johncombest.com

Missouri's political news website since October 2001.

Archive - April 2017



    

        Sunday, April 30   MoDOT travel map - flooded roads
       
P-D:  Cook Political Report analysis shows Missouri's non-urban districts becoming darker red;  SEMO prof says Bootheel area in final stages of transcending Dixiecrat past
          Quincy Herald-Whig:  Congress still awaiting budget with Amtrak;  Sen. Matt [sic] Blunt, rest of Missouri delegation supports funding for Essential Air Service program
          Columbia Missourian:  Climate change rally draws small crowd;  Sexagenarian Caucasoid male reads poem encouraging letting grass grow long rather than mowing;  Septuagenarian gender studies prof talks sexism of climate change;  Sexagenarian Caucusoid male attempts to lead rhythmic chant;  More
          KCUR:  Climate change rally features anti-Trump banter, sarcastic signs
          KC Star:  Climate change rally draws Trump critics;  Community college sociology prof offers expertise on global weather trends;  Minimum-wage activist attempts to work in fast-food campaign messaging +
          AP:  Greitens to pay penalty for using The Mission Continues donor list
          P-D:  Greitens fined $1,000 for not disclosing use of The Mission Continues donor list
          AP:  Analysis:  Greitens' aggressive style means intra-party clashes
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Jay Ashcroft explainss voter ID in Randolph County
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in Missouri Politics preview:  Sen. Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff) talks foundation formula, more
          P-D:  Greitens declares state of emergency as flash flooding continues across Missouri
          Missourinet:  Greitens declares state of emergency in Missouri;  prisoners heading to St. Robert to sandbag
          Missourinet:  Rep. Bill Reiboldt (R-Neosho) praises Highway Patrol, Dept. of Conservation agents for water rescues yesterday
          JCNT:  As session winds down, Missouri Legislature again poised to do nothing on transportation X
          Columbia Missourian:  Medicaid patients could face restrictions to access to antipsychotic medication
          SNL:  Capitol briefs:  Cannabis oil, labor reform and Airbnb X
          JCNT:  Solar groups oppose state energy bill;  Comments from former Rep. Zach Wyatt (R-Novinger) X
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Brent Powell a good pick for Missouri Supreme Court;  Missouri Plan is working as intended X
          SE Missourian op-ed:  Prevailing wage law costs taxpayers, local contractors +
          SNL letter:  Springfield conservative says Schumer ads might reveal his puppeteering of McCaskill X
          SNL letter:  Area man opposes restrictions on pseudoephedrine X
          P-D letter:  Richmond Heights man says Ameren shareholders should fire CEO Warner Baxter for support of coal
          P-D letter:  Conservative Chesterfield septuagenarian expresses pleasure in reading Editorial Page Editor Tod Robberson's damnation of street savagery and free-speech hypocrisy
          Disclosure



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        Saturday, April 29
       
Brownfield Ag News:  Trump Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue speaks in KC;  Audio of full speech and interview
          Missouri Farmer Today:  USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue discusses plans during Missouri visit
          High Plains Journal:  Secretary Perdue visits Kansas City
          The Missouri Times:  Lt. Gov. Mike Parson meets with new U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
          P-D:  Congressional delegation votes for the week
          SNL:  Out-of-state professors visit Drury, criticize Trump X
          Missourinet:  Task Force 1 deploys to help with expected flooding in Missouri
          KWMU:  "St. Louis on the Air":  ACORN (rebranded "MORE,") other liberal groups get 30 minutes to promote today's "People's Climate March"
          KC Star:  Liberal groups' march may disrupt traffic for working people during Monday rush hour +
          Drebes:  GOP combatants line up to fill Ron Richard's state Senate seat
          The Missouri Times:  Silvey responds to Greitens' Taco Bill video with one of his own, talks budget and takes aim at dark-money attacks
          The Missouri Times:  Greitens found guilty of ethics violation
          KWMU:  Behind the Headlines:  Jason Rosenbaum talks about the rift between Sen. Rob Schaaf and Gov. Eric Greitens
          P-D:  Greitens buys home in Warren County
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in the Governor's Office:  Week of April 24
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in the General Assembly:  Week of April 24
          KWMU:  Crunch time:  A look at legislation entering the final two weeks of legislative session
          Missourinet:  Bill for veterans homes stalled in Missouri House
          KC Star:  Bill would allow electronic monitoring of domestic abuse defendants +
          SNL:  Missouri's Case.net now offers text notifications for tracking cases X
          AP:  St. Louis businesses brace for impact of higher minimum wage
          CDT:  Choi:  University of Missouri System not 'retrenching' amid budget trimming X
          Missourinet:  MoDOT says fatal motorcycle crashes reach all-time high in Missouri
          CDT:  Columbia pharmacies begin using drug monitoring program X
          Daily Dunklin Democrat:  OAKS volunteer receives award from Parson +
          KWMU:  Amendment from Rep. Robert Ross (R-Yukon) would prohibit publicly-funded facilities from promoting abortion
          KC Star's Bryan Lowry:  First 100 days for Trump, Greitens show lack of transparency +
          P-D letter:  Schaaf and Empower Missouri's Jeanette Mott Oxford:  Missouri should not expand Medicaid managed care
          P-D letter:  Bridgeton resident suggests trying other solutions instead of tax credit for poor families
          Disclosure


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        Friday, April 28
       
SE Missourian:  Jason Smith praises Trump's inquiry into aluminum imports +
          KC Star:  Anti-Trump group disrupts Kansas congressman's speech at UMKC Law School;  UMKC coed says she screamed and stomped to protest "division" +
          P-D:  Ann Wagner's human trafficking bill seeks tougher sanctions, more education
          KWMU:  Local scientist who wants federal funding opposes cuts to federal funding
          Missourinet:  Northern Missouri tech company adds 100 new jobs, praises state business climate;  Comments from Sam Graves
          FOX4KC:  Congressional delegation wants local VA to offer mammograms
          KWMU:  ACORN (rebranded "MORE"), others organize "People's Climate March" tomorrow in St. Louis City
          Drebes:  Brian Schmidt registers new organization, Missouri Children's Leadership Council
          Missourinet:  Greitens says he disagrees with his PAC releasing Schaaf's cell phone number
          The Missouri Times:  Pro-cannabis PAC joins Greitens' non-profit, runs social media ad against Schaaf
          KC Star:  Video:  Greitens signs bill while taking a Lyft to get Taco Bell;  Comely blonde chauffeurs governor whilst discussing legislation, economic benefits of part-time jobs +
          Missourinet:  Lawmakers look to finalize budget that doesn't include midyear cuts
          The Missouri Times:  House sends Onder's PLA bill to governor's desk
          KWMU:  Bill would spare public works projects from being forced to use all-union labor;  Other action includes education savings accounts, Zoo bill
          AP:  Missouri lawmakers pass limits on public construction
          The Missouri Times:  Bootheel leaders ask Libla to let SB 190 come to a vote
          AP:  Missouri Senate passes school choice, transfer proposal
          The Missouri Times:  Remington Research poll suggests voters could favor education savings accounts for school choice
          AP:  University of Missouri sets new policies in wake of agitators' protests
          CDT:  University of Missouri System to lose millions of dollars to lower enrollment X
          Columbia Missourian:  Curators will vote on UM System tuition increase next month
          P-D:  Declining enrollment leads to budget woes for University of Missouri System
          KWMU:  UMSL will close $15M deficit ahead of schedule;  UM System proposes tuition increases
          AP:  Missouri House passes bill to protect Airbnb, other rentals
          AP:  Missouri House wants more information on state legal costs
          The Missouri Times:  PSC compels Empire to fulfill OPC data requests
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Sen. Blunt is right - Blaine Amendment has outlived its time X
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Gov. Arrogant Greitens is no white knight X
          KC Star editorial:  'Full' funding for Missouri public schools? Sort of. +
          KC Star editorial:  Ride-sharing services still need scrutiny. Is there an app for that? +
          Communist Party USA's People's World bureau chief Tony Pecinovsky:  McCaskill demonstrates the limits of neo-liberal centrism
          P-D's Stacy Washington:  Liberal Missouri media shows its bias on guns
          KC Star letter:  Liberal Lee's Summit septuagenarian responds to Todd Graves' response to Star editorial on Ron Richard +
          P-D letter:  Show-Me Institute's James Shuls responds to letter on teachers' retirement system changes
          P-D letter:  Clayton septuagenarian says Missouri legislators are trying to steal her pension money
          P-D letter:  St. Louis Community and Family Partnership's Ruth Ehresman:  Legislature should pass earned income tax credit to help the poor
          Disclosure



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        Thursday, April 27
       
The Atlantic:  McCaskill "couldn't disagree more" with DNC chief Tom Perez, says party should not have litmus tests
          The Missouri Times:  Soros group targets Wagner's district with new anti-Trump ads
          KRES/KWIX:  Luetkemeyer analyzes economy under Trump, Obamacare alternatives, more
          Missourinet:  Lt. Gov. Mike Parson:  Veterans bill signed by Trump will help rural Missouri veterans
          P-D:  After work by McCaskill and others, deal may be close to cover retired United Mine Workers' health care
          SE Missourian:  State Supreme Court rules against Jason Smith's mother in dog-kennel defamation case +
          The Missouri Times:  St. Louis' Boeing vies with two others for major defense contract
          KC Star:  Founder of White Privilege Conference issues warning to Caucasoids:  "This is not a 'diversity' conference. It's not a kumbaya experience." +
          KCUR:  Schmitt launches savings program for people with disabilities
          KSHB:  Through State Treasurer Eric Schmitt's program, people with disabilities can put up to $100,000 in savings account
          SNL:  Dixon orders 100 dozen Hurts' donuts to ease Capitol tensions X
          The Missouri Times:  Hourly updates:  Senate budget
          KWMU:  Missouri Senate passes state budget;  Negotiations with the House next
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate passes state budget, chambers to negotiate differences
          The Missouri Times:  Chappelle-Nadal pushes taxpayer buyout as Fitzpatrick stresses fiscal discipline
          Missourinet:  Fitzpatrick says Senate's funding of education could muddy negotiations
          SNL:  Springfield-area senators split over education funding X
          AP:  Missouri House OKs payouts for extra expenses
          P-D:  Managed care expansion on track after vote in Missouri Senate
          Quincy Herald-Whig:  Advocates for school choice attend forum
          Columbia Missourian:  Program would create four adult high schools in Missouri
          P-D:  Missouri House OKs allowing state employees to earn pensions faster
          JCNT:  Deaf advocates stress importance of legislative involvement X
          Missourinet:  Ashcroft, Hawley, legislative leaders fight court's decision to make abuse victim divulge address to attacker
          AP:  Missouri proposes new protections for domestic abuse victims
          KWMU:  Missouri lawmakers get involved in fight to protect whereabouts of abuse victims
          AP:  St. Louis City's minimum wage may rise as early as next week
          KWMU:  New St. Louis City minimum wage could begin next week
          KWMU:  Missouri Supreme Court sets execution date for Marcellus Williams amid drug controversy
          AP:  August execution date set for Missouri inmate;  Murderer Marcellus Williams broke into woman's home, stabbed her 43 times with a butcher knife
          Missourinet:  Missouri Supreme Court sets August execution date for murderer;  Victim was a former Post-Dispatch reporter
          KWMU:  Cases of syphilis transmitted in pregnancy rise in Missouri
          Missourinet:  Liberal groups complain about conservative legislation;  "Moral Missouri" coalition includes NAACP, NARAL, Sierra Club, et al.
          KWMU:  Galloway:  Ferguson court in 'disarray'
          Missourinet:  Galloway's audit of Ferguson Municipal Court finds $26k in illegal fees, missing money and records
          P-D:  Galloway issues damning report alleging Ferguson court collected illegal fees, lost records
          SNL editorial:  Missouri must move forward on industrial hemp X
          KC Star editorial:  Gimmicky-named "White Privilege Conference" not enough to address real race issues +
          CDT cartoon:  Mocking Greitens' direct-to-voters social media approach X
          P-D op-ed:  Mackinac Center of Public Policy's F. Vincent Vernuccio:  Missouri legislators should not stop with 'right to work' and 'paycheck protection,' should keep pushing forward on pro-worker policies
          Columbia Missourian's David Rosman:  Legislators should not pass Romine's discrimination bill
          P-D editorial page editor Tod Robberson:  Rep. Bruce Franks (D-St. Louis City) and other liberals are wrong - there is no constitutional right to commit street savagery in the name of "protest"
          P-D letter:  Rock Hill man opposes Trinity Lutheran Church suit, says churches should pay taxes
          Disclosure


