johncombest.com

Missouri's political news website since October 2001.

Archive:  February 2015



  


        Saturday, February 28
       
Kraske:  Do we expect too much of our politicians? +
          Lieb:  Why would Schweich kill himself?
          AP:  A look at some of Schweich's top audit findings
          P-D:  In wake of Schweich's death, politics pushed aside by grief
          KC Star:  Schweich reactions, Day Two +
          CDT:  Schweich remembered by friends, rivals for tenacity, lengthy public service
          AP:  Funeral for Schweich set for Tuesday
          KWMU:  Nixon names longtime adviser John Watson as temporary auditor;  Hancock communicates with state's grassroots GOP leaders regarding Schweich
          CDT:  Nixon appointes longtime aide as interim auditor to replace Schweich X
          AP:  Nixon appoints senior adviser as temporary Missouri auditor
          AP:  Hanaway cancels campaign events
          Brownfield Ag News:  Nixon changes travel plans after Schweich's suicide, will send wife to Cuba instead
          Columbia Missourian:  Georganne Nixon to take governor's place on Cuba trip
          Washington Post:  McCaskill, others introduce bipartisan bill to expand powers of inspectors general
          KC Star:  Mend loophole on wireless auctions, McCaskill warns FCC +
          SNL:  Immigration showdown tests Blunt's vow to end dysfunction X
          KWMU:  McCaskill introduces new bill to address sexual violence on campus
          CDT:  Former Rep. Chris Kelly (D-Columbia) announces committee to advocate for infrastructure ballot issues X
          P-D:  St. Louis judge tosses out gun case, citing Amendment 5
          CDT:  UM President Tim Wolfe taking a one-month vacation X
          KSHB:  Schmitt wants accountability after Liberty boy with autism beaten up
          The Missouri Times:  Bills involving Missouri High School Athletics Association move forward
          KWMU:  Missouri Highway Patrol seeks minority candidates
          KC Star Capitol Watch editorial:  Weekly list of Missouri GOP transgressions:  Plastic bags, gay marriage, California egg rule +
          CDT's Waters:  Octogenarian remembers Schweich, then criticizes Koster and Hanaway for taking Sinquefield money X
          KC Star's Sanchez:  Candidate's suicide holds up unflattering mirror to our politics +
          P-D letter:  Twelve GOP state legislators respond to P-D editorial on Missouri Department of Conservation
          P-D letter:  Florissant man says GOP legislators don't care if Missourians die
          SNL letter:  Library employee dislikes Nixon's funding cut for libraries 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.



        Friday, February 27
       
Messenger:  From voicemail to voicemail:  The short political life and times of Tom Schweich
        KWMU:  State auditor Tom Schweich dies from self-inflicted gunshot wound
        Missourinet:  Schweich called reporters minutes before apparent suicide
        P-D:  Auditor Tom Schweich called seeking an interview just before his suicide
        KC Star:  Schweich dead of apparent suicide +
        AP:  Schweich dies in 'apparent suicide,' police say
        Kraske:  The Chat:  Only one quote worth mentioning:  Rest in peace, Mister Auditor. +
        KWMU:  Schweich remembered as dedicated public servant;  Came out swinging in bid for governor
        Missourinet:  Missouri leaders react to Schweich suicide
        JCNT:  Capitol remembers Schweich in brief prayer service X
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Tim Remole (R-Excello) reacts to Schweich's death
        KWMU:  Nixon will soon have to pick Schweich's successor
        JCNT:  Nixon to fill vacancy in auditor's office X
        AP:  Schweich's death leaves vacancy
        SNL:  Challenge to health care subsidies could mean a new headache for GOP;  Comments from Blunt X
        AP:  Akin nixes bloggy clickbait, affirms he's not running for Senate in 2016
        CDT:  Recovering legislator Chris Kelly, now a lobbyist, will lead support of Columbia ballot issues
        CDT:  State Supreme Court hears challenges to voter-passed gun and farming amendments
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) on defending gun rights amendment
        Daily Dunklin Democrat:  Jay Nixon appoints Steve Sokoloff, Caucasoid former prosecutor, to fill spot vacated by black cop
        Washington Missourian:  Weed, right to work, prescription drug monitoring discussed at Chamber government forum
        CDT:  State ag department issues license to grow cannabis for epilepsy patients X
        JCNT:  Scrambled California egg law hurts Missouri farmers;  Kehoe resolution would send message to California, HSUS X
        CDT:  Senate approves Schaefer bill to keep Nixon out of UM presidency X
        The Missouri Times:  Schmitt, lawmakers blast Liberty Schools in child's attack, promise anti-bullying bill
        AP:  Schmitt faults district after autistic boy beaten
        Fox 4 KC:  Schmitt outraged over beating of Liberty Middle School boy
        KCTV:  Schmitt condemns school for failing to prevent savage beating of Liberty boy
        LA Times:  Missouri lawmakers outraged by apparent bullying attack on boy
        The Missouri Times:  University of Missouri hosts Lobby Day
        AP:  Sale of $38.5M in bonds for University of Missouri approved
        P-D:  Missouri agency suggests new priorities in awarding subsidized housing projects
        P-D:  Missouri lawmakers eye earlier health insurance rate disclosure
        Washington Missourian:  Bill from Rep. Dave Hinson (R-St. Clair) allows 911 call centers to consolidate
        Washington Missourian editorial:  Audits from Schweich's office will put more emphasis on local taxing entities, and that's good news
        KC Star editorial:  Eulogy of Tom Schweich, gratuitious swipe at Rex Sinquefield +
        Washington Missourian editorial:  Lack of leadership on transportation from Nixon, Legislature is pathetic
        Washington Missourian editorial:  Raising speed limits, allowing no helmets will cost Missouri lives
        JCNT letter:  Legislature should dedicate energy to things other than regulation of plastic grocery bags X
        KC Star letter:  Palmyra man attempts sarcasm regarding Kinder and per diem +
        Columbia Missourian letter:  Murderer with "deteriorating mental capacity" shouldn't be executed
        Disclosure

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




        Thursday, February 26
       
KODE (Joplin):  McCaskill pushes to end trade embargo with Cuba
          KWMU:  U.S. Commerce Dept. approves Missouri rice shipment to Cuba
          Wall Street Journal:  FCC's net neutrality rules expected to unleash court challenges;  McCaskill says both sides "are being completely demagogic"
          P-D:  State legislators push to keep federal agency in St. Louis
          The Missouri Times:  Twitter interview with John Hancock:  Thoughts on MRP changes, GOP primaries, name association about state leaders, Cards-Royals predictions, more
          The Missouri Times:  Twitter interview with Catherine Hanaway:  Thoughts on "sexual permissiveness" blip, Sinquefield, Schweich, name association about state leaders, more
          Drebes:  Feedback on Speaker of the House 2019 list:  Don't forget the first Madam Speaker
          Kraske:  Missouri journalists criticize Nixon's approach to press;  D.C. journalists satiate Akin's need for external validation;  Eric Greitens talks upcoming campaign +
          KWMU:  Dan Isom stepping down as head of Missouri Dept. of Public Safety (DPS);  Nasheed disappointed in Nixon, says Isom not "given the leeway to make reforms"
          The Missouri Times:  Nasheed says Isom set to resign;  Phone calls to DPS go unanswered
          P-D:  Former St. Louis City police chief resigns as Nixon's public safety chief after six months
          AP:  Public safety director chosen amid Ferguson unrest resigns
          JCNT:  Missouri Chamber of Commerce offers long-term plan to rev up economy;  Dan Mehan explains "Missouri 2030" X
          Missourinet:  Missouri gun rights, 'right to farm' challenges highlight procedural issues
          JCNT:  Missouri's farming, gun rights challenged X
          AP:  Missouri Supreme Court weighing farming, gun-rights measures
          KWMU:  Gun rights and 'right to farm' amendments misled voters, critics tell Supreme Court
          P-D:  Opponents want Missouri Supreme Court to throw out gun-rights amendment
          The Missouri Times:  House considers drug-monitoring program
          KC Star:  Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale), other lawmakers to schools:  Stop bullies or lose funding +
          KMBC:  Support grows for student savagely beaten;  Schmitt wants schools that don't curb bullying held financially accountable
          AP:  Missouri House panel wants more for K-12 education
          AP:  Diehl wants to strip $4.5M in funding for membership to group that makes Common Core tests
          KWMU:  Missouri schools chief Margie Vandeven:  Normandy is 'fixable';  approach must balance all districts' needs
          KWMU:  Senate gives first approval to Schaefer's bill keeping Nixon from becoming University of Missouri president
          CDT:  House budget eliminates staff for research committee X
          The Missouri Times:  House leaders look to cut legislative research
          CDT:  Lawmakers tour space pegged for potential new member offices X
          P-D:  Ameren, Missouri Public Counsel resolve energy efficiency program dispute
          The Missouri Times:  Certified nurse anesthetists crowd Capitol for lobbying effort
          JCNT:  Legislative bills pit health care professionals against each other X
          AP:  Missouri House approves annual inspection of abortion clinic
          P-D:  Bill would require annual inspections at St. Louis abortion facility
          The Missouri Times:  Concerned Women for America supports pro-life bill
          The Missouri Times:  Medicaid-expansion supporters seek to persuade lawmakers by distributing mock "death certificates"
          P-D/Kaiser Health News:  Medicaid advocates hand out "death certificates" to lawmakers, but pleas "are likely to fall on deaf ears"
          SNL:  Nixon pushes renewal of state parks sales tax X
          Missourinet:  Proposal to slash Missouri Conservation permit fees slashed
          Missourinet:  Execution date set for Missouri man who murdered over child support;  Andre Cole stabbed ex's new lover to death, then tried to kill her
          Missourinet:  Changes to Missouri deadly force law debated
          P-D:  Seven months after first round of Ferguson riots, students continue talking about race;  Hazelwood East Spartan Dwayne McCowan:  "Is there hope for St. Louis?  I'd say heck yeah!"
          KWMU:  St. Louis County to launch health survey of residents near Bridgeton Landfill;  EPA already concluded air quality is no different, but North Countians still complaining about nosebleeds and tummyaches
          P-D:  State to get more landfill data;  Republic says new report shows fire contained
          P-D editorial:  McCaskill and Nixon right to support Cuba
          P-D editorial:  By giving in to Ferguson protesters' demands, SLU president is acting in the honorable tradition of universities
          SNL op-ed:  Cost of expanding Medicaid will lower standard of living X
          P-D letter:  Area woman notes Republicans don't want to expand Medicaid - even though it would help businesses - so they're a bunch of hypocrites
          Disclosure


