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Missy Shelton Belote was a national award winning journalist who had been News Director and Senior Governmental Affairs Producer for KSMU, the National Public Radio station in Springfield. She also was the host of Jeff City Journal, the weekly public television program on state government carried by all of Missouri's public TV stations and a regular contributor to National Public Radio.

Missy had been a long-term partner at Missoui Digital News in partnership with KSMU -- covering stories, assisting students and serving for nearly 15 years as the effective deputy director of MDN.

Her stories were broadcast by NPR stations across Missouri and CBS-owned KMOX Radio in St. Louis. She also regularly filed spot and feature stories for NPR's national news programs including Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

She gained national attention for her coverage of Gov. Mel Carnahan shortly before his fatal plane crash in the fall of 2000.

Missy was supposed to have been on that flight!

She had been spending that day with Carnahan covering his U.S. Senate campaign and was scheduled to accompany him on a campaign-related flight at the end of the day.

But at the last moment, Carnahan's staffer informed both Missy and his security guard the governor wanted privacy.

We'll never know the reasons for the governor's decision for privacy on the flight. Also killed in the crash was the staffer who informed Missy she was bumpted on the flight, Chris Sifford, and the governor's son Randy who was piloting the plane.

As Missy described it, Sifford said Carnahan wanted privacy to talk about political matters on the flight, but not to be concerned because the weather was too bad for the flight to continue -- a flight that cost the governor his life.

It was a demonstration of Missy's professionalism that she went on national television to talk about that episode despite how emotionally it is was for her.

Missy began as a journalism student reporter covering the statehouse for MDN in 1997, graduating from the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri. She subsequently earned a master's degree from Southwest Missouri State University.

In addition to covering state government, Missy taught journalism courses at SMSU. Missy's husband, Brad Belote, had been a broadcast news executive in Springfield before their departure from the state to be closer with their relatives.

Together, they became devoted and proud parents of three children from China, Ethiopia and Viet Nam.

In her spare time, Missy enjoyed acting in community theatre productions, writing short stories, and playing the piano.

Missy and Brad moved to Tennessee in 2012 where she became a pastor at a Methodist Church -- essentially still telling a story, but one of much greater meaning.



Stories by Missy Shelton include:

