johncombest.com

Missouri's political news website since October 2001.

Archive - April 2015



 


        Thursday, April 30
       
P-D:  Obama threatens veto of Iran arms bill if Blunt amendment is attached
          KC Star:  White House says Iran bill will draw veto if Blunt's prisoner-release amendment is attached +
          St. Joseph News-Press:  At hearing, Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke tells Blunt that flight simulators are coming to Rosecrans X
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Club for Growth on Blunt's conservative rating;  Schmitt on bullying;  Nasheed on wayward youths and deadly force +
          P-D/Kaiser Health News:  Study from experts at Kaiser Family Foundation shows Medicaid expansion gives boost to Ascension Health
          KC Star:  Sen. Mike Parson (R-Bolivar) to kick off gubernatorial campaign today +
          Columbia Missourian:  In third term, Rep. Caleb Jones (R-Columbia) keeps moving up
          JCNT:  Defendant:  'Right to Farm' cancels marijuana-growing charge X
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Munzlinger says legislators are trying to avoid triggering Hancock Amendment with transportation funding
          AP:  Legislature OKs expanded rights for military voters
          AP:  Missouri House endorses bond funding for new veterans home
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Moberly superintendent talks about state's tougher exams for potential teachers
          Washington Missourian:  Students taking state assessments online
          CDT:  Committee defeats House bill that would stop Grain Belt Express X
          Missourinet:  Missouri lawmakers, officer disagree on effect of system to track pseudoephedrine purchases
          The Maneater:  Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) introduces LGBTQIA non-discrimination bill for the sixth straight year
          The Missouri Times:  Rep. Ken Wilson (R-Smithville) brings UAVs to Capitol, wants to codify commercial drone use in the state
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Bill from Rep. Lindell Shumake (R-Hannibal) would reduce regulations on small honey bottlers
          Missourinet:  Change to use of deadly force by Missouri police gets initial Senate approval
          AP:  Missouri Senate OKs bill to limit police use of deadly force
          P-D:  Rates rising for Ameren Missouri customers, except Noranda
          AP:  Noranda gets rate cut, other Ameren customers see increase
          JCNT:  Mid-Missouri lawmakers unhappy with PSC decision X
          P-D:  New football stadium bills total about $800,000, so far
          JCNT:  Stink bugs invading Missouri;  Invertebrates cause economic damage, emit foul odor when disturbed X
          P-D:  Protesters again return to Ferguson streets;  Tuesday night activities included multiple shootings, looting, destruction of police vehicles, setting Port-a-Potty ablaze
          AP:  Protests return in Ferguson for second night
          P-D:  Caucasoid Illinois teen admits plan to join looting in Ferguson, then sell stolen guns to protesters
          The Maneater editorial:  Legislature should pass Webber's MONA
          P-D editorial:  From Ferguson to Baltimore:  The new civil rights movement emerges
          St. Joseph News-Press' Alonzo Weston:  Sexagenarian columnist discusses Missouri welfare reform with imaginary 300-lb. friend "Bag-Head Jheri" X
          KC Star letters:  Ensure transportation money isn't spent on other projects;  Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline deserves full funding +
          P-D letter:  Response to Martin Rochester's response to P-D editorial on school-transfer issue
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.




        Wednesday, April 29
       
KC Star:  Blunt wants release of U.S. prisoners as a condition of Iran deal +
          KWMU:  Blunt says he wants less regulatory burden on job creators, would codify executive order
          Roll Call:  Rothenberg/Roll Call rate Blunt's seat as Safe Republican, but Kander supporters insist he has a shot
          P-D:  HUD secretary visits St. Louis, says area may receive taxpayer dollars through "Promise Zone" designation
          AP:  HUD secretary announces 8 new Promise Zone designations
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Cleaver on Hillary;  Galloway gives a gracious nod to Schweich, Jackson;  Kehoe on state employee compensation +
          CDT:  Nicole Galloway replaces top staffers;  John Luetkemeyer named deputy state auditor, and Michael Moorefield as chief of staff X
          CDT:  Medicaid-expansion rally draws 20 X
          KWMU:  How the Missouri General Assembly's budget differs from governor's proposals
          KWMU:  Senate gives first approval to bill changing state's deadly force law
          The Missouri Times:  New deadly force law gets first approval in Senate
          AP:  Senate passes prison options for kids guilty of murder
          The Missouri Times:  A look at what's next for student transfers
          P-D:  Students in nearly 90 schools across Missouri could transfer under tentatative plan
          KC Star:  High school juniors across Missouri take the ACT exam on the state's dime +
          Missouri Digital News:  Anti-bullying bill passed by state Senate;  Comments from Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale)
          KWMU:  Brookings Institution gives high ranking to Missouri S&T
          Missourinet:  Missouri lawmakers asked to require infant sleeping policy of day cares
          AP:  Missouri House OKs utility tax exemption for food production
          AP:  Missouri Senate hires former Army officer as security aide
          Missourinet:  Proposed reforms of Missouri city courts goes to legislative conference
          KWMU:  Data problem clouds American Lung Association's annual St. Louis air report;  ozone improves but still gets an 'F'
          Missourinet:  Petition:  Release Missouri man in prison 21 years for pot crimes
          The Missouri Times:  Rep. Shamed Dogan (R-Ballwin), others call for clemency for pot inmate
          CDT:  State documents refute IBM's jobs claims X
          KOLR:  Tick season creeping up earlier this year;  Missouri Dept. of Conservation warns against dangerous blood-sucking parasites
          Drebes:  NY Times wonders why so many black men are killed or incarcerated in Ferguson
          KTVI:  Protesters congregate in Ferguson, 2 people shot
          KTVI:  Looters hit Mobil on the Run overnight;  Video of miscreants breaking windows, pillaging store
          P-D:  Protesters congregate, shootings ensue;  Photos of man bleeding, woman waving upside-down American flag, police dealing with aggression
          KWMU:  Protesters congregate, violence ensues
          KC Star:  Nixon to Baltimore:  Make it through the short-term protester/rioter/looter/arsonist behavior, then don't put your head in the sand +
          JCNT editorial:  Rate request becomes issue for Legislature X
          KC Star letter:  Maybe students whining about their college loans should have thought about the struggle before borrowing huge sums of money +
          JCNT letter:  Area man reveals objective of Missouri Republicans:  To destroy the middle class X
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Tuesday, April 28
       
P-D:  Iran bill up for Senate debate, but amendments may kill it;  Comments from Blunt
          National Journal:  Corker, Cardin try to hold Iran bill together;  Details on Blunt amendment
          KWMU:  McCaskill talks politics, law enforcement, presidential campaign, Schweich suicide, more
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Rep. Emanuel Cleaver chats with Mannies & Rosenbaum about rural parts of district, congressional civility, "revenue-based" policing, Hillary Clinton, more
          Reuters:  U.S. House defense bill funds 12 Boeing fighters, 6 Lockheed F-35s
          The Hill:  Senate Dems send letter to Rules Committee Chairman Blunt, asking Senate to start paying restaurant workers and other contractors a "living wage"
          P-D:  U.S. Supreme Court showdown on gay marriage likely to reverberate in Missouri
          CDT:  Crowd gathers for Earth Day celebration;  Mid-Missouri Peaceworks organizes "human chain" to end global warming;  Adults play with hula hoops in public
          JCNT:  Nicole Galloway takes oath as 38th auditor X
          AP:  Nicole Galloway sworn in as Missouri auditor
          CDT:  Nicole Galloway sworn in as new auditor X
          Columbia Missourian:  Nicole Galloway officially succeeds Schweich as state auditor
          KOMU (Columbia):  Nicole Galloway sworn in as Missouri auditor
          P-D:  Nicole Galloway sworn in as state auditor
          KWMU:  Galloway sworn in as Missouri auditor
          SE Missourian:  Missouri Association for Social Welfare, rebranded as "Empower Missouri," draws about a dozen to pro-Medicaid-expansion event +
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  MoDOT's Brian Haefner on transportation funding, possible options for revenue
          AP:  Nixon approves $250M in additional spending
          Missourinet:  Sen. Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City) wants Nixon to let state employee pay study stand
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) on state's "record levels" of education funding
          The Missouri Times:  Libraries see state funding woes, again
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate sued over filming of hearings
          KOMU (Columbia Missourian):  Progress Missouri awaits response in lawsuit over cameras in Senate hearings
          Kraske:  Kander wants Legislature to move on legislation to reduce filing fees +
          AP:  State alcohol, tobacco agency could get dedicated funds
          JCNT:  Senate endorses Riddle's immunization notices bill X
          P-D:  For the first time, students across Missouri will take ACT
          CDT:  Common Core criticism muted in Columbia, but still widespread across the state X
          KC Star:  Sen. Tom Dempsey (R-St. Charles) endorses local control for Uber, Lyft +
          Missourinet:  Rep. Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City) seeks to regulate ride-sharing companies statewide
          AP:  Senate backs proposed U.S. balanced budget amendment
          KOMU (Columbia):  IBM employment numbers reveal broken promise to Columbia, state
          Columbia Missourian:  IBM suspended from BUILD incentives for low employment
          KOMU (Columbia):  MoDOT has a new one-stop website for road conditions
          KWMU:  Ferguson Commission adopts new principle:  September report must be written through lens of "racial equality"
          P-D/Feast:  Ferguson BBQ join opens after nearly being ruined by looter/arsonist damage
          P-D editorial:  Missouri's SORTS program for sexually-violent offenders looks a lot like prison
          Columbia Missourian op-ed:  Adjunct professor:  MU should spend more time talking about race
          P-D letter:  Editorial board's attempt at "Bigfoot" allegory was a little too tryhard
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Monday, April 27
       
Kraske:  The Chat:  McCaskill on how she because a Hillary surrogate;  Kurt Schaefer relays a tale about Roger Wilson and Chris Kelly +
          KWMU:  Does Earth Day matter?  Festival-goers respond
          P-D:  Sunny skies help fuel turnout for Earth Day celebration
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Guest Catherine Hanaway;  Panel of Michael Kelley (D), Brittany Burke (D), Rep. Travis Fitzwater (R), Ryan Johnson (R) discuss gov race, stadium, municipal-court overhaul
          Missouri Viewpoints:  Learning from Tom Schweich's tragedy:  Thoughts from Missouri Institute of Mental Health's Liz Sale and former U.S. Senate candidate John Brunner
          Drebes:  Reader offers defense of Keith English on Ethics Commission fine
          JCNT:  Debate swirls around whether increase in minimum wage would hurt businesses X
          AP:  Democrats criticize GOP budget process, while esteemed vet Chris Kelly (D) recounts solving a budget dispute via billiards
          JCNT:  Future of Legislative Research modified in budget X
          P-D:  Proposed tax legislation pleases St. Louis County police chief, angers some mayors
          KC Star:  New teacher license tests are tough to pass, and students say they're not prepared +
          KWMU:  School superintendents gather to share ideas on keeping pace with digital changes
          Missourinet:  Bill aims to change policy on youth athlete brain injury assessment
          P-D:  New project seeks to help thousands of Missouri child care providers succeed in business
          KODE (Joplin):  Proposed bill limits access to body camera video
          JCNT editorial:  In support of gas-tax proposal:  Editorial board cannot resist climaxing with "2 cents" punchline X
          P-D editorial:  Missouri budget debate misses the point, and $4 billion
          KC Star's Mara Rose Williams:  College tuition in Missouri going up, but not by much +
          JCNT letter:  Luetkemeyer is a do-nothing representative who only takes shots at the EPA because his donors want to pollute the air X
          P-D letter:  Legislators correct to continue stand against Medicaid expansion
          P-D letter:  City alderwoman says poor children in bad districts should be integrated into decent ones
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Sunday, April 26
       