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




        Wednesday, February 25
       
The Hill:  McCaskill will vote to override Obama's veto of Keystone XL
          SNL:  Missouri delegation responds to DHS bill free of immigration measures X
          P-D:  McCaskill may go along with plan to end DHS funding impasse
          JCNT:  McCaskill:  Time for U.S. to end Cuban embargo X
          KC Star:  McCaskill says U.S. overture to Cuba has Havana government worried +
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri delegation heads to Cuba on Sunday;  Comments from Nixon, Ag Director Richard Fordyce
          KODE (Joplin):  McCaskill talks Cuba, state rep's resolution quoting phrase from Declaration of Independence, "71 cents for every dollar a man makes" femimeme, more
          NY Times:  Hillary '16 will spend even more time talking about gender than did Hillary '08;  Comments from McCaskill
          P-D:  St. Louis man pleads guilty to theft of government funds;  Michael Leon Adkins abused HUD programs
          P-D:  For first time since 2010, St. Louis County will open up Section 8 waiting list for housing vouchers
          CDT:  Kander aims at Blunt's Washington ties in opening round of Senate campaign X
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Kander vs. Blunt begins;  Rep. Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City) on ethics overhaul +
          P-D:  Eric Greitens set to announce GOP bid for governor
          JCNT:  Attorney general candidate Kurt Schaefer asks Koster to get involved in Texas immigration suit X
          Drebes:  The five top contenders to take over for Speaker Todd Richardson in 2019
          Columbia Journalism Review:  How limited access to state officials hurts reporting in Missouri;  Veteran journalists say things have changed for the worst under Gov. Jay Nixon (D)
          CDT:  Rowden bill for video streaming of Legislature heard by House committee X
          AP:  Missouri judge rules pact with Common Core testing 'illegal'
          Missourinet:  Missouri Supreme Court asked to throw out gun rights amendment
          KC Star:  Doing much of the teaching but failing to lift themselves up financially, adjunct faculty joins unions;  SEIU says it has not established a foothold in KC area +
          The Missouri Times:  Lawmakers have a long way to go in the school transfer debate
          KWMU:  Missouri House and Senate give first-round approval to student transfer fixes
          AP:  House, Senate initially approve student transfer bills
          P-D:  Missouri lawmakers approve two school transfer bills
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Schweich's audit revealed millions of dollars in stipends awarded to district employees without board approval X
          Columbia Missourian:  Columbia's black students help lead district to top tier in suspension rankings
          Missourinet:  Proposals target fraud against Missouri seniors and disabled
          KWMU:  Missouri Hospital Association organizes "telephone town hall" to tout Silvey's legislation
          Missourinet:  Missouri lawmakers tour potential new locations for state offices
          The Missouri Times:  Bag-ban bill gives freshman Rep. Dan Shaul (R-Imperial) national attention
          AP:  Missouri Supreme Court says state went too far to tax gym
          SE Missourian:  Change in state law allows small towns to opt out of uncontested elections +
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Missouri Dept. of Conservation to hold meetings on deer-hunting regulations
          AP:  In response to Michael Brown theft/assault/shooting, Senate panel considers change to deadly force law
          P-D:  Deadly force changes get airing in Missouri Senate
          JCNT:  Senate committee hears two proposals on sentencing juvenile killers X
          P-D:  Protesters test the leadership of SLU's new president;  Leader of "Tribe X" sect praises Fred Pestello's acquiescence
          P-D editorial:  Closing police video records is wrong step for Missouri
          P-D op-ed:  State Treasurer Clint Zweifel:  "Missouri Promise" program would allow anyone of functional wits - and a decent work ethic - the opportunity to go to college
          Columbia Missourian's David Rosman:  Columnist chats with imaginary friend about payday loans, references "former Rep. Mary Stills [sic]"
          KC Star's Sanchez:  Look at suspension data with critical eye;  For example, area whites in secondary school are punished more frequently than Latinos +
          KC Star op-ed:  Create the I-70 of the future:  Electric cars that drive themselves +
          P-D letter:  Response to P-D editorial:  Only 47 percent of people are taking "assistance" - only 53 percent more to go to please the socialists
          P-D letter:  SLU law students who jeered McCulloch are asinine, are suited to join the mobs that overran Ferguson streets
          P-D letter:  Protesters blocking the street are lawless thugs - so what happens if a law-abiding driver just so happens to "panic" and runs them over?
          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, February 24
       
KWMU:  McCaskill:  Ending embargo against Cuba would be 'boon' for Missouri businesses
          SE Missourian:  McCaskill supports ending Cuba embargo +
          SNL:  After Cuba visit, McCaskill more convinced embargo should be lifted X
          P-D:  Just returned from Cuba trip, McCaskill calls for lifting trade embargo
          AP:  McCaskill supports legislation to end trade embargo with Cuba
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Consulting group issues report claiming Missouri can reach EPA goals for carbon reduction
          Columbia Missourian:  Boone County Dems hold annual chili supper;  Kander speaks
          CDT:  Sara Walsh, Gary Harris appointed to Missouri GOP executive committee X
          Drebes:  Who is Eric Greitens, and how soon is he announcing his bid for governor?
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri Supreme Court to hear farming amendment challenge tomorrow
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Nate Walker (R-Kirksville) reacts to Kinder's "gradual impoverishment" request
          The Missouri Times:  State Treasurer Clint Zweifel releases midterm report
          CDT:  House committee advances bill to ban lobbyist-paid travel outside Missouri X
          JCNT:  Senate ethics bill on way to House floor X
          KWMU:  Two different Missouri Senate proposals to require photo IDs for voting;  Comments from GOP Sens. Will Kraus, Rob Schaaf
          AP:  Missouri Senate passes legislation limiting welfare benefits;  TANF recipients would be allowed only four years to hang out on the dole
          AP:  Missouri's black grade-schoolers lead the nation in suspensions
          KC Star:  Missouri's black grade-schoolers dominate national suspension rankings;  St. Louis City, Normandy, Riverview Gardens and KC districts drive top numbers +
          P-D:  When it comes to suspensions, black grade-schoolers in Missouri far outdo peers in other states
          Missourinet:  Missouri House fast-tracks Amber Alert bill inspired by Hailey Owens
          Missourinet:  Missouri House Committee hears testimony on medical marijuana
          AP:  Lawmakers hear testimony on medical marijuana:  Former TV host Montel Williams:  "I could care less [sic] about anybody who wants to get high"
          The Missouri Times:  Medical marijuana bill heard before committee
          AP:  Missouri House endorses annual inspection of abortion clinic
          AP:  Missouri bill would stop cities from banning plastic bags
          P-D:  Ameren rate increase could be lower than first thought
          CDT:  State stages disaster drill at dormant fairground X
          P-D:  Protesters go to County Executive Steve Stenger's home at 6:30 a.m. as part of "Monday Mourning" stunt series
          P-D:  Activist warns:  Return of warm weather to St. Louis will stir more protester violence
          KWMU:  Civil rights oversight body hears full day of complaints
          P-D editorial:  Times are tough for Missouri women;  Women make "71 cents for every dollar a man makes" (not accounting for differences in occupation, education, hours worked per week), other sad stats
          Shelley:  Rex Sinquefield has his tentacles in University of Missouri research numbers, and that's not fair +
          CDT's Waters:  Besides the fact he's running for attorney general, why does Kurt Schaefer care about Uber? X
          P-D letter:  Chesterfield woman offers sarcastic advice to Kinder re: budgeting
          P-D letter:  Florissant man manufactures sarcastic punchline on Nixon, National Guard and Ferguson
          SE Missourian letter:  Cape woman supports "Death with Dignity" bill +
          KC Star letters:  Union member opposes right to work;  GOP bill on plastic bags is hypocritical +
          Disclosure


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



        Monday, February 23
       
P-D:  Temporary truce:  Catherine Hanaway, Tom Schweich hold their fire at Lincoln Day
          CDT:  Likely AG candidate Joshua Hawley:  Nixon, Koster 'fundamentally dishonest' on gay marriage X
          KTVI (St. Louis):  Hancock and Kelley:  On Kander's bid, Obamacare, McCaskill and Cuba, Ferguson
          P-D:  Kerry Messer, prominent pro-family lobbyist, searches for his missing wife
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Sen. Jamilah Nasheed;  Panel discussion between Katie Casas (D), Anne Schweitzer (D), Jeremy Lafaver (D), Ron Hicks (R)
          Missourinet:  Missouri Supreme Court to hear 'right to farm' challenge Wednesday
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Mike Kehoe talks with Mannies & Rosenbaum about transportation, unemployment benefits and his political future
          Missouri Viewpoints:  Cell phones, tablets and thieves:  Does Missouri need new laws to catch up?  Discussion from Rep. Mary Nichols (D-Maryland Heights), AT&T's John Sondag
          AP:  Under GOP budget, taxpayers won't fund Nixon's Ferguson "Office of Community Engagement"
          Missourinet:  Medical marijuana to get Missouri House hearing today
          KWMU:  KC, rural legislators don't share Nixon's bullishness on St. Louis stadium
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Missouri Legislature asks:  Paper or plastic? X
          P-D:  Missouri tests a carrot-and-stick approach to higher education
          St. Joseph News-Press:  In wake of Schweich audit, district moves to fire supe X
          Washington Missourian:  Residents express concerns about water at Ameren permit hearing
          KC Star:  St. Louis looks to Kansas City for help with homicide onslaught +
          Student Life (Washington U.):  "Fossil Free WashU" complains about Peabody;  Comments from freshman who says private university should maximize investment return and not cave to activist demands
          JCNT editorial:  Kinder should have known better than to ask for per diem X
          P-D letter:  Missouri Cattlemen's Association's Mike Deering:  Hold Missouri Department of Conservation accountable for tax money
          P-D letter:  Leave the Missouri Department of Conservation alone
          P-D letter:  Fenton man says Brian Munzlinger, Bryan Spencer and Wanda Brown are enemies of Missouri sportsmen
          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, February 22
       
KWMU:  John Hancock elected as next Missouri GOP chairman;  State committee members favor Scott Walker for president, Catherine Hanaway for governor
        CDT:  Republicans choose Hancock as party chairman;  Valinda Freed wins vice-chair spot over Schweich Chief of Staff Trish Vincent X 
        CDT:  State committee gov vote:  Hanaway 29, Schweich 14, Eric Greitens and John Brunner tied at 5, Kinder 4 X
        AP:  John Hancock elected party chair of MOGOP;  GOP vet starts with party $77,189 in the red
        The Missouri Times:  Hancock elected GOP chairman
        P-D:  John Hancock elected chairman of Missouri GOP
        P-D:  At Lincoln Day, Blunt still mum on challenge from Kander
        AP:  At Lincoln Day, Hanaway and Schweich avoid taking shots at each other
        CDT:  John Webb will challenge Vicky Hartzler in primary again, says incumbent is too liberal X
        Kraske:  A walk through the gauntlet of Lincoln Day display tables:  Women and weed, "Alliances" and also-rans +
        AP:  Fort Leonard Wood job cuts to be discussed at Nutter Field House on March 2
        P-D:  North St. Louis City neighborhood struggles with prospect for National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency;  Area was ground zero for infamous Pruitt-Igoe housing project
        Drebes:  Weekly poll from February 7
        Drebes:  Weekly poll from February 14
        KC Star:  Sinquefield critics complain about budget numbers coming from University of Missouri's Economic & Policy Analysis Research Center (EPARC) +
        AP:  State seeks alternatives for highway, bridge funding;  Comments from Missouri Trucking Association's Tom Crawford, Rep. Dave Hinson (R-St. Clair)
        AP:  Summary of alternative ways to pay for highway, bridge funding
        Columbia Missourian:  Columbia, MoDOT search for scarce road money
        Ashley Jost's Learning Curve:  Zweifel visits MU to talk financial aid;  Senior Jamon Finley laments struggle of borrowing money, then having to work to pay it back X
        CDT:  MU medical school expansion tied up in budget fight X
        Washington Missourian editorial:  Jason Kander is a bright young man who will run a spirited campaign
        P-D editorial:  If facts mattered, Medicaid expansion in Missouri would be a slam dunk - unfortunately, opponents can't handle the truth
        P-D editorial:  Missouri student transfer bill needs simple tuition fix
        KC Star:  Conservation Commission expansion is reasonable, but major fixes aren't needed in a Missouri success story +
        Washington Missourian editorial:  Unions, Ameren put forth solid effort to keep Rams in St. Louis
        SNL letter:  Jobs with Justice opposes right to work X
        P-D letter:  Retired union official opposes right to work
        SNL letter:  Right to work hurts unions, wages X
        SNL letter:  Right to work gives workers a choice X
        P-D letter:  Plenty of blame to go around for letting criminal element destroy Ferguson
        P-D letter:  Governor's no-win Ferguson conundrum:  If Nixon had used the National Guard, people would whine about looters/arsonists being put down
        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, February 21
       