• 6/ 1/2004: Radio Story - The Supreme Court heard arguments in a case involving when Missourians will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
• 5/14/2004: Radio Story - Lawmakers ended the session.
• 5/13/2004: Radio Story - Legislation banning vaccines containing a mercury preservative hit a roadblock in the Senate.
• 5/13/2004: Radio Story - The House was 12 votes shy of overriding the governor's veto of legislation limiting liability lawsuits.
• 5/13/2004: Radio Story - There was overwhelming support for the bill that requires insurance companies to provide the same coverage for mental and physical health.
• 5/13/2004: Radio Story - Lawmakers pared down the Governor Bob Holden's Jobs Now program before sending it to his desk.
• 5/13/2004: Radio Story - The sponsor of the proposed bond bill says it's likely dead.
• 5/12/2004: Radio Story - Democratic Governor Bob Holden sent President Bush a letter raising concerns about how some Missouri National Guard Troops are being used in Iraq.
• 5/12/2004: Radio Story - The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments in a case involving a Springfield nurse accused of violating the law by failing to report suspected child abuse.
• 5/11/2004: Radio Story - Working late into the night, the senate approved legislation designed to improve the state's foster care system.
• 5/10/2004: Radio Story - A proposed constituional amendment banning gay marriage stalled in the Senate.
• 5/10/2004: Radio Story - The governor's economic development proposal known as the Jobs Now Initiative stalled in the Senate as lawmakers offered amendment after amendment.
• 5/ 6/2004: Radio Story - A new audit suggests the state could've gotten $3.5 million in federal grants if only the state had applied for the money.
• 5/ 6/2004: Radio Story - Lawmakers approved a budget that removes a smaller number of people from Medicaid than the 30,000 that would've lost coverage under a House proposal.
• 5/ 6/2004: Radio Story - The legislature sent the governor a bill that bans billboards from Missouri highways that advertise adult businesses.
• 5/ 5/2004: Radio Story - Despite an improving state economy that enabled lawmakers to increase education funding, the governor's spokeswoman says Bob Holden still wants lawmakers to approve higher taxes on big business and cigarettes.
• 5/ 4/2004: Radio Story - Lawmakers honored three church groups that helped their communities after the storms tore through southwest Missouri.
• 5/ 4/2004: Radio Story - It appears as though legislation designed to reduce the number of people on Medicaid is nearly dead.
• 5/ 4/2004: Radio Story - The legislature sent the governor budget proposals that include spending increases for lower and higher education and don't rely on a tax increase to fund the increases.
• 5/ 3/2004: Radio Story - A committee of lawmakers will decide if highway patrol officers get a salary adjustment phased in over five years.
• 4/29/2004: Radio Story - The House voted to require only riders under the age of 21 to wear a helmet.
• 4/28/2004: Radio Story - By a voice vote, the Senate gave preliminary approval to legislation that would put the state in debt to pay for new buildings and reonvations on university and college campuses.
• 4/28/2004: Radio Story - The House voted to let parents sue anyone who helps their underage daughter get an abortion if the parents didn't give their consent.
• 4/27/2004: Radio Story - The governor vetoed the bill, saying it favors companies, not individuals in liability lawsuits.
• 4/27/2004: Radio Story - The House gave first round approval to a measure that would make liable anyone who helps a minor obtain an abortion without parental consent.
• 4/26/2004: Radio Story - Springfield Senator Norma Champion threated to filibuster legislation containing the proposed merger between Northwest State University and the University of Missouri system.
• 4/26/2004: Radio Story - Senators gave first round approval to a measure that would make it illegal to videotape a movie being shown in a theatre.
• 4/21/2004: Radio Story - Despite attempts to delay the bill's passage, the Senate sent the governor a proposal that restricts liability lawsuits.
• 4/21/2004: Radio Story - A handful of senate democrats succeeded in moving for adjournment when they notced no one else was in the chamber, delaying a vote on Republican-backed legislation.
• 4/20/2004: Radio Story - A few democratic senators engaged in extended debate on the bill that funds public schools.
• 4/19/2004: Radio Story - Army Major and State Senator Jon Dolan comments on a case before the U.S. Supreme Court involving the undetermined fate of suspected terrorists being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
• 4/19/2004: Radio Story - Senators debate the merits of a proposal that would put the state $350 million in debt to pay for building projects on university campuses.
• 4/14/2004: Radio Story - Lawmakers debate a proposal that would ask voters to repeal term limits.
• 4/14/2004: Radio Story - The senate debates a bill that's designed to create new jobs by ending some tax credit programs and shifting the money to public construction projects.
• 4/14/2004: Radio Story - State Auditor Claire McCaskill criticized Governor Bob Holden for waiting too long to release money he'd withheld from public schools.
• 4/13/2004: Radio Story - The House gave final approval to legislation designed to overhaul the state's child welfare system.
• 4/13/2004: Radio Story - The House gave final approval to a bill that's designed to overhaul the state's child welfare system.
• 3/31/2004: Radio Story - The House gave first round approval to a constitutional amendment that would forbid same sex marriages.
• 3/31/2004: Radio Story - The House overwhelmingly supported a bill that would force insurance companies to provide comprehensive mental health coverage.
• 3/31/2004: Radio Story - Parents of autistic children urged a senate committee to approve a bill that would prevent children from receiving vaccines containing a mercury preservative.
• 3/10/2004: Radio Story - Without ceremony, the governor signed a bill that's supposed to give mentally ill children greater access to treatment.
• 3/10/2004: Radio Story - A proposed constitutional amendment would limit how much lawmakers can spend in the budgeting process.
• 3/10/2004: Radio Story - The House gave first round approval to a measure that would prevent children from getting vaccines that contain mercury.
• 3/ 9/2004: Radio Story - Another Republican has joined the group of GOP senators that support raising taxes to fund public schools.
• 3/ 3/2004: Radio Story - About 200 people came to the capitol to rally against a proposed constitutional ban on same sex marriage.
• 3/ 2/2004: Radio Story - A senate committee took testimony on a measure that would give law enforcement the power to pull you over for not wearing a seat belt.
• 2/11/2004: Radio Story - The House voted down a bill that would change the name of SMSU to Missouri State University.

Stories by Missy Shelton include:

