Rudi Keller

Missouri Independent

Missouri license offices are closing due to financial challenges, impacting residents in rural areas.

A bill awaiting the governor’s signature would increase license office fees by 50% to incentivize contractors and prevent closures.

Besides financial issues, administrative burdens and short-term contract extensions contribute to office closures.

The current contract system, while saving the state money, creates difficulties for license office operators, especially in less populated areas.

When the state announced the Caruthersville license office was going to close, residents needing to renew registrations or driver license were directed to the closest open offices in Kennett, New Madrid and Malden.

Those communities are all at least an hour, round-trip, from Caruthersville. The inconvenience would be compounded if, after waiting in line, the transaction couldn’t be completed for lack of a required document.

The Missouri Department of Revenue was quick to note motorists renewing vehicle registrations — but not new vehicle registrations or drivers license transactions — could do so online.

But the situation in Caruthersville is not unique, as a growing number of license offices around the state are shuttering — currently at least six of 175 — with dozens more operating under an expired contract.

A bill sponsored by state Sen. Sandy Crawford, a Republican from Buffalo, and awaiting action from Gov. Mike Kehoe, would increase the fees received by the license offices by 50%.

The transaction fee for a drivers license or motor vehicle would go from $6 to $9 for the shortest period and from $12 to $18 for the longest, six years for a drivers license and two years for a vehicle registration.

The fee on transactions is in addition to the state charge for titling and registering a vehicle and obtaining or renewing a drivers license.

The goal is to make the offices attractive to contractors and avoid closures, Crawford said during a House committee hearing in April.

“I live in a small town, and if my license bureau were to close, I would likely have to drive 45 minutes, take a half a day to drive and get my license,” Crawford said. “And so I would much rather pay $3 than take off half a day and drive 45 miles or 45 minutes to get this done.”

There is supposed to be at least one license office in every county.

“Many small agents in rural communities have stated they are closing or not rebidding upon contract expiration,” said Ryan Williams, the license office contractor in Gladstone in Clay County. “Hopefully this increase will help enough to keep them open and solvent.”

Williams is also the legislative chair of the Missouri Association of License Offices.

The smallest office currently closed is in Unionville, in Putnam County on the Iowa border. The nearest open office is in Milan, a 50-minute round-trip. The busiest is the South Springfield License Office, which processed more than 100,000 transactions in fiscal 2024. There are two other offices within five miles.

The other offices currently closed are in Cuba, Willow Springs, Sedalia and Palmyra.

Financial challenges

License offices, also known as fee offices for the transaction fees they charge, at one time were awarded by governors as political patronage. Until 2005, there were a dozen state-operated offices in the largest cities.

A bidding and contract system was created in the following years. The fees have been raised twice previously this century, in 2003 and 2019. There are currently 16 license offices listed on the state purchasing website, including Caruthersville and Unionville, which is on for the second time this year.

“We’re the only direct interaction that most people have with the state of Missouri,” Williams said.

In fiscal 2024, license offices processed almost 9 million transactions and charged $58.4 million in fees.

The Unionville office generated $28,736 in fees on 4,519 transactions. The Caruthersville office took in $119,260 from 18,747 transactions. And the South Springfield office received fees of $702,290 to process 105,516 transactions.

The reputation of license offices is not good, as seen by comments of members of the House Commerce Committee during the April hearing.

“If I had $1 for every time my office got called for the unpleasantness of the Rolla, Missouri, office, I’d be a millionaire today,” said state Rep. Tara Peters, a Republican from Rolla in her third year in the legislature.

State Rep. Brian Seitz, a Branson Republican, said he was glad lawmakers get special service for their license plates, which have legislative identifiers. There are two two license offices in Branson.

“I’m so glad that as a representative, I get to do the things right here in the Capitol that I need to do so I can continue to serve the people instead of wait an hour and a half in line without a bathroom,” Seitz said.

During the hearing, Williams said the contract office system saves the state money.