KWMU:  Missouri Republicans take verbal aim at Kander, Obama
          CDT:  Missouri Republicans focus on Obama policies at Kansas City gathering X
          KC Star:  Missouri Republicans take on Barack Obama in KC meeting +
          Fox 4 KC:  Jeff Roe poll, via Drebes, shows Blunt leading Kander
          Washington Post:  With loss to Blunt, Kander may be setting himself up for another race in the future
          Kraske:  Kander hopes Blunt is vulnerable;  Hancock wants to move state primaries;  What will Peter Kinder choose? +
          CDT:  Joshua Hawley prepares to challenge Kurt Schaefer in MO GOP AG primary X
          USA Today:  GM names new top lawyer;  Comments from McCaskill
          P-D:  Illinois county plans to offer land near Scott AFB at no cost for National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency relocation
          Drebes:  Weekly poll results:  Minimum wage, tax credit for student loans, more
          AP:  Bill from Sen. Tom Dempsey (R-St. Charles) gives select legislators the ability to intervene in lawsuits
          KC Star:  Second Bloch School faculty member resigns in wake of rankings scandal +
          AP:  Second professor quits amid ranking scandal at Missouri college
          CDT:  Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) seeks to overturn local rules on Uber-style ride services X
          KWMU:  Anti-drug agency looks to state legislators, law enforcement for help combating heroin
          Missourinet:  Rep. Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) wants to let Missouri homeschoolers play public school sports
          KOMU (Columbia):  Parents want home-school students in public-school activities
          P-D:  OPPS!  Ameren accidentally discloses settlement negotiations with regulators
          Washington Missourian:  Alderman:  Utilities relocation bill from Sen. Dave Schatz (R-Sullivan) would be costly
          KOMU (Columbia):  MoDOT says increase in fatal accidents is related to seat belt use
          CDT:  Group opposing death penalty draws 25 to hear local law prof speak X
          KSHB (Kansas City):  Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale) wants to abusive traffic ticket schemes
(link via TonysKansasCity.com)
          P-D:  McCulloch, at SLU, shares insight into Michael Brown's theft/assault/shooting case
          KWMU:  Protesters yell, sing as McCulloch explains his office's approach to Michael Brown case
          AP:  Protesters:  "Black lives matter!"  McCulloch:  "I'm pretty sure all lives matter."
          KC Star Capitol Watch editorial:  Weekly list of GOP transgressions:  Kinder and per diem;  Voter ID proposal +
          P-D editorial:  Taxpayers shouldn't subsidize more Kinder-Kare
          P-D editorial:  Republicans are the "Mean Boys & Girls Club," and are full of "pure meanness"
          CDT's Waters:  Kinder's folly X
          CDT's Waters:  Photo ID puts an additional burden on voters X
          JCNT editorial:  Virtual schools won't solve real education puzzle X
          P-D letter:  Early childhood education should be funded
          P-D letter  Kirkwood man share octogenarian wisdom - if you don't like traffic tickets, perhaps you should not break the law
          P-D letter:  Thanks to Nixon's inaction in Ferguson, citizens will have to shoot looters themselves
          P-D letter:  Ferguson man says that if Nixon had used National Guard, lowlife looters would have "run like roaches"
          Disclosure


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




        Friday, February 20   Toward a more memorable, meaningful Lincoln Day Weekend
       
Reuters:  McCaskill returns from Cuba, says business and ag support can help make push more bipartisan
          SE Missourian:  Nixon to explore opportunities for international trade with Cuba +
          P-D:  McCaskill fires back on GOP claims Democrats are holding up homeland security vote
          KWMU:  North City residents can stay if National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) doesn't choose city for relocation
          KWMU:  Jason Kander announces bid for U.S. Senate in 2016
          The Missouri Times:  Jason Kander announces United States Senate bid
          Missourinet:  Jason Kander announces run for Senate seat held by Roy Blunt
          P-D:  Kander announces he'll seek Senate seat held by Blunt
          SNL:  Jason Kander announces he will run for U.S. Senate in 2016 X
          Kraske:  Kander's bid is audacious - and enormously challenging. +
          AP:  Jay Ashcroft now says he's running for secretary of state;  Will Kraus announced bid last July
          KWMU:  Jay Ashcroft enters GOP primary for secretary of state
          KC Star:  Jay Ashcroft says he'll take on Will Kraus in GOP SOS primary +
          The Missouri Times:  Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) uses his role as senator and potential attorney general to rein in federal overreach
          Drebes:  Zech Hockersmith, who lost House bid as a Dem, to run as a Republican for Sen. Dan Brown's open seat in 2018
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Kinder wants an allowance +
          The Missouri Times:  Slideshow:  Capitol Gala 2015
          The Missouri Times:  Capitol staffers Stephanie Boeth (Barnes) and David Willis (Richardson) to wed Nov. 14
          KWMU:  Gun rights amendment had unintended outcomes;  High court to decide fate
          P-D:  Want a 50-cent doctor visit copay?  Become a Missouri inmate.
          Missourinet:  Missouri House sends voter photo ID proposal to Senate
          Missourinet:  How state reps voted on voter ID bill
          KWMU:  Critics call voter ID bill racist;  Sponsor Shamed Dogan (R-Ballwin), who is black, disagrees
          AP:  Missouri Senate passes cutoff for changes to ballot measures
          AP:  Demspey will allow vote on right to work
          CDT:  Schaefer seeks to block Columbia from creating high-speed Internet utility X
          AP:  Rep. Diane Franklin (R-Camdenton) wants disclosure of unvaccinated children
          P-D:  Payday lending volume in Missouri decreases, but installment lenders increase
          The Missouri Times:  CTE diplomas could become a reality
          AP:  Missouri House panel approves bill on student transfers
          KWMU:  State extends deadline for Normandy students to transfer
          P-D:  New deadline for Normandy transfer students
          Missourinet:  Bill from Rep. Shamed Dogan (R-Ballwin) would free man with life sentence for marijuana case
         P-D:  Dogan wants to free man serving life without parole for marijuana
         KWMU:  Labor unions promise 24-hour workdays to build riverfront stadium
         P-D:  Justice Department hasn't briefed Ferguson on the results of the agency's investigation, Mayor James Knowles says
         AP:  Ferguson officials:  No word on federal investigations
         KC Star:  Staff of Butler, Mo. newspaper walk out on employer, start competitive newspaper +
          Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal editorial:  Republicans who blasted McCaskill over Homeland Security should stop playing games
          JCNT editorial:  Blunt's government advertisement proposal:  What, exactly, is the transparency we seek? X
          P-D editorial:  Turning around the police department battleship
          Shelly:  Whoever put together long list of Medicaid-expansion supporters wasted their time;  It will take wholesale changes in 2016 elections to see any expansion +
          KC Star letters:  Blunt, Graves, other GOP reps should push for big changes;  Government would be in better shape if people sent more letters via snail mail to their congressional offices +
          CDT letter:  Kudos to Tim Wolfe for taking a stand against tax cuts X
          JCNT letter:  Right to work and declining union membership X
          P-D letter:  Editorial overlooks important factors against NGA deal
          P-D letter:  Missouri Legislature should pass "Death with Dignity" bill
          JCNT letter:  Costs of toll roads may exceed benefits X
          JCNT letter:  Republicans are mean, and wrong about a lot of things X
          Disclosure

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




        Thursday, February 19
       
KC Star:  Enrollment in Obamacare jumps in Missouri +
          St. Joseph News-Press:  McCaskill's Cuba trip aims to promote trade X
          CDT:  Blunt visits Jefferson City, urges House to dig at roots of race and economic issues X
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Blunt visits Salisbury, talks government overreach and Keystone XL
          KC Star:  Blunt at center of immigration policy spat +
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly:  Luetkemeyer announces his bid for re-election, talks opportunities and threats of Cuban trade
          The Missouri Times:  Ann Wagner visits Jefferson City, joins with Rep. Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) to push new penalties for sex trafficking
          KOMU (Columbia):  Wagner, Haahr want crackdown on child sex trafficking in Missouri
          Missourinet:  Wagner, Haahr push making sex trafficking ads illegal
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Jake Zimmerman (D) on campaign for attorney general, more
          The Missouri Times:  Yancy Williams brings campaign successes to the Senate
          Helling:  Stadium issues show that St. Louis brings a battle sword to Jefferson City, while KC brings a pocketknife;  Mayor Sly James, tightwad-donor rep don't help
          AP:  Kinder wants same daily allowance that legislators get
          KC Star:  Missouri voter ID law gets initial House approval +
          The Missouri Times:  Republicans look to open door to new voter ID laws
          AP:  Missouri House endorses voter photo ID requirements
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Tim Remole says there's talk more federal money for MoDOT is possible
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council joins national group to lobby for federal and state transportation issues
          The Current (UMSL):  UMSL students face tuition increase
          The Missouri Times:  Rep. Steve Cookson (R-Poplar Bluff) says he wants to improve education by raising teachers' salaries and more
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Schaaf calls for charges from district audit;  Schweich gave district "poor" rating X
          KWMU:  Two-day conference, supported by DESE, will address "inequality" issues;  Topics include hiring more black teachers, etc.
          KMZU (Carrollton):  MO DHSS looking for organizations to serve free and reduced-price meals over the summer;  Comments from Ryan Hobart
          The Maneater:  Nursing educators want state to spend more money;  Comments from Missouri Nurses Association's Sarah Felts
          KODE (Joplin):  Rep. Jim Neely (R-Cameron) sponsors "Right to Try" law for terminally ill;  Nixon:  "We want to do what we can ... to have as few limitations at the state level"
          KODE (Joplin):  Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Springfield) wants to streamline communication between local law enforcement and state highway patrol when a child goes missing
          The Missouri Times:  Sen. Joe Keaveny (D-St. Louis City) shoulders non-discrimination fight
          KTVO (Kirksville):  Bill from Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown) looks to eliminate hunting permit fees
          P-D:  Lindenwood University announces $625,000 in scholarships for North St. Louis County students
          Missourinet:  Missouri bill would bar police camera mandate, public access to videos
          CDT:  Bill to close police body and dash camera video opposed by press, civil liberties groups X
          P-D:  Media unhappy about police-camera access
          KOMU (Columbia):  Fulton police weigh in on Missouri body camera bill;  Comments from Sen. Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff), others
          P-D:  Revelations about National Guard mission in Ferguson anger local businesses, leaders
          KWMU:  Nixon on National Guard inaction:  "Not the best path forward to get into a gunfight on the street"
          Missourinet:  Reports:  U.S. Justice Department preparing to sue Ferguson police
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Holder on Ferguson findings +
          KC Star editorial:  Missouri shouldn't limit welfare before making other changes +
          P-D editorial:  The Missouri Department of Conservation is working just fine.  The Legislature should leave it alone.
          Washington Missourian editorial:  If budgets are about priorities, Nixon doesn't care very much about libraries
          KC Star editorial:  Gov. Nixon must fix the Kansas City Police Board mess +
          Platte County Landmark's Foley:  Local school district may enlist Axiom Strategies to promote tax measure;  Columnist and Jeff Roe engage in witty banter involving toilet O-rings
          KC Star letter:  Sen. Jason Holsman (D) worked to achieve compromise with Republicans on welfare bill, and is therefore selfish +
          P-D letter:  Right to work undermines workers' dignity
          Washington Missourian letter:  Hinson should drop pot support;  Missouri already has a problem with alcohol and prescription drugs and shouldn't add a third
          P-D letter:  Kirkton's day care training bill is needed
          CDT letter:  MO DNR is passing the hot potato on Hinson Creek 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.