• 9/ 8/2003: Radio Story - As the special session gets underway, lawmakers consider raising taxes on business to boost funding for elementary and secondary education.
• 6/ 5/2003: Radio Story - Democratic governor Bob Holden, House Speaker Catherine Hanaway and Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder reiterated their position on the budget in speeches to the House.
• 6/ 3/2003: Radio Story - Republican lawmakers say hours of testimony from social services advocates and public school officials have not made them more supportive of higher taxes.
• 6/ 3/2003: Radio Story - The House Budget committee heard from public education advocates who say budget cuts will devestate schools.
• 5/16/2003: Radio Story - Missouri lawmakers end their session but they're not sure it's the end of their work.
• 5/16/2003: Radio Story - It was the first session for ninety lawmakers in the House of Representatives.
• 5/15/2003: Radio Story - A vote in the senate will send legislation to the governor that's supposed to change the state's child protective system.
• 5/15/2003: Radio Story - As part of the lobbying effort, elderly citizens are calling freshmen republicans in the House, urging them to put a tax package before voters.
• 5/14/2003: Radio Story - Lawmakers voted for a bill that's supposed to ensure the Department of Corrections accomodates reasonable requests from inmates who want to practice their religion.
• 5/13/2003: Radio Story - During a meeting with Republican legislative leaders, the governor did not specify whether or not he'll call lawmakers into a special session.
• 5/13/2003: Radio Story - The senate gave unanimous approval to legislation that's designed to make it more difficult to access the ingredients used to make methamphetamine.
• 5/12/2003: Radio Story - Missouri lawmakers send the governor a bill that brings Missouri into compliance with a federal election law.
• 5/ 9/2003: Radio Story - The legislature's work on the budget is done but they don't know if it's a done deal.
• 5/ 8/2003: Radio Story - One of the biggest points of contention in the budget debate centered on funding for elementary and secondary education.
• 5/ 8/2003: Radio Story - The African-American members of the senate have leveled charges of discrimination against Senate Republican leaders.
• 5/ 7/2003: Radio Story - Budget negotiators from the House and Senate reach a compromise though some Democratic lawmakers say the latest budget plan contains cuts that go too deep.
• 5/ 6/2003: Radio Story - As many as ten state representatives are missing out on budget negotiations at the state capitol because they're helping clean up storm damage in their districts.
• 5/ 6/2003: Radio Story - Legislation authorizing concealed weapons is on its way to the governor's desk.
• 5/ 6/2003: Radio Story - Lawmakers reached an agreement on how to proceed with budget negotiations between the House and Senate.
• 4/28/2003: Radio Story - The House gave overwhelming approval to a bill that would set aside a portion of the tobacco settlement for life sciences research.
• 4/23/2003: Radio Story - The senate approved a higher education budget that is $84 million less than what lawmakers appropriated last year.
• 4/22/2003: Radio Story - As the senate began its work on the budget, the debate quickly became partisan.
• 4/16/2003: Radio Story - Senate budget writers consider the impact of closing two state prison.
• 4/16/2003: Radio Story - A new audit shows the way the state distributes money to public school districts is inequitable.
• 4/16/2003: Radio Story - A new audit shows the state is not equitably distributing money to school districts.
• 4/15/2003: Radio Story - Last year, Missouri lost more jobs than other state in the country.
• 4/ 8/2003: Radio Story - Some department directors say the lump sum appropriation isn't all bad.
• 3/18/2003: Radio Story - House debate on the Republican budget plan erupted into yelling as democratic lawmakers expressed their opposition.
• 3/11/2003: Radio Story - Lawmakers in the House approved a bill that would create a no spam list for those who want to free their inboxes of unwanted commercial emails.
• 3/11/2003: Radio Story - A proposed sales tax holiday for back-to-school shopping gets first round approval from the Missouri Senate.
• 3/ 6/2003: Radio Story - As the military prepares for a possible war with Iraq, one state senator who serves in the National Guard says he may get called to duty.
• 3/ 6/2003: Radio Story - A House committee sent forward a bill that would prohibit school districts from expanding their nondiscrimination policy.
• 2/ 5/2003: Radio Story - Lawmakers in the House gave first round approval to a bill that would extend the time law enforcement can hold a suspect in custody without charging them.
• 1/29/2003: Radio Story - Doctors and malpractice victims lobbyied lawmakers over limits on lawsuit awards.
• 4/24/2002: Radio Story - The senate gave final approval to a tax increase package that would generate new revenue for road repair and mass transit.
• 3/12/2002: Radio Story - Lawmakers in the House gave first round approval to a plan that raises gaming boat boarding fees to help pay for public education.
• 3/ 5/2002: Radio Story - Lawmakers consider a proposal that would let voters decide the fate of a plan that funnels millions of tax dollars into a new Cardinals stadium in downtown St. Louis.
• 2/27/2002: Radio Story - State senators rejected a three-cent increase in the diesel fuel tax.
• 2/26/2002: Radio Story - Governor Bob Holden announced he and the Cardinals Baseball Team have reached an agreement that would funnel millions of tax dollars into the construction of a new ballpark in downtown St. Louis.
• 2/25/2002: Radio Story - Some local health officials say legislation exempting non-profits from food inspections is dangerous.
• 2/20/2002: Radio Story - The Missouri House gave first round approval to a ban on sex between Alzheimer's patients and nursing home workers.
• 2/19/2002: Radio Story - Missouri's democratic governor says he supports a republican transportation funding proposal.
• 2/18/2002: Radio Story - Though voters approved betting on horse races in the 1980's, no tracks have come to the state. Some lawmakers are looking for ways to attract tracks to locate in Missouri.
• 2/ 5/2002: Radio Story - St Louis Rapper Nelly received an honor from Missouri's governor for his work in St Louis public schools.
• 1/29/2002: Radio Story - Some state lawmakers say they want to require public schools to start the day with a moment of silence so students will have the chance to pray.
• 1/24/2002: Radio Story - The governor wants lawmakers to expand gaming in the state to fund public education.
• 1/16/2002: Radio Story - A coalition of high-powered lobby groups wants state lawmakers to crack down on payday loan companies.
• 1/16/2002: Radio Story - The state's budget direct says it's unlikely the governor will have to make further witholdings in the current fiscal year.