Missouri General Assembly

Planned Parenthood To Missouri Lawmakers: End The "Campaign Against Women's Health"

The Missouri legislative session ended last week and one of the many successes the state GOP is celebrating is the passage of a bill to add restrictions to the "abortion pill." It's one of several Republican initiatives that Planned Parenthood is now slamming in the aftermath of the session. It's no ... More >>

St. Louis Fast-Food Workers Protest for Better Pay, Right to Organize

Rasheen Aldridge had just finished working the lunch rush at the Jimmy John's in Soulard when he says his manager handed him a hand-written sign and asked that he hold it while he snapped a photo. The sign's message? "I made three wrong sandwiches."

Catholic Bishops Slam Birth Control Ruling: "Pray for the Protection of Religious Liberty"

The Catholic bishops of Missouri are praying that the legal fight against federal health care mandates for birth control coverage is not over. "We now call upon all people of good will to pray for the protection of religious liberty and for defense of the First Amendment freedoms we all hold dear, ... More >>

Contraception: Tim Jones Still Fighting Birth Control Mandate After Ruling, Cites Free Speech

Should employers and insurers in Missouri be allowed to deny coverage of birth control if it violates their religious beliefs? A federal judge, as we reported earlier this week, ruled that they cannot be exempt -- in a decision overturning a Missouri law that directly contradicted President Barack O ... More >>

Birth Control: Court Overturns Missouri Law Allowing Moral, Religious Coverage Exemptions

Last week, we reported on a GOP proposal in Missouri that would give doctors the right not to perform procedures that go against their moral beliefs -- such as abortions. Meanwhile, a federal judge has struck down a Republican proposal with a similar theme that became law last year; this now over ... More >>

St. Louis Archdiocese Fight Against Contraception: Mandate Lawsuit Dismissed

Last May, the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Catholic Charities went up against the United States government with a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a health care contraception mandate -- and this week, a federal judge decided to dismiss the case. But the battle is not over. So say offic ... More >>

Roy Blunt on Missouri Gun Control Proposal: "Big Step Away From The Second Amendment"

Yesterday, we reported that State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal, a Democrat, is pushing gun legislation that would force parents to notify school officials if they own firearms. It's one of many proposals that is sparking controversy at the state level as federal officials continue to debate what ki ... More >>

MoDOT Approves "9/11-Truther" Group's Adopt-A-Highway Application

"9/11-Truthers" believe a lot of things that make most of us deeply uncomfortable. But at least we'll get a cleaner highway out of their latest publicity stunt. The Missouri Department of Transportation has reluctantly approved a local 9/11 Truth group's application to adopt a stretch of Olive Bou ... More >>

Missouri Legislature Overturns Nixon's Veto on Anti-Contraception Bill

It's official: In Missouri, employers, insurance companies or anyone else involved in an individual's health care can legally refuse to cover the Pill. In a not-so-surprising move, both houses of the Missouri Legislature voted to override Governor Jay Nixon's veto of Senate Bill 749. SB 749 give ... More >>

Vote In the State Primary! Or Don't. Whatever, Who Cares?

​Missouri's presidential primary is Tuesday, February 7. It's your chance to tell your party who you want to see represent you as president. Except that if you're planning on selecting someone from the Republican section of the ballot, your choice doesn't matter -- and that's not me saying that, i ... More >>

What Are Missourians Required to Do When Faced With Jerry Sandusky-Style "Horseplay"?

image via​Say Mike McQueary had stumbled on Jerry Sandusky engaging in "horseplay" (as Sandusky described it to Bob Costas on Monday night) with a ten-year-old boy in a shower in Columbia instead of State College. Forget questions of moral obligation versus moral cowardice. Would our hypotheti ... More >>

Missouri AG Renews Call for Banning Over-the-Counter Sale of Pseudoephedrine

​Speaking to the Missouri Sheriffs Association yesterday in Joplin, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster reiterated his desire to see a statewide ban on the over-the-counter sale of pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient for meth. For the tenth year in a row, Missouri has led the nation in the numb ... More >>

Puppy Mill Law Enforced for First Time; 70 Dogs Taken from Missouri Breeder

The dogs rescued lived among rodent droppings. Old and sick dogs had been shot to death.​Inspectors from the Missouri Department of Agriculture today removed more than 70 dogs from a Monett-based breeder in the first-ever enforcement of the state's new Canine Cruelty Prevention Act. Violations ... More >>