        Wednesday, February 18
       
USA Today:  Republicans hail court ruling on immigration;  Blunt says he will "keep fighting to stop President Obama's illegal amnesty"
          P-D:  GOP U.S. House members from Missouri criticize McCaskill for blocking vote on Homeland Security bill
          The Missouri Times:  Blunt, Rep. Paul Curtman (R-Union) tout new restrictions on government-funded ads
          JCNT:  Blunt, Rep. Paul Curtman promote "transparent" government ads X
          SNL:  Blunt has clear primary path X
          KWMU:  Highlight of Missouri Lincoln Day to include presidential straw poll, election of new MRP chairman
          Drebes:  Job opening:  MO Dept. of Higher Education general counsel;  Job pays $72-78K
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Restaurant tip crackdown +
          JCNT:  Ethics bill out of the Senate, into the House X
          Missourinet:  Sen. Tom Dempsey (R-St. Charles) adds dose of reality to right-to-work push
          KWMU:  Missouri Medicaid enrollments starting to rise, but challenges remain
          AP:  Missouri Senate OKs bill to free data centers from sales tax
          Missourinet:  Proposed Missouri medical child abuse law prompts sharp division
          JCNT:  Lawmakers again asked to allow some older retirement plans to join LAGERS X
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Schweich delivers St. Joseph School District audit - the lowest possible rating of "poor" - to stunned crowd X
          KWMU:  State Board of Education will wait to make decision on Normandy schools
          P-D:  Tesla seeks to intervene in Missouri auto dealers' lawsuit
          P-D:  DNR finally moving forward with Ameren water discharge permit
          KWMU:  Missouri Supreme Court to decide if Ameren is responsible for electrocutions at Lake of the Ozarks
          The Missouri Times:  Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale) spars with Democratic mayors over court reforms
          KMOV (St. Louis):  TV investigation of traffic ticket quotas prompted action by Sen. Schmitt
          AP:  Missouri House panel approves added state emergency funds
          P-D:  Missouri committee puts $8.5M into funds depleted by Ferguson response
          KWMU:  Ferguson Mayor James Knowles sounds off on impact of unrest - and the future of his city
          KWMU:  St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar confirms that police wanted National Guard in Ferguson after grand jury decision
          AP:  Records:  Police wanted Guard in Ferguson neighborhood
          P-D:  Missouri National Guard lack authority to protect Ferguson properly
          Missourinet:  Holder still expects Ferguson investigations' release before his departure
          P-D:  Holder confirms separate Ferguson probes to be finished before he leaves office
          AP:  Holder says he expects to finish Ferguson probes soon
          P-D:  Lindenwood to hand out $600,000 in scholarships to North County students;  Mayor James Knowles and Lindenwood prez to announce program today
          KWMU:  Area police officers log time inside schools chatting with black students;  Comments from after-school program director Jazminique Holley, sixth-grader Jmarria Franklin
          JCNT editorial:  Cooperation essential on mental health initiatives X
          KC Star editorial:  KC taxpayers should keep an eye on St. Louis stadium deal, make sure the other side of the state doesn't make out too well +
          CDT's Waters:  Republican legislators really need to start thinking about raising taxes X
          Columbia Missourian's Rosman:  Rep. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) should support raising Missouri's minimum wage to $10.10, which is $2.85/hr. above federal standard
          P-D op-ed:  Rep. Jeanne Kirkton (D-St. Louis County):  Legislators can play a role in preventing overdose deaths
          CDT letter:  Data from "nonpartisan Missouri Budget Project" proves that Missouri needs Medicaid expansion X
          KC Star letter:  Library director dislikes Nixon's budget cut for libraries +
          P-D letter:  Doctors ignore Missouri's online system for death certificates
          P-D letter:  McCulloch stifles speech by keeping grand juror from talking
          P-D letter:  In the case of "two thugs riding around with guns and dope," officers did the job they're supposed to do
          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, February 17
       
P-D/Kaiser Health News:  Feds gift another week to adults who can't manage to sign up for Obamacare on time
        Helling:  U.S., Missouri tax policy has 50 Shades of Grey (area) +
        KRCG:  More than 200 turn out for Cole County Lincoln Day dinner
        JCNT:  Blunt, statewides speak at area Lincoln Day X
        The Missouri Times:  2016 Statewide Tip Sheet:  Established contenders, plus possible entrants like Eric Greitens, Joshua Hawley, others
        Kraske:  The Chat:  Nixon working with GOP this year on tax bills;  Randy Asbury on run for gov +
        Columbia Missourian:  A month after its passage, Amendment 10 still raises questions
        AP:  Missouri lawmakers talk virtual school option for students
        Missourinet:  House proposal would alter Missouri law on renters' security deposits
        KMOV (St. Louis):  Missouri cracks down on underreported restaurant tips
        TonysKansasCity.com:  Restaurant rage against Missouri tip audit talk
        Missourinet:  Missouri Senate bills would address juvenile sentencing issues in Missouri
        Missourinet:  Missouri Supreme Court again asked to consider felons having firearms
        KC Star:  Missouri lawmakers look to child-proof e-cigarettes +
        KC Star:  Nixon to restore Missouri subsidies for Bartle Hall, Chiefs and Royals stadiums +
        KWMU:  After 16 years with lapsed power plant permit, Ameren's new wastewater proposal gets public hearing
        The Missouri Times:  Public Service Commission prepares for a week of Empire Electric hearings
        CDT:  Grass Roots Organizing, ACORN/MORE continue anti-coal campaign X
        KMZU (Carrollton):  Missouri Department of Conservation presents "Discover Nature Girls Camp"
        Rosenbaum:  Bill limiting traffic fine revenue includes risk of 'death penalty' for municipalities
        KMOV (St. Louis):  Bellefontaine Neighbors officer said city had quota for tickets;  Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale) is calling for investigation
        P-D:  Ferguson riots exhausted emergency fund;  now Nixon and lawmakers square off over more
        Missourinet:  Ferguson Mayor James Knowles wants Justice Department findings released
        Drebes:  Maria Chappelle-Nadal withdraws remonstrance of Jay Nixon
        P-D:  Union leader muzzled when it comes to civilian review
        P-D:  Students' Presidents' Day march to protest "injustice and inequalities" draws total of eight (8), including family members;  Teen speaks into bullhorn to reach attendees gathered three feet away
        P-D editorial:  Time for Nixon, lawmakers to rally around National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency project in St. Louis
        Ray Hartmann:  Stan Kroenke's forgotten options;  Why any new-stadium idea is dead unless the Rams leave St. Louis
        Slate op-ed:  St. Louis should doesn't belong in Missouri, should move to Illinois
        SNL letter:  Beta (male) version of McCaskill's "man up" meme:  Area man says it's up to males to protect the "vulnerable";  Therefore, GOP legislators must support Medicaid expansion X
        Columbia Missourian letter:  Affton man knows how to fix government:  Elect state reps to four-year terms
        Disclosure


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



        Monday, February 16
       
Kraske:  The Chat:  McCaskill on Cuba opportunities;  Schweich on right to work;  Nixon on Ferguson and National Guard +
          NY Times:  Senate Dems want reprieve for people who took too long to sign up for Obamacare;  Comments from Missouri Association of Health Underwriters' Emily Black Bremer
          Missourinet:  Former state Rep. Randy Asbury (R-Higbee) says he'll follow through, file for governor next year
          Drebes:  Rep. Kevin McManus (D-Kansas City) to run for KC Council seat
          AP:  House, Senate call off proceedings due to weather
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Sen. Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City) discusses franchise law, transportation proposals, more
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Sen. Ryan Silvey (R), Rep. Shamed Dogan (R), Sen. Gina Walsh (D), Susan Montee (D) discuss franchise law, legislative session, more
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown):  Changing welfare laws will make more efficient use of taxpayer dollars
          KODE (Joplin):  Southwest Missouri Task Force sees increase in cyber crime;  Nixon releases funds "after six long months"
          AP:  Missouri Republicans take second look at tax code changes
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) on right to work
          Missouri Viewpoints:  State Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven talks with host Mike Ferguson about Nixon-GOP funding battles, Common Core, more
          Missourinet:  Senate to debate school transfer bill this week
          KWMU:  Normandy urged to extend transfer deadline
          SE Missourian:  Rep. Kathy Swan (R-Cape Girardeau) wants proof of tax payment before businesses bid on public projects +
          NY Times:  Law enforcement concerns create unlikely alliances in Missouri and beyond;  Schmitt's bill aligns right, left against "taxation by citation"
          KC Star:  Mike Sanders on Jackson County Sports Complex controversy:  We'll work it out +
          The Maneater:  ACORN/MORE promotes anti-Peabody petition
          JCNT editorial:  In support of right to work;  "Workers should be free to join a labor union, but not compelled" X
          The Maneater editorial:  Higher education remains a low priority for Missouri
          P-D editorial:  Court should allow Ferguson grand juror to speak
          JCNT letter:  Right to work would be good for Missouri X
          JCNT letter:  Right to work would be bad for Missouri X
          P-D letter:  Clayton woman supports bill requiring safe-sleep guidelines in day cares
          P-D letter:  Local police - not Nixon - to blame for letting looting arsonists burn Ferguson
          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, February 15
       
Missourinet:  Obamacare sign-up period ends today
          KCUR (KC):  Urban League CEO Gwendolyn Grant says local African-Americans have "lack of progress," acknowledges that Medicaid expansion won't happen in Missouri
          JCNT:  Jim Moody, Andy Blunt merge lobbying firms X
          Brownfield Ag News:  Nixon, Ag Director Richard Fordyce talk ag opportunities in Cuba
          Washington Missourian:  Area lawmakers weigh in on "right to work"
          KC Star:  Missouri Senate gives initial approval to stricter welfare rules;  Recipients can currently receive handouts for five years
          JCNT:  Budget cuts concern state librarians X
          JCNT:  State lawmakers consider federal balanced budget amendment X
          JCNT:  Nixon's choice as next Missouri Highway Patrol commander discusses leadership ideas
X
          P-D:  Local "Queer and Trans People of Color" chapter turns out small crowd for protest
          P-D:  Prison services are profitable niche for Bridgeton company
          KWMU:  Dave Spence's Ferguson 1000 Jobs tries to match applicants to employers;  Comments from job-seeking ex-con Robert Crawley
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Unions are on the decline in Missouri, and right-to-work will eventually be the law of the land
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Schweich wins more style points than Hanaway;  First female Speaker of the House must demonstrate more confidence, stop reading from notes
          CDT op-ed:  Area doctor wants Medicaid expansion now, not later X
          KC Star letters:  MoDOT should stop complaining;  Area rabbi opposes right to work +
          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, February 14
       
KWMU:  McCaskill travels to Cuba, hopes to push agricultural trade
          AP:  McCaskill going to Cuba on trade mission
          P-D:  Congressional delegation votes for the week
          Scripps:  House bill would require DOD to publish names of military sex offenders, while McCaskill bill would place offenders on FBI database
          P-D:  "National Divestment Day" draws few;  Group targeting local employers draws ten (10) downtown
          Kraske:  Missouri lawmakers take (baby) steps on ethics +
          KWMU:  At Missouri Press Association meeting, GOP gov candidates outline priorities
          CDT:  At Missouri Press Association event, Nixon defends Ferguson outcome as lawmakers look into response to unrest X
          P-D:  New campaign to raise Missouri's tobacco tax would fund early childhood programs
          KC Star:  CO, WA having a hard time keeping their marijuana inside their borders and away from children;  Missouri ranked first in number of Colorado pot-smuggling cases +
          Drebes:  Nixon's Office of Administration vs. KC Sports Complex:  Chief dispute is if state should throw up the stop sign, hold funding at 25 years
          Missourinet:  Legislative leaders consider how far they can push right-to-work this year
          CDT:  Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick (R-Shell Knob) seeks to keep undocumented immigrants from receiving state scholarships X
          KC Star:  Amid ranking scandal, Michael Song resigns from UMKC +
          AP:  UMKC business professor resigns amid ranking scandal
          KWMU:  Departed Normandy Superintendent Tyrone McNichols gets $78,000 severance payment
          Missourinet:  Proposed 'no call list for minors' debated by Missouri Senate committee
          KMOX:  Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale):  Committee not satisfied with Nixon's National Guard explanation
          KWMU:  Traffic revenue limit passes Missouri Senate
          The Missouri Times:  Pharmaceutical industry promotes its position on pseudoephedrine tracking
          KWMU:  Board of Aldermen approves use of eminent domain for possible new National Geospatial Intelligence Agency site
          P-D:  City aldermen approve clearing homes for National Geospatial Intelligence Agency
          P-D:  Republic takes earnings hit as costs increase for Bridgeton Landfill
          AP:  Antonio Whiteside indicted for trying to set fire to Ferguson market
          KC Star Capitol Watch:  Weekly update on GOP transgressions:  Republicans wrong to pass right to work and to reference Declaration of Independence, but somehow get it right on muni court reform +
          Columbia Missourian letter:  Area woman thinks Kurt Schaefer should start supporting Medicaid expansion
          SNL letter:  Member of local Missouri Faith Voices chapter opposes right to work 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.



