Friday, January 31
        KWMU:  Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack meets with St. Louis
leaders
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Air National Guard director
visits Rosecrans X
          P-D:  'Philomena' inspires McCaskill to press for
opening Irish adoption records
          AP:  Philomena Lee, McCaskill push adoption rights
          P-D:  Federal records workers in North County facility
dumped, destroyed or lost 1,800 veterans documents
          KWMU:  Former Sen. Jim Talent (R) to be honored at STL
County GOP event;  Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to be featured guest
          P-D:  GM plans to hire hundreds for new pickups to be
built in Wentzville
          KC Star:  Delay by Missouri puts housing projects in
peril;  Comments from Sen. Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) +
          P-D:  $400-per-kid tax credit for middle-income
families backed by Missouri senators;  Missouri Budget Project
supports Lamping's bill
          Brownfield Ag News:  First 'State of Missouri
Agriculture' held;  Comments from Sen. Brian Munzlinger
(R-Williamstown)
          Drebes:  Why county-property-tax bill from Sen. Brian
Munzlinger (R-Williamstown) is needed
          AP: 
State Senate endorses bill to curb governor's power
          The Standard (MSU):  Nixon:  Missouri tuition
should freeze, Medicaid should reform
          CDT:  House panel considers Nixon's education spending
plan X
          Columbia Missourian:  Boone County legislators discuss
education funding at Harpo's
          Missourinet:  Chamber report says Missouri must step up
digital education to meet Top-10-by-'20 goal
          KWMU:  Chamber study:  Missouri has 'fallen
behind' in providing digital learning to K-12 students
          JCNT:  State chamber promotes for funding for virtual
learning X
          KC Star:  Metropolitan Organization for Racial and
Economic Equity calls on school board to delay vote, wants Nixon "to
put a halt to this situation" +
          P-D:  KC-based Metro Organization for Racial and
Economic Equity, STL's Metropolitan Congregations United oppose
CEE-Trust plan
          Washington Missourian:  Franklin County Assessor Tom
Copeland wants state funding restored to assist operations
          KSMU:  Bill from Sen. Gina Walsh (D-Bellefontaine
Neighbors), supported by SOS Jason Kander, would toughen Missouri's
domestic violence laws
          Washington Missourian:  As MoDOT halts projects, Route
47 Project may be victim
          KSDK:  Cities hope Missouri Supreme Court gives
red-light clarity
          AP: 
Attorneys for Herbert Smulls say state moves too fast on
executions;  Koster asserts that Missouri is in the right
          KTVI:  Video:  Some Missouri officials had
knowledge of pre-paid funeral scam;  Reporter confronts Nixon at
auto show
          KC Star editorial:  2016 GOP convention:  KC
should keep trying +
          P-D editorial:  Thumbs-down to plan from Rep. Courtney
Curtis (D-Berkeley) to honor the high-five
          P-D op-ed:  Washington U. landscape architecture
professor responds to P-D story on Ozarks Riverways regulations
          SE
Missourian op-ed:  Florida-based U.S. Term Limits President Philip
Blumel:  Missouri should keep term limits for lawmakers +
          KWMU op-ed:  "Editor's Weekly" feature:  Margie
Freivogel congratulates her outlet on its execution coverage
          Washington Missourian letter:  Kit Bond, Missouri
Chamber of Commerce see reality on Medicaid expansion
          Washington Missourian letter:  Labadie Environmental
Organization agrees with Nieves on Ameren coal ash landfill
          Disclosure
   
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    Thursday, January 30
        SNL:  Sweeping farm bill agreement good for Missouri
farmers, lawmakers say
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Regional officials cheer farm
bill
          Politico:  McCaskill:  Rand Paul's comments
'infuriating'
          SE
Missourian:  West Plains newspaper staff writer seeks signatures
to appear as Independent candidate on 8th District ballot
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri Farmers Union opposes
Right to Farm
          AP:  Hunting rights amendment touted;  Rep. Ed
Schieffer (D-Troy) sounds alarm against "hyped-up vegans"
          KWMU:  Nixon visits Fort Zumwalt West high
school;  On gay marriage, Nixon says he supports
non-discrimination bill, but wouldn't go further than that
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Lt. Gov.