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        Wednesday, April 26
       
Politico:  How McCaskill, other vulnerable Dems have fared in Trump's first 100 days
          Washington Post:  Blunt says Trump's comments on possible wall delay "helpful" to getting budget deal done
          KWMU:  Area Chinese women impressed by Sheena Greitens' ability to speak Oriental language, express anger over "xenophobic" 2016 ads against Kurt Schaefer
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Jay Ashcroft speaks to local GOP club, talks voter ID legislation and "Safe at Home" program
          The Missouri Times:  GOP internecine warfare continues as Hoskins, Schaaf take aim at Greitens adviser Austin Chambers
          Missourinet:  Fiery remarks against Greitens and adviser Austin Chambers open key budget debate in Senate
          KWMU:  Schaaf continues to be formidable stumbling block for Greitens
          The Missouri Times:  Kehoe still optimistic on passing lobbyist gift ban, despite new distractions
          Messenger:  Ethics overhaul in three acts, a Missouri tragedy:  After Schaaf hubbub dies down, Missouri voters must fix what legislators won't
          The Missouri Times' Benjamin Peters:  To PQ or not to PQ:  The Missouri Senate's battle for tradition
          SNL:  Missouri lawmakers might miss budget deadline, necessitating a special session;  Comments from House Democratic Caucus Chief of Staff Marc Powers X
          The Missouri Times:  Hourly updates:  Senate budget
          AP:  Missouri Senate votes to increase funding for public K-12 schools
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate votes to fully fund education
          Columbia Missourian:  Senate fully funds K-12 formula
          KWMU:  State budget fully funds Missouri's K-12 schools, though Greitens can say no
          KC Star:  New education fund in Kansas City just gave nearly $2 million to two charter schools
          KWMU:  Corporate income tax revenues drop in Missouri
          Missourinet:  Missouri House panel scrutinizes all tax credits offered by state
          The Missouri Times:  Greitens chooses Brent Powell as next Missouri Supreme Court judge
          KWMU:  Greitens names Jackson County judge to fill Missouri Supreme Court vacancy
          AP:  Judge W. Brent Powell appointed to Missouri Supreme Court
          KWMU:  Missouri House passes abortion legislation, now up to Senate
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Nate Walker (R-Kirksville) says 911 legislation will improve service in rural Missouri
          KC Star:  Most KC taxis to operate like Uber and Lyft in wake of new state law +
          Columbia Missourian:  Progress stalls on paid parental leave in Missouri Legislature
          AP:  Missouri bill would raise adult crimes age
          Missourinet:  Missouri House holds moment of silence for two slain Laclede Gas workers;  Criminal Clinton Willis, convicted of burglary and crack-cocaine charges, shot and killed two workers in North St. Louis City
          Missourinet:  Chappelle-Nadal says dramatic struggle of those who chose to purchase homes near landfill is "very, very, very, very similar" to Ferguson activists' "trauma"
          P-D op-ed:  Missouri should do something about violent pit bulls
          KC Star letters:  KC man mocks "White Privilege Conference" organizers' profiteering;  Lee's Summit man wants gas tax for Missouri roads;  Local "Indivisible" leader expresses her anger at Blunt +
          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 25
       
Reuters:  Trump's wall push may be delayed as government shutdown looms;  Blunt says spending-bill decision must be made by tonight
          Missourinet:  Blunt backs Trump's approach to North Korea threats
          SNL:  Lt. Gov. Mike Parson:  Trump's action on Veterans Choice program could help Missouri veterans +
          Joplin Globe:  Immigration officials yet to hold alien roundups in area;  Three arrests since Trump inauguration have enforced Obama-era rules X
          KC Star:  'White Privilege Conference' ready to open in KC +
          Drebes:  State employee moves:  Michael Quinlan, Christine Krug, Ryan Asbridge
          Missourinet:  Schmitt announces savings account program for the disabled
          KMBC:  MO ABLE to help Missourians with disabilities save money
          Columbia Missourian:  MO ABLE opens up chances to save
          JCNT:  Jefferson City man makes case for MO ABLE X
          The Missouri Times:  Schaaf talks with Scott Faughn about lobbyist gifts, Greitens' dark money, impact on governor's White House bid, more
          The Missouri Times:  Humphreys bipartisan contributions continue to draw attention;  Schaaf suggests Greitens revamp ethics approach prior to White House bid
          AP:  Schaaf moving out of room he rented from lobbyist
          Missourinet:  Schaaf not ruling out further filibustering
          KWMU:  Greitens talks anti-Schaaf campaign after signing ride-hailing legislation, says nonprofit "is separate from me"
          P-D:  Greitens:  'I have no day-to-day responsibilities' with nonprofit
          The Missouri Times:  Ridesharing companies celebrate as Greitens signs Uber bill
          KC Star:  New Missouri law overrides city rules, might bring Lyft back to Kansas City
          P-D:  Greitens signs law smoothing the way for Uber, Lyft to operate statewide
          JCNT:  Uber operating in Jefferson City X
          SE Missourian:  Cape school board backs repeal of prevailing-wage law +
          KWMU:  Data privacy concerns may keep Jefferson County from tracking opioid prescriptions
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate ag committee approves Curtman's industrial hemp bill;  Missouri Farm Bureau testifies against it
          Missourinet:  Schupp says utilities industry funded robocalls in her district
          AP:  Missouri House passes legislation to track fetal tissue
          WGEM:  School choice advocates meet in Hannibal, talk HB 634
          KWMU:  Normandy School District officials hope students don't let them down with poor MAP scores
          P-D editorial:  Greitens fails his own ethics test
          KC Star editorial:  Time is running out to explain Missouri's new voter ID rules +
          JCNT editorial:  Alcohol advertising and free speech;  Legislators should pass HB 433 X
          SNL editorial:  Making costly accomodations for girl who wants to use boys' public school restrooms was a wise choice for school district X
          Waters:  Pruitt, Blunt won't win the war on coal - but they may be able to tweak enforcement excesses X
          KC Star op-ed:  MRP Chairman Todd Graves:  Star editorial wrong about Ron Richard +
          Helling:  In church case and ethics fight, Greitens trades policy for politics - and fails at both +
          Newton:  Posting Schaaf's cell phone number was a "bush-league move" by Greitens X
          P-D op-ed:  United Way of Greater St. Louis' Orvin Kimbrough:  A state earned income tax credit helps Missouri's working families
          P-D op-ed:  Retired teacher:  Rex Sinquefield takes aim at Missouri teacher pensions
          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 24
       
Washington Examiner:  McCaskill, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) seek to stop financial scams targeting seniors
          Columbia Missourian:  Area olds promote their political involvement;  Thoughts from local liberals at League of Women Voters, Muleskinners
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) talks about battle with Schaaf;  Panel of state legislators talks Greitens' nonprofit, Senate decorum, more
          Drebes:  The Legislature's big task this week
          KWMU:  Disabled Missourians can save for long-term care under Schmitt's new MO ABLE program
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate turmoil could limit volume of legislation passed this session
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Missouri School Boards' Association's Brent Ghan talks Senate vs. House school funding levels, blocking harmful legislation, more
          P-D:  Missouri Senators move to keep drunk driving checkpoints in budget
          P-D:  Lobbyist gift ban legislation likely to fail again this session
          Columbia Missourian:  Fact check:  Statement from Rep. Allen Andrews (R-Grant City) on unemployment insurance funding rated "True"
          KC Star:  Bills seek to address sexual abuse in nursing homes and mental-health facilities +
          Missourinet:  Missouri Supreme Court considers grisly experiences in MoDOT worker's compensation case
          Columbia Missourian:  Missouri steps up trapping and killing of feral hogs
          Missourinet:  Rep. Bruce Franks (D-St. Louis City):  "We need to get to the root cause (of DOC problems,) which is the warden"
          KC Star editorial:  Help wanted in Kansas City, where federal jobs remain unfilled +
          P-D editorial:  Bill from Rep. Lyle Rowland (R-Cedarcreek) would make reaching 911 far less frustrating
          SNL op-ed:  Blunt should stop Trump's cuts to Community Development Block Grants X
          KC Star op-ed:  Missouri Budget Project's Amy Blouin:  Bad tax policy at the core of Missouri's budget problems +
          P-D's Mark Schlinkmann:  After losing Jeff City fight to Uber, taxi agency may loosen cab rules
          KC Star letter:  Area woman wants state legislators to raise gas tax +
          P-D letter:  Frontenac woman says violence makes her cry, and legislators should pass gun-control laws
          P-D letter:  Florissant nonagenarian wants Legislature to pass 2014 bill sponsored by former Rep. Keith English (I-Florissant)
          Disclosure



          X
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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 23
       
The Chart (Missouri Southern):  Immigrant students hold forum to discuss themselves;  Mexican coed laments "constant struggle" of illegal status
          Columbia Missourian:  Fact check:  McCaskill's statement on refugees rated "False"
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Blaine Luetkemeyer, Vicky Hartzler celebrate "new paradigm" of clean air, affordable energy under EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
          KSMU (Springfield):  Photos from March for Science rally
          KC Star:  March for Science draws wide array of issue activists +
          P-D:  Thousands gather in downtown St. Louis for St. Louis' March for Science
          CDT:  Activists march in support of scientists X
          St. Joseph News-Press:  St. Joseph joins international March for Science X
          AP:  First 100 days:  Judging Greitens' performance versus campaign promises
          McClatchy:  Greitens' social media draws wide array of assessments;  Republican man says Greitens seems genuine;  SLU prof Ken Warren (D) calls approach to press "arrogant;"  KC woman dislikes tryhard workout showoffery, calls it "gross"
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in Missouri Politics preview:  Caleb Rowden gives background on battle versus Schaaf and thoughts on moving forward;  All-legislator panel talks Greitens' nonprofit, Senate decorum, more
          Drebes:  On Neitzsche, Schaaf and Rowden
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Lindell Shumake (R-Hannibal) not concerned about compressed budget timeline
          KC Star:  Preview:  Final three weeks of legislative session +
          SNL:  Ten bills that could change education in Springfield X
          Washington Missourian:  Bill to fund Scottrade renovations moving ahead X
          P-D:  Next move is up to Ameren after Missouri opts not to regulate charging stations
          NY Times editorial:  Supreme Court should rule against Missouri church
          KC Star editorial:  Sam Graves should help city with funding for Buck O'Neil bridge +
          P-D op-ed:  Alliance for Defending Freedom's James Gottry explains rationale for Trinity Lutheran Church's lawsuit
          SE Missourian op-ed:  Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy:  Prevailing wage drives up costs for local projects +
          SNL letter:  Springfield sexagenarian applauds Blunt for supporting medical research funding X
          SNL letter:  Area coed disagrees with Billy Long on abortion and Obamacare, says a town hall would give her "a gratifying experience" 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.