Monett Times:  McCaskill's David Stokely, Blunt's Steve McIntosh, Long's Mike Ussery give updates, along with GOP Sen. David Sater, Reps. Scott Fitzpatrick and Mike Moon
          SNL:  A look at the 2014 office expenses of Missouri's congressional delegation X
          KMZU (Carrollton):  Vicky Hartzler talks about legislation to nullify EPA's "Waters of the U.S." rule
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  USDA marks Earth Day in mid-Missouri
          JCNT:  Federal program to help downtown plan for permanent farmers market;  Comments from Downtown Association President Stephanie Bell X
          KC Star:  Justice Department to spend $1 million trying to make Kansas City's Prospect Avenue corridor safer +
          CDT:  Nicole Galloway says she'll bring innovation, energy to auditor role X
          SNL:  John Brunner speaks to Greene County Republican Women X
          Drebes:  John Wright won't seek office in 2016
          JCNT:  State Employee of the Month:  Maintenance supervisor Roger Lehnhoff X
          KC Star:  Missouri ponders medical marijuana - and the money to be made selling it +
          KMZU (Carrollton):  Sen. Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby) on Tax Freedom Day, difference between 2014 transportation ballot issue and current gas-tax proposals, more
          CDT:  Missouri Department of Economic Development suspends IBM incentives after layoffs X
          KC Star:  Testing is at a crossroads as schools take state exams +
          AP:  Students rally around high school senior who left unloaded, disassembled shotgun under the seat of his pickup truck parked on school grounds
          P-D:  With no state standards, getting clear picture of city jails is difficult
          Hannibal Courier-Post:  Farmers continue fight against proposed Ameren power line project
          SNL editorial:  Pass the 2-cent fuel tax bill! X
          KC Star editorial:  In Kansas City area, jobs aren't fleeing Missouri after Kansas tax cuts +
          KC Star's Steve Paul:  U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver enlists Kansas City to boost 18th and Vine plan +
          CDT op-ed:  Rep. Tracy McCreery (D-Olivette), Carl Bearden (R):  Bipartisan bill protecting ticket buyers should be welcome in Missouri X
          The Missouri Times letter:  Sen. Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff):  Gas-tax increase is critical to maintaining Missouri's roads
          KC Star letters:  Show-Me Institute's Brittany Wagner says school choice can help youngsters escape savage bullying;  Liberty man reveals how Jesus Christ feels about Missouri legislators +
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Saturday, April 25
       
P-D's Chuck Raasch:  McCaskill and the power and peril for Clinton surrogates
          Kraske:  Scott Walker has Jim Talent in his corner - and maybe the Koch brothers +
          P-D:  Local congressional delegation's votes for the week
          SE Missourian:  Area officials continue grappling with new ozone standards +
          JCNT:  DNR Earth Day event promotes conservation X
          Missourinet:  Democrats attack - and Republicans defend - accelerated Missouri budget timeline
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Universities react to state budget passed Thursday X
          KMZU (Carrollton):  Rep. Dean Dohrman (R-La Monte) on budget, tax credits for data centers, state advertising for international businesses
          KMZU (Carrollton):  Missouri Association for Community Action rallies for more spending
          KWMU:  Local transportation officials, mayors support gas-tax increase for roads
          P-D:  Local officials want gas-tax hike, despite long odds against it
          KMZU (Carrollton):  Medicaid-expansion advocates make their case;  Carroll County Memorial Hospital CEO Jeff Tindle says opponents demonstrate "stupidity"
          P-D:  MSSU pulls its legislative interns from Capitol program;  Coed drama may be to blame
          P-D:  Stadium plan advancing, but financing still uncertain
          P-D:  St. Louis County man admits attempted arson of Ferguson market;  Antonio Whiteside sought to burn down store where Michael Brown thieved Swisher Sweets and assaulted minority business owner
          KWMU:  Organization for Black Struggle continues push to oust McCulloch
          Investor's Business Daily editorial:  Blunt among GOP senators giving an inch on Obamacare;  Republicans should push dismantling prior to '16 election, not after
          JCNT editorial:  Audit reveals Nixon's poor spending practices continue X
          KC Star Capitol Watch editorial:  Weekly list of GOP transgressions:  Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) wrong to shift social welfare program spending +
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Legislation to fund 911 systems is needed, and can take time to accomplish
          P-D letter:  Caps on medical malpractice will affect safety of health care
          KC Star letter:  Area woman says paperwork error shows state social workers are not very bright +
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Friday, April 24
       
KC Star:  McCaskill, Blunt at odds over Loretta Lynch confirmation vote in Senate +
          Washington Post:  Video:  McCaskill says opposition to Obama nominee 'disgusting'
          Washington Post:  McCaskill calls attention to issues surrounding senior citizens not paying their student loan debts
          The Hill:  McCaskill, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) fret about government's approach to recovering debt from deadbeat seniors
          KC Star:  Kander fundraising pitch quotes Blunt on student loans +
          Drebes:  Anne Zerr far outpacing Mark Parkinson in fundraising for state Senate seat
          KWMU:  Jason Rosenbaum wins regional Murrow award for Ferguson piece
          Missourinet:  Former Joplin chief of police sworn in as Missouri's Public Safety Director
          KWMU:  Lawmakers send state budget to Nixon
          The Missouri Times:  Lawmakers send budget to Nixon
          AP:  Legislature approves $84,000,000.00 more for K-12 basic aid
          AP:  Legislature lays out plan to spend around $26,000,000,000.00
          AP:  Budget breakdown:  How state government will manage to spend $26,000,000,000.00
          JCNT:  No state employee pay raise in new budget X
          KWMU:  Negotiators approve state budget, with House passing court reform and traffic fines bill
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg) on prospects for school transfer bill
          SNL:  State:  Springfield, Nixa spending too much to lease buildings X
          The Maneater:  Low state revenue stymies 50-50 fund match capital projects
          KWMU:  In recruitment push, SEIU targets area's less-than-full professors
          The Maneater:  Rep. Keith Frederick (R-Rolla) looks to get treatment of eating disorders covered by health plans
          AP:  Missouri House OKs allowing aspiring doctors to retake exam
          KWMU:  Missouri Coalition for the Environment appeals nuclear plant license renewal
          JCNT:  Environmentalists appeal nuclear plant extension X
          Missourinet:  Execution set for Missouri man who killed girlfriend, 2-year-old in 2000;  Richard Strong attempted to saw off toddler's neck with butcher knife, then left tip of knife in girlfriend's skull
          KRCG:  MO Dept. of Conservation says spring hunting looks good, though population of young wild gobblers has decreased
          KWMU:  Parents of Michael Brown file wrongful death suit
          P-D:  Michael Brown's parents seek cash from city of Ferguson, former Police Chief Tom Jackson, and assault victim Darren Wilson
          AP:  Michael Brown's parents seek cash from Ferguson
          The Maneater editorial:  Legislators need to make the 'Missouri Promise;'  State Treasurer Clint Zweifel's initiative provides great hope
          P-D editorial:  Debate over sales and police taxes highlights region's dysfunction
          SNL editorial:  Write a letter to the editor, and maybe it will instigate a conversation or somehow be productive X
          Shelly:  Strugglefaces abound at free clinic;  Republicans who oppose Medicaid expansion should listen to hard-knock stories +
          P-D letter:  UMSL's J. Martin Rochester:  Post-Dispatch editorial writers should look in the mirror when assigning blame for transfer law
          JCNT letter:  Missouri's white men earn too much money compared to everyone else;  Furthermore, "all educated women are cheated out of one million dollars" X
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Thursday, April 23
       
The Hill:  Business groups call for passage of McCaskill tariff bill
          P-D:  After long delay, Senate OKs trafficking bill
          KWMU:  Senate approves human trafficking bill
          P-D:  Nixon in D.C. pushing Missouri site for new Geospatial facility
          Brownfield Ag News:  USDA Rural Development official in Missouri for Earth Day, lauds office's accomplishments
          KC Star:  KC officials lament the loss of $1 million in Homeland Security funding +
          Kraske:  The Chat:  McCaskill on college basketball, Schaaf on deadly force +
          Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal:  McCaskill says campus sexual assaults still an issue
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Jason Crowell talks to Mannies & Rosenbaum about his time in Jefferson City, Hanaway, campaign finance limits, state tax credits, more
          The Missouri Times:  Department of Labor honors fallen workers
          JCNT:  Coalition changes tactics in clean energy effort X
          Missourinet:  Audit:  Nixon's office still paying for employees, travel from other agencies, can't justify float trip
          JCNT:  Still footing the bill for Nixon;  Audit:  Governor still spending money from other departments X
          KWMU:  Audit ranks Nixon's office as 'fair,' cites continuing use of funds from other agencies
          AP:  Audit says Nixon has shifted costs to other agencies
          AP:  New State Auditor Nicole Galloway to cut deputy, chief of staff
          Missourinet:  Proposed FY16 Missouri budget set for House and Senate votes
          The Missouri Times:  After delays, conference committee advances budget
          SE Missourian:  State funds release means SEMO Port will add railroad tracks +
          Missourinet:  Legislature proposes limits on medical malpractice awards
          Washington Missourian:  Area legislators weigh in on gas-tax proposals
          The Missouri Times:  House gives first approval to ride-sharing legislation
          AP:  Missouri House endorses statewide regulations for Uber, Lyft
          KWMU:  New exams test Missouri schools, students
          KWMU:  State school officials want to hear about Normandy can improve
          Missourinet:  House and Senate near agreement on 'fix' to school transfer law
          KMZU (Carrollton):  Rep. Mike Lair (R-Chillicothe) on welfare cuts, impact of transfer students' poor performance on host school districts
          AP:  Nixon says he's worried TANF cuts will hurt welfare kids
          KWMU:  House gives first approval to bill restricting police body camera footage from public
          Missourinet:  MU professor critical of secrecy in Missouri execution protocol
          The Missouri Times:  Senators weigh changes to deadly force law
          AP:  Missouri House OKs changes to municipal court practices
          The Missouri Times:  Municipal court reforms move closer to Nixon's desk
          SNL:  Hunters who shoot their first wild animal eligible for certificate from Missouri Department of Conservation X
          KWMU:  Michael Brown's parents will sue Ferguson over son's death
          AP:  Civil lawsuit to be filed in Michael Brown's death
          P-D:  Organization for Black Struggle, others ask for special prosecutor to investigate grand jury proceedings in Michael Brown case
          P-D:  Charges filed against looter from second round of Michael Brown riots;  Carlos Hill caught on camera thieving from Dollar Tree
          KC Star editorial:  Nixon to auditors:  Follow the rules?  Who, me? +
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Nixon should sign GOP bill and put a stop to frivolous "discrimination" lawsuits
          SE Missourian op-ed:  Joshua Hawley:  Missouri shouldn't sign up for Obama's Clean Power Plan +
          Washington Missourian letter:  Media labels assault on Curt Ford a "hate cime," but savage beating of man on MetroLink was supposedly not
          JCNT letter:  Area man disagrees with Ron Calzone on discrimination protections, quotes Star Trek actor/frequent Howard Stern guest George Takai +
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.




