Afternoon Newscast for August 12, 2026

From the KBIA Newsroom in Colombia, I'm Yazan Rayan. A Cole County judge ruled Wednesday that a Republican coalition is allowed to join those opposing a lawsuit concerning Missouri's congressional map. As KBIA's Maya bin Saoud reports, plaintiffs say it's the latest in a series of delays. The Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, and Missouri Republican State Committee asked to intervene in the lawsuit challenging Secretary of State Denny Hoskins' decision to block a voter referendum on the state's congressional map. Attorney Chuck Hatfield, representing the anti-Gerrymandering group People, not Politicians, says the move could slow down a case the Missouri Supreme Court has said needs to proceed more quickly. Election authorities and voters need to understand whether they're going to see a referendum on House Bill 1 on their ballot in November. Chief Judge has sent a letter to Judge Green indicating this case needs to move quickly, and that's our main concern. Judge Daniel Green scheduled the next hearing for Tuesday. Courts have until September 8th to decide whether the referendum will appear on the November ballot. I'm Maya bin Saoud. KBIA News. And the University of Missouri has received a $1 million grant from the National Institute of Health to develop radiation treatments that more rapidly attack cancerous tumors. The Columbia, Missouri, reports the school will use the grant to study a new system that expedites delivery of radiation to tumors while attempting to mitigate damage to surrounding tissue. Food and Drug Administration clearance will be needed prior to use for the general public. And the Republican Missouri State Senator hoping to unseat longtime U.S. Representative Emmanuel Cleaver is calling out the Democratic incumbent's age. Missouri Republicans gerrymandered Cleaver's seat last year, cracking the 5th District into 3. His challenger this fall, State Senator Rick Bratton, says he thinks it's time for Cleaver to retire. He's over the age of 80, and I think people are tired of Washington politicians that are way past retirement age, yet they still continue to remain to hold on to those seats. Bratton won the crowded Republican primary by 20 points and says he'll focus on issues like crime and quality of education. In NBC news analysis showed Congress last year was the third oldest since 1789, with an average member age of almost 59 years. Republican Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Grassley is 92. And the city of Columbia is now offering a 24-7 tip line for residents concerned about short-term rentals. The Columbia, Missouri, reports short-term rentals, are typically homes used as vacation rentals on platforms such as Airbnb. The city has struggled with its enforcement of its 2024 short-term rental ordinance, and through the new tip line, residents can report them more quickly. I'm Yusin Brian. KBI News, Colombia.