Lincoln School was built after two events. The first event was statewide — the adoption in 1866 of a new Constitution for Missouri that mandated that any school district having over 15 children had to provide free public education in separate schools for white and Black children. The second event was local — the 1867 contentious tax levy election held to raise the tax money needed to build two new schools in Sedalia. more

Apparently, cooler heads prevailed in the Missouri Senate. The bill regarding education in Missouri as it pertains to teaching about “race,” has been amended, and omits some of the previous version’s restrictions. Although the original draft included a ban on teaching CRT, which was not defined in the bill, the new version omits that ban. The bill now “also includes a provision stating that the bill does not ban teachers from teaching lessons on sexism, slavery, racial oppression, segregation or racial discrimination” (http://bit.ly/40JtQwm). This is helpful, because the classes I’ve taught in business law often contain these topics, as we talk about workplace discrimination and hostile work environments, among other kinds of cases. At least I won’t have to worry about violating the law when I teach the history of and encourage discussion about those issues. more

It’s not quite time for gardening, but it’s getting close. I’ve been kicking around at the piles of leaves in the yard, peering at the tiny shoots of crocus and poppy and daffodil living green underneath. more

Well, Chiefs Kingdom, here we are again: somehow, heading to the Super Bowl has become familiar territory for our beloved football team. more

A lot of writers have storyboards to help jog their memories and lead them into a story. My storyboard is just a wall behind my computer, but it has given me a lot of inspiration through the years. more

The month of February can be cold, gray and dreary, but if you come to the library this month, it’s warm, pink and full of love! It’s “I Love My Library” month at the Sedalia Public Library and we are recognizing all the ways the library is a special part of our community. more

Pettis County was not the site of any major battles during the Civil War, but it was the scene of a great deal of guerilla activity. There were numerous incidents as Union supporters, sometimes called bushwhackers, attacked farms and homes of Southern sympathizers and as Confederate partisan rangers, often called guerillas, attacked farms and homes of Union sympathizers. more

I would like to address Deborah Mitchell’s Jan. 27 column in which she addressed several concerns regarding the Missouri Legislature by way of state Rep. Bradley Pollitt. more

February is Black History Month. According to History.com, the origins date back to 1915, when “the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) ...” was formed. The group “sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass” (https://bit.ly/3HBhxcR). President Gerald Ford, in 1976, formally recognized February as Black History Month, saying that he thought all Americans should know more about the contributions of Black Americans to our country’s history. more

This is an open letter to Margie Vandeven, Commissioner of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: more

Jan. 23-27 was designated as “National News Literacy Week.” It could not be more important or timely as we continue to be bombarded with misinformation, disinformation and downright lies in all corners of the public square. more

When Sedalians need to go to a big city for some reason, Kansas City is the logical choice, being only 85 miles away. more

We are surrounded by all kinds of “resurrections” every day. Just when it seems that something dies, new life emerges. more

Bio Box Looking for some gardening tips for your mid-Missouri garden? The Democrat publishes a monthly column from the Show-Me Master Gardeners. For more information, contact MU Extension at 660-827-0591. more

By the end of the Civil War, Sedalia’s population had grown from 300 in 1861 to 1,000 in 1865. The town was still very undeveloped; the 1882 History of Pettis County describes it as “a village of ‘box houses,’” with fewer than a “dozen buildings that would have been considered substantial.” more

Opportunity. more

Good morning. more

The legislature is at it again. more

High feed and input prices are impacting ag producers. Often, the initial reaction to high prices for feed or fertilizer is to reduce the use of these inputs to cut production costs. While this strategy may reduce production costs in the short term, there may be long-term negative consequences to consider. more

Few verses in the Bible are better known than Matthew 22:39, where Jesus gives the second greatest commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This verse has been used on myriad occasions to motivate others to any action for perceived good. But as good as Jesus’s command sounds, what does it actually mean? Do we self-determine how to love others or are we given instructions on how to do it? And even if we know how to do it, what motivates our love for one another? more