“If the state took it over, it would be a considerable expense,” he said.

The facilities and staffing are dependent on the amount of fees an office generates, Williams said. The contractor must meet payroll, pay rent and cover office expenses from the fee revenue.

“When you have long wait times, that’s a direct result that we can’t afford to hire the staff that we need, or pay them or attract the staff that we need,” Williams said.

Administrative issues

The issues forcing contractors to give up their offices aren’t all financial, said Terri Harris, owner of Elle Management in St. Louis. At one point, Harris operated nine license offices around the state and was the contractor at South Springfield when it closed.

The contract had been repeatedly extended, for short periods, leaving her with uncertainty about the future and making it difficult to hire staff, she said.

After 34 years in the business, including almost two decades managing license offices for others, health issues and working through bureaucratic and political issues with the department became too much, she said.

The fee increase in 2019 was welcome, Harris said, but came just before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The first thing I did when we got that increase is I brought my employees’ wages up to where I could stay competitive,” Harris said. “After COVID, everything changed for all employers, and my offices were large. It required a lot of employees, and frankly, the increase that I could afford to make was eaten up when you wait 17 and a half years for an increase.”

When she surrendered the contract, Harris said, she was offering $20.50 an hour to employees.

“We couldn’t keep people at that pay rate,” she said.

The fee increases will not induce her to return to the business of operating license offices, Harris said.

The South Springfield office was on an extended contract, but the extensions were short. That uncertainty also made staffing difficult, she said.

“We went through years of being extended, two months, three months, maybe four months at a time,” she said. “That was ridiculous.”

She was reluctant to seek new contracts because the requirements being added didn’t work in the office situations she dealt with, Harris said. Specific performance numbers for managers, who Harris wanted supervising rather than processing transactions, was one issue, she said.

“The relationship became adversarial,”

Initial contracts are generally for five years and the bill before Kehoe allows an extension of five years at the discretion of the director of revenue.

The bill would also bar department employees from becoming contractors or part owners of a license office company for a year after leaving state employment.

The department should figure out how to give more support to the small, rural offices where fee income is low, Harris said.

The contract requirements for the Unionville office call for it to be open 24 hours a week. It processed about four transactions an hour during fiscal 2024.

“These communities, when you close an office, they’re not going 10 minutes away to the next office,” Harris said. “They’re going counties away, right to the next office. It’s it’s tough on the community period. I also understand there is a very small profit margin in them, and that makes it difficult.”

This story was first published at missouriindependent.com.

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Springfield businesses are now required to provide proof of payment of all personal property taxes in order to obtain an occupational license from the city government.

The Springfield City Council passed an ordinance adding the requirement to city code June 23 by a vote of 6-1, with General Seat D Councilmember Derek Lee in opposition, three months after Council voted to refer the matter to the Plans and Policies Committee for further discussion. Zone 1 Councilmember Monica Horton and Zone 3 Councilmember Brandon Jenson abstained.

Zone 2 Councilmember Abe McGull, who was the one to motion to refer it to committee in the first place out of concern that the bill could have unintended consequences for businesses, supported the ordinance Monday night.

General Seat B Councilmember Craig Hosmer, who initially co-sponsored the bill in March with then-Mayor Ken McClure, requested it be brought back before the full City Council, as the Plans and Policies Committee has not met since the referral.

Under the new requirement, applicants will be required to provide a paid receipt or a statement of non-assessment of personal property taxes from Greene County in order to obtain an occupational license, including renewals.

“An application for an occupational license shall include a receipt showing payment of all personal property taxes due Greene County for property held in the name of the applicant for the previous calendar year,” the new section of city code reads. “In the event no such taxes were due Greene County for the previous calendar year, a statement of non-assessment shall be submitted in lieu thereof.”

The ordinance also inserts the word “property” between “personal taxes” in the following section: “No occupational license shall be issued until all personal taxes, license taxes and other special charges, such as the sewer service charge, shall have been paid.”