        Saturday, April 22   Earth Day
       
Knoxville News Sentinel:  Blunt speaks at Lincoln Day Dinner, says occasional dark day is brightened by knowledge that Hillary Clinton isn't president
          SNL:  Springfield's 'March for Science' to draw diverse amalgam of ideologies;  Organizers will deliver message-laden banners to offices of McCaskill, Blunt, Long X
          KWMU:  St. Louis scientists participate in 'March for Science'
          Missourinet:  International science event will have strong presence in Missouri
          Drebes:  Greitens hosts dinner at Governor's Mansion with female leaders, promotes administration's push for more female leaders
          The Missouri Times:  First 100 Days:  A look at how Greitens, Parson, Ashcroft, Schmitt, Hawley have tracked against their campaign promises
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in the Governor's Office:  Week of April 17
          The Missouri Times:  Schmitt prepares to roll out MO ABLE program
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in the General Assembly:  Week of April 17
          The Missouri Times:  Greitens' nonprofit criticizes Schaaf, posts senator's personal phone number online
          SNL:  Greitens' nonprofit publishes GOP state senator's cellphone phone number X
          KWMU:  Greitens' nonprofit zeroes in on Schaaf in online ad
          P-D:  Some Democrats, Republicans rent sleeping space from lobbyists
          SNL:  D.C. group asks U.S. attorney to investigate Missouri Senate leader X
          KWMU:  Missouri lawmakers may miss May 5 deadline, raising possibility of special session
          P-D:  GOP infighting could delay budget progress
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Craig Redmon (R-Canton) on proposed tax on propane and electricity used in electric cars
          SNL:  Transgender-accommodating costs:  Ozark High School will spend more than $20k to renovate restrooms for one (1) girl who refuses to use female facilities X
          KC Star editorial:  U.S. attorney should investigate Missouri Senate leader Ron Richard +
          St. Joseph News-Press editorial:  Great Plains-Westar merger delay could cost ratepayers the benefit of operational efficiencies X
          P-D editorial:  Legislature should help Jefferson City promote jailhouse tourism
          Messenger:  Rep. Bruce DeGroot (R-Chesterfield) switches teams, files bill to help debt-collector clients
          Washington Missourian letter:  Area septuagenarian says McCaskill's constituent "survey" reveals her liberal bent X
          P-D letter:  Bel-Nor septuagenarian says Blunt is scared of defending Trump at town halls
          Washington Missourian letter:  Area sexagenarian dislikes proposal from Antonio French, liberal college students to make urban area a "sanctuary city" for illegal aliens X
        P-D letter:  St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council's Will Jordan criticizes Post-Dispatch reporting on Romine's bill
        KC Star letter:  Grandparents Against Gun Violence's Judy Sherry unhappy about newspaper's use of "silver bullet," says society must stop using "70 words and phrases that refer to guns and shooting" +
        Disclosure



          X
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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 21
       
Missourinet:  EPA Chief Scott Pruitt tells Missouri crowd war on coal is over
          CDT:  EPA chief celebrates rollback of Obama regulations X
          Drebes:  McCaskill faces uphill battle for re-election
          Columbia Missourian:  Blunt secures $10 million for Missouri to fight opioid abuse
          SE Missourian:  Jason Smith:  New health-care package could be unveiled soon +
          KWMU:  Missouri Arts Council opposes cuts to its federal funding
          SE Missourian:  Peter Kinder honored at Boy Scout dinner +
          SE Missourian:  Rep. Steve Cookson (R-Poplar Bluff) needs liver transplant +
          Drebes:  House 21 update:  Daniel O'Neill, John Mayfield
          Kraske:  GOP targets Nixon-appointed judges, and the former governor should only blame himself +
          SNL:  Planned Parenthood to offer abortions in Springfield and Joplin X
          The Missouri Times:  DOR turns over documents to Galloway's office
          AP:  DOR gives records after auditor's subpoena
          KWMU:  Missouri revenue department turns over tax refund information
          The Missouri Times:  Schaaf raises stakes in managed care fight
          The Missouri Times:  Rowden questions Schaaf's motivation on Senate floor
          The Missouri Times:  Weigh station bill dies on House floor despite FBI inquiry
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Sen. Bill Eigel (R-St. Charles County) chats with Rosenbaum about boosting transportation funding without raising taxes, potential PDMP pitfalls, more
          AP:  Plan to end tax break for Missouri seniors, disabled stalls
          Columbia Missourian:  Dueling budgets reflect growing distance between House and Senate
          The Missouri Times:  Republicans fail to take up discrimination bill as session enters crunch time;  McGaugh expects bill to come up next week
          KWMU:  Missouri House delays vote on workplace discrimination bill
          SE Missourian:  County commissioners voice support for repealing prevailing-wage law +
          Columbia Missourian:  Fact check:  Hegeman's statement on University of Missouri bonuses rated "Half True"
          Missourinet:  Committee investigating Missouri's prison system wraps up with DOC director
          The Missouri Times:  PSC declares it does not have EVF authority
          SNL:  'Hailey's Law' heard in bogged-down Senate X
          Missourinet:  Late in the game, 'Hailey's Law' still pedaling through Missouri Legislature
          AP:  State alters program for abuse victims after court order
          KC Star:  After provocative debate, prospects appear dim for LGBTQIA* rights in Missouri +
          P-D editorial:  Missouri needs a higher gas tax to pay for better roads and safer bridges
          CDT cartoon:  Milk-carton cliche, featuring Vicky Hartzler X
          P-D's Stacy Washington:  Bipartisan Uber and Lyft bill passage gives hope for more good legislation
          KC Star op-ed:  Mesothelioma widow opposes HB 333 +
          St. Joseph News-Press' Alonzo Weston:  State legislators fail local residents by failing to pass PDMP X
          P-D letter:  Manchester liberal applauds McCaskill's opposition to Gorsuch
          P-D letter:  Chesterfield woman opposes cuts to "circuit breaker" program
          SE Missourian letter:  MEDA's Trey Davis responds to "false and uneducated" op-ed from "highfalutin'" attorney David Woodsmall +
          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 20   4/20
       
The Missouri Times:  Blunt makes brief surprise visit to Missouri House;  Junior senator talks EPA, Blaine Amendment, more
          P-D:  Blunt backs Trump's North Korea actions
          KWMU:  Blunt announces $10 million federal grant to Missouri to fight opioid crisis
          SNL:  McCaskill reaffirms opposition to 'dark money' after $500,000 ad buy from secretive Schumer PAC X
          KC Star:  Dark money group launches ad campaign supporting McCaskill days after she pans dark money +
          Rolla Daily News:  Rep. Jason Smith faces constituents at town hall, talks EPA, Trump budget, more
          Missourinet:  EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to appear with Blunt in northern Missouri today
          P-D:  Anti-Trump activists hold mock town hall;  Stunt features mannequin dressed as Blunt, depiction of elephant posterior, etc.
          P-D:  Missouri playground case touches on separation of church and state
          Columbia Missourian:  After arguments, Supreme Court leans toward local church in religious freedom case
          NPR:  Playground case could breach barrier between tax coffers, religious schools
          Drebes:  Former Rep. John Bowman (D-St. Louis), who resigned after bank fraud indictment, lobbying for UAW
          CDT:  Democrat Michela Skelton leads in 50th District fundraising X
          Columbia Missourian:  50th House District candidates file campaign finance reports
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Profile:  Young Democrats of Missouri's Houston Roberts X
          JCNT:  Auditor subpoenas DOR records X
          AP:  Galloway issues subpoena to revenue department
          KWMU:  Galloway goes after DOR over tax refund information
          Missourinet:  State auditor subpoenas DOR, claims Greitens is stonewalling
          Columbia Missourian:  Galloway subpoenas DOR
          P-D:  Owner of troubled Festus nursing home admits stealing Medicaid funds, spending cash on strippers and other toys
          Missourinet:  Sen. Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur), others continue push for Medicaid expansion
          P-D:  Pay-to-play allegations against Missouri Senate leader draw complaint
          The Missouri Times' Rachel Herndon Dunn:  HELP vs. Drivewyze:  Backstory of how conflict led to FBI investigation
          The Missouri Times:  Schaaf boots House bills off Senate consent calendar:  "Actions have consequences"
          The Missouri Times:  Sen. Bob Dixon (R-Springfield) on Senate personality conflicts, the PQ, and more
          KWMU:  Buckle up:  No major funding increases for fixing Missour's roads, bridges
          The Missouri Times:  Alternative fuels showcased at Capitol;  Proponents call them solutions to state funding issues
          Missourinet:  Missouri House gives green light to State Legal Expense Fund bill;  Hawley to issue first report this month
          AP:  Missouri House advances abortion proposal
          KWMU:  Federal judge blocks two of Missouri's abortion restrictions
          AP:  Judge blocks Missouri's abortion-restricting rules
          The Missouri Times:  AIM board visits Capitol for legislative day
          The Missouri Times:  As Missouri PSC awaits Great Plains-Westar merger briefs, Kansas regulators reject combination
          SE Missourian:  Millions at stake over Ameren fight with property tax assessments +
          KWMU:  Ameren begins major upgrades at Lake of the Ozarks dam
          AP:  Work begins on $52 million improvements to Bagnell Dam
          Missourinet:  House committee to hear MONA
          Missourinet:  Powdered alcohol bill heads to Missouri Senate
          KWMU:  Galloway begins audit of Hazelwood schools at parents' request
          KC Star editorial:  Urban mayors Sly James and Lyda Krewson must team up to teach Missouri's GOP legislators what's what +
          P-D editorial:  A good-faith effort to help homeowners around West Lake Landfill
          P-D Editorial Board Editor Tod Robberson:  Schaaf does the right thing by criticizing Greitens' dark money
          Priddy:  Remembering Jerry Nachtigal
          P-D letter:  Wash U School of Social Work staff thank McCaskill, Blunt for supporting scientific research funding
          P-D letter:  St. Louis County woman expresses anger at Post-Dispatch for not covering anti-Trump rally
          CDT letter:  Columbia Missouri State Teachers Association thanks local legislators for voting against charter school bill X
          SNL letter:  Springfield man responds to letter responding to PDMP legislation X
          Disclosure



          X
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        Wednesday, April 19
       