        Wednesday, April 22   Earth Day
       
Washington Times:  White House won't link Iranian nuclear talks to U.S. prisoners;  Comments from Blunt
          Brownfield Ag News:  Vicky Hartzler, Blaine Luetkemeyer speak against EPA's "Waters of the U.S." rule
          Missourinet:  Missouri congressional delegation campaigns to ditch the EPA's "Waters of the U.S" rule
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Blunt on health research funding;  Lacy Clay on black struggle;  MoDOT's Roberta Broeker on transportation-funding dreams +
          P-D:  McCaskill contemplating legislative action on NCAA 'one and done' rule
          Washington Post's Cillizza:  A look at 2018 U.S. Senate races;  In a state turning deeper red, McCaskill's decision to not run for governor helps Dems
          Drebes:  Marijuana advocate Eapen Thampy supports pro-pot-reform Brad Bradshaw (D) for gov lite
          JCNT:  Supporters of campaign-financing overhaul promise appeal X
          SE Missourian:  Area folk singers perform at library to protest budget cuts +
          JCNT:  Schaaf proposes toll road option for I-70 X
          Missourinet:  Legislature proposes new limits on unemployment benefits
          KWMU:  House sends bill reducing unemployment benefits to governor
          AP:  Missouri House roll call vote on medical malpractice caps
          P-D:  Senate endorses eating-disorder bill
          The Missouri Times:  Senators weigh changes to deadly force law
          Missourinet:  Bills would allow orders of protection for Missouri rape victims
          P-D:  Class action lawsuit begins over Missouri's treatment of sexually violent predators
          CDT:  Police make arrest in campus groping case:  Luke Kuol among pack of men prowling for victims X
          CDT:  Police catch second sexual assailant from MU campus incident:  Gire Ngezahayo X
          CDT's Ashley Jost:  Final "Learning Curve" column before heading to KC Business Journal:  Remembering Charles McClain, Spence Jackson scholarship fund details, more X
          P-D:  Washington University launches "gun violence" initiative
          The Missouri Times:  Conference committee appointments give some hope for transfer fix
          The Missouri Times:  Bill from Rep. Kathy Swan (R-Cape Girardeau) seeks to make Missouri a competitive filming location
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown) on conflict of interest at Missouri Department of Conservation
          The Missouri Times:  Rep. Genise Montecillo (D-St. Louis) leads late push for Ameren to Public Service Commission
          P-D:  St. Louis County could seek sales tax for law enforcement under House plan
          KWMU:  Missouri House version of traffic fines fix moves forward, singles out 'suburban areas'
          KWMU:  Developer/campaign contributor Paul McKee's Hazelwood development owes millions in court judgment, taxes
          Missourinet:  Veterinarians concerned dog flu outbreak could reach Missouri
          KWMU:  Ferguson's new councilmembers take their oaths - and face tough challenges
          P-D:  Crowds throng Ferguson City Hall
          AP:  Crowd gathers to watch new councilmembers sworn in
          P-D editorial:  Wife of Washington University chancellor wants to study gun violence, and that's special
          CDT's Waters:  Schmitt's bill on course syllabi a good idea X
          CDT op-ed:  Gregg Keller:  In support of Schmitt's syllabi legislation X
          CDT op-ed:  Nixon sells out Missouri cattle farmers X
          SNL letter:  House bill allows pollution from factory farms X
          KC Star letters:  Republicans are mean and self-serving;  McCaskill-Blunt support for nuclear weapons is a "threat to all creation" +
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
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        Tuesday, April 21
       
KWMU:  Blunt wants to boost funding for National Institutes of Health
          KWMU:  Clay on new Black Caucus economic report:  African-Americans not given same chances as whites, have been hit harder by recesssion, earn less money, etc.
          The Hill:  Republicans assail race disclosures in gun purchases;  Blunt spotted ATF's form change last fall
          Kraske:  The Chat:  McCaskill on Rubio, Hillary;  Obamacare contractor Lavonne Takatz on playing Pictionary, other board games on the clock +
          The Hill:  Senate fundraising winners and losers:  Jason Kander a winner with an impressive first quarter
          The Maneater:  McCaskill stops by MU, talks about sexual assaults
          P-D:  Environmental law group sets annual fundraiser;  Missouri Conservation Commission Chairman James Blair IV to speak at May event for Great Rivers Environmental Law Center
          AP:  Office of AG Chris Koster (D) will defend Senate in Sunshine Law lawsuit from liberal group
          Missourinet:  MoDOT still hoping for new funding proposal
          The Missouri Times:  Springfield-area hospital threatens job cuts ahead of budget debate
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Audio:  Munzlinger on ag bills, budget timeline
          AP:  Corporate headquarters tax bills sent to governor
          AP:  Infighting splits panel for Missouri Common Core goals
          P-D:  Common Core workgroups report mediocre attendance
          Missourinet:  Bill to allow statewide 911 in Missouri nears House passage
          JCNT:  House panel hears testimony for texting-driving ban X
          AP:  House panel OKs traffic fine limits, court rules
          Missourinet:  Missouri Dept. of Corrections' "Puppies for Parole" celebrates 3,000th adoption
          P-D:  Gallery:  Post-Dispatch photographers win Pulitzers for Ferguson pics:  Protesters throwing objects at police, looting stores, taunting law enforcement officers, lighting candles at site of assault on Darren Wilson, more
          P-D:  DOJ talks end abruptly in Bellefontaine Neighbors
          P-D editorial:  Missouri Chamber once again gets discrimination all wrong
          P-D editorial:  With 'welfare reform,' Missouri Legislature attacks Bigfoot;  Nixon should veto Republicans' "fact-free meanness"
          KC Star editorial:  Nixon should free career criminal +
          P-D op-ed:  National Council of Jewish Women's Jen Bernstein supports McCaskill on abortion
          Helling:  Sarcastic analogy on welfare reform:  Lawmakers who work for a living are like welfare recipients hanging out on the dole +
          KC Star letters:  "Clean energy," Republican meanness, motorcycle helmets +
          P-D letter:  Republicans who oppose Medicaid expansion lack logic
          P-D letter:  Liberal male says Post-Dispatch editorials are a nice balance to state of Missouri's "rigid conservative nature"
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.




        Monday, April 20
       
ABC News:  Video and transcript:  Claire McCaskill touts Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, takes aim at Marco Rubio
          NY Times:  McCaskill among several Hillary Clinton surrogates making Sunday morning talking-head rounds
          Washington Post:  Democratic rivals pitch themselves as McCaskill, other Clinton stand-ins do Sunday shows
          The Hill:  Clinton supporter Claire McCaskill:  Benghazi probe a 'political exercise'
          Washington Post:  Claire McCaskill on why she's supporting Hillary Clinton this time around
          Kraske:  The Chat:  McCaskill on how hard it is to be a woman;  Blunt on Corker's Iran proposal +
          KC Star:  McCaskill gets "weepy" in public paying tribute to nonagenarian former judge Scott Wright +
          KMZU (Carrollton):  Audio:  Blunt's weekly conference call with reporters, discussing budget and highway funding
          P-D:  Obamacare contractor paid 13,000 hours of overtime;  Employees spent their time playing Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit
          Missouri Viewpoints:  Interviews with Randy Asbury (R), Brad Bradshaw (D), who say they'll file for statewide offices
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Video:  Featured guest Tom Dempsey;  Panel of Mark Dalton (D), Megan Shackelford (D), Robert Cornejo (R), Scott Dieckhaus (R)
          KC Star:  Unannounced GOP gov candidate Eric Greitens talks with Jon Stewart +
          Kirksville Daily Express:  Money tough to track in anti-Schweich ad
          Kirksville Daily Express:  Jeff Roe says Catherine Hanaway knew nothing of ad that mocked Schweich
          Daily Dunklin Democrat:  Profile:  1980's state Sen. Stephen Sharp (D-Kennett)
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Audio:  Nixon speaks to FFA convention about foreign markets, education, high-speed Internet service to rural communities
          Rosenbaum:  Urban Democratic prosecutors Jennifer Joyce, Jean Peters Baker criticize Missourians' passage of Amendment 5, while Chris Koster (D) endorses it
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Area lawmakers' views mixed on increasing the gas tax for roads X
          KWMU:  Lawmakers to tackle budget, student transfers, and Macks Creek "fix" this week
          Missourinet:  Schaefer:  'Reining in' Missouri social programs more important than accelerated budget timeline
          AP:  Missouri Republicans move forward on Medicaid reforms
          KODE (Joplin):  Legislature proposes limiting time welfare recipients can stay on the dole;  Comments from Sen. Ron Richard (R-Joplin)
          KODE (Joplin):  Joplin's Sen. Ron Richard (R), Rep. Bill White (R) speak in Webb City about Missouri budget issues
          KOLR:  Springfield mental hospital vows job cuts if Senate budget passes
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg) on education budget
          Kirksville Daily Express:  Jeff City Beat:  Funding for Truman State's Baldwin Hall remains stalled;  More updates
          Columbia Missourian:  Columbia City Council members critical of Schaefer, Rowden proposals
          SE Missourian:  Law change could mean more funds for local domestic violence shelters +
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Nate Walker (R-Kirksville) speaks out against child abuse
          KC Star:  Gay-rights activists continue push +
          JCNT:  Legislature considers how to deal with children who kill X
          KMOX:  Missouri's Black Caucus discusses 2015 agenda:  Rep. Courtney Curtis (D-Berkeley):  "Let's make the unions put their money where their mouth is"
          KWMU:  Nine legislators, 35 members of the public show up on time for Black Caucus event;  Rep. Sharon Pace (D-St. Louis) arrives at end of panel discussion
          KOMU (Columbia):  MO Dept. of Conservation proposes new hunting regulations
          KWMU:  After tumultuous start, Ferguson Commission gets down to business
          P-D:  Mini protests erupt at Saul Williams concert at Duck Room;  Artist enraged by audience member saying "All lives matter" instead of acceptable "Black lives matter"
          Kirksville Daily Express editorial:  Legislature should honor Schweich's memory with campaign finance reform
          P-D editorial:  Missouri Legislature is poised to bankrupt Normandy schools again
          P-D letter:  Missouri Republicans and ALEC are mean-spirited, and believe the state motto should be "I've got mine. To hell with you."
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Sunday, April 19
       