St. Louis and Kansas City have similar requirements, according to City Attorney Jordan Paul.

When the legislation was first taken up by the City Council in March, Greene County Assessor Brent Johnson explained that there is no mechanism to enforce applicants of business licenses to pay personal property taxes — unlike real estate taxes and personal property taxes on vehicles — and estimated more than 60% of businesses in Springfield did not fill out a personal property assessment in 2025.

For businesses, personal property encompasses anything the business uses in trade or to make profit that is not physically attached to the structure of the building they are doing business in, including laptops, phone systems and furniture. Personal property for businesses is assessed separately and differently than personal property for individuals.

Businesses associated with a limited liability company would be required to show proof of payment taxes on personal property owned by the business, whereas individuals operating a business as a sole proprietor would be required to show proof of payment of their individual personal property taxes.

By requiring applicants of occupational licenses to show proof of payment of personal property taxes, the city could help to create “tax equity,” Hosmer previously said, similar to the ordinance authorizing the Springfield Police Department to tow vehicles with missing, invalid or expired license plates and registration tags — which the City Council may potentially make changes to in committee.

“Some of them may not know that they have an obligation to pay personal property taxes, but when 60% of those businesses aren’t paying their fair share, that’s fundamentally unfair,” Hosmer said ahead of the public hearing on the ordinance June 9.

Hosmer also argued that when some people don’t pay their taxes, it places a greater burden on the people who do, emphasizing that schools, libraries, individuals with developmental disabilities and other services rely on personal property tax revenues.

Criticizing the City Council’s committee process as a means to “kill” legislation, Hosmer had said he would bring the ordinance back up if Council referred it to committee again, arguing that the city was creating “self-inflicted wounds” by not ensuring everybody was contributing their fair share in taxes.

“We should encourage people to pay their personal property tax, whether they’re an individual, which we did with the towing bill, or whether they’re business,” Hosmer said. “Businesses aren’t any better or any worse than an individual. They should pay their fair share because it takes dollars to provide those services.”

Though he didn’t vote in opposition to the measure, Councilmember Brandon Jenson said he wished the City Council would use the committee process to prevent any unintended consequences, while recognizing Hosmer’s frustration with the slow committee process.

“I want to be clear I support your effort and what you’re trying to achieve with this bill, especially considering the passage of the previous bill that was leveled against residents,” Jenson said, referring to the towing ordinance.

“I think it’s only fair to place the same expectation on businesses in our community to be contributing their fair share that’s due because they’re participating in our local economy. That being said, I supported the motion to refer this to committee because I believe it was a failure on that other bill to not be referred to committee.”

The Government of Kerala launched the Sanchaya portal, an e-governance application software, to digitise property-related services such as sanchaya tax, property tax calculation, sanchaya tax payment, sanchaya ownership certificate, sanchaya property tax status, etc.

Citizens of Kerala state can log into the Sanchaya portal to access revenue and license department services. Sanchaya online services allow for a seamless collection of taxes, levies and fees by the Local Self Government (LSG) department of Kerala.

Sanchaya Portal Services

Sanchaya online services in Kerala are as follows:

Property tax calculation

Know property tax (Sanchaya Tax)

Online payment of property levies and taxes

e-payment status

Application for and downloading building ownership certificate

Application for building age certificate

Rent to civic bodies

Dangerous and offensive (D&O) license

Property tax search using the Plinth area

Utility bill payment (water, telephone or electricity)

Features of the Sanchaya Portal

Quick registration process

Users (citizens and officials) can quickly register on the Sanchaya portal to access property tax services from the comfort of their homes. The registration process is simple and user-friendly.

Varied services

Users can pay tax and utility bills electronically with the Sanchaya portal without any hassles. It provides access to various services, such as property tax search, e-filing, age certificate application, ownership certificate application, and quick pay services.

Instant payment

Users can pay property taxes and levies instantly without visiting government offices. They do not have to wait in queues at the tax offices to pay taxes. The Sanchaya portal has a secure payment gateway, and users will get payment receipts instantly.

