Here’s an example of an admirable effort to improve public health without spending a dime of government money: On Jan. 1, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett challenged the citizens of his city to lose 1 million pounds. As part of this initiative, residents can sign up on the mayor’s interactive [...]
That would be a ban on red light cameras, which was recently proposed in the Missouri Senate. Although I am not a fan of most rules, I have no problem with the fair enforcement of effective traffic laws. The problem is that red light cameras are not effective in [...]
ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) — One-time potential political foes Roy Blunt and Sarah Steelman announced her selection Friday to head a coalition of Missouri business people to advise Blunt’s U.S. Senate campaign on what’s needed to expand and sustain small businesses and jobs.
Last year, Steelman, an economist and former state [...]
If Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri intends to vote against his party’s health reform bill, which could happen Sunday, did he side with the Democrats on a procedural vote Thursday to help them pass it?
Vicky Hartzler, a Republican hoping to win her party’s nod and challenge Skelton for the 4th [...]
Americans are proud of their independence and their rights as individuals to express their unique perspectives. No one is about to tell you what to do, and many people would be willing to fight to keep that privilege. That’s good, but our concern in recent weeks has been how that [...]
KMBC: The friend of man shot to death during a confrontation with police on Thursday said he regrets calling authorities. [...] 
KMBC explores a case that could bring serious charges against a Facebook user: Shawnee police are investigating allegations that a 15-year-old girl sent nude pictures of herself to a Facebook friend. [...] WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is heading to Capitol Hill to meet with Democratic lawmakers on Saturday — the day before a crucial vote on his health care overhaul.
Obama wants to make a last push for his top domestic priority after more than a year of debate.
White House officials [...]
from WIBW-TV
Thousands of people are expected to pour into Washington for a Sunday rally demanding immigration reform, launching the first public battle over the issue since the announcement of a new bipartisan plan endorsed by President Barack Obama.
While the nation will be focused largely on a more immediate debate - [...]
WASHINGTON (AP) — It was a bold response to skyrocketing health insurance premiums. President Barack Obama would give federal authorities the power to block unreasonable rate hikes.
Yet when Democrats unveiled the final, incarnation of their health care bill this week, the proposal was nowhere to be found.
Ditto with several Republican [...]
from Religion News Service
WASHINGTON (RNS) First it was President Obama against Republicans. Then it was Obama against Democrats. The health care debate roiling Capitol Hill has even pitted Catholic versus Catholic.
And, in the latest sign that things have gone sour, it’s now nun against nun.
The fight over abortion language [...]
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois House this morning overwhelmingly approved a measure that would make it a crime in Illinois to own a pet monkey.
The monkey bill joins scores of other measures that have advanced through one or another…
[...]Update: The forum/debate has ended with the crowd of teachers chanting “Save our schools,” and holding up “SOS” signs. The moderator (whose name I unfortunately didn’t catch due to the late livestream start) asked Quinn and Brady to “serve as…
[...]
Rebecca Brown
CLAYTON – Steve Brown’s admission to felony obstruction of justice charges led to his resignation from the General Assembly after less than a year in office.
But could there be another candidate in…
[...]COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Top prosecutors in South Carolina and Florida say they’re ready to sue if health care reform legislation passes this weekend.
South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster says he and Florida Attorney General Bill McCollumill will file a federal lawsuit challenging whether the bill is constitutional.
McMaster says that [...]
from ap
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama delivered a closing argument for the goal to which he has devoted much of his presidency, urging lawmakers on Friday to pass a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. health care system in a long-awaited vote this weekend.
With the vote hanging on the [...]
Elected officials are supposedly voted into office to represent their constituents, but it doesn't always seem to work out that way. All too frequently, politicians lose touch with their constituents and start voting against their districts on issues.
There are a variety of reasons why they do it, and none [...]
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois lawmakers and judges taking office after this year would have to wait longer to retire and receive less benefits under legislation that passed the House without opposition today.
Sponsoring Rep. Kevin McCarthy, D-Orland Park, said…
[...]TOPEKA | A Kansas panel has rescheduled a hearing for a former deputy attorney general facing an ethics complaint over investigations of abortion providers.
The hearing for Eric Rucker by the state Board for Discipline of Attorneys had been scheduled to start April 27. It's been postponed to May 11 because [...]
Steelman, left, and Blunt
Former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman once referred to Republican Senate hopeful Roy Bunt as “another white guy in a suit,” suggesting he was part of a “good old boys’ network out…
[...]WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the health care overhaul that Congress may complete this weekend should be backed by lawmakers who want to retain current restrictions on federal financing of abortion.
The California Democrat says the legislation leaves intact the existing curbs on federal payments for the procedure. [...]