        Friday, February 13
       
KC Star:  Blunt to Obama on ISIS:  What's your plan? +
          AP:  Blunt, Senate Republicans skeptical of ISIS plan
          KWMU:  Blunt opposes President's picks for Defense, Justice
          P-D:  Blunt, four other senators vote against new Defense secretary
          Politico:  The Pentagon's new whiz kids:  McCaskill:  "It's a dream team of wonkiness, and I am thrilled"
          KC Star:  Filibuster complaints flip now that Senate control has switched;  Comments from Blunt +
          KWMU:  Missouri GOP Chairman Ed Martin reminisces as he heads to Eagle Forum
          Rudi Keller:  Nixon displays sense of humor at Missouri Press Association gathering, touts ability to be "stunningly unquotable"
          JCNT:  Nixon says he and legislators cooperate more than most believe X
          The Missouri Times:  GOP gov candidates speak to Missouri Press Association;  Hanaway releases list of state legislator endorsements
          CDT:  Debate over large campaign donations dominates GOP race for governor in 2016 X
          AP:  At press gathering, Hanaway and Schweich display differences on education policy
          KWMU:  Since 2004, St. Louis City has purged 25 percent of its voters
          Drebes:  Keith English (I) gets committees
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Schaefer on Nixon's "insulting" approach to Ferguson destruction;  UM President Tim Wolfe on state priorities +
          JCNT:  Local caterers lose business after ban on lobbyist meals for House committees X
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Speaker John Diehl (R) chats about right-to-work passage
          Missourinet:  Roll call vote on "right to work" legislation
          New York Times:  Missouri House passes 'right to work' bill despite threat of veto (link via TonysKansasCity.com)
          The Missouri Times:  Schmitt says SB4's "broad-based tax relief" will make Missouri more competitive
          CDT:  Bill to bar Nixon, future governors from UM presidency heard in Senate committee X
          CDT:  House committee approves higher ed spending with no increase for universities X
          P-D:  Budget recommendation for Foundation Formula not enough to counteract new law
          AP:  Missouri Senate would limit welfare benefits to four years
          KWMU:  Judge rules Normandy schools unaccredited
          KC Star:  KC Urban Institute's "Equality Index" notes average black ACT score is 14.5, with whites averaging 22.8;  Group attributes difference to "low-performing inner-city schools" +

          AP:  Missouri Senate OKs bill to require sales tax notification
          The Missouri Times:  Lawmakers set to spar with Department of Conservation over deer, land ownership, and more
          AP:  Missouri Senate OKs bill for allergic reaction treatment
          AP:  Missouri Senate approves bill to limit fines in city budgets
          CDT:  Prosecutors discuss changes to Missouri criminal code X
          Columbia Missourian:  City of Columbia's Black History Month celebration draws twelve (12) people, including children
          P-D:  Antonio Whiteside, caught on tape attempting to set Ferguson Market on fire, is in custody
          P-D:  Controversy notwithstanding, Ferguson police still a draw
          KC Star editorial:  New year brings same wasteful border war over jobs +
          Washington Missourian editorial:  The real landfill story
          P-D editorial:  The night Ferguson burned:  Nixon owes public answers
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Applause for SLU law school:  Officials won't give into Black Law Students Assocation demands to disinvite Bob McCulloch
          Miklasz:  Nixon fully engaged in stadium, Rams
          KC Star letter:  Goal of Republicans is to kill working people's voice +
          JCNT letter:  Area man offers thoughts on MoDOT and tax redistribution, makes reference to his previous letters to the editor X
          JCNT letter:  Right intention, wrong solution on civics testing X
          Washington Missourian letter:  Woman urges readers to contact Nixon, legislators about the "un-American, un-Christian and unconstitutional" dangers of Common Core
          P-D letter:  Reaction to Ferguson activists' coffin stunt:  If white activists had done the same to a black mayor, it would be viewed as a hate crime
          Disclosure


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




        Thursday, February 12
       
SNL:  Springfield-area lawmakers split on Obama military force request;  Debate is already dividing along partisan lines X
          KWMU:  Senate Republicans, Democrats divided on bill to fund Homeland Security
          KC Star:  Cleaver assumes new role as ranking member on housing subcommittee +
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Lacy Clay on Selma and modern-day battles;  Wash U. law prof on the decline of unions in Missouri +
          Columbia Missourian:  Profile:  Jason Kander's wife left legal profession to mentor students, others
          The Missouri Times:  Montel Williams, a popular 1990s daytime talk show host, to film documentary about Missouri medical marijuana fight
          Missourinet:  Missouri House passes Democrat's labor bill
          The Missouri Times:  House passes two right-to-work bills;  Sponsor of one, Rep. Courtney Curtis (D-Berkeley), says Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King would fight against "the system of injustice and failure of the building trades"
          KC Star:  Missouri House gives initial approval to two right-to-work bills +
          KWMU:  Missouri House approves right-to-work bill, but lacks veto-proof margin
          AP:  Missouri takes a step toward becoming a right-to-work state
          AP:  Missouri Senate endorses monitoring Medicaid eligibility
          CDT:  Tim Wolfe asks lawmakers to back 5 percent funding hike for higher education X
          P-D:  Virtual, charter education options expanded in school transfer law approved by committee
          Drebes:  Diehl installs Rep. Courtney Curtis (D-Berkeley) as chair of Special Standing Committee on Urban Issues
          KWMU:  Ameren wants more time to meet new EPA carbon emission goal
          P-D:  Ameren report outlines issues with carbon rules
          Missourinet:  Missouri murder victim's family:  'courts play politics and protect murderers'
          KC Star:  Koster sets conditions for sale of St. Joseph and St. Mary's medical centers
          P-D:  Ascension agrees to Koster's terms for hospital sale
          Missourinet:  Ferguson Mayor James Knowles says he couldn't reach Nixon to get Guard to respond while city burned
          KWMU:  Knowles couldn't reach Nixon or get needed help after grand jury announcement
          AP:  Knowles said he tried in vain to get National Guard to town
          P-D:  Firefighters tell Missouri lawmakers that they couldn't fight Ferguson fires unprotected
          Missourinet:  Schaefer criticizes Nixon for "trained to kill" comment
          Missourinet:  Nixon defends state response on night of grand jury decision
          KWMU:  Highway Patrol Superintendent Ron Replogle announces retirement ahead of Ferguson hearing
          Missourinet:  Head of Missouri Highway Patrol stepping down
          AP:  Head of Missouri State Highway Patrol to step down in May
          KWMU:  Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice to hold "White Privilege" seminar;  YWCA sponsors "Witnessing Whiteness" program to help the melanin-deficient confess and correct their Caucasoidism
          SE Missourian editorial:  Southeast to open Center for Excellence in Mass Media +
          P-D editorial:  Missouri municipal court reform bill plays a winning hand
          CDT's Waters:  Octogenarian says Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) is guilty of "political gimcrackery" but is right on campaign ethics X
          P-D op-ed:  SLU law profs:  Steps to a sensible use of force law
          P-D letter:  Former state Sen. John Lamping (R):  Lobbying bill should apply to current legislators, too
          CDT letter:  Reader wonders if Missouri Dairy Revitalization Act will impose a sales tax X
          P-D letter:  Government should stay out of Tesla dispute
          Disclosure


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



        Wednesday, February 11
       
National Journal:  Republicans go full steam at Obama's energy and climate agenda;  Comments from Blunt
          Stars and Stripes:  Military lawyers lose the 'good soldier' defense;  Comments from McCaskill
          KWMU:  Missouri's union membership drops to lowest level in decades
          Missourinet:  Former state Rep. Randy Asbury (R-Higbee) says he's running for governor
          KWMU:  Marijuana lobbyists push to legalize medical marijuana
          KMZU (Carrollton):  State Treasurer Clint Zweifel on MOST 529 Matching Grant Program
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Will Cuba be able to pay for Missouri goods?  And will departing legisators be forced to wait two years before they can feed their families as lobbyists? +
          The Missouri Times:  Diehl, Keaveny cover wide range of issues at Missouri League Legislative Conference
          Missourinet:  'Right to work' debate anticipated in Missouri House today
          KTVO (Kirksville):  Local Missouri doctors will soon feel Medicaid pay cuts
          KC Star:  House member's use of phrase from Declaration of Independence "drew chuckles ... and a few frowns as well" +
          SNL:  26 years after leaving the Missouri Legislature, Missouri's senior United States senator weighs in on a Missouri House of Representatives resolution
          KODE (Joplin):  Area drivers react to MoDOT's "325 System" approach
          The Maneater:  Tuition, fees to increase system-wide
          SE Missourian:  National security expert to speak tonight as part of SEMO Speakers Series +
          CDT:  Lawmakers hear bills advocating citizenship test X
          P-D:  Vacant building mandate added to transfer bill passed by Missouri House committee
          JCNT:  State pressed to pay more for county prisoners X
          Drebes:  A working compromise may be possible on Jamilah Nasheed's "ban the box" bill
          KMZU (Carrollton):  Rep. Bill Reiboldt (R-Neosho) on his 2015 Missouri Dairy Revitalization Act
          KOMU (Columbia):  Missouri bill would lift motorcycle helmet mandate
          KWMU:  State high court says lawmakers acted too fast to limit renewable energy law
          P-D:  Missouri Supreme Court:  Lawmakers can't change ballot initiatives prior to vote
          AP:  Missouri Supreme Court rules Legislature violated ballot rights
          Missourinet:  Missouri Supreme Court:  Lower court can consider same-sex divorce
          AP:  No ruling from Supreme Court on whether same-sex divorces are OK
          P-D:  Missouri Senate:  Cities shouldn't use courts to raise money
          KWMU:  Traffic revenue limits get first-round approval in Missouri Senate
          AP:  Senate advances bill to limit fines in city budgets
          The Missouri Times:  Nixon announces his steps to move forward with a new NFL stadium
          KWMU:  Nixon pushes to keep St. Louis an NFL city
          P-D:  Power lines, railroad to move for new stadium, Nixon says
          AP:  Nixon announces deals in hopes of keeping Rams
          KTVO (Kirksville):  Ameren officials share Mark Twain Transmission line plans
          P-D:  Fire official says Bridgeton Landfill hotspots are close to radioactive waste
          AP:  Koster announces $19 million to clean up contaminated Springfield site
          KWMU:  Nixon (D) denies clemency for Walter Storey;  Koster (D):  "The level of violence and utter disregard for life that (throat-slashing murderer) displayed ... demanded he pay the ultimate sentence"
          Missourinet:  Missouri carries out first execution of the year
          AP:  Missouri execution drug works flawlessly
          P-D:  St. Louis County police release new looting video:  Criminals running wild in Prime Sole Shoe Store
          AP:  Hearings start on Nixon's tactics for Ferguson riots
          The Maneater:  After Ferguson, Rep. Gail McCann Beatty (D-Kansas City) introduces special-prosecutor bill
          P-D:  Lacy Clay joins other Black Caucus members meeting with Obama, then criticizes Bob McCulloch in speech at American University
          SE Missourian editorial:  State officials should find ways to save on air travel +
          KC Star editorial:  If Rep. Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove) was really a man, he would would support Medicaid expansion +
          P-D editorial:  Missouri aligned with Alabama in denying same-sex marriage rights
          KC Star's Diuguid:  National Resources Defense Council paints dire picture of Missouri's climate future +
          The Missouri Times op-ed:  Nixon, Ag Director Richard Fordyce, commodity and agribiz leaders:  Opening the door to a historic opportunity for Missouri agriculture through Cuba
          SNL op-ed:  State-school sociology professor:  Legislators too concerned with the rich, should provide pathways to the poor, etc. X
          CDT's Waters:  Koster should not limit access to police body cameras X
          P-D letter:  St. Louis man targets Hanaway, makes masturbatory reference
          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, February 10
       
