Dick Durbin

Gun Violence: Missouri One of Worst States With High Crime Rates, Weak Laws (REPORT)

Though top Republicans in Missouri are devoting a lot of time and money to protect the privacy of gun owners, a new report says that officials in the state have a much bigger problem they need to address: really high rates of gun violence supported by very weak laws. The Center for American Progre ... More >>

Gun Control: Dick Durbin Wants to Lower East St. Louis Homicide Rate, 18 Times U.S. Average

The homicide rate per capita in East St. Louis, Illinois, is about eighteen times the national average -- which U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says is a problem that cries for a solution. And tighter gun control, he says, is part of the answer. The Illinois Democrat brought his fight for legislation r ... More >>

"Stan Span" Plan Nearly Law: Musial Bridge Tribute Gets Unanimous Support in U.S. Senate

U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, and Roy Blunt, a Republican, don't usually agree on much of anything -- but they can come together for Stan the Man. And thus the rare press release yesterday quoting both Missouri senators, who are championing the unanimous passage this week in the U.S. ... More >>

Stan Musial Bridge: Governor Jay Nixon Pressures Pat Quinn With Press Release

The death of Stan Musial is one of those rare occasions that prompts elected officials from across the state to send out press releases with virtually the same message -- one of praise and gratitude for the late Cardinal and Missouri icon. The latest incarnation of press-releases-honoring-Musial is ... More >>

Stan Musial Bridge: Momentum Builds to Name Missouri-Illinois Connection After Late Cardinal

This is an easy one. Lawmakers are now proposing that the Mississippi River bridge be named after the late, great Stan Musial, because, well, duh. "It's obvious," says Senator John Lamping, a Republican who introduced the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge bill, full version on view below. "He strikes ... More >>

University of Corporate Greed: America's for-profit colleges leave taxpayers and students high and dry

ESL Mayor Accused of "Slick Political Moves" in Battle Over Liquor Sales

Mayor Alvin Parks is finding himself more and more isolated these days in his quest to maintain the status quo in East St. Louis. Last week the City Council voted 3-2 to rein in late-night liquor sales that law enforcement believes contribute to violence in the cash-strapped and crime-ridden city. T ... More >>

Hell Hole vs. Murder City: Adjectives for East St. Louis Just Get Worse

Saturday Night Live poked some fun at East St. Louis with a political skit this past weekend that had Keenan Thompson (Good Burger, FTW), in character as ESL mayor Alvin Parks, proclaim his city to be a "hell hole." The real life Parks was reportedly not amused by the characterization.And then today ... More >>

Mayor Alvin Parks Rethinks ESL's Late-Night Liquor Sales in Wake of Shootings

​East St. Louis native and Illinois Senator Dick Durbin last month urged Mayor Alvin Parks to end the city's late-night liquor sales in the hopes that it would cut down on violent crime. As he had done in the past, Parks rejected the notion. But after two separate shootings long after midnight thi ... More >>

William Lacy Clay Shares "Most Liberal" Ranking

The public policy magazine National Journal released its annual rankings reflecting the most liberal- and conservative-voting politicians last Friday, and two Missouri lawmakers earned slots that make for interesting discussion. Rep. William Lacy Clay, who represents parts of St. Louis and north S ... More >>

Sen. Dick Durbin Gives Mayor Alvin Parks an Ultimatum, Parks Shrugs

​Senator Dick Durbin (D-Il) had some pointed and very public advice for East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks yesterday: Cut off the late-night package liquor sales and shut down the clubs at 1 a.m. and your crime rate will drop. Parks decided to not even take it under advisement, noting that those clu ... More >>

Confirmed E. Coli Cases Increase; Other Outbreaks Reported

Screenshot via​Since last Thursday, the confirmed cases of E. coli in the St. Louis area have increased from 16 to 30. Investigators still haven't found the source of the contamination. Four cases of E. coli have been reported in Boone County, Missouri, and aren't thought to be related to the ... More >>

Claire McCaskill Asks FTC Chair to Watch for Gas Gouging

Claire McCaskill: Not too pumped about gas prices.​With Memorial Day around the corner and gas prices flirting with the $4-a-gallon mark, Sen. Claire McCaskill and three colleagues yesterday sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz, calling on him to investigate potenti ... More >>

Construction on High-Speed Rail Between St. Louis and Chicago Continues

www.whitehouse.gov​This afternoon in Chicago, Illinois heavyweights and railway folks are going to announce a second round of funding for a high-speed rail line between St. Louis and the Windy City.Sen. Dick Durbin, (D-Ill) and Illinois governor Pat Quinn will announce the new infusion of cash on ... More >>

Food Safety Bill Passes Senate

Image via​Legislation to overhaul the nation's oversight of food safety passed the Senate this morning by a vote of 73 to 25. The bill greatly increases the FDA's authority over food producers.Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill (D) voted in favor of the bill; retiring Senator Kit Bond (R) abstained ... More >>

Lady Gaga Can't Save "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Image ViaLady Gaga at Monday's rally.​Missouri Senator Kit Bond joined his Republican colleagues and three Democrats yesterday in defeating a defense spending bill that would repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy allowing gays to openly serve in the armed forces. (Sen. Claire McCask ... More >>

This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

Oh Lolli Lolli, which opened in August.​This week, Gut Check was chock-full of local restaurant news. Ian posted a rundown of August's restaurant openings and closings, and we also reported on scheduled openings of Lester's Tavern and a new Wasabi location. Then we checked out the revamped ... More >>

Dick Durbin and Monsanto: An Unholy Alliance That Will Put an End to Agricultural Freedom?

image viaDurbin: Slave to Monsanto?​A hysterical rumor has been making its way through the Internet over the past few months alleging that Senate Bill 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, is a threat to small farmers and gardeners who like to grow their own fruits and vegetables. Worse, ... More >>

The Justice System is On Crack

Image Via​In the '80s, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin thought he was leading the charge in the war on drugs. He advocated significantly stiffer sentences for possession of crack than for powder cocaine -- to the point that, to this day, it still takes 100 times as much powdered booger sugar to trigg ... More >>

The Few, The Proud, The Shattered

Tina Richards' son returned, suicidal, from Iraq battlefields. Now, the Missouri woman is waging her own war in Congress.

Small Plates: Friday, 7/13

Unreal News Challenge 2006

Week of December 21, 2006

Paradise Lost

Tim Hogan is fighting to get his family out of a bureaucratic no-man's land

Popcorgasm

Unreal witnesses debate history (well, from a tent outside), learns guerrilla postering tactics and asks the tough questions about adult diapers; plus, this is the month to celebrate two of our most favorite things!

Will the Real John Ashcroft Please Stand Up?

Missouri's junior senator says he is a pro-consumer health-care reformist. But the insurance companies, HMOs and big business, which give him millions, think he's on their side.

Shooting Back

As gun makers stockpile money for a PR and marketing battle to convince still more citizens to take up arms, besieged cities such as St. Louis aren't taking it lying down. They're returning fire with lawsuits.

Poll Stars