ABC News:  This Week with George Stephanopoulos:  Claire McCaskill begins Sunday-morning talking-head circuit in support of Hillary Clinton
          SE Missourian:  Fraudulent filing of tax returns hits high locally;  McCaskill on panel that is examining issue
          CDT:  Organizers of Earth Day celebration postpone festival due to threat of rain
          CDT:  At MU summit, McCaskill talks sexual assaults
          KMIZ (Columbia):  McCaskill visits campus, talks sexual assaults
          Columbia Missourian:  McCaskill visits MU, discusses sexual-assault legislation
          Drebes:  Missouri Ethics Commission says Rep. Keith English (I-Florissant) must pay campaign back $5k
          Washington Missourian:  Local fire district commissioner on importance of raising gasoline tax:  "We need to light a fire under the @ss of everybody in that House"
          P-D:  Despite demand for wind energy, Grain Belt Express transmission line faces uncertainty in Missouri
          AP:  Puppies for Parole marks 3,000th dog adopted
          P-D:  James O'Mara passes away;  Iconic North County labor leader, pol to have visitation tonight, funeral tomorrow in St. Charles
          SNL editorial:  Nixon's release of state dollars a big help
          KC Star editorial:  Pass a small fuel tax to invest in Missouri's roads and bridges
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Ameren landfill revisions:  Residents can rest easy knowing landfill will meet or exceed all state and federal regulations
          SE Missourian Editor Bob Miller:  Missouri:  The Hide-Me State;  How public institutions across the state are making a mockery of the Sunshine Law
          CDT op-ed:  Citizens' Climate Lobby of Columbia/Jefferson City's George Laur says Blunt should drop opposition to carbon tax
          CDT op-ed:  Show-Me Institute's Michael Rathbone and James Shuls:  Taxing smokers no sign of support for education
          JCNT letter:  Area woman says bill from Rep. Jay Houghton (R-Martinsburg) would hide information on animals and the environment
          CDT letter:  Area woman opposes cuts to social welfare programs
          P-D letter:  Defiance man says Wilson's innocence doesn't require more proof;  Black community should transfer protest/looting energy into stopping black-on-black shootings
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.




        Saturday, April 18
       
The Hill:  Blunt reacts to Corker's Iran proposal
          USA Today:  Columbia University doctors want Dr. Oz dismissed from med school faculty;  McCaskill continues to call out TV yapper for quackery
          Bloomberg:  Female pols weigh in on the hardships to be endured by Hillary Clinton;  McCaskill:  "I haven't seen anybody write yet on Rand Paul's hair, even though it's very interesting"
          P-D:  Congressional delegation's votes for the week
          Kraske:  A toast to 'Mister Connection' and 'everybody's friend," Woody Overton +
          AP:  Schweich campaign returns $480,000 to donors
          Drebes:  Brad Ketcher to serve as treasurer for "New Approach Missouri," committee to support statewide marijuana initiative in 2016
          AP:  Judge blocks campaign-limits petition
          AP:  Public gets second chance to weigh in on Common Core
          CDT:  Nixon touts agriculture scholarships at FFA convention X
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri Ag Director Richard Fordyce tells FFA kids to reach high
          P-D:  Legislature discusses bill protecting gays from discrimination
          SE Missourian:  Koster accuses Fruitland Meat processor of polluting water +
          AP:  Koster sues meat-processing facility
          SNL:  Former state Rep. Kevin Elmer (R-Nixa) says those opposing LGBTQIA proposals have been marginalized X
          KSGF:  Audio of Kevin Elmer on Nick Reed's show discussing the LGBTQIA push in public schools
          P-D:  State housing commission suggests ways to improve subsidized housing model;  Possibilities include subjecting "affluent" neighborhoods to low-income tenements
          KWMU:  Panel discussion focuses on Ferguson and "economic mobility;"  UMSL prof suggests extending MetroLink even further
          KC Star Capitol Watch editorial:  Weekly list of GOP transgressions:  Republicans wrong about welfare cuts and recording of public hearings, might potentially have the chance to be right about heroin-overdose antidote +
          P-D editorial:  Progress in the fair wage campaign, but harder work ahead;  Context for SEIU push from MIT data, Leon Trotsky, Gallup polls, more
          Investor's Business Daily op-ed:  Stephen Moore:  McCaskill's criticism of NCAA-NBA youth athlete complex is spot-on
          CDT's Waters:  Gas-tax proposal from Sen. Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff) is a sign of progress X
          JCNT letter:  Area woman opposes Senate cuts to social services X
          P-D letter:  Liberal stalwart Ruth Ehresman:  Missouri Republicans wrong to cut social services
          P-D letter:  Parents of badly-behaved children should request documentation from school
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Friday, April 17
       
MSNBC:  'Imposter' tax scam worse than ever;  Comments from McCaskill
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Senators focus on scam with IRS impersonators X
          McClatchy:  McCaskill, others target 'imposter' scam
          KC Star:  U.S. House Dems considering Emanuel Cleaver for a leadership post +
          KFVS (Cape Girardeau):  McCaskill calls for delay in postal closings
          Kraske:  The Chat:  James Harris on Missouri's role in 2016 national elections;  Vicky Hartzler on the "death tax" +
          Drebes:  SOS changes:  John Scott is Kander's new Deputy Chief of Staff;  Elizabeth Zerr promoted to Legislative Director
          The Missouri Times:  Photo gallery:  Annual legislative softball tournament
          KC Star:  Dispute over meaning of Tom Schweich's suicide still a topic among some Missouri Republicans +
          AP:  Monthly survey:  Economy slowing in rural areas of Midwest, Plains
          KC Star:  Missouri moves to tighten welfare rules +
          Missourinet:  Legislature proposes shorter time limit for welfare recipients
          KWMU:  Lawmakers send Nixon bill that cuts welfare lifetime eligibility
          AP:  Missouri OKs 15-month reduction in lifetime welfare benefits
          P-D:  Legislature passes bill shortening time welfare recipients can keep taking benefits
          AP:  Senate roll call vote on welfare
          AP:  House roll call vote on welfare
          Missourinet:  Dempsey pulls support for chamber's budget proposal
          AP:  Missouri Senate leaders oppose lump-sum budget proposal
          Missourinet:  Increase for Missouri's fuel tax for transportation runs out of gas
          AP:  Senate leaders uncertain on Missouri transportation gas tax
          CDT:  Bill would require state schools to post course information X
          AP:  Legislature to find compromise for school transfer bill
          P-D:  St. Louis Public Schools tries to shed vacant buildings
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Lawmakers advance more school board election bills X
          AP:  Missouri Senate approves changes to license office bidding
          Missourinet:  Tense debate in Missouri over LGBTQIA rights resumes
          P-D:  PSC sounds open to slight rate cut for Noranda
          Columbia Missourian:  Public incentives, private obligations:  IBM's state money
          KWMU:  Koster:  More needs to be done to stamp out irritating phone calls
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri Supreme Court upholds limits on nuisance lawsuits
          P-D:  Civil rights leader Frankie Freeman gets star of St. Louis Walk of Fame
          KWMU:  Nonagenarian Frankie Freeman gets star on Delmar's Walk of Fame
          KWMU:  Sexagenarian wife of Washington University chancellor talks Joni Mitchell lyrics, thoughts on gun restrictions
          KWMU:  Octogenarian Selma James, other aged feminists visit Ferguson
          KC Star editorial:  Better pay for low-wage workers would benefit everyone;  Republicans cutting handouts too deeply, corporations earning too much money, etc. +
          SE Missourian's Bob Miller:  Nixon made zero phone calls from public cellphone in 2014 - which raises more questions than it answers +
          KC Star's Mary Sanchez:  Gender pay equity is a topic worth talking about, and Missouri will totally lead the way +
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.


        Thursday, April 16
       
Mannies:  Missouri's position - and importance - in 2016 presidential contest up for debate
          KWMU:  Koster remains Missouri's fundraising leader, but Blunt close behind
          AP:  Koster leads fundraising for Missouri governor with $3M
          P-D:  A look at Blunt, Kander, Luetkemeyer numbers
          P-D:  Hanaway's decision to pause campaign after Schweich suicide takes a fundraising toll
          The Missouri Times:  Schweich committee returns $480K to donors
          KWMU:  Schweich campaign returns money to major donors, including Danforth
          P-D:  Details of Schweich suicide yield advice for prevention
          KC Star:  Jeff Roe speaks on anti-Schweich radio ad, says he paid for it with his own money +
          AP:  Jeff Roe says he personally paid for anti-Schweich ad
          P-D:  Blunt criticizes Obama decision to take Cuba off state-sponsor-of-terror list
          South Missourian News:  Blunt visits Alton, Mo. school, talks Secure Rural Schools fund
          KWMU:  McCaskill says scammers target seasoned citizens with phone calls
          Drebes:  Kim Tuttle featured in ESPN story on Big 12 basketball tourney
          CBS News:  Claire McCaskill:  Time to reform NCAA basketball
          Kraske:  The Chat:  United States Senator from New Hampshire spends time discussing symbolic gender representation on paper currency;  Nixon on graduation rates +
          KC Star:  Hundreds turn out in KC for a day of '$15 an hour' protests;  Comments from fried-chicken specialist Antoinette Hill, less-than-full UMKC professor Liz Jacquinot +
          KWMU:  St. Louis protesters join national movement for $15 minimum wage;  Comments from renowned Ferguson protester/journeyman hoagie artist Rasheen Aldridge, less-than-full SLU professor Hillary Birdsong
          Helling:  GOP gov candidate field is getting crowded +
          The Missouri Times:  Barklage Cup Final Four:  Vote now for Brian Grace vs. Megan Shackelford, Eric Schmitt vs. Caleb Rowden
          AP:  Liberal group targets Missouri Senate filming policy;  Comments from Progress Missouri's Sean Nicholson, GOP caucus spokeswoman Lauren Hieger
          KC Star:  Missouri Senate faces lawsuit claiming it is violating Sunshine Law +
          AP:  Missouri audit finds schools did not get traffic fine money
          P-D:  Missouri superintendents launch task force to study school accreditation
          AP:  Senate approves student transfer law fix
          P-D:  Former Normandy superintendent Tyrone McNichols takes principal's job at elementary school in Hazelwood
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Rhodes Russell remembers former Northeast Missouri State President Charles McClain
          CDT:  Police corner sex offender/parole absconder/failed thief, put him down at MU parking garage +
          KWMU:  Non-discrimination bill gets another hearing in Missouri Legislature
          The Missouri Times:  Lawmakers continue to debate non-discrimination act
          JCNT:  LGBTQIA protections divide business interests X
          AP:  Catholic Bishops of Missouri continue to oppose death penalty, ask Nixon and Koster to flip-flop their long-held positions
          KWMU:  Historians bring national conference to St. Louis, hope to 'historicize' Ferguson
          Washington Missourian editorial:  No more lame excuses from legislators - it's time to raise the gas tax
          P-D editorial:  From World Series tickets to Ferguson:  The case for police accountability
          P-D op-ed:  Former U.S. Senator/current health care lobbyist Kit Bond (R):  Missouri should choose common-sense solution on Medicaid
          CDT's Waters:  By not expanding Medicaid or giving education more money, Republicans "are digging a dangerous societal hole" X
          Columbia Missourian's David Rosman:  Missouri bill for lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer/intersex/asexual rights shows changing moral views
          P-D letter:  Post-Dispatch points fingers at everyone except minorities
          P-D letter:  Post-Dispatch's obituary-listing prices are racist
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.




