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Day two of David Pecker testimony wraps in NY Trump trial; Supreme Court hears arguments on Idaho's near-total abortion ban; ND sees a flurry of campaigning among Native candidates; and NH lags behind other states in restricting firearms at polling sites.

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The Senate moves forward with a foreign aid package. A North Carolina judge overturns an aged law penalizing released felons. And child protection groups call a Texas immigration policy traumatic for kids.

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Wyoming needs more educators who can teach kids trade skills, a proposal to open 40-thousand acres of an Ohio forest to fracking has environmental advocates alarmed and rural communities lure bicyclists with state-of-the-art bike trail systems.

High Court Religious Freedom Ruling: Conclusion of MO's 147-Year Journey?

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Tuesday, June 27, 2017   

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The U.S. Supreme Court's decision allowing religious institutions to receive taxpayer-funded grants marks what may be the end of a debate in Missouri dating back to the 1800s.

At issue was whether Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia should have been eligible to receive federal funds to refurbish its playground.

The high court said yes.

University of Missouri law professor Carl Esbeck notes that Missouri was the first state to restrict taxpayer dollars to secular organizations.

"These laws, which came to be called Blaine amendments, started in Missouri and they ended in Missouri as well with this Trinity Lutheran Church case,” he states. “It just took 150 years."

The ruling means that grants cannot be restricted based on who is applying for the taxpayer funds. They can be restricted, however, based on how those funds would be used.

Esbeck says the ruling will have a significant impact on the issue of school choice since government dollars could be allocated beyond only public schools.

Esbeck says the decision opens the door to change in Missouri, where school funding has been a major focus.

"Our new governor, for example, backed some school choice legislation in our two inner cities – St. Louis and Kansas City – for low-income children and the children of veterans,” he points out. “So, we're going to see more, more of that."

Esbeck says the 7-2 vote will make it all the more difficult to challenge the issue in the future.





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Creedon Newell practices teaching construction skills in Wyoming's new career and technical educator bridge course, designed to encourage trades students and professionals to pursue a career in CTE teaching. (Photo by Rob Hill)

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