Politico:  Chuck Schumer's SuperPAC launches radio ads in Missouri supporting McCaskill
          CDT:  Local Democratic National Committee member Persephone Dakopolos files six (6) delinquent campaign finance reports;  "People Over Profits" was created to help Bernie Sanders X
          West Plains Daily Quill:  Local sect of national anti-Trump "Indivisible" group to hold town hall tomorrow night
          Columbia Missourian:  Rally for illegal immigrants draws 100
          AP:  Judge rejects Clay's effort to reinstall cops-as-animals painting in Capitol
          The Missouri Times:  2018 tip sheet:  Missouri Senate races
          The Missouri Times:  2018 tip sheet:  Missouri House races
          Drebes:  Rep. Shamed Dogan (R-Ballwin) gets support from prominent businessman David Steward
          The Missouri Times:  Veterans appeal to Greitens to legalize medical marijuana
          P-D:  Woman who accused Rep. Steven Roberts (D-St. Louis City) of assault two years ago seeks $25k payday;  Roberts' attorney calls opportunistic timing "suspect"
          The Missouri Times:  Business community optimistic about future of Missouri's economy;  Comments from St. Louis Regional Chamber's Hart Nelson, AIM's Ray McCarty, national ALEC rep
          AP:  Missouri unemployment drops to 3.9 percent
          The Missouri Times:  Attorney general's office recuses self from Trinity Lutheran case, citing Greitens' executive order
          CDT:  Lawyers:  Trinity Lutheran religious freedom case should proceed despite Greitens' policy change X
          KWMU:  Hawley's office recuses itself from lawsuit
          AP:  Hawley:  Church lawsuit should proceed
          Missourinet:  AG office recuses itself from U.S. Supreme Court lawsuit
          P-D:  Lawyers argue Missouri church-state Supreme Court case should go on;  AG office recuses itself
          JCNT:  Missouri Senate remembers 13 former colleagues X
          The Missouri Times:  House votes to take Rehder's PDMP bill to conference
          KC Star:  Program to monitor prescription drugs runs into new roadblocks in Missouri statehouse +
          Columbia Missourian:  Lawmakers clash over details in prescription drug monitoring bill
          Missourinet:  Transportation Task Force might have traction to get through Missouri Legislature
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Kip Kendrick (D-Columbia) says lawmakers may need special session to pass budget
          P-D:  Missouri Senate talks 'circuit breaker' legislation
          Missourinet:  Ride-sharing legislation makes its way to Greitens
          P-D:  House sends student transfer bill to the Senate
          AP:  Missouri House passes changes to student transfer policy
          KWMU:  Missouri education department drops goal of having schools among nation's 10 best
          KBIA (Columbia):  House votes to block new state parks
          KWMU:  Narrower-than-proposed version of St. Louis Zoo tax bill passes in House
          Missourinet:  Sen. Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis City):  Missouri has a "very serious problem with homelessness"
          KWMU:  After taking double-digit spanking, failed Ferguson mayoral candidate Ella Jones says she'll work with Mayor James Knowles
          P-D editorial:  State lawmakers should fund Missouri Technology Corp.
          St. Joseph News-Press editorial:  Highway funding should be a priority;  Greitens has been too quiet on the issue X
          SNL op-ed:  Drug monitoring won't solve opioid issue X
          CDT op-ed:  Former Missouri Juvenile Justice Association Director Vivian Murphy:  It's time for Missouri to raise the age on juvenile justice X
          KC Star letter:  Septuagenarian woman who chooses to live in Kansas wants Missouri legislators to ban plastic bags +
          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 18   Tax Day
       
WSJ:  Fundraising by Senate Democrats - including McCaskill - jumps ahead of 2018 election
          KY3:  McCaskill calls herself 'underdog' in re-election race
          KWMU:  Fundraising reports:  McCaskill, Wagner set strong pace;  State officeholders feel stifling effects of new contribution limits
          P-D:  Summary of congressional delegation's PAC receipts;  Ann Wagner talks fundraising on Scott Faughn's This Week in Missouri Politics
          P-D:  Summary of statewide officeholders' April campaign finance reports
          The Missouri Times:  Working with Trump 'amazing,' says Wagner
          The Missouri Times:  Handicapping 2018:  Who will take on Ann Wagner for GOP U.S. Senate nomination, and which Republican will fill her 2nd District House seat?
          Columbia Missourian:  New website shows Truman Veterans' Hospital wait times
          P-D:  Federal judge denies Clay's lawsuit seeking re-hanging of cops-as-animals painting
          KQED (Northern California):  Queer and undocumented:  Bisexual Mexican muchacha Yahaira Carrillo recounts sneaking across the border into California, then invading Missouri before returning West
          AP:  Jerry Nachtigal, spokesman for Govs. Carnahan, Wilson and Holden, dies of cancer in South Dakota
          Drebes:  Ron Richard appoints Stephen Cale Bradford to Missouri Achieving a Better Life Experience board
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate expected to focus on tax credit repeal, budget, changes to labor and education laws
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. Jeanie Riddle (R-Mokane) talks balance between charter-school legislation and public school funding
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Education bills move through Missouri Legislature X
          Missourinet:  E-mails outline possible additional cuts at Mizzou;  staff travel budgets in some divisions being reviewed
          Missourinet:  Electricians group backs bill that would require greater boat dock safety standards
          Missourinet:  Lawmakers consider proposal to expand St. Louis offender rehabilitation program
          KC Star editorial:  Supreme Court should remove religious prejudice from Missouri Law +
          P-D editorial:  Court should deny church taxpayer resources
          St. Joseph News-Press' Ken Newton:  McCaskill waxes nostalgic about Missouri's olden days of John Ashcroft, Harriett Woods and a yet-to-turn-solid-red state X
          Waters:  Greitens on church and state X
          P-D letter:  St. Charles sexagenarian responds to letter responding to McCaskill's response to Gorsuch
          P-D letter:  Sunset Hills man responds to letter responding to McCaskill's response to Gorsuch
          P-D letter:  Missouri Chamber's Dan Mehan:  Regulators should approve north Missouri infrastructure project
          Disclosure



          X
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        Monday, April 17
       
Brownfield Ag News:  McCaskill says Trump trade policy could hurt Missouri farmers
          P-D:  Missouri's 2016 congressional incumbents spent significant campaign cash;  Newspaper publishes expense-report details six (6) months after general election
          CDT:  Unitarian Universalist church plans rally to promote 'sanctuary' status for illegal aliens X
          CDT:  New fed website shows wait time for specialty appointments at Truman VA is longer than most state hospitals and clinics X
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Ann Wagner on Trump, McCaskill, Gorsuch, Hawley and more;  Panel of Ray Hartmann, former Rep. Chris Kelly (D-Columbia) and Reps. Bryan Spencer (R-Wentzville) and Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) on state budget, managed care, more
           Drebes:  GOP communicator extraordinaire Jason Klindt moves into marketing role for KCP&L
           AP:  Supreme Court, with Gorsuch, set to hear Missouri church-playground case
           Columbia Missourian:  Supreme Court will interpret religious freedom in Trinity Lutheran Church case
           KWMU:  Higher ed officials want more state funding for scholarship programs
           KC Star:  Student journalists' rights:  Bill from Rep. Kevin Corlew (R-Kansas City) would strengthen free-speech shield in Missouri +
           Missourinet:  Recreation enthusiasts angry over waterways bill in Legislature
           CDT:  National county-health rankings show Boone County has a high rate of chlamydia, but quality clinical care X
           P-D:  Buyouts could be coming for those who chose to purchase a home near the West Lake Landfill
           JCNT editorial:  AG Josh Hawley takes needed steps against trafficking X
           P-D editorial:  Compromise on ride-hailing companies was the best St. Louis City could expect
           P-D editorial:  Missouri's burdensome abortion regulations deserve to be reversed in court
           SE Missourian Publisher Jon Rust:  No more pseudonyms on semissourian.com;  Local school districts, governments pledge to be more engaged in online discussion if commenters use their real names +
           Messenger:  In battle of Ameren vs. the assessors, school funding is held hostage
           P-D letter:  Town and Country woman applauds Clay and Wagner for supporting global child health programs
           P-D letter:  Lake Saint Louis man wants Greitens to compromise on Medicaid expansion
           Columbia Missourian letter:  Glendale man says GOP legislators want to force churches to allow guns
           KC Star letters:  Kansas City sexagenarian says changes to Obamacare would hurt Missourians;  Lee's Summit octogenarian opposes Missouri Gas Energy rate increase +
           P-D letter:  St. Louis septuagenarian mocks Leonard Pitts column, says Pepsi protest ad should have depicted Kendall Jenner behaving like a savage
           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 16   Happy Easter!
       
KC Star:  Trump administration changes Obamacare rules, but Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KC says more fixes needed +
          Joplin Globe:  Illegal immigrants at MSSU boast about their status at campus forum;  Alien coed unhappy that GOP state legislators won't hand her taxpayer money X
          SNL:  Federal payments to rural Missouri school districts in danger due to change in forestland revenue distribution X
          JCNT:  Federal budget could cut $300K from Jefferson City Public Schools funding X
          JCNT:  Trump's budget could affect area youth programs X
          KC Star:  Union haul:  Boilermakers union bosses' salaries and perks climb as membership sinks;  Former president of KC local:  "There's nothing democratic about what they do" +
          KC Star:  'Mother of all bombs' dropped on radical Muslims is a runt compared to Missouri-based father of all bombs +
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in Missouri Politics preview:  Ann Wagner on her U.S. Senate bid;  Panel of Riverfront Times and St. Louis magazine founder Ray Hartmann, former Rep. Chris Kelly (D-Columbia), Reps. Bryan Spencer (R-Wentzville) and Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) discuss Wagner vs. Hawley, state budget, more
           Drebes:  Help Wanted:  National Alliance on Mental Illness of Missouri seeks Executive Director
           JCNT:  Jay Nixon reflects on time in office X
           AP:  Church lawsuit against Missouri uncertain after Greitens' rule change
           KC Star:  A Missouri church's playground is now a First Amendment exercise for Supreme Court +
           Columbia Missourian:  Lobbyists providing fewer gifts to lawmakers;  Campaign Life Missouri's Sam Lee among those providing pure wisdom rather than trinkets, tickets or meals
           CDT:  Lawmakers may restore UM System funding X
           SNL:  Dixon works behind scenes for early childhood education sales tax push X
           KWMU:  In St. Louis Public Schools, too many white and Asian students qualify for gifted programs;  Superintendent Kelvin Adams hopes to rectify grave injustice
           AP:  White Missourians between the ages of 25 to 54 more likely to die from overdose
           AP:  Missouri Dept. of Conservation study finds deep drop in once-common bat species
           JCNT:  State parks remain vital interest 100 years after system began X
           Washington Missourian editorial:  Greitens correct to streamline state boards X
           P-D editorial:  Missouri taxpayers in debt for $1 billion from unaccountable tax districts
           P-D's Samantha Liss:  Patients likely to fall through the cracks during Medicaid managed care rollout in Missouri
           P-D op-ed:  House Superminority Leader Gail McCann Beatty (D-Kansas City):  Romine's bill would cripple Missouri Human Rights Act
           P-D letter:  Chesterfield septuagenarian says McCaskill's vote on Gorsuch was based on politics, not principle
           SNL letter:  Springfield man wonders why Ozarks Technical Community College raised tuition and gave employees a pay raise X
           P-D letter:  St. Charles County man says syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts is incorrect regarding Michael Brown's attack on Darren Wilson
           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 15
       
NY Times:  McCaskill's survival plan in pro-Trump Missouri:  Stay in the center
          KC Star:  McCaskill weighs in on Russia, Syria, state GOP legislators' 'right to work' bill +
          SNL:  McCaskill holds town hall in Springfield X
          SNL:  Photo gallery:  McCaskill supporters cheer senior senator at town hall X
          KSMU:  McCaskill fields questions on abortion, Trump during Springfield town hall
          The Missouri Times:  Missouri Ethics Commission continues work to educate on campaign contribution changes
          KC Star:  GOP Sens. Rob Schaaf, Ryan Silvey recommend Greitens be more transparent about anonymous donors +
          Drebes:  Meet Ron Hicks and Associates;  Former GOP state rep has been back to the Capitol, but must wait to register as a lobbyist
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in the General Assembly:  April 13, 2017
          KWMU:  Behind the Headlines:  Statehouse reporter Marshall Griffin recaps recent legislative happenings
          KC Star:  Legislative briefs:  PDMP, transportation funding, campus concealed-carry +
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. Jeanie Riddle (R-Mokane) previews final month of the legislative session
          KWMU:  New federal law allowing states to deny Planned Parenthood funding won't immediately affect Missouri
          KC Star:  Missouri Western, MSSU join trend of schools no longer requiring ACT or SAT +
          Missourinet:  Bill from Rep. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City) seeks to boost tourism at historic Missouri prison
          Daily Journal:  Missouri Department of Conservation warns against adopting wildlife;  Young animals "are better off in their natural habitats," become dangerous as they get older
          KMOV (St. Louis):  Rep. Bruce Franks (D-St. Louis City) wants federal, state funding to help young urbanites deal with "toxic stress"
          KC Star editorial briefs:  Truman State College Republicans had the audacity to invite a conservative speaker to campus, and campus liberals refrained from violence +
          KC Star editorial:  2018 state auditor endorsement preview:  University of Missouri, TDD audits show Democrat Nicole Galloway is "hitting her stride" +
          Waters:  TDD audits are low-hanging fruit X
          Messenger:  State workers failed to disclose their connection to company they regulated
          P-D op-ed:  Mayors from cities in MN, LA:  Mayor Francis Slay's legacy reaches the length of the Mississippi River
          SNL letter:  2016 House District 136 silver medalist Jeff Munzinger (D):  Compassion hard to find in Missouri Legislature X
          Disclosure