Support and assistance

The portal’s help and support section provides the email address and helpdesk phone number through which the users can seek help with their queries. The help and support team is available to answer any questions relating to the portal.

Sanchaya Tax

The Kerala Building Tax Rules govern the calculation of property and building taxes in Kerala. These rules determine the amount of tax to be paid for a property or building situated in Kerala based on various factors, such as the property’s location, use, and size.

Property or building owners can pay taxes online on the Sanchaya tax portal. According to the Kerala Building Tax Rules, property taxes are calculated annually. To avoid penalties, the property owner must pay the Sanchaya building/property tax on or before the due date.

In addition to the Sanchaya property tax, there is a luxury tax for buildings in Kerala. The Sanchaya tax is imposed on luxury properties, such as large houses with amenities and multiple rooms. The luxury tax is based on the property’s market value and must be paid in addition to the regular property tax. The tax collected is used to fund various local government services, such as maintenance, infrastructure development and repair.

How to Pay Property Tax Online from Sanchaya?

The Sanchaya property tax can be paid online via the Sanchaya portal through the Quick Pay facility and by logging in to the portal.

Through the Sanchaya Quick Pay facility

Users can pay Sanchaya tax through the Sanchaya Quick Pay facility as a guest without logging into the Sanchaya portal by following the below steps:

Step 1: Go to the Sanchaya portal .

Step 2: Click the ‘Quick Pay’ option.

Step 3: Fill in the details like district name, local body type, local body name, ward year and ward, door or sub number.

Step 4: Click the ‘Search’ button.

Step 5: The building/property details and pending demand will be displayed on the screen.

Step 6: Select the ‘Payment Period’, enter the email ID and mobile number and click the ‘Pay Now’ button.

Step 7: Make the online payment using a credit card, debit card, net banking, UPI, RTGS, NEFT, mobile wallet, etc.

Through the Sanchaya Portal Login

Users can pay the Sanchaya property tax online by logging into the Sanchaya portal through the below steps:

Step 1: Visit the Sanchaya portal .

Step 2: Choose the ‘Payment for Registered Users’ option.

Step 3: Choose the ‘New user Registration’ option.

Step 4: Enter details such as full name, mobile number, email and the captcha code and click the ‘Submit’.

Step 5: Enter the registered username and password, and log in to the Sanchaya portal.

Step 6: Select the corporation, gram panchayat or municipality and click the ‘Search’ button.

Step 7: The online local governmental institutions will be displayed on the screen.

Step 8: Select the district and click the ‘Select’ button next to the EPay option.

Step 9: Click the ‘Property Tax’ button in the next window.

Step 10: Select the ward year, ward, door or sub number and click the ‘Search’ button.

Step 11: The property and tax details will be displayed on the screen.

Step 12: Enter the registered email, mobile number and captcha code and click the ‘Pay Now’ button.

Step 13: Make the online payment using a credit card, debit card, net banking, UPI, RTGS, NEFT, mobile wallet, etc.

How to View Tax Receipts in Sanchaya?

Below is the process to view receipts of the property tax paid on the Sanchaya portal:

Visit the Sanchaya portal.

Select the ‘District’ from the drop-down list.

Select the corporation, municipality or gram panchayat.

Click the ‘Select’ button next to the EPay option.

Select the ‘e-Payment Status’ option.

Select the transaction type and year and click the ‘Search’ button.

The status will be displayed on the screen.

Sanchaya Ownership Certificate

The Sanchaya ownership certificate in Kerala is an essential document for landowners. The government provides an ownership certificate containing the owner’s name. It also mentions if the owner has a leasehold or freehold right in the land. Below is the process to get the ownership certificate on the Sanchaya portal:

Visit the Sanchaya portal.

Select the ‘District’ from the drop-down list.

Select the corporation, municipality or gram panchayat.

Click the ‘Select’ button next to the EPay option.

Select the ‘Ownership Certificate’ option.

