Phillip Sitter is the News Tribune's reporter who covers Missouri's Senate, governor, executive government agencies, and MOSERS and MPERS. Previously, he covered local schools and school districts for the News Tribune for over 2 years since starting at the News Tribune in December 2016. Sitter's time at the News Tribune has been his first full-time job in journalism, although he studied at the University of Missouri's School of Journalism and contributed at the News Tribune in fall 2014 as a graduate student while on the Columbia Missourian's state government beat. He has also worked for MU's Bond Life Sciences Center. Sitter lives in Jefferson City and is originally from northwestern Illinois. He obtained his bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in Catholic social tradition from the University of Notre Dame in 2012 and lived in Washington, D.C., for a year after that while he began law school, before ultimately deciding that wasn't the career he wanted to pursue. He has also lived in London, United Kingdom, and New Orleans, Louisiana, for study-abroad and service opportunities. Follow him on Twitter at @pslifeisabeauty.
State Board of Education: Raise teacher pay to stay competitive
The Missouri State Board of Education is planned to hear recommendations in January on teacher recruitment and retention, including that teachers' minimum salaries be raised.
Dec. 28 2019 @ 5:44pm
Flood recovery talk to continue into spring
With the potential threat of more severe flooding looming for the spring, the work of Missouri's Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group will not end anytime soon.
Dec. 9 2019 @ 7:30pm
Flood recovery group's recommendations to span local, state, federal levels
As spring nears and brings the possibility of more flooding, the Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group convened by Gov.
Nov. 24 2019 @ 12:05am
Firearms deer hunting opens this weekend
There's lots of information for prospective hunters to know before venturing out this weekend at the start of the November firearms deer hunting season. But in that wide scope of information, there are a few particularly important points to hit.
Nov. 14 2019 @ 8:07pm
Missouri state treasurer hopes to reunite military medals with those who earned them
World War II-era U.S. Army campaign ribbons last held in a safe deposit box by a Callaway County resident are among the military medals that the Missouri State Treasurer's office and local museums are trying to get returned to their rightful owners this month.
Nov. 7 2019 @ 9:43pm
US Corps of Engineers: Flood control has been agency's focus
Flood control has been the focus along the Missouri River since early in 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Friday. And flooding in Mid-Missouri could have been much worse this year if not for a break in the weather, they added.
Sep. 21 2019 @ 7:06pm
Special session's sales tax bill sent to Parson
The Senate unanimously passed House Bill 1 on Friday morning with 29 "yes" votes. The state's House of Representatives earlier this week passed the bill, which makes it possible for people to claim the sales proceeds of multiple vehicles against a new vehicle's sales tax.
Sep. 13 2019 @ 11:02pm
Working group to guide flood recovery created
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson established a working group Thursday to guide the state's flood recovery and control efforts.
Jul. 18 2019 @ 11:17pm
Mom, daughter to mark adult education graduation next year after tornado cancelled ceremony
Pentelope "Penny" Schroer and Felicia Smith did not get a chance to walk across a stage last month as a mom-daughter pair of adult education program graduates in the class of 2019 — but they are adamant about walking next year.
Jun. 24 2019 @ 11:54pm
Water recedes in Mokane; cleanup still a ways away
MOKANE — Alderman Chad Booher said Thursday the waters of the Missouri River were not in the town anymore, but "it's going to be a couple weeks or so" before cleanup will really begin.
Jun. 14 2019 @ 1:20am
Rivers continue slow decline
While water levels on the Missouri and Osage rivers continue to decrease, the Osage County Sheriff said Monday there is more damage on the Osage River and a levee breach along the Callaway County side of the Missouri River, west of Chamois.
Jun. 10 2019 @ 7:20pm
Almost-island Post still above water on Thursday
American Veterans Post 153 Mokane was an outpost Thursday — a peninsula surrounded on three sides by sandbags and a plastic-covered concrete wall, that with the help of pumps seemed to be holding back the Missouri River that lapped at the edges of Broad Street in downtown Mokane.
Jun. 6 2019 @ 9:57pm
Coast Guard closes 380 miles of Missouri River amid flooding
The U.S. Coast Guard has closed the Missouri River to all boat traffic between St. Louis and north of Kansas City — between miles markers 0.
Jun. 4 2019 @ 12:05am
Missouri, Osage rivers continue to swell
Flooding has forced the closure of more than 300 roads throughout Missouri.
May. 29 2019 @ 12:50pm
Daylight reveals extent of Jefferson City tornado damage
As daylight began to emerge today, the first glimpses of the damage to Jefferson City from Wednesday night's tornado became clearer.
May. 23 2019 @ 7:00am
New Bloomfield grads told to remember where they come from, and live like it
There were 42 names printed in the graduation ceremony program for New Bloomfield High School's Class of 2019, and while life doesn't always go by a program, speakers at Friday night's commencement reminded the class the values and relationships of their small community can help them succeed in the bigger world beyond.
May. 18 2019 @ 5:52pm
Vietnam vet among area grads
A war and a half-century of time has not stopped a local man from receiving his high school diploma.
May. 11 2019 @ 6:07pm
New CFM director values 'moments of pure joy' in the outdoors
Tyler Schwartze grew up, and continues to live, among the great outdoors.
Apr. 8 2019 @ 9:29pm
Lawsuit: JCPS coach forcibly cut student's hair
A parent has filed a lawsuit on behalf of her son against Jefferson City Public Schools and her son's former middle school wrestling coach after the coach allegedly had her son held down and forcibly cut his hair in November 2017.
Jan. 29 2019 @ 12:05am
JCPS to update Callaway Hills sewer system
Jefferson City Public Schools is moving forward to design and engineer connecting Callaway Hills Elementary School to the sewer system of Holts Summit, as opposed to continuing to use large ponds, known as lagoons.
Jan. 26 2019 @ 5:33pm