          X
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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 14
       
KC Star:  McCaskill speaks to large group of supporters at KC event, says Missourians voted for Trump out of 'pain' +
          KC Star multimedia journalist Keith Myers:  Video:  Following town hall, Missouri's senior United States senator attempts popular 2015 dance move "The Dab" +
          KC Star:  Video:  McCaskill talks Obamacare, more at KC Star offices;  Editorial Board members Colleen Nelson and Melinda Henneberger nod, giggle and affirm on Obamacare, Cabinet appointments, illegal immigrants, etc. +
          Kraske:  McCaskill goes country - emphasizing rural issues - in first tough U.S. Senate election +
          P-D:  McCaskill raises nearly $3 million in quarter
          KWMU:  United Way report shows 43 percent of Missouri heads-of-households fail to provide enough for their family
          The Missouri Times:  Republican Hardy Billington shows strong fundraising in bid for Todd Richardson's state rep seat
          The Missouri Times:  Rep. Kevin Engler (R-Farmington) joins #moleg podcast, talks Speaker of the House contenders and Greitens' meddling, Hawley for U.S. Senate, Cardinals baseball, more
          KWMU:  Greitens issues policy change regarding state grants and religious groups
          AP:  Greitens:  Religious organizations can apply for state grants
          P-D:  Greitens instructs DNR to consider religious organizations for grants
          SNL:  Galloway slams tax districts' 'questionable practices,' including one in Springfield X
          The Missouri Times:  Senate passes Rehder's PDMP bill with major changes
          P-D:  Prescription drug monitoring program gets long-awaited approval in Missouri Senate
          KWMU:  Senate passes prescription drug monitoring program, with some changes
          AP:  Missouri Senate passes prescription drug monitoring program
          KWMU:  What the Missouri Senate budget committee did this week
          The Missouri Times:  Eigel:  "We're going to have a discussion about transportation, one way or another"
          The Missouri Times:  Uber bill breaks through General Assembly, headed to governor's desk
          AP:  Missouri lawmakers pass statewide rules for Uber, Lyft
          KWMU:  Uber, Lyft regulations sent to Greitens' desk
          P-D:  Uber, Lyft proposal heading to Greitens' desk
          Missourinet:  Lichtenegger, McCreery aim to change gun bill's domestic-violence loophole
          AP:  Senate advances new St. Louis Zoo tax rules
          P-D:  Need a job?  Missouri's employment office thinks Clayton firm can help
          P-D:  State settles appeal alleging North St. Louis City facility lacks proper air pollution permit
          Missourinet:  Bill from Rep. Tracy McCreery (D-Olivette) would restrict use of shackles on pregnant inmates
          AP:  Missouri Supreme Court asked to resolve execution drug debate
          P-D editorial:  In Jefferson City, ethics reform is for the other guys
          SE Missourian op-ed:  Midwest Energy Consumers' Group's David Woodsmall:  Monopoly utilities lobby for higher rates, seek to undermine Missouri Public Service Commission +
          P-D's David Nicklaus:  Financial myopia may make Missouri pension buyout a popular option
          P-D letter:  Glendale septuagenarian says McCaskill's explanation of Gorsuch vote shows her social bias
          P-D letter:  Hazelwood septuagenarian disagrees with Stacy Washington's column on school choice
          P-D letter:  RealTime Fantasy Sports' Tim Jensen says Legislature must correct mistake that hurts fantasy sports companies
          KC Star letter:  Area liberal chastises Blunt for lack of town halls, attempts analogy involving tulips and petunias +
          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 13
       
KWMU:  McCaskill's town hall in Jefferson County draws friendly crowd
          P-D:  McCaskill greets friendly crowds at town halls, takes shots at Republican colleagues
          AP:  McCaskill supporters turn out for senator's town halls
          Missourinet:  McCaskill faces few critics at Fulton town hall
          CDT:  McCaskill supporters give warm welcome to senior senator at Fulton town hall X
          Columbia Missourian:  McCaskill talks re-election campaign, more to friendly crowd
          SE Missourian:  McCaskill talks bipartisanship, Trump, health care during town hall meeting +
          KC Star:  Editorial board promotes Facebook Live Q&A with McCaskill to be held today +
          SNL:  Sierra Club members promote McCaskill in Jefferson City, meet with state legislators at Capitol;  Comments from Missouri chapter leader John Hickey X
          The Missouri Times:  Ann Wagner sets high mark in fundraising, signaling U.S. Senate run
          P-D:  Ann Wagner, eyeing Senate run, has nearly $3 million in the bank
          SE Missourian:  Rep. Jason Smith:  Republicans want to 'bust up' IRS;  believes Congress can pass tax-reform bill +
          The Arrow (SEMO):  Federal budget proposal could affect local NPR station KRCU
          KWMU:  A look at how $29.5 million HUD grant will be spent in North St. Louis City;  Urban Strategies' Esther Shin says greenspaces, health education will totally make a difference
          Columbia Missourian:  At-a-glace updates on state legislation:  Discrimination-law updates, REAL ID, higher ed, more
          AP:  Missouri House strikes down proposed gas tax
          P-D:  No appetite in Missouri House to send gas tax hike to voters
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate committee wades through state budget, delaying some decisions
          AP:  Missouri budgeters plan for reboot and expansion of Amber Alert
          Missourinet:  House next in line to hear employment discrimination bill
          KWMU:  Missouri-wide regulations for Uber, Lyft nearing Greitens' desk
          AP:  Bill would cap fees for contracted state lawyers
          P-D:  St. Louis one of many urban areas across the country hitting roadblocks at statehouses
          KWMU:  Synthetic opioid deaths surge across St. Louis region
          SNL:  Video:  Student-on-the-street interviews about campus concealed carry:  MSU coed:  "I think that, like, students should have the right to carry their guns, but not on, like, a university or public place" X
          The Missouri Times:  Sponsors of licensing bond increase say they hope to protect consumers
          P-D:  Missouri House addressing conflict of interest concerns between state officials, trucking company
          SNL:  Missouri waterways bill perplexes many at House hearing X
          The Missouri Times:  McGaugh offers bill changing local health ordinance rulemaking
          AP:  Senators OK home buyouts aimed at St. Louis-area landfills
          KWMU:  State Senate passes bill to buy homes near West Lake Landfill
          KWMU:  Accountability the main concern should Ferguson's consent decree be scuttled
          P-D:  St. Louis City Hall reporter Koran Addo departs Post-Dispatch, will go to work for mayor-elect whose election campaign he covered
          P-D op-ed:  National Parents Organization of Missouri's Linda Reutzel:  Shared parenting bill will benefit Missouri children
          Waters:  Time for passage of liquor-pricing bill X
          Columbia Missourian op-ed:  St. Louis woman expresses anger at her state legislators for never responding to her petition regarding asbestos
          P-D letter:  Septuagenarian McCaskill supporter proud of senior senator's vote on Gorsuch
          Disclosure



          X
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        Wednesday, April 12
       
The Pitch:  Stephen Webber tries to lift an impotent Missouri Democratic Party;  Dem candidates dish on how Nixon and recent state party leadership has failed Missouri's most loyal Democrats
           Missourinet:  McCaskill promotes town-hall tour
           SNL:  McCaskill to hold town hall in Springfield on Friday X
           P-D:  Morning Consult polls:  McCaskill at 47 favorable, 39 unfavorable;  Blunt at 47 favorable, 38 unfavorable
           St. Joseph News-Press:  Blunt lauds Trump team in handling of global challenges X
           KC Star:  Blue Cross of Kansas City is close to turning a profit on Obamacare +
           SNL:  Conservative radio host Dana Loesch bringing show to Bass Pro X
           The Missouri Times:  Former Rep. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield), now serving as a Greene County commissioner, may run for Wasson's state Senate seat in 2018
           Drebes:  Roster moves:  List of state employees switching or starting jobs
           KWMU:  Greitens creates small-government task force, says it won't cost Missouri money
           The Missouri Times:  Greitens targets boards and commissions with latest executive order
           AP:  Greitens creates new panel to reduce state boards
           P-D:  Greitens moves to eliminate unneeded special boards and commissions
           KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Rep. Travis Fitzwater (R-Potosi) talks with Mannies & Rosenbaum about budget, PDMP, ride-hailing legislation, higher ed funding, Greitens, more
           Missouri Viewpoints:  Should Missouri government track your prescriptions?  Holly Rehder vs. Carl Bearden
           AP:  Legislative budget leaders disagree on education funding
           Columbia Missourian:  As Senate begins digging into state budget, more changes are coming
           Columbia Missourian:  Senate gives UM System some hope for budget restorations
           The Missouri Times:  Missouri Technology Corporation cuts could be sore spot for St. Louis startups, legislators
           SE Missourian:  Local chiefs concerned over possible elimination of DWI-checkpoint funding +
           KWMU:  Senate Republicans support wide-ranging omnibus education bill
           The Missouri Times:  Children's Education Alliance of Missouri continues touting charter schools across the state
           P-D:  Truman State grapples with visit from conservative speaker Robert Spencer
           The Missouri Times:  Uber bill gets initial approval in Senate, destined for trip back to House
           AP:  Ride-hailing regulations pass Missouri Senate
           P-D:  Uber and Lyft would get break from local regulations under proposal in Missouri Senate
           Missourinet:  Missouri Corrections Officers advocate, Rep. Jim Hansen (R-Frankford) not shocked by graphic DOC report
           Missourinet:  Bill tightening restrictions on sex offenders is approved unanimously by Missouri House committee
           The Missouri Times:  Backers of Emery's grid-modernization bill fund constituent-contact campaign;  Opponents call efforts "utility propaganda"
           P-D:  Laclede Gas files first rate increase in four years
           Delta Farm Press:  Spraying herbicides off-label in Missouri will cost you;  Greitens signs legislation to stiffen penalties for scofflaws
           KWMU:  Missouri House passes industrial hemp bill, but chances in Senate are thin
           AP:  Missouri House votes to extend donations to organ donor fund
           Missourinet:  Bills in Legislature look to rein in racial profiling by law enforcement
           Missourinet:  Rep. Bruce Franks (D-St. Louis City) wants state to establish PTSD education programs for young urbanites dealing with "toxic stress"
           CDT:  Tribune editor Jim Robertson to retire next month X
           KC Star editorial:  Conflicts of interest abound among Missouri officials +
           P-D editorial:  Missouri's latest ethical dilemma:  High-tech truck weighing
           Jensen:  Vote against Gorsuch could hurt McCaskill at ballot box +
           Messenger:  Missouri Supreme Court draws line in the sand on rising court costs
           P-D letter:  St. Charles County Democratic activist Carl Peterson says charter schools have demonstrated little innovation
           KC Star letter:  Lee's Summit septuagenarian dislikes Greitens using Internet website Facebook +
           Disclosure