Select the ‘Ward Number’, enter the ward, door or Sub number click the ‘Search’ button.

The ownership certificate will be displayed on the screen.

The Sanchaya portal provides online services to citizens of Kerala for easy and convenient payment of property taxes or building taxes in Kerala. Users can also search property tax from the plinth area, view ownership and building age certificates and access several other property-related services online on the Sanchaya portal.

In India, the government provides several tax deductions to companies in order to boost business growth. However, they are applicable for a specific list of expenses which are stated under Section 37 of Income Tax Act.

Thus, in order to accurately file returns and benefit from the available deductions, companies must have a clear idea of the allowed list of expenses. Read on to learn more!

What Is Section 37 of Income Tax Act?

Section 37 of Income Tax Act states that any business expenditure, excluding capital expenditure and the individual’s personal expenses, that is spent or set out solely and entirely for the business’s operations shall be applicable for deduction. Additionally, it will be applicable while calculating a business’s taxable income which is payable under the head “profits and gains of business or profession”.

Section 37(1) Of Income Tax Act

Businesses should also consider the guidelines present under Section 37(1) of Income Tax Act. It states that expenditure incurred by businesses for activities which are prohibited by law or are deemed as offences, will not be applicable for deduction under Section 37. They include:

Bribes

Protection money

Donations which are against public policy or illegal

Freebies etc.

Furthermore, as per Section 37(1), expenditures on Corporate Social Responsibility activities under Section 135 of the 2013 Company Act will not be eligible for deduction.

Conditions For Allowance Under Section 37

Now, to claim deductions under Section 37 of Income Tax Act, there are certain conditions which businesses need to abide by. They are as follows:

Must not be personal or capital expenditure.

Should not be present under Sections 30 to 36 of the Income Tax Act.

Must not be paid for activities which are offenses or prohibited by law.

Should be incurred purposefully for profession or business.

Must be paid or accrued in the previous financial year.

Should not be of the nature of personal expense of the assessee.

List Of Expenses Allowed As Deduction Under Section 37(1) From Business Income

Here is a list of expenses allowed under Section 37:

Interest on Business Loans

Interest payments on loans taken for business purposes are liable for deduction under Section 37(1). However, it must not be used for the company’s capital expenditure.

Legal Fees

Any expenditure on legal fees to lawyers, advocates, solicitors, etc. to obtain legal services or advice relating to a company’s business is liable for deduction.

Advertisement Expenses

Business expenditure on advertisement products and services in any type of media is liable for deduction. Advertisements relating to political parties or agendas are however not applicable.

Salaries to Employees

The salaries which a company pays to its tax-paying employees are liable for deductions under Section 37(1). Compensation to employees upon termination of employment is also applicable.

Moreover, salaries paid to the firm’s partners can be eligible for deduction. However, it is limited to certain conditions present under Section 37 of the Act. Salary paid to the business’s proprietor will not be applicable for deduction.

Loan Raising Expenses

Expenses incurred by businesses for raising loans are eligible for deduction under Section 37. They include registration, stamp and brokerage charges.

Penalty Payments

In case of penalty/damage payments relating to a business, it may or may not be eligible for deduction under Section 37(1). For instance, penalty payments for violating the law are not liable for deduction.

However, if the expense is compensatory and arises as a result of contractual liabilities, the deduction may be permissible.

Additionally, the following expenses are liable for deduction under Section 37:

Fees to the registrar of companies in case of legal obligations.

Employee’s welfare expenses.

Costs incurred during festivals like Diwali, Christmas, etc.

Bonuses and gifts to employees (however, they must not be a part of perquisites).

Telephone connection expenses.

Professional fees.

Examples Of Expenses Allowed Under Section 37

To clearly understand the deductions available under Section 37 of Income Tax Act, let’s take a look at an example.