Peter Kinder joins journo gang to discuss tax credits, right to work
and Nixon
          AP:  Speaker Tim Jones files business border war bill
          The Missouri Times:  Labor hires GOP lobbyists to help
block right to work;  Roster expands to include Steve Tilley,
Bardgett's John Parris, Danny Pfeifer, Greg Porter
          CDT:  Lawmakers skeptical of Fulton plans;  Rep.
Chris Kelly (D-Columbia) questions constitutionality
          P-D:  Lawmakers question finding money to fix Fulton
State Hospital for mentally ill
          CDT:  Businesses to save money on taxes after debt
retirement, Nixon says
          P-D:  In battle over anti-cancer drugs, Missouri
insurers try to limit impact of 'parity' bill
          Missourinet:  House Speaker Tim Jones re-introduces
conscience rights legislation
          KWMU:  Missouri House committee examines medical
conscience bill
          CDT:  Anti-cloning talk leads to abrupt halt; 
Lobbyist for Missouri Right to Life surprises representatives
          The Missouri Times:  Association profile:  Joe
Ortwerth's Missouri Family Policy Council
          AP:  Nixon's nominees delayed in Senate panel
          SE
Missourian:  Area schools hoping for more funding from
state;  Comments from Reps. Steve Cookson (R-Poplar Bluff), Kathy
Swan (R-Cape Girardeau)
          P-D:  Missouri Senate committee mulls school-transfer
bills
          The Missouri Times:  Senate committee meets to discuss
transfers, accreditation
          KC Star:  Parents sound off to state board about the
future of KC schools
          JCNT:  Higher education leaders report to House
committee
          CDT:  Curators approve flat tuition for in-state
students
          Columbia Missourian:  UM curators freeze in-state
undergraduate tuition, add new fees
          P-D:  Trustees vote to freeze undergraduate tuition at
University of Missouri system
          AP:  University of Missouri to hold line on tuition
          KC Star:  University of Missouri curators freeze
tuition for in-state students
          The Maneater:  Nixon calls for tuition freeze in 2014
State of the State
          CDT:  Mold mars 600,000 books in University of Missouri
collection;  Library official says poor storage choice due to cuts
in higher ed budget
          Columbia Missourian:  Missouri Legislative Black Caucus
strong despite political dust-up, members say
          AP:  Missouri executes man after appeals denied; 
Death-penalty opponents "simply ... try to divert attention from what
this guy did," says STL County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch (D)
          Missourinet:  Woman shot by Herbert Mulls attends his
execution, says family suffered cruel and unusual punishment waiting so
long for murderer to be brought to justice
          P-D:  Due process 'took flight,' judge says in removing
Koster's office from murder case
          P-D:  Nixon names Franklin County Republican as new
Warren County prosecutor
          AP:  New website shows hazardous waste sites across
Missouri
          KWMU:  Anti-Peabody initiative makes April ballot in
St. Louis City
          P-D:  Anti-coal initiative heading for April
ballot;  ACORN, rebranded as MORE, to hold rally on Delmar today
          NY Times editorial:  Death penalty is barbaric and
racist - and in Missouri, it's under a shroud of secrecy
          SNL editorial:  New ally in Medicaid fight;  Maybe
Kit Bond can talk some sense into GOP lawmakers
          CDT's Waters:  If Kit Bond can help break GOP Medicaid
logjam, good for him
          KPLR/KTVI's Charles Jaco:  GOP voter ID initiative
seeks to keep the poor, the black/brown and the old from voting
          SNL op-ed:  Michigan think-tank rep:  Missouri
needs to know that wages rise in right-to-work states
          P-D op-ed:  SLU prof James E. Fisher:  Parallels
between marijuana legalization and Missouri's '90s expansion of gambling
          Shelly:  Stunning rebuke to Koster in Woodworth case
          KC Star's Diuguid:  Summary of talking points from