        Wednesday, April 15   Tax Day
       
MSNBC:  Video:  McCaskill says no one 'is more qualified than Hillary' to run for president
          SE Missourian:  McCaskill, others request one-year moratorium on postal consolidation efforts +
          KC Star:  Adjunct professors will join fast-food workers today to complain about wages in their chosen professions +
          Politico:  Twitter's most influential journalists:  Dana Loesch #6 most influential on the right
          97.1 FM (St. Louis):  Peter Kinder tells Dana Loesch he's considering run for governor
          KC Star:  Hanaway takes pledge to fight "any and all taxes" if she's governor +
          Missourinet:  Boone County Treasurer Nicole Galloway is next Missouri auditor
          Missourinet:  Galloway announces she'll run for re-election in '18
          CDT:  Nixon selects Boone County treasurer for state auditor X
          Columbia Missourian:  Boone County Treasurer Nicole Galloway to be next Missouri state auditor
          JCNT:  Nixon tabs Boone County treasurer as next auditor X
          KWMU:  Nixon taps Nicole Galloway, 32, to be new state auditor
          P-D:  Nixon picks Boone County treasurer for state auditor job
          The Missouri Times:  Nixon names Nicole Galloway to state auditor post
          Missourinet:  Tom Schweich suicide investigation continues, no motive found
          AP:  Police:  Schweich talked for years about suicide, left no note
          KWMU:  Police say they can't determine why Tom Schweich killed himself
          P-D:  Schweich told family he had thoughts of suicide for years, police say
          KC Star:  Police say Tom Schweich told his wife "I just need to be dead" before shooting himself +
          Shelly:  If Tom Schweich didn't own a gun, maybe he wouldn't have killed himself +
          Drebes:  Brad Thielemier moves on from Missouri State Troopers Association to Three Rivers College
          KWMU:  Missouri may owe federal government $34.8M after Medicaid audit
          The Missouri Times:  Gas tax increase stalls in Senate
          AP:  Missouri lawmakers struggle to find transportation funding
          JCNT:  Senate sends welfare reform measure to House X
          AP:  Senate approves reduced lifetime limit on welfare
          P-D:  Centene hopeful as lawmakers again weigh expansion of Medicaid managed care
          P-D:  Missouri bill would require day cares to disclose if they enroll children without vaccinations
          The Missouri Times:  Bill would require public universities to post more class info online
          The Missouri Times:  PSC indicates support for lowering Noranda's rate
          The Missouri Times:  Grain Belt Express project moves forward
          P-D:  Legal advocacy group leads push for municipal court overhaul
          KMIZ:  Dept. of Conservation under fire for having "illegal relationship" with one of its non-profit entities
          AP:  Missouri Supreme Court rules in favor of hog farm
          Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal:  Youth turkey harvest program gives recognition for helping control population of wild animals
          Missourinet:  Gov. Jay Nixon (D) denies clemency for murderer Andre Cole
          P-D:  Normandy man is executed
          KWMU:  Missouri executes Andre Cole;  Pentobarbital works flawlessly
          AP:  Missouri executes murderer after last-minute appeals rejected
          KWMU:  Ferguson protest draws "scant participants" in St. Louis;  Communist Party leader, others speak;  "Legislation got [sic] to change. Laws got [sic] to change."
          P-D:  Photographer wins award for capturing image of Twitter's "@eyeFLOODpanties" (government name Edward Crawford) throwing flaming projectile at police
          KC Star letter:  Shame on pro-marijuana legislators;  Legalization would result in every town behaving like Ferguson protesters +
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Tuesday, April 14
       
Kraske:  The Chat:  McCaskill hails Clinton's entry into presidential race - and with Missouri trending Republican, so does the GOP +
          Drebes:  MOScout poll:  GOP statewide primaries
          SNL:  Eric Greitens to be inducted into Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame;  Gov candidate joins "Cal Ripkin, [sic] Jr." and others as part of MSU policy conference X
          The Missouri Times:  Barklage Cup Round 3 results - with Elite 8 voting open until House adjourns today
          The Missouri Times:  Petroleum, clerks opposing proposed EPA ozone standards
          P-D:  Audit slams Medicaid program, says Missouri may have to repay more than $34 million
          KWMU:  Activists oppose Senate budget cuts
          P-D:  Advocates for the handicapped, other groups decry proposed budget cuts
          KC Star:  Missouri lawmakers debate shorter time limits for welfare recipients +
          AP:  Missouri lawmakers move to compromise on welfare cuts
          AP:  Missouri Senate amends bill to limit unemployment benefits
          KWMU:  Missouri Senate works on student transfer fix and unemployment compensation bill
          AP:  Missouri Senate advances bill to fix student transfer law
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg) eager to complete work on school transfer bill this week
          AP:  Missouri House OKs broad access to heroin overdose treatment
          AP:  Missouri House approves ending motorcycle helmet requirement
          AP:  Missouri House passes 'Senior Protection Savings Act'
          AP:  Activists says murderer should not be executed;  Andre Cole was unhappy about child support payments, so he stabbed the mother of his children and her lover
          KWMU:  Activists call on Nixon to halt execution, investigate St. Louis County prosecutor's office
          KMOX:  Hazelwood School District Superintendent Grayling Tobias, a member of the Ferguson Commission, takes "medical leave"
          P-D:  Hazelwood School District supe says he's taking "medical leave"
          KC Star editorial:  Missouri Senate budget plan a crisis in the making for the poor +
          Washington Post's Greg Sargent:  Liberal columnist says GOP opposition to Obamacare in Missouri, other states is "working brilliantly"
          SE Missourian op-ed:  Missouri Chamber's Dan Mehan:  Meritless lawsuits fuel need for reform +
          Columbia Missourian op-ed:  Show-Me Institute's Brittany Wagner:  Spring into action on school board reform
          KC Star letter:  The Sam Graves/GOP whines about "death tax" have been proven fraudulent +
          SNL letter:  LGBTQIA supporters should channel their energy into supporting "extension of Medicare [sic]" X
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Monday, April 13
       
AP:  McCaskill:  Hillary Clinton's policy positions "are more in line with what the struggling middle class is interested in"
          P-D:  McCaskill says Clintons get unprecedented scrutiny
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Blunt talks about agriculture, A-10s during Warrensburg visit X
          KWMU:  Tax season is identitity-theft season;  Blunt bill would require businesses to cooperate with government on data-breach cases
          Missouri Viewpoints:  Video:  Fight back against sex trafficking:  Conversation with Rep. Ann Wagner, sex trafficking victim Christine McDonald
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Keaveny talks Senate actions;  David Barklage (R), Dave Spence (R), Jane Dueker (D), Sean Nicholson (D) talk Nixon, MO legislation to date, LGBTQIA rights, more
          KODE (Joplin):  Nixon signs ag bill
          Missourinet:  Audit cools some Missouri lawmakers to gas tax hike idea
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Nixon criticizes GOP's "draconian" cuts;  Trish Vincent pays homage to Spence Jackson +
          CDT:  MO DHSS gives $432,000 grant for respite reinsurance for Alzheimer's caregivers X
          Missourinet:  Debate over changes to Missouri welfare programs continues
          AP:  Republicans look to trim social services spending
          KWMU:  Higher ed group says higher ed funding lacking in Missouri
          SE Missourian:  Education majors caught in transition between exit exams and teacher certification +
          P-D:  Legislation would give Missouri Children's Division more power when one child abuses another
          JCNT:  Prosecutors' association takes a deal, compromises with Sen. Bob Dixon (R-Springfield) on multi-county jurisdictions X
          Rosenbaum:  With wild election in the books, newly-minted Ferguson council members look to the future
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Wesley Bell talks about winning election in Ferguson, where he was opposed by Organization for Black Struggle/SEIU/ACORN et al.
          KC Star editorial:  Blunt wrong to vote for cybersecurity bill, which would allow more snooping +
          P-D editorial:  Proposed gas-tax increase is too small, but it's a start
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Tax-amnesty bill stinks, but Nixon should still sign it
          JCNT editorial:  Bills from Reps. Jeanie Riddle (R-Mokane) and Bill Lant (R-Pineville) will help prevent child-on-child sexual abuse X
          KC Star op-ed:  Free barbecue at "Good Jobs and $15 for All" rally on Wednesday +
          JCNT letter:  Tell your legislator you don't like "large, corporate, factory farms" X
          KC Star letter:  Grandmothers Against Gun Violence local head "frustrated, incredulous and mad" about Missouri gun legislation +
          P-D letter:  Assault victim Darren Wilson doesn't deserve to be linked to South Carolina shooting
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Sunday, April 12
       
St. Joseph News-Press:  Blunt:  Iran talks headed 'in a bad direction' X
          KCUR:  Blunt 'optimistic' a multi-year highway bill can pass Congress
          The Examiner:  Blue Springs Chamber members hear federal, state legislative updates;  Blunt on "out of control" regulators, Sheila Solon on patient notification and insurance implications, Mike Cierpiot on transfer law
           P-D:  Memorial service today for Alyson Singfield, outreach director for Lacy Clay
           CDT:  Boone County Republicans gather for Lincoln Day;  Rep. Caleb Jones gives legislative update;  Rep. Caleb Rowden says new pachyderm goal is "to keep Boone County red" X
           Drebes:  Bits:  Black website profiles Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-University City);  Former senatorial spouse Gina Loudon writes column entitled "Why Do Democrats Hate Veterans?"
           AP:  Speciality, generic drug costs drive Medicaid costs up
           JCNT:  Lawmakers vow to 'fix' superintendents law before it takes real effect X
           JCNT:  Missouri lawmakers could tackle gas tax hike this week X
           KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Munzlinger on Nixon's signing of ag bills
           JCNT:  Bills would restrict creation of gender-segregated spaces X
           Columbia Missourian:  State legislators, public discuss pilot program for medical marijuana
           St. Joseph News-Press:  Schaaf makes effort to add levee repair funds X
           KC Star:  Missouri lawmakers ponder tax that funds Kansas City public transit +
           P-D:  Suit filed to avoid public vote on new stadium
           P-D:  As the job market appears to tighten, wages are rising in St. Louis
           KC Star editorial:  Lobbyist gift limits are just part of needed reform;  Rep. John Rizzo (D) leads the House in gifts/meals, with Brandon Ellington (D) third;  In the Senate, LeVota, Curls and Silvey get honorable mentions +
           Gary Rust:  Which websites you should visit to get a broad view of the news, and which newspapers you should read +
           SE Missourian editor Bob Miller:  More on Nixon's failure-to-communicate issue:  Governor operates in a vault, and only a few people know the combination +
           KC Star letters:  Area councilwoman attempts Bigfoot analogy regarding Legislature and local ordinances;  Man wants to see higher tobacco taxes +
           P-D letter:  Editorial wrongly juxtaposes South Carolina shooting with Michael Brown's savage attack on Darren Wilson
           Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Saturday, April 11
       