Suppose, M.S. Infotech Pvt. Ltd. had taken a loan in the previous financial year for business purposes. Throughout the year, the company had paid a total interest amount of Rs.1,00,000 and an additional Rs.55,000 for brokerage fees, stamp duty, etc. relating to the loan. Thus, while filing its IT returns, the firm can claim a total deduction of Rs.1,55,000 under Section 37.

List Of Expenses Disallowed As Deduction Under Section 37(1) From Business Income

The list of expenditure disallowed under Section 37 of Income Tax Act are as follows:

Fees to Registrar of Companies for changing an organisation’s Articles of Association and Memorandum.

Reason – It is a capital expenditure that alters a company’s constitution and rights.

Costs incurred by an assessee to gain possession of a vacant land he/she owns.

Reason – It is not a revenue expenditure and is not related to a business’s normal operations.

Fees to Registrar of Companies to increase an organisation’s authorised capital.

Reason – Falls under capital expenditure as it increases the borrowing capacity as well as the financial status of a company.

Payments for gaining a property’s tenancy rights.

Reason – It is a capital expenditure as it provides the right to occupy and use the property for a specific time period.

Bank guarantee commission payments for securing a loan in order to acquire a fixed asset.

Reason – Falls under capital expenditure as it is required for acquiring assets.

Penalties for infringing or violating any law or regulation.

Reason – Does not fall under allowable expenditure as it is against morality and public policy.

Costs incurred for demolishing a building in order to build a hotel on the same site.

Reason – Falls under capital expenditure as it leads to asset creation.

Costs incurred for shifting a company’s Registered Office from its present location to another.

Reason – Does not fall under allowable expenditure as it contributes to administrative convenience and is not directly related to business operations.

Sales tax payments for purchase and sale of goods.

Reason – They are not related to a business’s profits.

Summary of Deduction Allowed and not Allowed from Business Income

Deductions allowed from business income are interest on business loans, legal fees, advertisement expenses, salaries to employees, bonus or commission paid to employees, loan raising expenses, penalty payments, along with specific deductions like rent paid, depreciation, bad debts written off, insurance premium paid, interest paid on late filing of return, late fees, etc.,

Deductions not allowed from business income include provision for bad debts (except for scheduled banks), personal expenses, registrar fees for changing AoA and MoA, illegal expenses, GST paid, capital expenditure incurred in acquiring new assets, penalty paid for violation of any laws, amount paid on compounding of an offence, etc.,

Examples Of Expenses Not Allowed Under Section 37

Let’s take an example to understand which types of income do not fall under Section 37.

Suppose, DS Marble Exporters Ltd. shifted its Registered Office from Chennai to Gurgaon. For this, the company incurred expenses of around Rs.1 crore. It also paid Rs.55,00,000 for the property’s tenancy rights. Thus, when filing its IT returns, the business will not be able to claim a deduction on these expenses under Section 37.

In a nutshell, Section 37 of Income Tax Act provides deductions on expenses which are directly related to a business’s operations. Now, given the vast array of expenses which companies have to include in their returns, it might get confusing for them to understand which ones are applicable for deduction. Hence, consulting a tax professional in such cases is always advisable.

How Can You Claim Deductions Under Section 37 Of The Income Tax Act, 1961?

To claim deductions under section 37 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the following steps should be followed.

Step 1: Check for eligibility

The expenses you want to claim as deductions should meet the eligibility criteria as specified under section 37.

Step 2: Maintenance of proper documentation

A record of all business expenses, such as invoices and receipts, should be maintained to claim deductions under section 37.

Step 3: Fill the appropriate ITR form

One should know which ITR form to use for filing income tax returns. Different ITR forms are suitable for different individuals/ businesses.

Use ITR 3 if you are a businessman or a professional

Use ITR 5 if you are a firm or LLP.

Use ITR 6 if you are a company.

Step 4:

Report the expenses: After choosing the ITR form, under the section, Profit and gain of business or profession, the business expenses eligible under section 37 are entered.

Step 5:

Check for accurate accounting: In the income statement of a business, the recorded expenses have to be matched with the expenses claimed under section 37 for filing income tax returns.

