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.
Missouri Gov. Parson issues statewide stay-at-home order
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has issued a statewide stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, to take effect next week.
Apr. 3 2020 @ 5:10pm
Missouri faces $500M+ budget shortfall, $180 million spending restriction
A $180 million spending restriction in Missouri's budget due to the COVID-19 pandemic will affect at least five state departments.
Apr. 1 2020 @ 6:40pm
Economic development aid network being deployed
The Missouri Department of Economic Development has activated a statewide network of more than 400 economic development groups to offer assistance to employers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mar. 31 2020 @ 12:05am
Missouri governor expects more months of social distancing
Gov. Mike Parson said Monday that Missouri's statewide social distancing order is in the process of being expanded beyond its original end date next week.
Mar. 30 2020 @ 4:55pm
Missouri Supreme Court extends suspension of proceedings, allows for remote oaths
Though Missouri's courts remain open for necessary business, the Supreme Court of Missouri on Wednesday announced it had extended its statewide suspension of most in-person court proceedings to help address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mar. 26 2020 @ 12:05am
Missouri health officials: Speed of COVID-19 case verification can vary greatly
Numbers among Missouri's official count of COVID-19 cases can sometimes be ahead or behind other sources' tallies.
Mar. 26 2020 @ 12:05am
Lincoln University, State Tech announce delayed graduation ceremony dates
Lincoln University's Class of 2020 will have the finish to their college careers they were anticipating, just not necessarily when they originally expected.
Mar. 25 2020 @ 4:50pm
Lincoln University to close campus
Lincoln University will close its Jefferson City campus starting Wednesday, the university announced Tuesday afternoon.
Mar. 24 2020 @ 11:05pm
Lincoln University aims to have students moved out by week's end
Lincoln University is working to have all students who live on campus moved out by Sunday, except for those students who cannot move.
Mar. 23 2020 @ 11:22pm
State Technical College to move classes online
State Technical College of Missouri in Linn will not have any on-campus classes this week, and online classes will start March 30.
Mar. 23 2020 @ 2:55pm
Missouri State Capitol, state office buildings to close to public
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is expected to announce Monday afternoon that state office buildings and the Missouri State Capitol will close to the public starting Tuesday.
Mar. 23 2020 @ 12:45pm
Governor cites actions aimed to protect most vulnerable during health crisis
In addition to anticipated restrictions on social gatherings and visits to food and drink establishments and residential facilities where senior citizens are congregated, Missouri's governor announced Saturday measures intended to help protect and serve vulnerable populations, including families in need of child care services, as the COVID-19 pandemic crisis continues.
Mar. 21 2020 @ 10:54pm
Missourians to see changes to gatherings, taxes because of COVID-19
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Saturday an order effective at 12:01 a.m. Monday that shall have people in the state avoid social gatherings of 10 or more people.
Mar. 21 2020 @ 4:46pm
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. The cost of doing that and of getting all Missouri public teachers to make at least the minimum proposed salary of $32,000 may cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Dec. 28 2019 @ 9:58pm
Callaway County among top three in Missouri for opening weekend deer harvests
The preliminary results from last weekend's opening for the November firearms deer hunting season are in, and several Mid-Missouri counties are in the top 10 of total deer harvested.
Nov. 18 2019 @ 3:40pm
Buy Missouri works to get more buy-in
Partnerships with retailers, more funding and more branding for items are some of the goals of the program kicking into high gear again this week that highlights Missouri-made products.
Oct. 16 2019 @ 12:05am
WWII-era LU program was a runway to becoming a pilot for African-American men
An area historian and Lincoln University alumna is finding out details about the local connections to a World War II-era aircraft pilot training program that led to numerous African-American men becoming pioneer airmen — including in combat.
Jun. 2 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
Vietnam War veteran among Jefferson City graduates receiving high school diplomas
George Ousley, a 71-year-old Vietnam War veteran, will receive a diploma at Jefferson City High School graduation.
May. 11 2019 @ 10:16pm