Joplin Teachers Urge Nixon to Veto Facebook Bill

State Representative Jane Cunningham has no problem with child labor -- but boy is Facebook dangerous to Missouri's youngsters!​The Missouri Legislature passed a bill two weeks ago designed to protect children from predatory school teachers. But the bill has stirred up some surprising opposition - ... More >>

On the Tenth Day the Missouri Legislature Created Prayer

We're guessing that this isn't the kind of prayer Missouri legislators want to guarantee.​Tenth day of May, that is. Yes, yesterday the Missouri Legislature passed another proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution. If passed by Missouri voters in 2012, the amendment would guarantee the right ... More >>

St. Louis to Crack Down on Bath Salts

High quality, indeed.​The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will soon consider a bill to outlaw the sale and possession of synthetic cocaine marketed as bath salts.  KMOX reports that St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce is pushing the bill sponsored by Alderman Greg Carter (Ward 27). "These ... More >>

Race Trumps Politics in Missouri Redistricting

Nasheed: Black before Democrat.​Yesterday the Missouri Legislature overrode Governor Jay Nixon's veto of a redistricting map that eliminates the district of Democratic Congressman Russ Carnahan. In securing the override, the Republican-controlled Legislature needed the votes of four Democrats. The ... More >>

U.S. Attorney: Feds Could Challenge Missouri Anti-Sharia Legislation

Muslim women take part in the Pledge of Allegiance during last night's event​U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri Richard Callahan visited the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis last night to address the fears and frustrations of Muslim Americans who worry they are being rac ... More >>

Missouri Ethics Law Gets Bounced by Cole County Judge

An issue relating to the Capitol dome, of all things, has led to Missouri's landmark ethics bill getting thrown out.​We should have known it wouldn't be this easy.Eleven months ago, the Missouri Legislature passed landmark ethics legislation, banning donations from one political action committee t ... More >>

Nearly 100,000 Missouri Veterans Honored

Medal for World War II vets.​For more than a decade, the state of Missouri has awarded medals and certificates to all its native -- or transplanted -- sons and daughters who've served in World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War . And the program is coming up on quite a milestone: 100,000 ve ... More >>

Wisconsin Walkout: Could It Happen in Missouri?

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon: He's no Scott Walker.​Catching up on the news from Wisconsin -- where Democratic state senators have gone on the lam rather than give Governor Scott Walker the quorum he needs to gut state workers' collective-bargaining rights -- we found ourselves wondering: Could suc ... More >>

Missouri Legislature Targets Midwives

The Missouri Medical Association is trying to stop midwives -- again.​Four years ago, the Missouri Legislature decriminalized midwifery -- making it legal for a woman who's certified by one of two national midwives' organizations to deliver babies here.But the state's physicians don't like the com ... More >>

Dead Missourians, Now in a Convenient Online Database

Maybe she'd have lived longer if she'd laid off the home-churned butter.​Plenty of interesting people died in the great state of Missouri. And now, thanks to the work of 275 volunteers -- no word on what percentage of them identify as goths -- and the Missouri State Archives, you can cruise their ... More >>

Judge Throws Out Lawsuit Challenging Nudity Restrictions on Missouri Adult Businesses

​A Cole County judge last week granted a summary judgment request that has -- for now -- thrown out a lawsuit challenging Missouri's recent restrictions on strip clubs and adult bookstores. The Missouri Legislature last year passed sweeping reforms that outlaw nudity at such businesses in addition ... More >>

Missouri House Votes to Allow Drug Tests for Welfare Recipients

Official Seal of the Missouri Legislature​The Missouri House yesterday passed along a bill to the Senate that they hope will allow for the drug testing of welfare recipients. H.B. 76, sponsored by Ellen Brandom (R-Sikeston), passed the House by a whopping 121-37 vote margin and would allow any wel ... More >>

Missouri Legislators Are Storm Tough -- Unlike Illinois Pansies

State Rep. Cynthia Davis (R-O'Fallon) photographed on her way to work this morning.​Say what you will about Missouri legislators, there's one insult you cannot hurl at our state's elected officials. They're not wussies when it comes to the weather. Yes, while their counterparts in Illinois turn an ... More >>