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        Tuesday, April 11
       
KMZU (Carrollton):  Interview with McCaskill:  Rural schools, hospitals and broadband; Missouri Medicaid expansion;  Early positioning of Nicole Galloway's re-election bid;  more
          KZIM (Cape Girardeau):  McCaskill tries to get Missouri ranchers access to the Chinese market
          JCNT:  McCaskill to hold campaign rally at country club after town hall on Wednesday X
          The Missouri Times:  Prominent Missouri Republicans promote "Draft Hawley" letter, want AG to take on McCaskill
          P-D:  Jack Danforth, Peter Kinder, Jane Cunningham, Doug Russell, others sign draft-Hawley letter
          AP:  Hawley supporters urge AG to run for U.S. Senate
          Daily Dunklin Democrat:  Dunklin County Lincoln Day dinner put focus on veterans;  Speaker Todd Richardson and other state legislators speak, cap evening with "God Bless America" +
          Columbia Missourian:  Local Unitarian Universalist church declares itself a sanctuary for illegal immigrants
          CDT:  Local church touts status as hideout for illegal aliens X
          AP:  Liberal ex-journalist pleads not guilty to threatening Jewish groups
          SE Missourian:  Mississippi River forecast to cause little flooding in Cape Girardeau +
          Drebes:  March state revenue numbers, and what they mean to the budget
          AP:  Missouri 'right to work' ballot proposal challenged in court
          The Missouri Times:  Q&A with Holly Rehder:  Speaker candidate talks 'right to work,' tort overhaul, PDMP, Legislature's urban-rural divide, more
          AP:  Missouri discrimination bill passes House committee unchanged
          KWMU:   House to vote on bill to update state definition of workplace discrimination
          Missourinet:  Legislative Black Caucus, House Democratic Superminority hold press conference criticizing Sen. Gary Romine (R-Farmington) and discrimination bill
          Columbia Missourian:  Press conference by opponents fails to stop discrimination bill
          P-D:  Legislation on lobbyist gifts advances, but Greitens' term limits proposal floundering
          SNL:  Pitch for gun-free zones receives House hearing X
          The Missouri Times:  Opponents come on strong in House General Laws hearing on gun legislation
          Missourinet:  Gun legislation draws standing-room-only crowd
          Columbia Missourian:  Gun legislation draws a crowd
          JCNT:  Bill targets no-gun businesses for liability X
          Missourinet:  Proposals from Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia), Rep. Becky Ruth (R-Festus) would offer tax break for first-time homebuyers
          The Missouri Times:  Missouri Farm Bureau announces opposition to industrial hemp bill
          AP:  Missouri House passes bill to allow industrial hemp farming
          AP:  Missouri House passes bill giving immunity for overdose help
          The Missouri Times:  Galloway asks for changes to TDD laws after uncovering massive oversight
          P-D:  Galloway:  Missouri's taxing district law allows unethical practices, poor oversight
          CDT:  Galloway's review flags issue in Columbia transportation district X
          JCNT:  Audit rips Stone Ridge TDD X
          KWMU:  Galloway calls for overhaul of Transportation Development District laws
          Missourinet:  Auditor calls on lawmakers to overhaul TDD legislation
          Columbia Missourian:  Galloway blasts transportation development district laws
          AP:  Galloway criticizes transportation-related districts
          P-D editorial:  In a trade war with Mexico, Missouri corn growers could be collateral damage
          P-D op-ed:  Auditor Nicole Galloway:  Ethics legislation needed to hold public officials accountable
          The Missouri Times op-ed:  Missouri Retailers Association's David Overfelt:  HB433 would provide truth in alcohol advertising
          Columbia Missourian's Ken Midkiff:  Jay Nixon State Park was a political folly
          JCNT letter:  Democrat Sue Gibson says House committee hearings for discrimination bill is a farce X
          Disclosure



          X
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        Monday, April 10
       
Washington Times:  Opioid fight unites Democrats, Republicans - even during Gorsuch vote;  McCaskill reached out to Trump's opioid task force leader Chris Christie
          KC Star:  Local mom-daughter heroin-addict duo shares stories:  Life of "soft" and hard drugs, abortion as birth control, forged checks, jail time, more +
          P-D:  Missouri helps heroin addicts via state funding for Vivitrol, a medication-assisted treatment;  State also runs three methadone clinics
          P-D:  'Good Samaritan' and drug database proposals move forward as Missouri grapples with opioid crisis
          KC Star:  After 137 years, Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO to close +
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Guest Holly Rehder talks Speaker race, more;  Panel of Rep. Jean Evans (R-Manchester), former Rep. John Mayfield (D-Farmington), Steve Stenger consultant Patrick Lynn, UFCW 655 President Dave Cook talk McCaskill re-election bid, Greitens meddling in Speaker race, budget, more
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Sen. Gina Walsh (D-Bellefontaine Neighbors) talks with journoduo about prevailing wage, Missouri union members supporting Trump and Greitens, issues with family leave policy, ethics legislation
          Washington Missourian:  A Better Road Forward plans ballot initiative to ban toll roads X
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Term limits open up four Buchanan County state legislative seats in 2018 X
          Drebes:  New Dem, GOP state rep campaign committees
          This Week in the Governor's Office:  Week of April 3
          KCUR:  Sen. Ryan Silvey (R-Kansas City) talks about pay-to-play allegations against Senate GOP leadership, says matter deserves investigation (21:00), budget, transportation, more
          Missourinet:  Concealed firearms bill expected to draw large turnout at hearing today
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Lindell Shumake (R-Hannibal) talks term-limits bill, PDMP
          Columbia Missourian:  Bill would have Missouri seeing more ride-hailing companies
          P-D editorial:  Mallinckrodt has connection to America's opioid problem;  Schaaf stood in the way of PDMP, but now even he sees the light
          P-D editorial:  AG Josh Hawley gets creative to combat human traffickers
          CDT op-ed:  Edison Electric Institute's David Owens:  A stronger energy grid is a win for all Missourians X
          P-D letter:  St. Louis woman thanks McCaskill, Blunt, Clay for support of Alzheimer's research funding
          SNL letter:  Springfield sexagenarian accuses Blunt, Long of taking payoffs in exchange for telecom vote X
          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 9
       
P-D:  Trump inspires political activism in Missouri across party, worldview spectrum
          SNL:  Greene County Democrats hold final Jackson Day dinner;  66-year-old former supporting actress/labor advocate Tess Harper says Hillary Clinton should have won election "because she was a lot ... smarter than anyone (else) in the room" X
          SNL:  With Obamacare still in place, experts offer advice about your taxes;  Comments from Missouri Foundation for Health's Nancy Kelley, assistant UM prof Andrew Zumwalt X
          KWMU:  Blunt seeks to retain funding for 4 Missouri regional airports
          SNL:  McCaskill, Blunt, Long seek funding for Riverside Bridge replacement X
          CDT:  At Boone County Lincoln Day dinner, Republicans talk about keeping up momentum X
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in Missouri Politics preview:  Guest Holly Rehder on her bid for Speaker, more;  Rep. Jean Evans (R-Manchester), former Rep. John Mayfield (D-Farmington), Patrick Lynn, UFCW 655 President Dave Cook talk U.S. Senate race, Greitens meddling in Speaker race, ethics bills, more
          Drebes:  State Treasurer Eric Schmitt on MOSERS' threat to state's AAA bond rating
          JCNT:  Schmitt promotes MOSERS revisions X
          KC Star:  Schaaf says his best hope is to reduce "severity of badness" of PDMP bill +
          Columbia Missourian:  Workplace discrimination bill, supported by University of Missouri System, headed for crucial vote
          JCNT:  House budget skips state worker pay raises X
          AP:  Missouri mulls cutting funding for sobriety checkpoints
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Bill would limit use of cell phones by taxi and Uber/Lyft drivers X
          CDT:  Pro-life activists mark end of '40 Days of Life' campaign
          Columbia Missourian:  Infant mortality hits new lows nationwide, in Missouri;  Black activist blames "the system" for higher black infant mortality rate compare to whites, Asians, Hispanics, all others
          Columbia Missourian:  Four-day school weeks aid rural Missouri districts
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Buchanan County program gives students an insider view of elections X
          P-D:  Payday loan industry faces headwinds in Missouri
          AP:  Galloway investigating Missouri role in trucking tech company
          P-D's Nicklaus and Gallagher:  Video:  Sexagenarian columnists talk about Legislature's move to block St. Louis City's minimum wage increase
          P-D's Horrigan:  Sexagenarian columnist/editorial board member says Legislature's tax increases for seniors, tax cuts for fantasy sports are wrong
          P-D op-ed:  Missouri MADD's Robbie Pace-Courtright:  Legislative proposal ramps up dangers from drunken driving
          KC Star letter:  KC man says McCaskill gave in to her party's angst on Gorsuch +
          P-D letter:  Crestwood woman notes Mizzou enrollment decrease correlates to university's coddling of hypersensitive students
          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 8
       
P-D:  McCaskill, Blunt, Luetkemeyer, Wagner support strikes on Syria;  Clay not ready to offer thoughts
          KWMU:  McCaskill, Blunt, Wagner share thoughts on Syria strikes
          Missourinet:  McCaskill, Blunt split on Gorsuch vote
          KOMU:  McCaskill to hold eight town halls across Missouri
          Daily Dunklin Democrat:  Jason Smith presented with National Association of Manufacturers Award in Caruthersville +
          Messenger:  Illegal immigrants in St. Louis region learn tricks to evade the law
          KWMU:  Chelsea Clinton's book tour makes stop in St. Louis
          The Missouri Times:  The Missouri Times Magazine features Top 100 Lobbyists list, op-eds from legislators, activist profiles, more
          The Missouri Times Magazine - Special Edition
          Drebes:  A Better Road Forward enlists Scott Dieckhaus to help oppose toll roads
          KOMU:  Greitens the first Missouri governor to visit statewide technical skills competition
          JCNT:  Greitens praises skills competition, state tech's work X
          The Missouri Times:  Holly Rehder:  "...running for Speaker is in the cards"
          The Missouri Times:  Governor's tax committee establishes subcommittees
          Missourinet:  Bill from Rep. Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) regarding technology trust fund enjoys broad bipartisan support
          KWMU:  Republicans provide $6 million for youth summer jobs
          Missourinet:  Bill from Rep. Jean Evans (R-Manchester) aims to block forced underage marriages and sex trafficking
          KC Star:  System that may break speed of sound could come to Missouri;  MoDOT's Tom Blair pushed for KC-STL route to be included in Hyperloop's global challenge +
          KC Star editorial:  Blunt - approached at airport by woman who stalked his flight - takes time to listen to sad health-care tale;  McCaskill to hold town halls +
          P-D editorial:  Gorsuch confirmed as Senate affirms the great American divide;  McCaskill laments Missourians' distaste for compromise
          KC Star editorial:  Missouri lawmakers shouldn't head home until they ban gifts from lobbyists +
          KC Star editorial:  Missouri lawmakers should allow every municipality in the state to set their own sprinkler regulations +
          P-D editorial briefs:  Onder's use of abortion reference to make point about zoo funding was not okay
          Helling:  Missouri Republicans continue tradition of supporting pro-business policies +
          The Missouri Times op-ed:  RealTime Fantasy Sports' Tim Jensen:  Legislature must act to protect small businesses in growing fantasy sports industry
          P-D letter:  Town and Country man says McCaskill's vote on Gorsuch cements her 2018 defeat
          P-D letter:  Chesterfield sexagenarian wants Post-Dispatch to be harder on Greitens, particularly around shady 501(c)(4) organizations
          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 7
       
