Parson freezes $180M in spending, expects $500M shortfall

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday froze $180 million in state spending, saying the move was necessary because of an anticipated $500 million shortfall in funding through June 30, the end of the fiscal year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Parson said he hoped that the state could use $315 million in federal funding "to help with this shortfall." He indicated the effects would also be felt in the next fiscal year, 2021. Cuts were coming for the departments including Higher Education and Workforce…