AP:  Funeral marks Spence Jackson's political passion
          AP:  Missouri health care navigator law pre-empted, court rules
          Missourinet:  Hartzler wants more local control of school lunch
          AP:  North Dakota officials say federal study of Missouri River project has addressed concerns over environmental harm to Missouri
          Columbia Missourian:  Boone County Republicans honor Lt. Bruce Britt at annual event
          The Missouri Times:  Bev Randles may announce lt. gov bid next quarter
          The Missouri Times:  Barklage Cup Round 2 results
          Kraske:  Ranking recent performances:  Jason Kander's first-quarter numbers look good +
          AP:  Nixon signs bills to help dairy, agriculture
          KOMU:  Farm bills could improve Missouri agriculture
          Brownfield Ag News:  Dairy, omnibus ag bills signed on dairy farm
          Missourinet:  Nixon calls for Missouri lawmakers to stem proposed budget reductions
          AP:  Nixon calls for reversal of proposed budget cuts
          CDT:  UM system president endorses Zweifel's Missouri Promise proposal X
          KOMU:  Tim Wolfe supports Missouri Promise plan;  Fougere says either tobacco tax increase - or legislative action - are viable options
          CDT:  Missouri higher ed figure Charles McClain dead at age 83 X
          CDT:  Rex Sinquefield donates $10 million to MU's College of Arts and Science X
          KOMU:  Rep. Diane Franklin (R-Camdenton) responds to critics of school vaccination-information bill
          JCNT:  Medical marijuana bills picking up steam in Missouri House X
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Liberal group's report targets food hardships;  Jeanette Mott Oxford talks hunger issues
          KC Star:  Kansas City faces clash with state of Missouri over proposal to raise minimum wage +
          Missourinet:  Lawsuit seeks to block vote on new St. Louis stadium plan
          KWMU:  To vote or not to vote?  Lawsuit seeks clarity on whether city stadium funding will need referendum
          AP:  Suit seeks clarity on funding for St. Louis stadium
          KMZU (Carrollton):  PSC to hold hearing in KC over new Power & Light cost
          KWMU:  Paul McKee leaves city property taxes unpaid;  Developer received go-ahead from DHSS to build small urgent-care center at former Pruitt-Igoe site
          KC Star Capitol Watch editorial:  Weekly list of GOP transgressions:  Republicans wrong on tax amnesty, Medicaid expansion, elections/superintendent bill;  Koster joins GOP in being wrong about California egg rule +
          Columbia Missourian op-ed:  Achieving diversity must be a priority for new journalism dean;  Kouichi Shirayanagi says too many faculty editors are white and Christian
          P-D letter:  Ann Wagner doesn't want to let IRS do its job
          P-D letter:  Bob Onder is wrong about health insurance subsidies
          KC Star letter:  Veteran supports Silvey's bill to benefit veterans +
          P-D letter:  Death penalty is deserved in Andre Cole's case
          P-D letter:  Article's slant doesn't help municipal court discussion;  Disregard of speed limits isn't always a "minor offense"
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Friday, April 10  Details on Spence Jackson Memorial Scholarship Fund
       
Washington Times:  McCaskill, others demand probe into guest-worker program, American layoffs
          The Hill:  McCaskill, others want probe into abuse of visa program
          CDT:  Hartzler lunches with students, talks with Columbia Public Schools officials about regulations X
          KC Star:  Supreme Court's Obamacare decision could increase premium costs in Missouri +
          P-D:  Missouri among top spenders on hepatitis C drugs
          Kraske:  Darlene Green (D-St. Louis City) on Nixon's short list for auditor appointment +
          CDT:  Webber announces plans to seek Senate seat in 2016 X
          The Missouri Times:  Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) announces state Senate bid
          The Missouri Times:  Event for Sen. Dan Brown (R-Rolla) features Navy SEAL who shot Osama Bin Laden
          Drebes:  Springfield News-Leader seeks politics reporter;  Applicants must be willing to deal with politicians, staff, lobbyists and other Capitol urchins in exchange for journalist salary
          JCNT:  Missouri to feds:  Don't redefine 'waters of the U.S.' X
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Report cites states' success in exports X
          KWMU:  Uncertainty of renewable energy incentives a challenge for Missouri solar companies
          The Missouri Times:  Missouri Chamber applauds signing of data-center tax-exemption bill
          AP:  Nixon approves tax incentives for data storage
          AP:  Missouri House endorses tax credit aimed at boosting ports
          AP:  Missouri House sends tax amnesty measure to Nixon
          KWMU:  Missouri lawmakers send tax amnesty bill to Nixon
          AP:  Missouri House endorses refund application after tax audits
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Higher education panel mapping out future X
          The Maneater:  Missouri Students Association president, ASUM-UMKC testify against Haahr's religious-freedom bill
          AP:  GOP says bill passed by House will help put an end to frivolous "discrimination" lawsuits
          AP:  Senate approves resolution asking California lawmakers to change egg rules
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Schmitt on munis' taxation by citation +
          P-D:  Moline Acres, Normandy dismissed from Macks Creek suit
          AP:  Missouri Senate advances legislation to boost neighborhood watches
          Missourinet:  Missouri Supreme Court:  Andre Cole competent to be executed
          AP:  Court finds Missouri death row inmate competent
          AP:  Two more Missouri cities dropped from traffic fines lawsuit
          JCNT editorial:  Tax amnesty:  Practical, but not principled X
          KC Star editorial:  Reject a mismanaged Medicaid proposal in Missouri;  "Sen. Rob Schaaf, of all people, is right this time" +
          P-D editorial:  Too many black murderers sent to death by white juries
          KC Star letters:  Medicaid expansion;  Woman who chooses to live in Kansas dislikes Mizzou athletics budget;  Seafood industry supports seafood for people on the dole +
          P-D letter:  Stories fitting liberal narrative are all lies:  Rolling Stone's erotic fiction, "Hands Up Don't Shoot" fairy tale, etc.
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Thursday, April 9   Spence Jackson visitation tonight, funeral tomorrow;  Family fund, scholarship fund details
       
St. Joseph News-Press:  GOP lawmakers voice suspicion of Iran deal;  Comments from Blunt, Graves X
          Politico:  Parties play post 'vote-a-rama' gotcha game;  McCaskill one of two Dems to break ranks and support GOP plan to lift wages
          SNL:  Rep. Billy Long's daughter being treated for lymphoma X
          AP:  Veterans awaiting treatment at Missouris VA hospitals are being accomodated in a more timely fashion than the national average
          Columbia Missourian:  Truman VA ranked 13th nationally for fewest appointment delays
          JCNT:  EPA, MoDOT settle clean water complaints;  US 54 work in Osage Beach one of two cited projects X
          NPR:  Coverage of Tom Schweich and Spence Jackson suicides, weeks after the fact
          Drebes:  Eric Greitens hires Meredith Gibbons
          Missourinet:  Missouri Legislature prepares to deal with big budget differences
          KWMU:  Missouri House rejects Senate version of $26.1B state budget
          AP:  Legislature set to reconcile differences in budget
          KC Star:  Missouri Senate approves budget that would expand Medicaid managed care +
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Kurt Schaefer on welfare spending;  Elaine Benes on pols' silly "Clinton thumb" gesture;  More +
          KMZU (Carrollton):  Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg) on Nixon release of funding, tax credits, transportation funding proposals, Foundation Formula, more
          AP:  Missouri lawmakers override veto of local elections bill
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Lawmakers override veto of school bill X
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  DNR delays GAF Roofing facility permit again;  Rep. Tim Remole (R-Excello) says he's working with Nixon's office, Diehl to cut through red tape
          AP:  Missouri House OKs lifting motorcycle helmet requirement
          KWMU:  Missouri's top court weighs law limiting municipal revenue from tickets, fees;  Municipal League lawyer Jane Dueker:  "Political expediency should not trump the orderly and constitutional administration of justice"
          AP:  Missouri Supreme Court hears challenge to traffic fine law
          P-D:  Municipal court revenue limits debated in Jefferson City
          P-D:  Missouri lawmakers reluctant to require police body cameras
          KWMU:  Lawsuit threat seeks St. Louis vote on public financing for new stadium
          P-D:  Civic Progress, Regional Business Council weigh in on new NFL stadium
          Missourinet:  Missouri Supreme Court lifts order for May execution;  Attorneys for Kimber Edwards claim their workload is too high to work on his case at the moment
          P-D:  Postmortem blame game begins for failed Ferguson campaigns;  Protester on paid canvassers:  "People were knocking on doors who didn't even know who the candidates were"
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Despite complainers, Nixon showed sound business judgment by withholding funds
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Legislators too timid to enact higher gas tax
          JCNT editorial:  Failure of state agencies, legislators to communicate on budgets serves no one;  Schaefer's approach "not entirely on target" as money is needed for kids, elderly poors, and the handicapped X
          The Maneater editorial:  Bill from Rep. Jeff Pogue (R-Salem) is "utterly ridiculous;"  Humans self-identifying as "male" and "female" should be allowed to share bathroom facilities regardless of genitalia
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Relief through diversion;  Baseball Cardinals can help distract the region from St. Louis street savagery
          Rolla Daily News op-ed:  McCaskill:  Protecting Medicare, Social Security, and Missouri's seniors
          KC Star op-ed:  Mental-health nonprofit CEO Tom Petrizzo describes himself as "a leader in the health care field in Kansas City," shares thoughts on MoDOT and Medicaid funding +
          KC Star letter:  Independence man offers sarcastic solutions to gun-control debate:  Put lawmakers at greater risk of getting shot at Capitol, provide "gunslinger" arenas, etc. +
          P-D letter:  SLU law prof's comments on Ferguson statue are petulant;  SLU sends message that campus is open for protesters to disrupt serious students and deface the American flag
          P-D letter:  SLU law prof demonstrates tunnel vision, ignores uncivilized behavior at McCulloch speech
          P-D letter:  P-D description of Ferguson candidates was juvenile;  White candidates labeled "balding, portly"
          Disclosure


          X = Think before you click;  this site has chosen to limit its reporters' access to you and holds every one of your clicks against a monthly pageview limit.
         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Wednesday, April 8
       
