep. Martin McLaughlin argues lawmakers in Springfield only look in the mirror to come face to face with the source of the state’s… Read More
Media
Obscenity, tragedy, political warfare: Heartlander filled these 2025 gaps in other outlets’ news coverageFrom lewd sexual materials in area schools, to soft-on-crime policies and avoidable deaths of law enforcement officers, Heartlander readers were apprised of goings-on in the two-state region in 2025 that… Read More
Faith
Five NFL stars who used their platform to glorify God during Christmas week games(The Heartlander) — A host of NFL players used their platform to point fans to Jesus during their Christmas weekend games on national television, reminding viewers where their talent comes… Read More
Federal government
Funding for Minnesota child care centers paused(The Center Square) – Taxpayer dollars provided each year to Minnesota day care centers will be frozen, according to officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Alex… Read More
Public Safety
Mamdani urged to fire staffer who called NYPD officers ‘killers’(The Center Square) – Nassau County Republican Executive and GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman leads demands for New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to fire a member of his transition… Read More
Congress
Oversight committee calls Walz to testify on suspected Minnesota fraud(The Center Square) — The U.S. House Oversight Committee called on Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to testify regarding alleged fraud throughout the state. Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky.,… Read More
Congress
GOP fiscal hawks balk at $5.7B for refugees in 2026 HHS funding bill(The Center Square) – When Congress returns next week, lawmakers will have less than a month to pass the remaining nine appropriations bills funding federal agencies in fiscal year… Read More
Missouri Legislature
Missouri bill aims to give AG ‘teeth’ to target businesses hiring illegal aliensA Missouri lawmaker has prefiled a bill aimed at ending the unfair competitive advantage enjoyed by “rogue companies” that ignore Missouri’s labor laws by hiring illegal aliens. Carried… Read More
Movies
The 10 best faith and family films of 2025(The Heartlander) — Not that long ago, it was difficult to find a movie the whole family could enjoy. Today, though, thanks to a growing wave of talented faith-centric filmmakers… Read More
Elections
CNN’s Harry Enten says JD Vance lapping 2028 GOP field before race has even started(Daily Caller News Foundation) – CNN senior data analyst Harry Enten said Monday that the 2028 Republican presidential race is already taking shape, and Vice President JD Vance has surged… Read More
Charlie Kirk
‘Charlie Kirk’ most searched term of the year, Google says, topping pop culture, iPhone and socialist Zohran Mamdani(The Heartlander) — Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was the most-searched term on Google by U.S. users in 2025, the internet giant revealed in its annual listing. Kirk,… Read More
World
Trump hosts Israel’s Netanyahu, warns Hamas must disarm quickly or there will be ‘hell to pay’(The Heartlander) — President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago Monday, touting peace in the Middle East while warning Hamas to disarm quickly or there will… Read More