Jeanette Mott Oxford's Missouri Association for Social Welfare, plus
MASW contact info
          KC Star letter:  Drug testing for welfare recipients
          SNL letter:  State needs law to guarantee no election
fraud
          Disclosure
   
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        Wednesday, January 29
        KWMU:  Congressional delegation, Slay react to SOTU
          KC Star:  Reaction to Obama's call for minimum-wage
hike:  Comments from Missouri Jobs With Justice's Lara Granich,
others +
          P-D:  Missouri among states debating its own minimum
wage hike;  Video of elder P-D reporters' coffee-shop roleplay of
conservative, liberal arguments
          CDT:  Assistance groups fear more food-stamp cuts X
          CDT:  Preliminary numbers show Missouri's unemployment
rate at lowest point since 2008 X
          The Missouri Times:  Revenue projections serve as
difference between GOP, Nixon budgets
          AP:  Missouri House panel endorses 2 income tax plans
          KWMU:  Tax cut proposal passes Missouri House
committee, testimony heard on tax credit package
          AP:  Nixon says Missouri will pay off unemployment debt
early
          P-D:  Missouri will pay back unemployment insurance
debt early
          AP:  Missouri lawmakers take new tactic on cellphone
towers
          The Missouri Times:  Sen. Brad Lager (R-Maryville) says
cities mislead on telecommunications negotiations;  Comments from
municipal govt., industry groups
          KC Star:  Schweich says he recused himself from
education department review out of 'an abundance of caution' +
          CDT:  Missouri lawmakers hope new Bright Flight loans
slow state's "brain drain" X
          AP: 
Missouri House panel considers Bright Flight expansion
          SNL:  Senate debates bill to get posts filled
quicker;  Dixon's legislation would apply pressure to Nixon X
          The Missouri Times:  Lawmakers ask Koster to
investigate propane price increases
          KOMU:  MoDOT says it faces future funding crisis
          SNL:  Bill from Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick (R-Shell Knob)
to combat indefinite detention gets tough reception X
          The Missouri Times:  Bill from Rep. Eric Burlison
(R-Springfield) on state's handling of citizen information gets
friendly hearing
          AP:  Missouri Senate panel adopts gun law nullification
bill
          Missourinet:  Proposed jury duty exemption stirs
discussion of breastfeeding age limit
          The Missouri Times:  Engler discusses revenge-porn
bill, addresses hypotheticals involving elected official-secretary
recreational intercoursing
          AP:  Nixon denies clemency for Herbert Smulls; 
Governor calls murderer a "career criminal" who killed in a
"cold-blooded, deliberate manner"
          Missourinet:  Nixon denies clemency to murderer
          KWMU:  U.S. Supreme Court justice temporarily halts
execution of Missouri inmate
          AP:  Scheduled Missouri execution temporarily stayed
          AP:  Nixon:  Swimmer's suicide a "heart-breaking
situation"
          KWMU:  Missouri appeals court puts brakes on Moline
Acres speed cameras
          KWMU:  Station creates legislative bill tracker
          P-D editorial:  Rep. Mark Parkinson (R-St. Charles),
lover of lobbyist largesse, cries crocodile tears over Normandy lobbying
          SNL editorial:  Just wait another 72 hours: 
Sarcastic response to abortion waiting-period legislation X
          SE
Missourian editorial:  Good to see students using Missouri's A+
scholarship program +
          Joplin Globe editorial:  Missourians should make voices
heard about Arkansas company's power line X
          KC Star editorial:  University of Missouri's Tim Wolfe
pushes zero tolerance for college sexual assaults
          CDT's Waters:  Right-to-work would win a vote of the
people, but the Missouri Senate might choose to take a pass
          SNL op-ed:  Community worker:  Right-to-work won't
improve kids' lives;  Instead, we must reduce income inequality