P-D:  Roy Blunt reports more than $2.2M cash on hand for re-election
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer talks Keystone XL pipeline
          KOLR (Rolla):  Communities fight proposed cut of 5,400 jobs at Fort Leonard Wood
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate sends proposed ethics changes to House
          CDT:  Ethics bills move ahead in Senate, House committee X
          P-D:  Ethics debate centers on lobbying careers for former legislators
          AP:  Missouri bill on lawmakers becoming lobbyists advances
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking:  Freshman Rep. Shamed Dogan (R-Ballwin) chats with journogang on corralling lobbyists, shrinking cities and rethinking pot crimes
          AP:  Bill from Rep. Caleb Rowden would ban local laws that raise the minimum wage
          KC Star:  Missouri Republicans take on some public employee unions in 'paycheck protection' bill +
          The Missouri Times:  "Paycheck protection" bills heard in House committee
          KWMU:  Missouri House to take on 'right-to-work' measure
          AP:  Correction to paraphrased quote from union boss in right-to-work piece
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Ferguson leadfoot laments traffic tickets;  Rep. Ron Hicks (R-St. Peters) on perennial right-to-work debate +
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown) talks transportation, acknowledges that additional money from feds would be helpful
          JCNT:  Chairman justifies MoDOT plane use X
          KC Star:  UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton apologizes for use of flawed data in pursuit of rankings +
          AP:  Missouri panel approves proposal to help charter schools
          Drebes:  Eating disorder treatment mandate
          P-D:  Bill targets sleep hazards in Missouri licensed child cares
          SE Missourian:  Bill from Sen. Jay Wasson (R-Nixa) gives options for disposal of dead bodies +
          The Missouri Times:  Sen. Ryan Silvey (R-Kansas City) to file bill expanding Medicaid through block grant
          CDT:  In anti-Obamacare resolution, Rep. Mike Moon (R) borrows phrase from Declaration of Independence, calls for "manly firmness" to repeal X
          CDT:  State lawmakers file competing bills as Columbia's plastic bag debate heats up X
          P-D:  Nixon to announce progress on new riverfront stadium today
          P-D:  Missouri Department of Insurance Director John Huff to head national association next year
          AP:  Death penalty opponents seek to spare cat-burglar-turned-throat-slasher Walter Storey
          CDT:  Hunting season could be shortened in Missouri X
          P-D:  Region marks six months since Michael Brown's theft/assault/shooting
          P-D:  Protesters show up at Mayor Slay's home, plant fake tombstones in his yard six months after Ferguson theft/assault/shooting/looting
          KTVI:  Protesters knock on Slay's door at 6:00 a.m. as part of "Monday Mourning Wake-Up Call"
          P-D:  Video:  Beauty World in Ferguson reopens after damage from riots
          AP:  St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch (D) to take time out of his day to speak to SLU law students;  Black Law Students Association demands university rescind invite
          KC Star editorial:  UMKC learns hard lesson about college rankings +
          Helling:  Republicans in Missouri, other states reject Obamacare and Medicaid expansion while chipping away at public services for the middle class +
          P-D editorial:  Editorial was hit piece on Hanaway;  Editorial board wrong to use tired 2011 expression "cray-cray"
          P-D letter:  Bills from Sen. Shalonn "Kiki" Curls (D), Rep. Don Gosen (R) do not represent true payday loan reform
          P-D letter:  Pro-life response to pro-choice response to pro-life letter
          P-D letter:  Area woman supports Keaveny's death-penalty legislation
          P-D letter:  Ferguson man says most residents have respect for cops, despite protesters hurling objects and insults
          P-D letter:  Former Suburban Journals Managing Editor Bill Phelan wishes someone "would have the guts to write about the slow, agonizing disappearance" of Journals under Lee Enterprises
          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, February 9
       
Roll Call:  Blunt's Senate Rules and Administration Committee plans to address cybersecurity in the Capitol
          Kraske:  The Chat:  McCaskill on robocalls;  Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) on "anti-corruption" bills +
          The Missouri Times:  Bob Holden's Midwest U.S.-China Association sends Missouri students to China
          Drebes:  In the era of seven-figure donations and "independent" groups, here's the role the state parties can play
          Missouri Viewpoints:  MO Money, MO Priorities:  Mike Ferguson talks to Americans for Prosperity's Patrick Werner, Rep. Tracy McCreery (D-St. Louis) about how Missouri should spend taxpayer dollars
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) on his bid for attorney general, more
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  SEMO Mafia panel:  David Barklage (R), Russ Oliver (R), Roy Temple (D), Missy McDaniel (D) on AG primaries, ethics proposals, Tesla, GOP takeover of SEMO
          KTRS (St. Louis):  Video:  American Commitment's Phil Kerpen on Tesla, state lawsuits and federal subsidies
          AP:  Right-to-work becoming a perennial issue in the Missouri Legislature
          P-D:  Preschool law could mean big cuts for school districts
          Missourinet:  Rep. Shamed Dogan (R-Ballwin) proposes limits on gifts to Missouri city officials
          P-D:  Ferguson home sales fell after riots
          KWMU:  Civil rights lawyers sue Ferguson over conspiracy "to brutalize, to punish, and to profit;"  Comments from people who broke the law and chose not to pay their fines
          P-D:  Lawsuits call Ferguson, Jennings jails "debtors' prisons"
          KWMU:  SLU law profs dislike Nasheed's deadly-force bill
          P-D:  Minority students at Washington University make demands;  Black Studies major Jacqui German, a senior at age 24, laments struggle of attending elite university and enduring "micro-aggressions"
          P-D editorial:  Tesla and traditional car dealers should try working together
          JCNT letter:  Questions about state salary commission X
          Columbia Missourian letter:  MU undergrad studying social work wishes for Medicaid expansion
          P-D letter:  Doctor who deals with Medicaid patients wants to see Medicaid expansion
          P-D letter:  Pro-choice woman disagrees with pro-life woman on abortion legislation
          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, February 8
       
JCNT:  Fort Leonard Wood could see additional 5,400 job cuts X
          P-D:  Big pay cut puts doctors, patients in difficult spot;  Medicaid payments were "slashed in half"
          KC Star:  Cleaver wants more federal dollars for heating aid;  Taxpayers already subsidize households making up to 135% of poverty level +
          KTVI:  Post Scripts:  Post-Dispatch's Christopher Ave, Kevin McDermott discuss Hanaway-Schweich, Missouri Democratic Party's "disarray," notion of Kander taking on Blunt
          KC Star:  Missouri Democrats re-elect Roy Temple;  Since being elected in 2013, Fired Up! founder "has been largely silent" +
          KWMU:  Missouri Democrats vote to retain Roy Temple as chairman
          Drebes:  Kristian Starner joins Grow Missouri
          P-D:  An election junkie seeks to restore bipartisanship to St. Louis County election board;  Eric Fey says he'll make better decisions than Rita Days
          AP:  Missouri lawmakers blast fee offices as 'pay-to-play' scheme;  Comments from Sens. Gina Walsh (D-Bellefontaine Neighbors), Ryan Silvey (R-Kansas City)
          JCNT:  MoDOT's new "Tough Choices Ahead" plan won't help most of system X
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Truman State's Troy Paino says it's important state schools present a united front to legislators
          SE Missourian:  Trust fund for children's cancer research does well in its first year;  Bill sponsored by Sen. Wayne Wallingford (R-Cape Girardeau) went into effect last year +
          CDT:  Schaefer bill targets organized crime with new authority for attorney general X
          P-D:  Ferguson and Dellwood struggle to recover from six months of savagery;  Business owners contemplate whether it's worth sticking around and rebuilding
          Columbia Missourian:  Rec center hosts Black History event;  East St. Louis Police Chief Michael Floore on transparency:  "I got [sic] an open-door policy ... I don't have no [sic] 15 doors on lockdown"
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Bill from Rep. Dave Hinson (R-St. Clair) recognizes reality:  Medicaid marijuana will be legalized in Missouri.  It's only a matter of time.
          SE Missourian editorial:  Rejecting state pay raises was the right, only choice +
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Limiting lawyers on curator board:  Maybe Nixon wants to be MU prez, or maybe he just wants to pass out rewards to friends
          JCNT editorial:  Catered meals are unlikely to change a member's vote, but banning them during hearings is probably a good idea anyway X
          CDT op-ed:  Jay Nixon should listen to "Mercy Now" by caterwauler Mary Gauthier, and then spare man who broke woman's ribs, bashed her skull and slashed her throat X
          SNL letter:  State failing in duty to fund law enforcement, roads X
          P-D letter:  Legislators listen to ALEC, but should favor full disclosure of lobbyist gifts
          P-D letter  Improve organization, customer service at Missouri's license bureaus
          P-D letter:  Nixon should free up money for Missouri Scholars Academy
          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, February 7
       
P-D:  Congressional votes for the week of Feb. 2-6
          P-D:  St. Louis considers eminent domain to keep federal agency in city
          The Missouri Times:  Eddy Justice, Nick Myers take on John Hancock in race for Missouri Republican Party chairman
          CDT:  In speech to Muleskinners, man who recently moved to mid-MO tells fellow Dems what they need to do;  Jim White, who plans to fill ballot slot against Hartzler, disagrees with speech X
          KWMU:  UM President Tim Wolfe responds to social media response to Post-Dispatch response to his response to state budget situation
          CDT:  Bill from Rep. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) seeks to outlaw local 'ban the box' laws, minimum wage hikes X
          CDT:  Ethics debate must include campaign donor limits, Webber says at League of Women Voters' forum X
          KC Star:  Bloch school leader:  No. 1 ranking lacked credibility +
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Faster Internet could come to rural Missouri
          Missourinet:  Rep. Mary Nichols (D-Maryland Heights) wants to restrict use of plastic bags
          AP:  Missouri changes execution times to start earlier
          Missourinet:  State sets execution date for killer of Barry County deputy;  Cecil Clayton lost his temper over a woman, shot law enforcement officer in head
          Missourinet:  Rep. T.J. Berry (R-Kearney) proposes repeal of death penalty
          KMWU:  Koster offers six ways to hire more black cops:  "Law Enforcement Scholarship and Education" for the poor, etc.
          KC Star:  Koster makes recommendations to increase number of black officers +
          P-D:  Koster recommends barring public access to police camera footage to protect privacy
          AP:  Koster on black officer recruitment:  changes needed to deadly force law, more scholarships, etc.
          P-D:  Flordell Hills man rammed Ferguson officer's vehicle
          Columbia Missourian:  Black History Month celebration held today at rec center;  Speech about law enforcement and racial tension on the menu, along with "all-you-can-eat soul food" and DJ Curtis "Boogie Man" Soul
          P-D:  Ritenour students use journalism to sort through racial tension
          Drebes:  Help wanted:  Springfield News-Leader seeks Capitol reporter
          KC Star:  Capitol Watch editorial:  Republicans wrong about Tim Wolfe and "race to the bottom," campaign contributions and lobbyist gifts +
          P-D editorial:  Time for Ferguson Commission to rally the region
          P-D op-ed:  Sen. Joe Keaveny (D-St. Louis City):  Protecting against the dangers of wrongful convictions
          KC Star letter:  Missouri legislators, controlled by Rex Sinquefield, seek to keep the 99% down +
          P-D letter:  University City woman says Rep. Kathy Swan (R) opposes women's health
          Disclosure


