Author

Allison Kite

Allison Kite

Allison Kite is a data reporter for The Missouri Independent and Kansas Reflector, with a focus on the environment and agriculture. A graduate of the University of Kansas, she’s covered state government in both Topeka and Jefferson City, and most recently was City Hall reporter for The Kansas City Star.

Longhorned tick that can cause illness to cattle found in northern Missouri

By: - September 28, 2022

A species of tick known to cause severe weight loss in cattle has been discovered in northern Missouri, researchers from the University of Missouri reported this week. The longhorned tick was found in southern Missouri last year, according to a press release from the university. But Rosalie Ierardi, an anatomic pathologist at the MU College […]

‘Time bomb’ lead pipes set to be removed. But first water utilities have to find them

By: - June 20, 2022

TRENTON, Mo. — It took three years for officials to notice lead was seeping into the city’s drinking water.  Missouri regulators had given the green light in 2014 for Trenton to start adding monochloramine to its drinking water to disinfect it without the harmful byproducts of chlorine.  But by 2017, the city noticed something alarming.  […]

Legislature on the verge of requiring Missouri schools test, filter water for lead

By: - May 7, 2022

Missouri lawmakers are poised to require schools to test and, potentially, filter drinking water to prevent lead poisoning, making the state one of just a handful that require administrators to meet standards stricter than federal regulations. The state offers grants for schools to pay for water testing, but there is no requirement to test, and […]

Missouri Senate overwhelmingly approves bill requiring schools test, filter water for lead

By: - April 25, 2022

Schools in Missouri would be required to test drinking water for lead, and install filters if it’s above safe levels, under a bill that won near-unanimous approval Monday in the state Senate. The proposal, amended onto a separate bill by Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, is part of an effort to ensure children aren’t exposed […]

Known to be toxic for a century, lead still poisons thousands of Midwestern kids

By: and - April 11, 2022

“After you hang up on the phone, you kind of go through this process of ‘Oh my gosh, my kid is lead poisoned. What does that mean? What do I do?'” Missouri mom Lisa Pascoe said.

Missouri House bill would cut down on poisonous lead in school drinking water

By: and - March 29, 2022

Missouri children would be better protected from lead poisoning under a state legislative bill to  require schools to nearly rid their drinking water of the dangerous toxin. The bill, heard Monday by the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, would require schools to test drinking water, remove old coolers and filter water where lead is […]