Watching this video about the Florida School Choice Parent Resource Center, I marveled at the many options available to Florida families:
Some of the educational choices that exist in Florida are notably absent in Missouri. For example, Florida students with disabilities may choose between different public schools or receive scholarships to [...]
A historic health care reform weekend? Or a hysterical Nancy Pelosi weekend? Or a hernia this weekend from shoveling snow? Enjoy...
from ap
WASHINGTON - Slowly but steadily, support is building behind President Barack Obama's health care legislation in the House, the result of intense lobbying and politically targeted changes aimed at reassuring waverers and winning over critics.
Obama himself was to talk up the sweeping overhaul in a midday speech Friday [...]
Ka-ching.
That's the sound that Rep, Roy Blunt's Senate campaign could hear after the shout-out he received Thursday at the American Bankers Association meeting.
Reuters reported that it happened when bankers told Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, the ranking Republican on the Senate Banking committee, that they didn't like the White [...]
WASHINGTON (AP) — High-income families would be hit with a tax increase on wages and a new levy on investments under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul bill.
For the first time, the Medicare payroll tax would be applied to investment income, beginning in 2013. A new 3.8 percent tax would [...]
We're now in the final phase of right-wing hysteria before the House vote on health care legislation. Accordingly, St. Louis Tea Party leader Bill Hennessy declares: "the American Experiment is over. It’s time to choose between freedom and tyranny." And Glenn Beck has called a prospective Sunday vote an
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, the leader of a dozen anti-abortion Democrats, says his group remains committed to opposing the health care overhaul the House is likely to vote on this weekend.
Stupak said Friday on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he wants to pass health care but [...]
It’s not often that you hear a member of Congress attack the people who do all the dirty work that allows them to preen in the spotlight – all those faceless congressional aides.
But at the American Bankers Association meeting in Washington yesterday, House Minority Leader John Boehner of [...]
As Caitlin pointed out last night here on Show-Me Daily, the Saint Louis blogosphere has been criticizing the Show-Me Institute for moving from Clayton to the Central West End, claiming that it is ironic that we moved to the land of the earnings tax, when the institute’s publications [...]
Proposed K2 ban ignores bigger questions on marijuana
The earnings tax, marginal utility, and the Show-Me Institute's move to St. Louis
Kansas lawmakers likely not in a rush to change smoking ban
Independence makes sense for Palin visit
BlogKC believes that Independence is the perfect place for an [...]
I understand why some folks are upset about the tumultuous but much-needed school closings called for in the Kansas City School District.
No one likes having school buildings closed. It fractures communities and raises concerns about blight within affected neighborhoods.
But come on. A one-day school boycott in protest?
It's misguided at best, [...]
One of the most prolific photographers in Kansas City captures a great image of the old Dwight Building, now known as the Library Lofts in downtown KCMO. [...] 
At an American Bankers Association government relations summit this week, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) told an "enthusiastic crowd" that electing Roy Blunt to the U.S. Senate "would help immensely" in their effort to block meaningful financial reform. Reuters:
Also at the conference, attendees told [...]
The AP has a great write-up of the exhibit "Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race" at the National Archives in Kansas City. It's only open to 18+ and it features the a horrifying look at how the Nazis handled their healthcare debate. [...] 
Obama and Carnahan in 2004
The Missouri Republican Party missed an opportunity to connect Robin Carnahan with Barack Obama when the Democratic Senate hopeful was out of town for the president’s visit to St. Louis…
[...]
The Star: Anti-abortion legislators in Kansas are pushing a proposal to allow lawsuits against doctors over legally questionable late-term abortions. [...] 
I was in Chicago last weekend. Saturday night we stayed at the new ALoft in Bolingbrook (map), near Ikea.
The location is highly auto-centric) but walkability/accessibility was given some minimal attention. From our room I could see the sidewalk along [...]
NBC Action News reports on mourning parents much to kind for Midwest Epicenter of Capitalism: "An Olathe father grieving his son killed in a car crash is hoping prosecutors do not punish the driver responsible." [...] 
KMBC: Suits Claim Asbestos Exposure At Jackson County Courthouse
Present Magazine has recently posted a great series of articles based on the recollections of a Kansas City Jazz legend. [...] 
Hyperblogal has some great photos of springtime flowering plants fooled into thinking that cold weather is over. [...] 
Click the link below to view a mailing that was paid for by Tom Atkins and Larry Moore and asks people to donate money to the campaigns of the candidates endorsed by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
Letter paid for by chamber affiliates [...] 
A federal appellate court said it wouldn't reconsider its ruling that former Attorney General John Ashcroft can be held personally responsible for misuse of the material witness statute after the Sept. 11 attacks.
House budgeters are budgeting, but the budget shortfall isn't budging.
Sen. Claire McCaskill tore into her [...]
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The Star: Missouri Senate approves bill for 