The Hill:  VoteVets gets into 2016 race early;  Group has already contributed to Jason Kander, but co-founder says he's unsure if they'll spend more in MO
        Washington Post:  Jeb Bush doles out campaign cash to GOP candidates;  Blunt gets $5,400
        P-D:  Lacy Clay aide Alyson Singfield dies of breast cancer
        Brownfield Ag News:  USDA gives away $10M in grants for rural water;  University of Missouri-Kansas City gets $149K to develop a soil hydrophobicity system
        Drebes:  Raise Your Hand for Kids issues report making case for tobacco tax increase
        Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri/EU trade mission spotlights GMOs
        CDT:  Libraries celebrate release of state funds X
        Missourinet:  After 6-hour delay, Missouri Social Services budget failed, then passed
        AP:  Senate narrowly passes Missouri Social Services budget
        P-D:  Senate narrowly passes Social Services budget
        AP:  House OKs bill requiring hospital disclosures
        AP:  Senate passes bill giving amnesty to delinquent taxpayers
        AP:  Missouri Senate OKs budget cutting taxpayer-funded scholarships for less-than-legal aliens;  Bill also requires international students to pay international tuition
        AP:  Missouri House advances bill from Rep. Genise Montecillo (D-St. Louis) to teach youngsters the perils of sexual predators and sexting
        AP:  House endorses technical certificate program
        The Missouri Times:  Bill from Rep. Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) sparks debate over discrimination on college campuses
        AP:  House approves measure to set state standards for a "agriculturally-friendly county" designation
        Missourinet:  Missouri Supreme Court to hear challenge to anti-speed-trap law
        The Missouri Times:  PSC considering Grain Belt Express proposal
        Missourinet:  Missouri Supreme Court to hear Kansas City Chiefs age discrimination case
        Missourinet:  Court rules Larry Flynt can seek Missouri execution records
        AP:  U.S. Court OKs Larry Flynt's push for Missouri execution info
        KWMU:  Larry Flynt seeks records in Missouri execution case
        KWMU:  Two candidates opposed by protester groups emerge victorious in Ferguson;  Brian Fletcher says law-abiding taxpayers "want their city back"
        AP:  Ferguson City Council candidate supported by Organization for Black Struggle/SEIU/ACORN et al. loses by 34 points
        P-D:  Candidates supported by ACORN/MORE, SEIU, Working Families Party lose
        SNL:  Emotions, drama high as LGBTQIA protections repealed in Springfield X
        KC Star editorial:  Brattin's bill to crack down on welfare excess is "dumbness" +
        JCNT editorial:  Reform municipal courts, restore fairness X
        Jensen:  Missouri overspends on Medicare payments;  Solutions for fixing the larger problem +
        Columbia Missourian's Rosman:  English-only Pledge of Allegiance bill is a waste of time
        KC Star's Sanchez:  Larry Flynt is right about capital punishment +
        P-D letter:  Area man angry at "fossil interests," St. Louis Regional Chamber, McCaskill and Blunt and wants readers to join him for an Earth Day rally in Jefferson City
        SNL letter:  Missouri can afford to spend more on education, transportation, Medicaid expansion
        CDT letter:  Missouri Department of Conservation is infested with "eco-elitists" X
        P-D letter:  Oakville man responds to Eric Vickers' piece:  Ferguson will be remembered as the place a young ruffian attacked a police officer and got what he deserved
        Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Tuesday, April 7
       
KC Star:  Jason Kander's Senate campaign collects $783K in first six weeks;  Blunt campaign boasts $1M Q1 tally +
          KC Star:  McCaskill pivotal, but so far noncommittal, on bill to block pact with Iran +
          KY3 (Springfield):  McCaskill creates controversy with basketball tweet;  Missouri's senior United States senator weighs in on how NCAA and NBA should run their operations
          Deadspin:  Claire McCaskill is fighting the wrong battle;  Trio of late-night tweets are "stupid on a couple of levels"
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Ed Martin on Jeb Bush;  Ryan Silvey on Obamacare and Medicaid expansion +
          AP:  Nixon plans trade mission to Ireland, France
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Rep. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) talks to journogang about ethics, the Rams, Columbia City Council, and Medicaid expansion's DOA status
          AP:  Missouri budget plan cuts social welfare programs, makes major shift
          Missourinet:  Money released by Nixon includes $3 million for ports
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) on ethics bill, cooling-off period
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate passes prescription drug monitoring program
          The Missouri Times:  Lawmakers still wrangling prescription drug monitoring program
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Lindell Shumake (R-Hannibal) on medical-care retainer bill
          Drebes:  Among 16 applicants for Easter District Missouri Court of Appeals judgeship, only three are women and only two are minorities
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rachel Bringer describes judge-selection process
          P-D:  Missouri Supreme Court to take up Macks Creek Law
          P-D:  Wind Capital Group LLC, formerly a Tom Carnahan joint, sells last two wind farms, winds down operations
          JCNT editorial:  Vote today, lest voting become mandatory X
          P-D editorial:  Blame sexism for women's lower pay;  Of the less than one million Missourians classified as poor, a whopping 55% are female
          Columbia Missourian op-ed:  MU J-school adjunct prof says McCulloch event should have been open to the masses, including protesters
          P-D letter:  Letting 16-year-olds cast actual votes is a terrible idea
          P-D letter:  University City's Jess Rosenberg touts Claire McCaskill, criticizes Roy Blunt
          KC Star letter:  Missouri Republicans oppose Medicaid expansion because they are mean people +
          JCNT letter:  "Religious freedom" bills and their effect on LGBTQIA, Wiccan and atheist rights X
          P-D letter:  Ferguson native says town will heal once Post-Dispatch stops pushing its crusade
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.




        Monday, April 6
       
The Hill:  Dems enlist military veterans in battle for Senate;  Illinois' Duckworth has a shot at winning, but Jason Kander faces "uphill climb"
          KODE (Joplin):  "Council for Medicare Integrity" says Missouri one of worst states for Medicare waste, with $170M in overpayments
          Kraske:  McCaskill weighs in on state-level Medicaid-expansion battle;  Deputy Auditor Harry Otto on MoDOT misspendings +
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Speaker John Diehl;  Discussion panel includes Rep. Joe Adams (D-University City), Braxton Payne (D), Rep. John Wiemann (R-O'Fallon), Jack Spooner (R)
          Kirksville Daily Express:  Michael Reagan, son of Ronald Reagan, speaks at Truman
          JCNT:  Providing pastoral care to lawmakers;  Chaplains try to bring a sense of peace to General Assembly X
          Missourinet:  Republicans aim to move budget quickly this week
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg) on good revenue numbers
          KC Star:  Missouri legislators consider taxing illegal drugs and legalizing medical marijuana +
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown) on fuel tax change of plans
          AP:  Months after Missourians passed Amendment 5, discussion over gun rights continues
          KWMU:  Whether required or not, demand for vote on new stadium is growing louder
          P-D:  Bills stimulate discussion of religious rights, lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer/intersex/asexual rights;  Comments from Kerry Messer, Rep. Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield), PROMO
          JCNT:  Municipal court reform making legislative progress X
          KMZU (Carrollton):  Missouri landowners could trade easement for profit
          KWMU:  UMSL's student newspaper looks to crowdfunding to stay afloat
          Student Life (Washington U.):  Organizers for $15 minimum wage say they will bring 2,500 people to campus rally;  Students to aid movement by performing poetry
          KC Star:  Cleaver among those making an appearance in Ferguson +
          P-D letter:  McCaskill, Blunt should support SNAP funding
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Sunday, April 5   Happy Easter!
       
KC Star:  Upset by political gridlock?  Blame the baby boomers;  11 of 16 members of the MO/KS delegation are in "Polarized Grump" generation +
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  McCaskill, ranking Dem on Aging Committee, says panel will spend time listening to complaints about the cost of medication these days
        Drebes:  Sam Fox to host fundraiser for John McCain, rounds up usual host-committee suspects
        P-D:  Utility execs say they're worried that climate-change rules threaten reliability of electrical grid
        P-D:  Experts urge regional approach to EPA climate-change rules
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Moberly business leader on Missouri Chamber's "Missouri 2030" committee
        KSMU:  Medicaid expansion faces uphill battle;  Sen. Ryan Silvey (R-Kansas City) on Obamacare costs, Rep. Stacey Newman (D-Richmond Heights) on impact to lady olds
        St. Joseph News-Press:  A happy ending for library-funding saga X
        St. Joseph News-Press:  Nixon vetoes bill that targeted superintendents serving on school boards X
        St. Joseph News-Press:  Bill from Rep. Kurt Bahr (R-O'Fallon) could force districts into consolidation X
        KMZU (Carrollton):  MO DED's Amy Susan on energy-efficiency loans
        KNPN (St. Joseph):  Debate over payday loans continues
        AP:  Organization for Black Struggle, SEIU, et al. going door-to-door for Ferguson municipal elections
        KC Star:  Ferguson elections generate attention;  Voter-turnout prognostication from area transplant Latrez Davis, others +
        KWMU:  Lacy Clay shows up in Ferguson;  KC-based political consultant Michele Watley shares her expertise
        P-D:  City of Ferguson says redacting private information in e-mails will be costly
        SE Missourian's Bob Miller:  Simple records request highlights Nixon administration's lack of transparency +
        KC Star letters:  Your friend may die this year, and it just might be Missouri Republicans' fault;  Instead of fixing I-70, improve U.S. 36 from St. Joe to Hannibal +
        Washington Missourian letter:  Labadie man says that if DSS has enough money to pay welfare recipients "too lazy to work," it can find time to weed out abuse
        P-D letter:  Paper's line about Ferguson assailant's body laying in the street shows anti-police bias
        Disclosure

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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.




        Saturday, April 4  
Arrangements made for Spence Jackson
       
KY3 (Springfield):  Video:  McCaskill says Hillary "inspirational to many woman," doesn't deserve - and won't get - a Democratic primary challenge
          Kraske:  Sorting out the 2016 presidential bracket;  Cleaver took heat for sticking with Hillary Clinton in '08 +
          Daily Journal:  McCaskill covers senior issues
          Hometown Daily News (Branson):  McCaskill speaks with local seniors;  Audio of entire event, text recap
          Missourinet:  Nixon releases $43M in Missouri's FY15 budget
          KWMU:  Nixon releases $43M, issues first veto of session
          AP:  Higher revenues lead Nixon to release funds
          CDT:  Nixon releases remaining funds for MU med school expansion project X
          JCNT:  Lincoln University, Capitol benefit from Nixon releasing funds X
          AP:  Nixon vetoes limits for former superintendents
          Missourinet:  Audit:  MoDOT misused road funds
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  MoDOT:  Bill to raise fuel tax every year is one solution to funding woes
          The Missouri Times:  Rep. Jeanie Riddle (R-Mokane) looks to close loophole in juvenile sexual offenses
          P-D:  Republic finishes sewer line from Bridgeton Landfill
          P-D:  Black leaders want Nixon to stall execution of convicted murderers Andre Cole and Kimber Edwards
          P-D:  Feds:  Postal employee Latonya Freechild 'deserted' Jennings mail
          KC Star Capitol Watch editorial:  Weekly list of GOP transgressions:  Republicans are wrong about campaign contribution limits, Pledge of Allegiance +
          P-D editorial:  On Missouri Supreme Court and municipal court reform;  Punchline/gimmick is that it's presented as a legal brief
          Washington Post's Roberto Ferdman:  Rep. Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville) trying to deny welfare recipients' right to filet mignon and crab legs
          P-D letter:  Missouri organizer for liberal Small Business Majority supports EPA carbon regulations
          P-D letter:  Nixon, GOP legislators weakened state pension system
          CDT letter:  Columbia man says Missouri Republicans are "inept, bigoted and disgusting" X
          JCNT letter:  Fulton State Hospital, St. Louis football stadium show how money burns holes in pols' pockets X
          P-D letter:  Florissant man says constant Ferguson protests are getting on people's last nerves
          P-D letter:  Town and Country man wonders when Ferguson looters and arsonists will be brought to justice
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.




