Trump-backed Missouri House Maps Approved

0:00It's March 27. This is Kansas News Today, powered by AI. I'm Coring with the Story. A judge in Missouri has cleared the way for new U.S. House districts back by President Trump to take effect before the midterm elections. The ruling came Friday from Cole County Circuit Court, and means the maps can be used right away, even though opponents are pushing for a statewide—referendum. Republicans see this as a big victory. They believe the redrawn lines will help them grab an extra congressional seat in November's Those against the plan argued the district should have been paused last December after more than 300,000 petition signatures rolled in. But the judge said they lacked the legal standing to force a hold, and any suspension would only happen if the petitions prove valid down the line. Meanwhile, the Secretary of State has until August 4 the day of Missouri's primaries to verify those signatures and decide on the referendum. This decision is part of a wider redistricting tussle across states that kicked off last summer, and it could shift the balance in key house battles as the midterms heat up.