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



        Friday, February 6
       
CNN:  Long, Hartzler, Smith vote to repeal Obamacare
          KC Star:  Emanuel Cleaver urges Google to close Kansas City's digital divide +
          P-D:  Frankie Freeman joins dozens on Commission on Presidential Scholars;  McCaskill paid tribute to nonagenarian last year
          Drebes:  Surgeon/lawyer Brad Bradshaw, star of ubiquitous daytime TV commercials, may seek to fill Dem ballot slot for Lt. Gov.
          Warren County Record:  Nixon pledges to include local communities in toll road discussions
          AP:  MoDOT Director Dave Nichols to retire in May
          P-D:  MoDOT director retires two years before department budget woes hit
          AP:  Missouri Senate confirms Nia Ray as director of Missouri Department of Revenue
          CDT:  Ray approved as Revenue Director;  Sen. Gina Walsh (D-Bellefontaine Neighbors) upset that Rotary Club in her area was replaced by a for-profit company X
          P-D:  Nixon recommended cuts to education programs that currently have money withheld
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Nixon on Missouri's status as leading truck and van manufacturer;  UM President Tim Wolfe on "race to the bottom" +
          CDT:  University of Missouri curators approve tuition fee increases X
          KC Star:  Tuition goes up at University of Missouri System schools +
          AP:  State schools see less than 1 percent tuition rise
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Nate Walker (R-Kirksville) on Truman State University Day at the Capitol
          CDT:  Missouri Senate confirms 2 of 3 curator nominees X
          AP:  7 of 9 University of Missouri curators to be attorneys
          Columbia Missourian:  UM curators approve tuition increases
          The Missouri Times:  Maurice "Marcy" Graham confirmed to board of curators
          KC Star:  Professor calls on UMKC to return another Bloch school honor +
          KMWU:  St. Louis' education startup scene gains traction
          Columbia Missourian:  League of Women Voters klatch hears legislators discuss tax credit reform, campaign contribution limits, more
          KMWU:  Ethics overhaul moving forward in Missouri Legislature
          JCNT:  Local lawmakers OK with committee food ban X
          AP:  Panel OKs Missouri bill to limit traffic fine collection
          KWMU:  Mayors of municipalities fight back against consolidation, revenue proposals
          P-D:  ACORN/MORE organizes protest in Pine Lawn;  Group of 75 "called the police criminals, or worse;"  Qiana Williams, others swap tales of being persecuted for crimes they didn't mean to commit
          Missourinet:  Bill to 'revitalize' Missouri dairy farmers advancing
          Feast Magazine:  Growler sales in Missouri could become legal, thanks to push from Rep. Robert Cornejo (R-St. Peters) and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale)
          Columbia Missourian:  'Growler bill' would expand Missouri retail sales of draft beer
          KWMU:  Ameren, Franklin County strike back in the legal battle over Labadie's coal ash landfill
          Fox News' Ryan Gidursky:  McCaskill's bipartisan "Let Me Google That For You" would abolish agency and save money
          KC Star's Mary Sanchez:  Catherine Hanaway's paternalistic, offensive view of women +
          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, February 5
       
KWMU:  Democrats block GOP funding bill for Homeland Security;  Comments from McCaskill, Blunt
        The Hill:  Unity for Senate Republicans cracks on immigration bill;  Comments from McCaskill, Blunt
        P-D:  New environmental group attacks Monsanto's Roundup for monarch decline;  Comments from Blunt
        Kraske:  The Chat:  McCaskill on senior fraud;  KC state rep wants to honor former KC Call publisher;  MoDOT laments financial situation +
        Washington Examiner's Rebecca Berg:  Gregg Keller joins Scott Walker's team
        P-D:  Has Koster stuck to his promise of self-imposed campaign limits?  It's anyone's guess.
        KWMU:  Missouri groups with secret donors have public impact;  Liberal Progress Missouri, conservative Missouri Century Foundation won't reveal who is funding them
        Drebes:  Jordan Overstreet, who ran Dem House legislative races last cycle, is headed for the exit
        CDT:  War of words erupts after UM President Tim Wolfe says Missouri is in 'race to the bottom' X
        The Missouri Times:  Diehl announces action on jobs, Rams stadium, transportation
        Missourinet:  Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approves "Tough Choices Ahead" plan
        JCNT:  Commission approves MoDOT austerity plan X
        KWMU:  Scaled-back maintenance system adopted for Missouri roads and bridges
        CDT:  Senate approves lobbying changes as ethics bill moves ahead X
        Missourinet:  Missouri Senate ethics proposal wins initial approval
        KC Star:  Senate gives initial approval to ethics bill, rebukes push for contribution limits +
        AP:  Missouri Senate approves bill to ramp up state ethics laws
        AP:  Missouri House panel endorses "right to work" bills
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Senate to require notification of tax changes;  Comments from Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown)
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Ag omnibus bill arrives in House;  Rep. Bill Reiboldt (R-Neosho) says he's confident Nixon will sign it
        The Missouri Times:  Advocates of Medicaid expansion visit Capitol
        JCNT:  Medicaid-expansion supporters bus in 150 for rally;  Victims share tales of unemployment, natural disasters, various woeful circumstances X
        CDT:  UM Curators to vote on tuition, fees this week X
        KWMU:  Mild inflation means moderate UM tuition hike
        CDT:  Senate rejects UM curator nominee Mary Nelson;  confirmation of two others uncertain X
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Third floor awash with purple on Truman State University Day at the Capitol;  Troy Paino says he's pushing capital improvements bonding package
        Missourinet:  Missouri House panels to dig into St. Louis stadium, transportation funding
        AP:  Missouri House committee will analyze stadium benefits
        P-D:  What do the St. Louis Rams do for the state of Missouri?  House committee will analyze that.
        The Missouri Times:  PSC gets update on Rock Island Rail
        KCTV (Kansas City):  Schmitt bill would limit speed traps
        AP:  Panel OKs Missouri bill to limit traffic fine collection
        KC Star:  Missouri firearm deaths surpass motor vehicle deaths in 2013, part of national trend +
        P-D:  Ferguson police cautiously considering less-lethal device for pistols
        KWMU:  United Way looking to assist displaced employees affected by Ferguson, Dellwood looting and arson
        P-D editorial:  Catherine Hanaway channels her inner Todd Akin.  How sad.
        Washington Missourian editorial:  Municipal court problems didn't lead to Michael Brown assault/shooting, but reform would be helpful anyway
        JCNT letter:  Early Hanaway-Schweich rhetoric underscores need to put principle before party X
        SNL letter:  Missouri is a third-world state;  Nixon and legislators should stop pacifying lobbyists and help the poor X
        KC Star letters:  Missouri legislators need to stop cutting taxes;  Making I-70 a toll road would create the "most deadly highway in the Midwest" +
        P-D letter:  Retired educator says people who are truly motivated will use A+ program, other means to attain higher education
        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, February 4
       
KSMU (Springfield):  Legislation would repeal Obamacare;  Comments from Blunt, Billy Long
          Politico:  Democrats learn to love the filibuster, change tune now that they're in minority;  Comments from Blunt
          Washington Post:  Dems block bill to fund DHS in immigration fight;  Blunt:  "This is just a vote to debate the bill. Democracy doesn't work if you don't debate."
          P-D's Chuck Raasch:  McCaskill, Blunt differences personify Homeland Security funding impasse
          Washington Post:  McCaskill, Virginia' Tim Kaine (D) introduce bill inspired by U-Va. efforts to prevent rape;  Education could become positive legacy from Rolling Stone's erotic fiction controversy
          KWMU:  Log Cabin Republicans leader, former first-daughter contestant Meghan McCain stop by Wash U. campus, express discontent over GOP handling of LGBTQIA (lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer/intersex/asexual) issues
          Missourinet:  Ford adding jobs, upping salaries building the F-150 in Kansas City
          KC Star:  Ford will add 900 workers at Claycomo plant to build the F-150 +
          AP:  Ford adds 900 jobs at Missouri plant
          KC Star:  Rick Santorum, Kelly Ayotte to headline Missouri Lincoln Days in Kansas City +
          P-D:  Jason Kander evaluating a challenge to Sen. Roy Blunt
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Catherine Hanaway, speaking to conservative group, on "culture of permissiveness;"  Hummel on meals;  Schaefer on Capitol security;  More +
          Drebes:  Brian Bunten leaves Kinder's office, joins Missouri Chamber of Commerce as Assistant General Counsel
          Missourinet:  Tom Schweich's audit:  handling of Missouri early childhood spending is 'poor'
          JCNT:  Schweich:  $1.5M wasted in Head Start program X
          AP:  Scheich's audit shows Missouri overpaid $1.5M for Early Head Start contractors
          Missourinet:  Nixon:  Settlement triggers release of restricted funds
          CDT:  Nixon releases $21.5M after settlement announcement X
          Missourinet:  Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia), advocate praise release of money for Internet crimes unit
          The Missouri Times:  House approves changes to unemployment benefits
          AP:  Missouri House revives effort to limit jobless benefits
          Missourinet:  House hears testimony on "right to work"
          The Missouri Times:  Bill from Sen. Gary Romine (R-Farmington) would require DNR to submit a regulatory impact report when submitting implementation plan to EPA
          SE Missourian:  Rep. Jeanie Lauer (R-Blue Springs) wants wireless phone fee to fund 911 services X
          Missourinet:  Missouri House advances one abortion bill, considers more
          AP:  Missouri House panel endorses video for abortion seekers
          SNL:  Rep. Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) adds amendment to elections bill to keep SPS board terms at three years X
          KC Star:  Diehl bans lobbyist-funded meals in House committees +
          Missourinet:  Diehl puts an end to meals being served during House committee hearings
          P-D:  Diehl bans free lobbyist meals at hearings
          KWMU:  Missouri House and Senate considering wider range of ethics proposals
          The Missouri Times:  Sen. Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph) says he is filing 56-page amendment for ethics overhaul
          CDT:  Schaaf sees little chance for effective action by lawmakers X
          Missourinet:  Missouri panel to consider requiring police to wear body cameras
          Missourinet:  Missouri death sentence upheld, with state Supreme Court mum on cell phone pinging
          KC Star:  KC schools' long and contentious struggle for proficiency seeks simpler, deeper focus +
          AP:  2014 Missouri park attendance hits record 18.5M visitors
          KWMU:  Court decision could throw a wrench in Ameren's coal ash landfill plans
          P-D:  Missouri Supreme Court orders new hearing on Ameren coal ash lawsuit
          AP:  Missouri justices send coal ash case back to circuit court
          P-D:  Police release more photos, video of looters after Ferguson grand jury announcement;  Pack of thieves break windows, contort themselves through small openings to pillage liquor store
          P-D:  Ferguson looting and arson investigations could take years
          P-D:  Planned statue honoring Ferguson protesters/campus squatters at SLU prompts backlash
          Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal editorial:  McCaskill stands on the side of common sense, votes her conscience in favor of Keystone XL
          KC Star editorial:  Keep Amtrak passenger service rolling in Missouri +
          JCNT editorial:  Kander, Schmitt, Barnes want to protect seniors from financial fraud X
          Sanchez:  McCaskill bill will help public schools teach teen girls how to avoid being abused by boys +
          KC Star letter:  Sen. Bob Onder (R-Lake Saint Louis) says Ryan Silvey is using veterans as pawns in a "petty, desperate effort" +
          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, February 3
       