        Friday, April 3
       
St. Joseph News-Press:  McCaskill pokes Republicans on elderly tour:  Where is GOP's alternative to Obamacare? X
          KTVO (Kirksville):  McCaskill talks to elderly community in Macon
          Branson Tri-Lakes News:  McCaskill explains difference between "jeans and a t-shirt" potheads and more sophisticated tokers, offers insight into Jesus Christ's approach to LGBTQIA rights
          KBIA:  McCaskill talks Alzheimer's, more to seasoned citizens
          KRCG:  McCaskill speaks to area olds
          KWMU:  Federal taxpayer dollars will go to St. Louis public housing complex
          AP:  John Brunner forms exploratory committee for governor
          KC Star:  Brunner inches closer to governor's race;  Successful businessman spent $8 million in loss to Todd Akin +
          P-D:  Brunner forms exploratory committee
          Northwest Missourian (NW Missouri State):  Tobacco tax proposal aims to help early education
          The Missouri Times:  Vote now in annual "Whispering Gallery Invitational" online tournament:  Journos, keyboard jockeys, and elected officials go head-to-head
          Missourinet:  Bacon business expands operations to build new plant in Missouri;  Comments from Ag Director Richard Fordyce
          The Missouri Times:  Missouri lawmakers pledge support for state employee pay raise
          KWMU:  Legislators want a raise in state employee salaries
          JCNT:  AFSCME's Jeff Mazur, lawmakers seek state wage plan X
          Kraske:  The Chat:  State employee pay raise;  Deceased black journalist Lucile Bluford gets her own day +
          JCNT:  House advances resolution honoring civil rights leader Lucile Bluford X
          The Missouri Times:  In light of cuts, Missouri River Regional Library (MRRL) invites Nixon to visit
          KWMU:  Audit of MoDOT finds $7M in state road funds used for other expenses
          AP:  Audit says MoDOT misspent $7M meant for highway repair
          KC Star:  Audit says MoDOT has misspent $7.1 million +
          The Missouri Times:  Libla pushes new gas tax for MoDOT funding
          AP:  Missouri Senate panel OKs lump-sum budgets for three departments
          AP:  Missouri Senate approves prescription drug monitoring program
          AP:  Missouri Senate roll call vote on prescription drug database
          SE Missourian:  SEMO to follow WGU Missouri model, may let students learn at their own pace +
          KWMU:  Transfer numbers could spell bankruptcy for Normandy schools
          AP:  Missouri Senate panel advances student transfer solution
          SE Missourian:  State could help pay high school equivalency test fee +
          AP:  House OKs requiring Pledge of Allegiance in English
          Missourinet:  Lawmakers debate 2nd Amendment rights and public transit
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Rep. Stacey Newman (D-Richmond Heights) shares her complaints about GOP approach to gun rights, voter ID, more
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri Legislature passes omnibus ag bill
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri Farmers Union lobby day timing a little off;  Group descends upon Capitol as bill they oppose is passed
          KC Star:  Missouri House passes cap on lobbyist gift and cooling-off period +
          P-D:  House passes bill to cap lobbyists' gifts to legislators
          AP:  Missouri House passes bill bulking up ethics requirements
          KWMU:  Missouri House and Senate differ on lobbyist gifts, cooling-off period
          P-D:  Senate bill seeks to make St. Louis City sheriff an appointed position
          AP:  New Black Panther Party members indicted for bomb plot during Ferguson protests
          KWMU:  Missouri Supreme Court seeks public input on municipal court practices
          P-D editorial:  State workers' salaries win race to the bottom. It will be hard to catch up.
          JCNT editorial:  Lawmakers move cautiously on drug-related bills X
          KC Star editorial:  Missouri could learn lessons from Indiana's 'religious freedom' effort +
          KC Star's Steve Paul:  On negotiations with Iran, McCaskill says best approach is wait and see and verify +
          Shelly:  Missouri Republicans are wrong to focus on welfare +
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.



        Thursday, April 2
       
Kraske:  The Chat:  McCaskill on negative campaigning;  Raise Your Hand for Kids' Erin Brower on cigarette-tax hike +
        KC Star:  McCaskill says Jeff Roe has been "cruel and inappropriate," like a "bully on a playground" +
        Helling:  Some possible common ground between McCaskill and Republicans:  She's worried about overreaching environmental regulations +
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  McCaskill embarks on elderly tour, says MO GOP legislators are hypocrites for not expanding Medicaid
        KC Star:  McCaskill, Cleaver, other Dems turn out for Steve Bough's judge ceremony +
        Lake Expo:  Pearce, others react to Spence Jackson's suicide
        SE Missourian:  Remaining postal service operations moving to St. Louis +
        Drebes:  Bill Burlison (D) files paperwork to run for state Senate in Libla's district
        Drebes:  Curtis Trent, former Billy Long staffer, to run for term-limited Eric Burlison's state rep seat
        AP:  Roberta Broeker to take over as MoDOT interim director
        AP:  Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) proposes lump-sum budgets for 3 departments
        AP:  Missouri Senate OKs tax amnesty proposal to raise up to $60M
        AP:  Bill from Rep. Ron Hicks (R-St. Peters) to allow guns on trains;  KC, Springfield public transit officials oppose measure
        Missourinet:  Medical marijuana bill moves through Missouri House with more regulations
        AP:  Missouri House moves bill to expand beer growlers forward
        KMZU (Carrollton):  Conservation Day at the Capitol today
        AP:  Bill from Rep. Shane Roden (R-Cedar Hill) ensures public schools recite Pledge of Allegiance in English
        P-D:  Normandy schools brace for another expensive year
        JCNT:  Bill from Sen. Dan Brown (R-Rolla) would change law so people can get passports more easily X
        KWMU:  Nixon bullish about stadium financing - even without St. Louis County's involvement
        P-D:  Nixon emphasizes county has ongoing stadium funding role
        Missourinet:  Missouri House prepares to take on traffic fine limits
        KWMU:  Diehl unveils new proposal to reform municipal courts and reduce cities' reliance upon traffic fines
        P-D:  Municipal court reforms include no new charges for missing court date, Diehl says
        Missourinet:  MO Supreme Court upholds death sentence for Lebanon man;  Jesse Driskill - who killed elderly man, then raped and shot man's wife - wanted trial thrown out due to "anxiety attacks"
        P-D:  MSD expects $75M state loan for sewer fixes through next summer
        SE Missourian:  Koster's office shuts down animal shelter that was "a substantial ongoing risk to (animals') health and welfare" +
        AP:  Attorney for man who shot police surprised by jailhouse audio of client admitting to shooting police
        The Maneater:  Prosecutor Bob McCulloch (D) talks Ferguson at MU Law event;  Occupy COMO turns out fewer than two dozen to protest
        P-D:  DOJ says it had 'constructive engagement' with Ferguson residents, community groups
        P-D:  FBI arrests man who hacked St. Louis County police union website
        KWMU:  Next steps for the Ferguson police department
        KWMU:  Throughout two rounds of riots, Ferguson library remained unlooted
        KC Star op-ed:  Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker (D):  Actions on gun-rights amendment show Schaefer is not a true leader +
        CDT letter:  Special interests hurt school transfer fix X
        P-D letter:  Post-Dispatch is inconsistent on gender legislation;  Why not ban gender-segregated restrooms?
        JCNT letter:  There are plenty of reasons to opposed Medicaid expansion X
        KC Star letter:  Missouri lawmakers want to help the rich and hurt the poor +
        P-D letter:  Ferguson woman IDs cure for misbehaving students:  Fully fund foundation formula, and make sure teachers are "well-paid"
        P-D letter:  Elderly Ferguson native remembers the days when North County youth were civilized and would get out of the street if a policeman asked them to
        Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.




        Wednesday, April 1   April Fool's Day
       
KWMU:  Spence Jackson's note says he feared losing his job
          Missourinet:  Jackson's note:  "I just can't take being unemployed again"
          The Missouri Times:  Police release details of Jackson's suicide note
          AP:  Police:  Jackson wrote 'can't take being unemployed again'
          P-D:  Jackson's note said he couldn't face unemployment again
          Shelly:  In wake of Jackson's suicide, we should be careful how we treat each other +
          STLBJ:  McCaskill, Blunt lobby for new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency headquarters
          KWMU:  McCaskill continues criticism of Sinquefield, calls for campaign contribution limits
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly);  Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) says he agrees with Parson on negative campaigning, still stands behind Hancock as GOP chairman
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Proposed tobacco tax would fund early childhood education X
          AP:  Missouri Senate defeats proposal to expand Medicaid
          AP:  Missouri Senate votes to raise caps for some to get Medicaid
          KWMU:  McCaskill at elderly event:  Seniors will be hurt by GOP refusal to expand Medicaid
          SE Missourian:  Fluoridation bill from Rep. Donna Lichtenegger (R-Jackson) advances in House +
          The Missouri Times:  Rep. Paul Wieland (R-Imperial) calls on Nixon to release port funds
          AP:  Missouri lawmakers pass bill to help agriculture industry
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Senate bill would utilize hemp measures in farm bill;  Comments from Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown)
          AP:  Missouri House panel sends medical marijuana bill forward
          The Missouri Times:  Medical marijuana poised for House debate
          CDT:  Group will seek to limit foreign ownership of farmland, already capped at one percent; Woman hops aboard Willie Nelson's tour bus, shares decades-old story and offers him her goodies X
          JCNT:  Funding poses roadblock for synthetic-drug identification program X
          JCNT:  Bill seeks extra marshal at courthouse X
          P-D:  Nixon pulls St. Louis County out of new football stadium financing
          KWMU:  County exec:  STL County off the hook in paying for riverfront football stadium
          KWMU:  Indian groups may complain about location of new stadium
          P-D:  Unions to organize fast-food rally April 15;  Whopper artist/Chicken-Fry chef Terrence Wise promises "the biggest mobilization America has seen in decades"
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Rep. Brandon Ellington (D-Kansas City) on reality of no "Ferguson agenda" under GOP supermajority;  Cleaver wants Google to sign up more poors +
          AP:  Man who shot police at Ferguson protest denied lower bond
          P-D:  Spanish Lake man, 20, charged in attack on MetroLink rider;  Ringleader of beating is 15-year-old delinquent
          CDT:  Mizzou law school officials succeed in keeping McCulloch visit focused on students
          KOMU:  Two dozens protesters express anger over McCulloch visit;  St. Louis County prosecutor visited campus to discuss attack on Darren Wilson, subsequent court case
          JCNT editorial:  Don't give up on pay raise for state workers X
          P-D editorial:  Indiana is getting all the attention, but Missouri GOP discriminates against lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer/intersex/asexual residents, too
          P-D editorial:  Creative and cooperative policing needed to stop teen intimidation;  Ferguson riots have made corralling youths a thorny topic, but the law is the law
          Columbia Missourian's David Rosman:  Unintended consequences of the gun-rights amendment are now biting us
          CDT letter:  Central West End (St. Louis City) resident wants Missouri lawmakers to expand Medicaid X
          P-D letter:  Post-Dispatch decries "racial divide" but ignores miscreants' savage mentality and behavior
          P-D letter:  St. Charles man:  Some white people are racist, and some black people are racist, and that's a real shame.
          Disclosure


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         + = This site has chosen to provide its reporters with access to you by waiving its pageview limit for all links posted on johncombest.com.


       

       


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

       



       


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