Step 6: Submit the ITR

On completing the ITR form with the correct details, file the ITR before the due date.

“No Kings” protests are scheduled in Missouri and nationwide on Saturday, June 14, coinciding with President Trump’s 79th birthday and Flag Day.

The protests aim to counter a military parade planned in Washington, D.C., which organizers criticize as a display of authoritarianism.

Over two dozen protests are planned across Missouri.

From multiple protests to large parades to the president’s birthday, this weekend’s itinerary is packed.

“No Kings” protests are taking place on Saturday, June 14, claiming to counter President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday plans to “feed his ego” with a lavish military parade.

“President Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else,” the website states.

The protests coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday and the U.S. Army’s 250th Birthday Parade. The administration has insisted that the Army’s anniversary and Trump’s birthday are coincidental and that the parade is justified to honor soldiers’ sacrifice; however, USA TODAY notes that similar plans to celebrate other branches, including the Navy and Marines, are currently nonexistent.

Here’s what you need to know about “No Kings” protest locations in Missouri.

What are the ‘No Kings’ protests? When are the protests?

“No Kings National Day of Defiance” — or simply protests called “No Kings” — seeks to counter Trump’s multimillion-dollar military parade in D.C. These protests are being planned nationwide on Saturday, June 14, which also falls on Flag Day, the Army’s 250th anniversary celebration, and Trump’s birthday.

“No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance. From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism — and show the world what democracy really looks like,” the website says.

Continued: “On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t — to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.”

The website notes they expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with its values and to act lawfully at these events. They advise that weapons should not be brought to the protest.

When and where is the June 14 DC military parade?

The military parade, which will span six blocks and bisect the National Mall, will take place on Saturday, June 14, in the heart of Washington, D.C. Organizers say the procession will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Events from the 250th birthday celebration, including the parade, will be live-streamed on all U.S. Army social media platforms.

Who are the organizers behind the ‘No Kings’ protests?

Indivisible is partnering with 50501 and dozens of other advocacy groups to promote the anti-Trump movement nationwide.

Indivisible, a grassroots political activism group focused on progressive causes, was founded in response to Trump’s 2016 presidential election. The network has branched into a statewide network of groups, including over 75 in Florida.

The 50501 Movement is a grassroots initiative formed on Reddit under the hashtag #50501 in the early days of Trump’s second inauguration. It stands for 50 protests in 50 states on 1 day, which has since evolved to 50 states, 50 protests, and one movement.

Missouri ‘No Kings’ protests by city list

According to the No Kings website, over two dozen protests are planned across Missouri as of June 10:

➤ Find an event near you

What to know before attending protests in Missouri

Human Rights Campaign has tips for those participating in a peaceful protest to help ensure their safety and well-being:

Properly prepare: Dress for the weather, pack the necessary supplies (cash, water, extra battery, etc), have at least one emergency contact, and plan to share your status throughout the protest.

Dress for the weather, pack the necessary supplies (cash, water, extra battery, etc), have at least one emergency contact, and plan to share your status throughout the protest. Know the environment: Research the location beforehand and have an offline-accessible map to reference if the service is spotty. Have multiple routes into and out of the protest area.

Research the location beforehand and have an offline-accessible map to reference if the service is spotty. Have multiple routes into and out of the protest area. Stay Aware: Maintain “360 situational awareness”— always know what is happening around you. If you see something, say something.

Maintain “360 situational awareness”— always know what is happening around you. If you see something, say something. Observe, Orient, Decide, Act : The “OODA Loop” (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) is a helpful framework to stay calm and make decisions during high-stress situations: Observe: Identify the source of danger and your surroundings Orient: Determine where you are and where you need to go Decide: Choose a course of action that minimizes risk Act: Implement your decision and stay aware of changes in the environment

: The “OODA Loop” (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) is a helpful framework to stay calm and make decisions during high-stress situations:

Contributing: Samantha Foster