KC Star:  Compromise might be coming between Obama, Blunt on overseas corporate taxes +
          P-D:  Obama's budget includes a tax and infrastructure idea similar to one pushed by Blunt, others
          McClatchy:  Dispute over rail service mandate could halt Amtrak service in Missouri;  Comments from McCaskill
          Politico:  To help McConnell better handle colleagues, McCaskill offers Senatemarmish "behavior modification" advice
          Jensen:  Moderate McCaskill has far too much common sense to attract support from most of the country's Democrats +
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Cleaver on racial tolerance, Nixon on preschool funding, MoDOT on inability to match federal funds +
          Helling:  Blunt communications team reacts to Helling's piece last week, adds "paid for by taxpayer dollars" to press release boilerplate +
          Helling:  Dems split on Kander as U.S. Senate candidate;  some dislike idea of rising star committing career-ending suicide-by-incumbent, while others in the party would be pleased if he took on Blunt +
          KWMU:  Missouri Republican Party Chairman Ed Martin to take over the reins of Eagle Forum
          The Missouri Times:  Ed Martin won't seek another term as MOGOP chair, will take over Phyllis Schalfly's Eagle Forum;  John Hancock set to lead Missouri Republican Party
          AP:  Missouri GOP Chairman Ed Martin to join Eagle Forum
          Drebes:  Stream of Conscience:  Which Missouri GOP heavyweight(s) should pay off STL County Exec campaign debt?
          AP:  Monthly survey:  Modest economic growth likely in Midwest
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Rep. Tracy McCreery (D-St. Louis) on lobbyist gifts, human trafficking, Keith English's reputation as a drama king, more
          KMZU (Carrollton):  Rep. Mike Lair (R-Chillicothe) calls Nixon's budget  "smoke and mirrors," talks pay-raise vote
          SE Missourian:  Senior centers face budget cuts +
          KMIZ (Columbia):  Lawmakers want more security at the Capitol
          Missourinet:  Bill from Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick (R-Shell Knob) would block free tuition for illegal immigrants:  "If they're here illegally, they shouldn't be getting public money to go to college"
          KC Star:  Princeton review strips UMKC of top rankings +
          The Missouri Times:  Burlison, Hummel share thoughts on right-to-work legislation
          Missourinet:  Seven ethics proposals debated in Missouri House committee
          JCNT:  Senators:  Ethics bill unlikely to limit finances X
          KWMU:  Slate of GOP-backed ethics bills being considered by Missouri House committee
          AP:  Lawmakers express support for ethics proposals
          KOMU (Columbia):  Missouri drivers could see a change in texting-while-driving regulations
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Today is Great Northwest Day at the Capitol;  More than 250 people from 18 NW MO counties expected to take part X
          P-D:  Municipal court reforms gaining momentum, but activists still not happy;  ACORN/MORE holds press conference outside Stenger's office, issues report called "Transforming St. Louis County's Racist Municipal Courts"
          KMOX:  Missouri Highway Patrol declines to help St. Louis Police
          P-D:  St. Louis' call for Highway Patrol help denied;  Dotson says request misunderstood
          AP:  St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce wants the media's help in identifying violent public-hearing attendees
          AP:  Washington man pleads guilty to threatening to kill Darren Wilson;  Jaleel Tariq Abdul-Jabbaar:  "We really need to start killing the police ... OOooopppss [sic] I mean our oppressors," etc.
          P-D:  Rapper-turned-Ferguson-activist Tef Poe named S.L.U.M. Fest's Artist of the Year;  Uplifting ditty "War Cry" called out Ron Johnson as a "a muthaf@cking house n!gga," passionately endorsed gubernatorial intercoursing of "cracker" Jay Nixon
          P-D editorial:  Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce (D) goes too far with subpoenas.  Shield Law would help.
          KC Star editorial:  Princeton Review's rankings downgrade damages UMKC's reputation +
          KC Star letter:  Area seasoned citizen remembers when using a toll road only cost a dime, says Nixon's proposal is due to his inability to work with Legislature +
          Disclosure


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



        Monday, February 2
       
KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Missouri Foundation for Health's "Cover Missouri" reminds Missourians that Obamacare insurance deadline is approaching
          Communist Party USA's People's World:  Postal union, allies go 'back to the future' with USPS;  Rep. Sam Graves (R) introductes resolution to keep Saturday pickup and delivery
          St. Louis Review:  10-year-old's dream to attend March for Life comes true;  Billy Long, Ann Wagner make time for youngster
          Kraske:  Analysis:  Tom Schweich is running against the Missouri GOP, but wants Republican votes +
          Drebes:  Missouri Hospital Association names Ted Wedel - recent General Counsel of the House and former chief of staff to several top House Dems - as VP of Policy Development
          Missouri Viewpoints:  Former Speaker Tim Jones, Missourians for Government Reform's John Messmer talk with host Mike Ferguson about ethics overhaul in Jefferson City
          KC Star:  Democrats, Republicans leaving elected office and using their niche skillset to make a living through lobbying angers some +
          Rosenbaum:  By sponsoring right-to-work legislation, Rep. Courtney Curtis (D-Berkeley) says he is "drawing a line in the sand - The question really is, are we a big-tent party or not?"
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Video:  Rep. Keith English (I-Florissant) on leaving the Missouri Democratic House Caucus
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Video:  Carl Bearden (R), Scott Pearson (R), Crystal Brinkley (D), Jack Cardetti (D) on third-wheel me-too candidates set to enter GOP gov primary (9:40) and Dem AG primary (10:50), more
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Nixon:  Cuba trade mission about more than just ag exports - Missouri trucks could soon be sold on the island
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Munzlinger weighs in on proposed Cuba trade trip
          Kirksville Daily Express:  Jeff City Beat:  Weekly updates on Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown), Rep. Nate Walker (R-Kirksville) and Rep. Craig Redmon (R-Canton)
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Schaaf on pay-raise debate +
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate proposes $400 million in building repairs
          P-D/Kaiser Health News:  More governors accept Medicaid expansion, but with changes;  Comments from Silvey, Missouri Foundation for Health's Tom McAuliffe
          KWMU:  Jobs with Justice, others spend time canvassing districts of John Diehl and other Republicans;  House Speaker has already made it clear Medicaid expansion is not on the agenda
          AP:  Nixon's promises on preschool fall short
          KWMU:  Charter schools add capacity, could reach record enrollment in fall
          P-D's Koran Addo:  Coverage of Obama's community college proposal, which was announced four weeks ago;  Missouri, local officials react
          AP:  Missouri bill would bar access to police camera footage
          AP:  Bill from Sen. Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) would mandate school districts set policies for suicide awareness and prevention
          AP:  Rates for payday loan usage:  At 11 percent, Missouri among states with highest percentage of adults choosing to enter into payday loan contracts
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Missouri Department of Conservation investigates shooting of bald eagle in Clinton County X
          JCNT editorial:  Near miss reveals state pay raise conundrum X
          SNL op-ed:  Missouri Farm Bureau's Dan Cassidy:  Ending embargo with Cuba will benefit Missouri farmers, consumers X
          P-D letter:  Legislators should spend more money on schools and enforce higher standards
          P-D letter:  Ferg-Flor should get local candidates for superintendent
          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, February 1
       
SNL:  Blunt's bipartisan proposal could break highway funding gridlock X
          SNL:  Missouri could lose millions in federal highway funds, MoDOT warns X
          KOLR (Rolla):  Blunt:  Use off-shore corporate profits to fix highways
          TonysKansasCity.com:  In National Journal, Emanuel Cleaver talks political diversity and minority representation
          KC Star:  Obama's work permit plan for immigrants meets job competition fears from African-Americans;  Janitor:  "They're over here illegally. They're taking jobs from us, and we're here struggling. It's not right." +
          Washington Missourian:  Presiding Commissioner John Griesheimer reminds McCaskill field rep Brendan Fahey that county wants bridge demolished, does not want partier types turning up on structure
          P-D's Ken Leiser:  Federal rail mandate threatens Missouri Amtrak service
          P-D:  ATF says crime sweep "unquestionably" put "the worst of the worst" in jail;  Public defenders unhappy that large percentage of captured criminals are black
          KOMU (Columbia):  Former Peace Corps volunteers host liberal film festival, focus on global warming and other "social issues"
          Kraske:  Kander floats his name as possible challenger to Blunt, but young secretary of state "would find himself in a highly partisan race in a state that has increasingly favored Republicans" +
          Drebes:  Jeff Grisamore (R) joins ranks of newly-retired-legislators-turned-lobbyists:  Chris Kelly (D), Jay Swearingen (D), Noel Torpey (R), Chris Molendorp (R), Dwight Scharnhorst (R)
          Missouri Ruralist:  Missouri agriculture the first to knock on Cuba's door;  Nixon, state ag leaders itching to be the first state to capitalize on improving trade relations
          KMZU (Carrollton):  Cuban ties to Missouri;  Nixon sites need for first-mover advantage:  "They're going to buy rice, cotton, corn and beans ... if we're there first, we'll get a piece of the action"
          Sikeston Standard-Democrat:  MO Dept. of Ag Deputy Director Darryl Chatman speaks at Chamber's Farmer Recognition Luncheon;  Kenny Hulshof's kin wins Farm Family of the Year +
          KRCG (Jefferson City):  Pro-life activists pack the Capitol;  GOP state Sens. Jeanie Riddle, Mike Kehoe among those in attendance
          Missouri Farmer Today:  Putnam County Health Department Administrator Ericka Klinger says lack of Medicaid expansion one of several challenges for rural counties
          CDT:  Bill offering Medicaid to veterans and families generates new current in debate X
          Ray Hartmann:  The price of hating Obamacare;  It's up to Ryan Silvey, Jay Barnes and other "non-Neanderthal conservatives" to expand Medicaid
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Group seeks expanded Medicaid coverage;  Organizers want citizens to spend time and effort trying to change Rob Schaaf's mind X
          CDT:  Canvassers push for Medicaid expansion, target Kurt Schaefer and Chuck Basye X
          KOMU (Columbia):  Missouri Medicaid Coalition goes door-to-door to promote Medicaid expansion;  Comments from Missouri Nurses Association's Sarah Felts
          Columbia Missourian:  Missouri Medicaid Coalition canvasses neighborhoods statewide
          SE Missourian:  Advocates make pitch for Medicaid expansion;  Group aims to convince area's 100% GOP delegation to switch positions +
          JCNT:  A reader's guide to the Missouri budget X
          Washington Missourian:  At WashMo roundtable, Nixon says transportation will be a top priority
          JCNT:  State workers one focus of anti-pay raise debate X
          JCNT:  Senate budget leaders challenge Nixon to release 'Cyber crimes' money X
          Sikeston Standard-Democrat:  Sikeston R-6 elementary school reaps benefits of Missouri Leadership for Excellence, Achievement and Development (MoLEAD) +
          Missouri Farmer Today:  Missouri Corn Growers Association's Shane Kinne says state-by-state patchwork of GMO labeling laws would be "a nightmare"
          SE Missourian:  Chamber holds annual banquet;  Sen. Wayne Wallingford (R-Cape Girardeau), Rep. Kathy Swan (R-Cape Girardeau) help present awards +
          SEMO Times:  SEMO Times introduces political columnist:  Scott Pearson
          P-D:  Group of 30 Ferguson protesters instigate at RV show, confuse black and white attendees with message;  Adults wear magic-marker messages on their faces, seek to gain reaction from others
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Nixon's effort to gain toll roads or fuel tax will require herculean effort - and one which could define his legacy
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Diehl putting a stop to country club hearings should be a wake-up call for out-of-touch legislators
          CDT's Waters:  Octogenarian says Tom Schweich sure is "a smart, stern cookie" and Catherine Hanaway "has energy";  Meanwhile, the state needs Chris Koster to temper "suffocating" GOP majorities X
          Washington Missourian's Bill Miller:  Use of state's aircraft makes sense;  With access to plane, Missouri governors and other officials can visit more towns and better serve the people
          Scott Faughn:  SEMO Times announces new publisher:  Rachael Herndon
          P-D op-ed:  Sexagenarian retired social worker offers suggestions for Ferguson Commission:  To-do list includes books to read, movies to watch, retreats to attend, Internet stories to read
          KC Star letter:  Man who chooses to live in Kansas attempts sarcasm regarding Blunt and community college proposal +
          P-D letter:  Jobs for Justice opposes Diehl's agenda
          P-D letter:  Union doesn't want a civilian review board because they have too much to hide
          P-D letter:  Glendale woman would like police union leader Jeff Roorda and Ferguson protesters to work harder to get along, move forward, come together as one community, etc.
          Disclosure


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




       



       



       



       

       


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

       



       


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