and level the playing field X
          Joplin Globe op-ed:  Missouri Municipal League's Dan
Ross:  Local governments' oversight under assault by big
telecommunications companies X
          P-D op-ed:  The tragedy of placing juveniles on
sex-offender registry;  St. Charles County woman's son killed
himself
          KC Star's Christine Vendel:  Self-defense claims can
hamper justice in Missouri +
          P-D letter:  Reaction to Sunday piece on Ozarks
national park
          SNL letter:  Former member of IBEW, Teamsters disagrees
with Burlison on right-to-work X
          KC Star letter:  Independence woman supports Medicaid
expansion;  Show-Me Institute's Patrick Ishmael says tax cuts
should apply to all Missourians, not just Boeing +
          P-D letter:  Reaction to McClellan's Capitol mural
column;  Creve Coeur woman says Speaker Jones is "incompetent,
self-centered, small-minded, arrogant, egotistical, right-to-work [sic]"
          P-D letter:  Nixon, Legislature should proceed with
fast-track plan to build Fulton State Hospital
          Disclosure
   
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    Tuesday, January 28
        AP:  McCaskill among Dems clamoring for Hillary Clinton
presidential run
          SNL:  Pre-SOTU anticipatory comments:  Billy Long
wants to hear about Libya;  McCaskill wants to hear call for more
government spending X
          Politico:  Senate pushes envelope on gridlock; 
Comments from McCaskill
          Kraske:  Washington Post ranks KC in the middle of the
pack for GOP convention +
          AP:  GOP media trainers use Akin, other foot-in-mouth
examples to sell services to campaigns
          Drebes: 
Former Rep. Terry Witte returns to Capitol;  Popular rep returns
as chief of staff to Minority Leader Jake Hummel
          The Missouri Times:  Rep. Gina Mitten (D-St. Louis
County) new vice-chair of House Dem Caucus
          AP:  No quick decision in Missouri special election
lawsuit
          Missourinet:  Court approves motion to expedite
proceedings against Nixon in case of vacancies in Missouri Legislature
          AP:  Senate mulls voter ID laws again
          KWMU:  Opponents of photo ID proposal dominate state
Senate hearing on bill;  Comments from SOS' John Scott, longtime
ACLU lawyer Denise Lieberman
          P-D:  Proposed photo ID requirements meet with
opposition in Jefferson City committee hearing
          Kraske:  "BuzzChatter" daily quote analysis: 
Dempsey on education spending, Mehan on Missouri's digital-teaching
tools, Kander on photo ID +
          AP:  House passes legislation making it easier for
military personnel, handicapped to file for office
          SE
Missourian:  University officials say they would welcome more
state money +
          KC Star:  Stakes are high ahead of forum on plans to
shake up KC Public Schools +
          P-D:  Normandy School District hires Andy Blunt to
lobby on its behalf;  Comments from Rep. Tommie Pierson (D), Rep.
Mark Parkinson (R), others
          Columbia Missourian:  House bill could speed deployment
of Task Force One
          P-D:  Propane crunch squeezes rural Missouri
          Missourinet:  Koster investigating propane price hikes
          AP:  Senate panel weighs electronic privacy protection
          AP:  State AGs, including Koster, investigating
for-profit education firms
          KC Star:  Missouri casinos' revenues slip in 2013 +
          AP:  Prosecutors back Missouri child sex abuse amendment
          KWMU:  Federal judge denies stay of execution for
murderer
          AP:  Condemned man denied stay of execution
          P-D:  Federal appeals decision deals blow to Missouri
death row inmates
          KWMU:  Three Missouri offices are responsible for
controversial execution plans:  Gov. Jay Nixon (D), AG Chris
Koster (D), Dept. of Corrections' George Lombardi
          KWMU:  Legal roundtable podcast:  50 minutes of
legal opinions on "original intent" bill, health navigator regulations,
possibility of voter ID law, jurisdiction of area judges, etc.