KC Star:  Blunt, other Republicans oppose Trump plan to cut medical funding +
          Missourinet:  Trump supporters hold pro-Gorsuch rally at Capitol
          Columbia Missourian:  Columbia-based Islamic American Relief Organization, which illegally transferred $1.4M to Iraq, has dissolved and divested funds
          KWMU:  Local arts organizations reliant upon federal funding oppose cuts to their programs
          Missourinet:  McCaskill, Blunt push steamboat bill
          AP:  Missouri, Mississippi Rivers flood, but damage expected to be minimal
          Drebes:  Republican Brad Hudson to run for Rep. Don Phillips' open seat
          The Missouri Times:  Senate finally confirms gubernatorial appointments after Greitens visit
          Columbia Missourian:  After delay, Senate confirms UM System Board of Curators appointments
          AP:  Senate confirms several Greitens appointees
          The Missouri Times:  House approves state's $27 billion budget, Senate approval to come
          AP:  Missouri House OKs budget with hike in K-12 school funding
          P-D:  Missouri House approves budget, sends $27.8B plan to Senate
          KWMU:  Missouri House passes $27.8B state budget that fully funds schools
          SNL:  Senate budget head:  Fully funding foundation formula not likely X
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Craig Redmon (R-Canton) talks budget, potential Senate opposition to early-childhood education funding
          KWMU:  Area high-tech groups reliant upon state funding oppose cuts to their funding
          KWMU:  Senate suggests boosting current Missouri budget by $241M
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in Missouri Politics panel compliments Fitzpatrick in work as budget chair
          SNL:  Prevailing wage law repeal meets organized opposition X
          Washington Missourian:  REAL ID bill making progress in Legislature X
          SNL:  In Senate committee, REAL ID remains divisive X
          Columbia Missourian:  Senate prepares to hear prescription drug monitoring program bill
          AP:  Missouri Republicans differ on Greitens' family leave policy
          Columbia Missourian:  Planned Parenthood wants to expand abortion services in Missouri
          CDT:  City lobbyist directed to support state transportation bill X
          Missourinet:  Legislation to create four adult high schools is approved by Missouri Senate committee
          The Missouri Times:  Compromise reached between Onder and Wieland on Uber bill
          The Missouri Times:  Battle over booze:  What a South Carolina decision could mean for Missouri
          The Missouri Times:  Economic development amendment would add Bootheel support for electric-grid legislation
          St. Joseph News-Press:  State, utilities foster safe digging X
          Missourinet:  More problems highlighted at latest hearing over state's prisons
          AP:  Missouri Senate moves to exempt veterans from business fees
          AP:  Legislation on phone-tracking regulations passes Missouri Senate
          Missourinet:  Bill would allow elderly life-without-parole inmates a hearing on release
          Columbia Missourian:  At Mizzou, Fordham professor complains about gun laws, racial profiling, more
          SE Missourian:  Probable-cause statement details attorney general's charges against Mississippi County sheriff +
          Rust:  Larry Ferrell a strong candidate for U.S. Attorney +
          Washington Missourian op-ed:  D.C.-based elderly-research group supports Blunt in opposition to NIH funding cuts X
          Waters:  State Auditor Nicole Galloway is making a lot of the office X
          Messenger:  FBI investigating Missouri legislative dispute involving truckers
          P-D's conservative columnist Stacy Washington:  Expanding school choice
          P-D op-ed:  "AngryBlackBitch" blogger/"Reproaction" founder Pamela Merritt:  Republicans want to take food from the mouths of poor kids and hand it to pro-life groups
          KC Star op-ed:  Former head of Missouri Juvenile Justice Association:  Missouri fails 17-year-old criminals +
          Columbia Missourian's George Kennedy:  Choi could learn from his predecessors in tackling budget crisis
          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 6
       
Washington Post:  McCaskill says Trump's claims about border wall are "embarrassing"
          Real Clear Politics:  Blunt weighs in on Democrats' obstruction of Trump cabinet picks
          The Missouri Times:  Initiative petition filed to ban toll roads in Missouri
          SNL:  Group proposes Missouri vote to ban toll roads X
          The Missouri Times:  Rep. Diane Franklin (R-Camdenton) throws her name into competitive 2018 Senate District 16 race
          P-D:  North St. Louis County Democratic leader Elbert Walton's law license suspended for 18 months by Missouri Supreme Court
          AP:  House lawyer warns of bribery after donation e-mail;  Solar power advocate Serra-Lesa Ivener suggested campaign cash was available in exchange for vote on legislation
          Missourinet:  Hundreds attend Firefighters Day at Missouri Capitol;  Attendees include Greitens, National Guard Adjutant General Steve Danner, Rep. Shawn Rhoads (R-West Plains)
          KWMU:  State revenue numbers mean more money for Missouri, fewer possible budget problems for lawmakers
          Missourinet:  House set to pass budget for upcoming fiscal year
          SNL:  Rep. Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) restores AG's funding X
          Missourinet:  Missouri public defender system director not hopeful $6 million would stay in his budget
          Columbia Missourian:  Politifact analysis:  Greitens statement on 'right to work' states and job growth rated "Half True"
          The Missouri Times:  Bill from Rep. Tim Remole (R-Excello) seeks to bring accountability to foster care system
          SNL:  Rep. Curtis Trent (R-Springfield) revives plan for Capitol security commission X
          P-D:  Greitens, some GOP lawmakers disagree on family leave policy
          P-D:  Sen. Bob Onder (R-Lake Saint Louis) uses abortion reference to make point about zoo funding
          AP:  Judge plans to block Missouri's abortion-restriction rules
          KWMU:  Judge plans to strike down Missouri abortion restrictions
          Columbia Missourian:  Bill from Rep. Marsha Haefner (R-St. Louis County) would rank Missouri maternal and neonatal hospitals
          AP:  House advances bill pushing medical help for overdoses
          Missourinet:  Unions make their case against prevailing wage repeal
          The Missouri Times:  Curtman still looking for final vote on industrial hemp bill
          AP:  House advances bill to restrict powdered alcohol
          Missourinet:  Mizzou lays off 20 employees;  university cites enrollment drop, decline in state funding
          Columbia Missourian:  Newspaper seeks anonymous tips about Mizzou job cuts
          Columbia Missourian:  MU sees decline in international graduate student applications;  Iranian man blames Trump
          AP:  AG office:  Mississippi County sheriff arrested on 18 criminal offenses
          P-D editorial:  Children are the collateral damage of nation's opioid epidemic;  Greitens should do more to push for PDMP
          P-D op-ed:  Former Missouri Supreme Court attorney Bill Thompson:  Response to Messenger's 5-part series:  Legislators, courts acted within the law in regard to Sheriffs' Retirement Fund
          The Missouri Times op-ed:  NFIB's Brad Jones:  The Legislature, not local governments, should set minimum wage
          Columbia Missourian's David Rosman:  Charter schools bill needs work
          KC Star letters:  McCaskill and Gorsuch;  Missouri's alternatives to toll roads +
          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 5
       
Washington Times:  Illegal immigration plummets after Trump inauguration;  McCaskill questions cost of building new border wall
          FOX News:  Border wall 'critical' for reducing crime, former agents testify;  McCaskill says price tag would unfairly burden taxpayers
          Messenger:  Greitens' Cardinals Opening Day appearance is less than transparent;  Campaign pays for six tickets for children of National Guard soldiers serving overseas, four tickets for staff
          The Missouri Times:  Greitens announces plan to bring high-speed Internet to all Missouri schools
          KBIA:  State Treasurer Eric Schmitt launches MO ABLE programs
          AP:  Galloway audit:  Missouri struggles to handle federal money
          P-D:  Audit:  Missouri struggles to oversee federal funds to health care, child care survivors
          JCNT:  State officials told to watch federal funds better X
          KWMU:  Galloway:  Missouri misspends a small portion of federal money
          P-D:  Feds:  Home health care workers were actually gambling, cruising while billing Medicaid;  Demagio Smith, Tammara Bell, four other St. Louis City residents busted for bilking taxpayers
          Columbia Missourian:  At-a-glance updates on Missouri legislative issues:  Medicaid, higher ed funding, charter schools, more
          The Missouri Times:  House Budget Debates:  Appropriations bills perfected after long day in the chamber
          AP:  Missouri House budget funds schools, blocks checkpoints
          P-D:  Public schools benefit under House budget plan
          Columbia Missourian:  Lawmakers show mercy to UM System budget
          The Missouri Times:  Schaaf ends opposition to Rehder's PDMP bill
          KWMU:  Schaaf says he'll support Rehder's bill creating prescription drug monitoring program
          Missourinet:  Schaaf ends opposition to Rehder's PDMP bill
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown) pleased with changes made to this session's PDMP bill
          P-D:  Missouri mulling pension payouts for some former state workers
          The Missouri Times:  Taxis desire parity with emerging rideshare companies
          Missourinet:  Missouri House committee hears testimony about discrimination bill
          Missourinet:  MoDOT asking public to do its part for safety of workers at highway projects
          CDT:  UM System president warns cuts will require 'bold action' X
          CDT:  Missouri Dept. of Economic Development, Aurora Organic Dairy issue Columbia plant announcement X
          P-D:  High turnout in Ferguson helps Mayor James Knowles roll to re-election
          KWMU:  Ferguson retains Mayor James Knowles for a third term
          AP:  Ferguson mayor, who handled riots after strong-arm robber Michael Brown's assault on police officer Darren Wilson, re-elected by residents
          KWMU:  Ferguson's federal consent decree among those AG Jeff Sessions wants to review
          Columbia Missourian:  Black Studies Program, others host Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery;  Liberal author of "They Can't Kill Us All" tells tales of riots reporting, social-justice crusading, etc.
          P-D editorial:  For Hawley, grandstanding is more important than protecting consumers
          St. Joseph News-Press editorial:  Schaaf finally relents on PDMP X
          P-D op-ed:  McCaskill should put voters over politics, vote to confirm Gorsuch to Supreme Court
          KC Star op-ed:  National Association of Ticket Brokers' Gary Adler:  Missouri bill would fight bullies in event ticketing +
          P-D op-ed:  National Employment Law Project's Mitchell Hirsch:  Republicans want to steal raises from poor people who need it the most
          KC Star letter:  KC woman says McCaskill story of flushing opioids down the toilet sets a bad example of water contamination +
          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 4
       
