KIRX News

Governor Mike Kehoe delivered the 2026 State of the State Address to the Missouri General Assembly, outlining his legislative priorities and budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. The Governor’s address centered on delivering a responsible, conservative budget recommendation. As state finances normalize following the influx of unprecedented federal funds and elevated general revenue spending, the Governor’s budget starts to align ongoing spending with ongoing revenues in an effort to return state finances to a sustainable, pre-pandemic framework. Governor Kehoe’s recommendation reduces more than $600 million from the general revenue core operating budget, beginning to address a projected future imbalance exceeding $2 billion. These reductions prioritize fiscal discipline while continuing to meet mandatory and high-priority obligations, including Medicaid matching requirements, child care subsidies, and disaster relief, without cutting core funding for higher education or the K-12 foundation formula. While emphasizing smaller government and fiscal discipline, Governor Kehoe highlighted his support for modernizing Missouri’s tax code by eliminating Missouri’s individual income tax through a responsible, sustainable plan.

The City of Kirksville invites you to attend the State of the City Address, to be held Monday, February 2, 2026, at 5:30 pm, inside the Kirk Memorial on the campus of Truman State University. Mayor Zac Burden will deliver the annual address, highlighting key projects to happen or begin this year, along with other priorities for the City in 2026. If you can’t make it, the address will be recorded and available to watch on the City’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/kirksvillecity. An annual event, the State of the City Address is part of the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce’s “The Government in Focus – TGIF” series.

The Kirksville City Council will hold a Special Study Session, followed by the regular Council Meeting and an Executive Session, beginning at 5:15 pm on Monday, January 12, 2026, in the Council Chambers at City Hall. View the meeting agenda online at Kirksville.gov/p/meeting-information.

The Chariton County Route CC Yellow Creek Bridge, north of Mendon, is now open following a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle project. The Capital – Horner & Shifrin team, working with the Missouri Department of Transportation through a design-build contract, reopened the bridge on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

A 16 year old male suffered moderate injuries in a single-vehicle crash that happened at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the 16 year old was driving a Mazda 3 on Missouri BB, three miles west of Moberly, when he lost control and overcorrected, hit a utility pole, and overturned. He was taken to University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia. He was not wearing a seat belt.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites Missourians to drop off their live Christmas trees in January to be used for habitat improvement around central Missouri. MDC will accept trees at the following locations from Jan. 1-31:

MDC’s Central Regional Office at 3500 E. Gans Road in Columbia
Washington Park near Vivion Field in Jefferson City
Proctor Park off Parkway Drive in California
Axis Seed at 19600 Steven Kole Ct. in Boonville
MDC’s Camdenton Service Center at 783 Thunder Mountain Road in Camdenton
To donate your tree (real trees only), please remove all decorations and bring the tree to the drop-off site of your choosing. Signage at this location will direct donors to the proper drop-off spot.

MDC fisheries staff collect discarded natural trees to submerge in area lakes and ponds. Once submerged, these trees offer habitat for a variety of native fish species.

Have you considered serving your community as a member of the Kirksville City Council? If so, there’s still time to file for the 2026 Municipal Election.
You may file in the City Clerk’s office on the second floor at City Hall, 201 S. Franklin St., Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The deadline is 5:00 pm on Tuesday, December 30. There are two full, three-year terms available in the election. For more information, contact City Clerk Diane Albrecht at 660.627.1225.

The Kirksville Parks & Recreation Department, in partnership with the Adair County Family YMCA, invites YOU to join the 2026 Indoor Triathlon Challenge! It runs January 2 – March 2, 2026. During this eight-week challenge, participants can compete in their choice of a half triathlon, full triathlon, or ultra triathlon, based on their personal target distances in running, biking and swimming. Participants will have full access to both the Kirksville Aquatic Center and the Adair YMCA facilities for the duration of the challenge, including all adult fitness classes offered at either location.
Those who complete their triathlon goal will receive a 2026 Indoor Triathlon quarter zip pullover.

Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces that 25 troopers graduated from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy on Friday, December 19, 2025. The ceremony took place at 10 a.m. at the Patrol Academy’s gymnasium. The 124th Recruit Class reported to the Academy on July 1, 2025. The new troopers will report to duty in their assigned troops on January 5, 2026. The Honorable Robin Ransom, Supreme Court of Missouri, administered the Oath of Office to the new troopers.

he Kirksville Arts Association says the Holiday Market has been extended and will now run through Saturday, December 20th. Due to the snowy weather and the popularity of the market we will host this event an extra week. Vendors have been restocking regularly with affordable, unique, hand-crafted one of kind items that make wonderful gifts.