12-Step Plan to Clean Up Lake of the Ozarks Noticeably Void of Alcohol Restraint

The first step is admitting you have a problem.​Attorney General Chris Koster yesterday proposed twelve recommendation for improving the notoriously icky water quality at the Lake of the Ozarks.Here at Riverfront Times we are amazed that none of the twelve steps (described below) have anything to ... More >>

Missouri Poised to Lead Nation in Meth Lab Busts For Fourth Straight Year

Courtesy of the Missouri State Highway PatrolMissouri busted 1,776 meth labs last year and we're on pace for more than 1,800 in 2010.​Missouri has already done the three-peat -- leading the nation in meth lab seizures for three consecutive years, including a whopping 1,774 busts last year, nearly ... More >>

K2 Ban Now in Gov. Jay Nixon's Hands

Image SourceK2 wasn't an issue in Bogey's day.​The Missouri Legislature approved a ban on K2 "synthetic marijuana" last Friday and sent the measure to Gov. Jay Nixon for approval. The proposed law essentially puts K2 on the same legal plane as real marijuana, making possession of less than 35 gram ... More >>

State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal Has A Grande Problem With Mark Parkinson's Immigration Law

Image sourceMaria Chappelle-Nadal is smiling but really she's outraged.​Last week, we reported on HB 2449 and Rep. Mark Parkinson's plan to propose a strict new immigration law in Missouri similar to the one recently enacted in Arizona. On Monday, the Republican from St. Charles explained that he ... More >>

Washington and St. Clair -- Latest Missouri Towns to Outlaw Fake Marijuana

​The Washington city council voted on Monday to outlaw the sale or possession of synthetic marijuana, such as K2. The Washington law is similar to one passed in St. Charles County earlier this year. Also on Monday, alderman in St. Clair also approved a law banning fake marijuana products.Meanwhile ... More >>

State Senator Jeff Smith Rumored To Be Stepping Down

Local politicos are a-wag over rumors that Sen. Jeff Smith, who represents part of St. Louis in the Missouri General Assembly, will soon announce he's stepping down because of legal problems.Daily RFT reached out to Smith this morning but hasn't yet gotten his response. More next week.​

Butt Heads: At the State Capitol, a Different Set of Smoking Rules Applies

Butt Heads: Want to know where our public officials stand on smoking bans? OK, we'll ask 'em!

State Legislature to St. Louis Public Schools: Sell, or Else

The charter-school lobby is getting down to brass tacks in its real-estate beef with the St. Louis Public Schools. Wikimedia Commons...to charter schools.Last week state Senator Jim Lembke introduced a bill in the Missouri General Assembly which prohibits any school district from putting deed restri ... More >>

"Knight Rider" Fans Optimistic Sen. Kit Bond Will Return To Acting

In a speech to the Missouri General Assembly this morning, Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond announced that he won't seek a fifth term in office in 2010. "In 1972, I became Missouri's youngest Governor. Ladies and Gentlemen, I do not aspire to become Missouri's oldest Senator," said Bond. T ... More >>

Bowling for Dollars

Bowling alley owners hope to be spared from what they call an unfair tax.

A ghost scares the pee out of Unreal. But then we meet an extraordinary parrot, and stick it to the Webster Groves PD.

Week of October 5, 2006

House of Cards

So the Cardinals are taking bids. Good luck.

The Big Fix

Public schools are broke all over, so why are only St. Louis and Kansas City getting charter schools?

Homer Town

When it comes to a new stadium, not even opening day is immune from a sales pitch

St. Louisans, Start Your Engines

Missouri again thumbs its nose at the area's mass-transit needs

Missing the Big Picture

Missouri's tax system needs an overhaul, not a holiday

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME

Minneapolis-based Conventions, Sports & Leisure International is hired to advise the Greater St. Louis Sports Authority on issues surrounding a new baseball stadium

IMAGINE A BETTER NEWSPAPER

"Imagine St. Louis": Fighting for truth, justice and the American way?

Killing Doctors with Kindness

"Pro-lifers" go warm-and-fuzzy

The Pro-Life Movement Strikes Again

The End of the Line for St. Louis Schools

Why a "yes" vote on Tuesday is more important than you might think

The End of Deseg As We Know It

City schools face an uncertain future -- a crucial court settlement, a Feb. 2 sales-tax vote, a teachers' union opposed to the tax, accreditation tests this spring and the prospect of a state takeover. It could be a school year from hell.

Justice for All