KC Star:  McCaskill calls for GAO report on closing of rural hospitals +
          P-D:  McCaskill, Blunt get Senate approval for historic River Queen riverboat to resume cruises
          Columbia Missourian:  Local social welfare groups unhappy about Trump budget
          KC Star:  Kansas City to host the national White Privilege Conference +
          KWMU:  Greitens' political noprofits take center stage in Missouri;  501(c)(4) organizations common for governors around U.S.
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Greitens announces broadband access program for schools
          Missourinet:  Greitens announces broadband program for rural schools
          KC Star:  Greitens announces plan to bring broadband Internet to rural Missouri schools +
          The Missouri Times:  Hawley releases details on new fight against human trafficking
          AP:  Hawley measure to control human trafficking
          KWMU:  Hawley proposes rules to prevent human trafficking
          Missourinet:  Hawley launches initiatives aimed at fighting human trafficking
          Columbia Missourian:  Hawley announces new tactics to combat trafficking
          P-D:  Hawley announces new initiatives to combat human trafficking
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Area Democrat leads local delegation in accepting lobbyist gifts;  Rep. Pat Conway (D-St. Joseph) accepted less than $13,000 since 2011, more than all local legislators combined X
          The Missouri Times:  8 changes to note in the House budget:  Education spending, Medicaid, circuit breaker, more
          The Missouri Times:  Rehder's PDMP bill gains significant Democratic support
          AP:  House approves prescription drug database for monitoring program
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Tim Remole (R-Excello) supports REAL ID legislation
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate could vote on unemployment benefits today;  GOP bill would allow nonworkers to stay on the dole for at least three months
          The Missouri Times:  House hearing held on Romine's discrimination bill
          Missourinet:  House discusses discrimination bill
          KWMU:  NAACP President Rod Chapel wraps up testimony
          AP:  House passes ban on red-light cameras
          P-D:  Fantasy-sports operators could see tax cut
          CDT:  UM president outlines timeline for budget cut decisions X
          Columbia Missourian:  UM System president:  Cuts could include layoffs for staff, nontenure track faculty
          KWMU:  University of Missouri president:  Layoffs a possibility as budget-cutting process begins
          P-D:  Layoffs aren't off the table as University of Missouri System schools battle budget cuts
          Columbia Missourian:  MU Residential Life to close three more residence halls
          Drebes:  Galloway's audit of Wayne County is not pretty
          St. Joseph News-Press editorial:  Take Missouri's sex trade seriously X
          KC Star op-ed:  UMKC law prof David Achtenberg:  Lisa Hardwick is not too liberal for Missouri Supreme Court +
          KC Star letter:  Save Haven law has protected nearly 50 babies in Missouri +
          Disclosure



          X
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        Monday, April 3
       
Knoxville (TN) News Sentinel:  Blunt to speak at county GOP dinner April 21
          Missourinet:  Petraeus headlines Churchill weekend in Fulton
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Guest Francis Slay;  Panel of Rep. Peter Meredith (D-St. Louis City), Jeff Mazur, Joe Lakin, St. Louis Police Officer Association's Joe Patterson talk PDMP, budget, utilities legislation, more
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Missouri voters could consider renewable energy proposal in 2018 X
          P-D:  Lobbyist gifts reached all-time low in 2016;  Less than $600k of trinkets, tickets and food supplied to lawmakers, lowest since recordkeeping began in 2004
          Drebes:  Under Hawley, deputy AGs get pay raises
          The Missouri Times:  First-year House budget leaders find success in numbers
          SE Missourian:  Holly Rehder talks about her bid for Speaker of the House, PDMP legislation +
          Columbia Missourian:  Policy changes help improve Jefferson City climate for interns
          Missourinet:  Rep. Brandon Ellington (D-Kansas City) wants authorities to investigate fumes from leak in gas station's underground tank
          KC Star:  Census data:  KC area grows, St. Louis metro area shrinks +
          KWMU:  Ferguson-Florissant school board candidates weigh in on voting rights case;  Judge ruled that too many white candidates were winning at-large elections
          St. Joseph News-Press editorial:  Politics poisons Gorsuch vote;  McCaskill, other Democrats still emotional about November election results X
          KC Star editorial:  McCaskill, Democrats should stop seeking revenge by filibustering Gorsuch +
          Waters:  Hank Foley leaves MU with good marks X
          P-D's Samantha Liss:  Republicans take aim at Missourians with disabilities
          P-D's Nicklaus and Gallagher:  Video:  Seasoned citizens drink beer while discussing state tax credits, criticize Banking [sic] Chair Scott Fitzgerald [sic]
          Disclosure



          X
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        Sunday, April 2
       
P-D:  St. Louis avoids large influx of immigrants;  Hispanic Chamber President Karlos Ramirez says "less anti-immigrant legislation" from Jefferson City might change that
          KC Star:  Star joins ProPublica effort to solicit reader/activist tales of "hate crimes";  Reporting categories include perceived meanness to immigrants, "status as a trans person," etc. +
          P-D:  Post-Dispatch wins award for "Social Justice Journalism"
          SE Missourian:  Librarian offers tips to identify "fake news," recognize media outlets' blatant bias +
          P-D:  Congressional votes for the week
          Columbia Missourian:  In Fulton, Gen. David Petraeus says iron curtains remain despite Churchill's legacy
          CDT:  David Petraeus speaks in Fulton X
          JCNT:  "Three (3) Questions" with Gen. Petraeus X
          P-D:  Preview:  Missouri's 2018 U.S. Senate race, 583 days out
          SE Missourian:  Cape County Lincoln Days crowd hears from National Right to Work rep, former deputy national security adviser;  Gary Rust, Peter Kinder receive recognition for decades of service +
          Drebes:  GOP primary shaping up for Ron Richard's state Senate seat
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in Missouri Politics preview:  Guest Francis Slay;  Panel of Rep. Peter Meredith (D-St. Louis), Joe Lakin, Jeff Mazur, St. Louis Police Officers Association's Joe Patterson talk PDMP, budget, utilities legislation, more
          The Missouri Times:  Analysis:  Tracking Gov. Greitens' campaign promises with legislative results
          SNL:  Legislative roundup:  REAL ID, abortion and more X
          Daily Dunklin Democrat:  Greitens remains firmly against Medicaid expansion +
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Greitens to announce rural development programs during tour of outstate schools tomorrow
          SNL:  Solar industry alarmed by net metering bill supported by utility companies X
          AP:  Metal detectors at Missouri Capitol might lose funding
          Daily Dunklin Democrat:  Greitens signs herbicide bill in Portageville +
          CDT:  Gun shop owners seek to clear up confusion about Missouri's concealed carry law X
          SE Missourian:  SEMO program inspires students to learn more about government +
          P-D editorial:  Greitens hints at possible crack in the Medicaid expansion door
          P-D editorial:  Climax to Tony Messenger's Sheriffs' Retirement Fund Series;  Sheriffs have no business generating retirement funds off court fees
          SNL joint op-ed:  Galloway, others:  Ethics legislation needed to hold public officials accountable X
          SNL's Steve Pokin:  Update on Johnny Lee Wilson, local man pardoned by Gov. Carnahan X
          Disclosure


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        Saturday, April 1   April Fools' Day
       
April 2016 Missouri political news headlines
          April 2015 Missouri political news headlines
          KWMU:  McCaskill joins other Democrats in planning to vote against Gorsuch for Supreme Court
          P-D:  McCaskill to oppose Gorsuch nomination, support Democratic filibuster
          KWMU:  McCaskill to vote against Trump's Supreme Court nominee
          Politico:  McCaskill 'no' on Gorsuch moves Senate toward nuclear fights
          Missourinet:  In speech to law enforcement, AG Jeff Sessions vows to cut down on foreign drug lords and "thugs and gangs who use violence and extortion" to peddle dope
          KWMU:  AG Jeff Sessions brings tough-on-crime message to law enforcement leaders in St. Louis;  Gender-fluid protester twirls desecrated American flag, says he/she can "personally tell" Sessions is "a racist"
          AP:  Sessions:  Ferguson an emblem of tense relationship between criminals and the police
          The Missouri Times:  New contribution limits affect fundraising quarter ending
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in the Governor's Office:  Week of March 27
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in the Missouri Legislature:  Week of March 27
          Missourinet:  House committees approve State Legal Expense Fund legislation
          KWMU:  Republicans may make concessions on minimum wage bill that would affect St. Louis City
          The Missouri Times:  Rowden, Ruth present bill to assist first-time home buyers
          CDT:  Senate blocks UM curator appointments X
          Columbia Missourian:  Boys dominate Missouri Geographic Bee, securing all 10 finalist spots;  Minority student Rohan Rao chooses to work hard, crushes Caucasoid competition
          Missourinet:  Greitens signs bill to protect Missouri farmers from law-breaking pesticide applicators
          AP:  Greitens OKs higher fines for illegal application of herbicide
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Nate Walker (R-Kirksville) applauds court decision in Mark Twain Transmission project case
          The Missouri Times:  'Hailey's Law' passes Missouri House, heads to Senate
          P-D:  Twelve (12) people make a scence, block trash trucks outside landfills
          JCNT editorial:  Senate should follow House in banning gifts
          Disclosure


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        Friday, March 31
       
KC Star:  McCaskill warns Democratic donors of pitfalls of blocking Trump nominee for higher court +
          P-D:  Leaked tape:  McCaskill tells donors she's leery of filibustering Trump's Supreme Court pick
          The Weekly Standard:  McCaskill worried Gorsuch filibuster will backfire
          Politico:  McCaskill agonizes over Gorsuch
          The Hill:  McCaskill to Bernie Sanders supporters:  "I need you, I want you"
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Blunt helps question experts on cyberattacks X
          Washington Missourian:  Blunt speaks at Franklin County Lincoln Day dinner X
          SE Missourian:  Jason Smith:  Most GOP members on board with health-care bill;  others "holding out for perfection" +
          Politico:  White House shuffles West Wing staff;  Missourian Katie Walsh sent to fix Trump's outside political group, which faltered during health care battle
          Missourinet:  David Petraeus to speak, join Churchill fellows at Westminster College
          JCNT:  Elizabeth Hasselbeck speaks at Vitae Foundation's 25-year anniversary event X
          KC Star:  Federal contractor has 350 job openings in the Kansas City area +
          Drebes:  Dick Doherty retires, for good;  Seasoned lobbyist departs with reputation as "a man of his word and a true gentleman"
          The Missouri Times:  Hawley celebrates Trump's actions against Obama-era environmental regulations
          KC Star:  Hawley to provide monthly report on state payments settling lawsuits +
          P-D:  Hawley to release monthly report on state's legal settlements
          Missourinet:  Soldiers honored during Missouri Vietnam Veterans Day
          AP:  Greitens picks Missouri labor department director;  Anna Hui to be Missouri's first Asian-American cabinet member
          The Missouri Times:  Victims and advocates to be honored during 'Crime Victims' Rights Week'
          AP:  Missouri House passes prevailing wage repeal
          KWMU:  Legislature updates:  Prevailing wage, REAL ID, abortion, minimum wage
          The Missouri Times:  All eyes turn to Senate as House passes REAL ID
          AP:  Missouri House passes REAL ID compliance measure
          KC Star:  REAL ID bill clears Missouri House, but hurdle awaits in Senate +
          Missourinet:  After House passage, REAL ID likely to see slow action in the Senate
          AP:  House passes bill overturning St. Louis abortion ordinance
          Missourinet:  Committee continues investigation into Dept. of Corrections staff complaints
          P-D:  Paying for schools could trigger problems between House and Senate in Missouri budget
          The Missouri Times:  Senate again decides against confirming UM Curators
          KWMU:  Solar Foundation's Andrea Luecke says Missouri has "decent" state-level policies to encourage alternative energy
          Missourinet:  Mother of daughter children at Lake of the Ozarks blames Ameren, wants Missouri Legislature to boost dock safety regulations
          SNL:  'Hailey's Law' passes House, heads to Senate X
          Missourinet:  'Hailey's Law' on Amber Alert system is heading to Missouri Senate
          P-D:  Firefighter grazed by bullet while on duty in Ferguson, chief says
          P-D:  Local PBS affiliate pulls plug on public affairs show "Stay Tuned";  Station thought it could stimulate sensible discussion via social media
          KC Star editorial:  McCaskill right to plunge ahead with opioid probe +
          JCNT editorial:  New law puts A+ Scholarship Program on equal footing X
          SNL letter:  Area man disagrees with "David Humphries [sic]" on prevailing wage X
          Disclosure


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