          KC Star:  Red-light violations rising since KC
suspended enforcement of camera program
          AP:  MoDOT to study plans for better freight movement
          KWMU:  McCaskill weighs in on alleged sexual
assault/suicide case at Mizzou
          P-D editorial:  Tax policy should prioritize
education;  Freezing state-school tuition is a good step, but more
work remains
          St. Joseph News-Press editorial:  Legislature and cell
phone towers;  City's zoning rights should be defended X
          St. Joseph News-Press editorial:  Taxpayers picking up
the tab for ACT exams is a positive thing X
          KC Star editorial:  Missouri using sneaky execution
protocol +
          CDT's Waters:  Hubbub over execution drug a red herring
to larger death penalty debate X
          P-D op-ed:  Gov. Jay Nixon (D), majority of Boone
County delegation hostile to death-penalty exoneration proposals
          Columbia Missourian op-ed:  Missouri Municipal League's
Dan Ross:  Local control of cell towers under attack in Legislature
          Disclosure
   
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    Monday, January 27
        CNN:  Blunt:  Obama 'has a lot of explaining to do'
          P-D:  Fixing immigration needs to be done
piece-by-piece, Blunt says
          Daily
Dunklin Democrat:  U.S. Rep. Jason Smith presents VFW "Teacher of
the Year Award" to Kennett instructor
          Missouri Viewpoints:  Part II of 'Right to Farm'
coverage:  Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation's Bob Baker
calls issue "fake problem" and "fake solution"
          Rosenbaum:  Showdown looms over 'Right to Farm'
amendment;  Shoemyer says fighting Missouri Farmers Care "lets me
be classic and populist Wes Shoemyer"
          Drebes:  Miles Ross, Derrick Good to lead regional
Senate Majority Fund PACs
          Missouri Viewpoints:  Should Missouri become a right to
work state?  Thoughts from Americans for Prosperity's Patrick
Werner and Jobs With Justice's Martin Rafanan
          AP:  Minimum wage bills pushed in at least 30 states,
including Missouri
          P-D:  Startup backers pushing for more state
cash;  Nixon budget adds $2M to Missouri Technology Corporation
funding
          AP:  Some Missouri education funding still shy of past
peaks
          Hannibal Courier-Post:  Nixon promotes budget benefits
at Veterans Elementary School
          P-D:  School districts step up efforts to track last
year's graduates;  Where students end up factors into school's
accreditation score
          KMOX:  Audio:  Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale) on
SOTS, tax cuts, schools, more
          AP:  Missouri lawmakers to begin floor debate this week
          Brownfield Ag News:  Sen. Mike Parson (R-Bolivar)
suspects price-fixing of propane;  Koster's office says it is
currently investigating 25 complaints
          Missourinet:  Harvard's "Equality of Opportunity
Project" assesses statistics of upward mobility in Missouri towns
          Missourinet:  Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) weighs in
on MU's actions in wake of ESPN story on alleged rape
          JCNT editorial:  As with their 2002 snit, MoDOT would
be better off to stop whining about funding and just do their job X
          P-D editorial:  Legislature or governor must find $5M
for Normandy schools
          KWMU op-ed:  SLU prof Robert A. Cropf:  GOP wrong
to criticize War on Poverty;  Legislature should expand Medicaid,
pass LeVota's earned income tax credit
          P-D letter:  Response to education-funding
editorial:  Correct approach requires more than throwing taxpayer
money at the problem
          P-D letter:  Des Peres woman offers "shame on"
list:  Shame on DESE, state reps, MO Supremes for schools
mess;  Money should be spent on social workers, jobs for parents
          Disclosure
   
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        Sunday, January 26
        KWMU:  Blunt offers State of the Union
'prebuttal':  "We don't need more class warfare"
          P-D:  Doubts about the future of a national park in the
Ozarks
          AP:  Battle over "right to farm" heats up
          SE
Missourian:  Deer-breeding businesses are in it for the
bucks;  Dept. of Conservation estimates deer hunting contributes
$1B to Missouri economy +
          SNL:  Rep. Kevin Elmer (R-Nixa) will not pursue
re-election, will run for judge in Christian County X
          CDT:  Missouri job numbers show recent growth, but
long-term loss X
          P-D:  Legislators receive less than $60K in perks from
MO higher ed over three-year period;  Longtime Mizzou advocate
Rep. Chris Kelly (D) accepts less than $2K in tickets
          SNL:  States' rights push expands beyond guns; 
Gay marriage issue, manufacturing also on agenda for some state
lawmakers X
          Fox 2 St. Louis:  Video:  Charles Jaco talks right
to work with St. Louis Labor Council's Bob Soutier and Lindenwood prof
Howard Wall
          CDT:  Think tanks don't like tax cut on business profit X
          Fox 2 St. Louis:  Video:  Charles Jaco talks
school-transfer conundrum with Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro
          AP:  Missouri taxpayers to start picking up the tab for
students to take ACT college entrance exam
          JCNT:  Fulton State Hospital bonding plan could lead to
fight X
          KRCG:  Pro-life groups hope for abortion-free
Missouri;  Capitol event draws 800, with no pro-choice presence
          Missouri Digital News:  Abortion bills proposed on Roe
v. Wade anniversary
          KY3:  Bill from Rep. Kevin Elmer (R-Nixa) proposes
72-hour wait time before abortion
          KWMU:  Federal judges rule execution drug supplier can
be secret, but documents point to likely identity
          AP:  MoDOT warns of funding crisis, says it needs more
money
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Region stands to suffer from
MoDOT's funding crisis X
          SNL's Jonathan Shorman:  Sara Lampe visited the Capitol
this week X
          Joplin Globe:  Arkansas company's power line route
concerns Missouri;  MO PSC could opt to hold local public hearings X
          SE
Missourian editorial:  Abortion-facility bill from Rep. Kathy Swan
(R-Cape Girardeau) good news for those who value life and for women who
have the right to expect safe medical care +
          SNL editorial:  Nixon right to boost preschool, K-12
funds X
          St. Joseph News-Press editorial:  Zweifel's statewide
military partnership will yield benefits for northwest Missouri X
          Shelly:  Via lobbying contract, Bond sees the light on
Medicaid expansion +
          KC Star letter:  Time to reduce outside influence on
the Missouri Legislature +
          P-D letter:  Response to Ameren op-ed on coal ash safety
          Washington Missourian letter:  Franklin County using
Ameren's coal ash to de-ice roads is a bad idea
          Disclosure
   
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    Saturday, January 25
        The Hill:  Sen. Roy Blunt offers prebuttal to Obama's
SOTU, calls for GOP 'year of action'
          Roll Call:  Video:  Blunt offers SOTU prebuttal in
GOP address
          SNL:  Blunt touts GOP priorities in advance of Obama's
SOTU X
          ABC News:  Text of Blunt's GOP weekly radio address
          McClatchy:  Feds seek billions from firm that did
Snowden's background check;  McCaskill's bill to strengthen
oversight of third-party contractors has passed Senate
          Washington Post:  Justice Department says USIS
submitted 665,000 incomplete background checks;  Comments from
McCaskill
          WSJ:  McCaskill pushes for changes to security
clearance process
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Graves helps retrieve Purple
Heart medal X
          KC Star:  KC among cities considered by 2016 GOP site
selection committee +
          AP:  Sen. Kit Bond says while he "still (is) one of the
loudest opponents of Obamacare," Missouri should get off the sidelines
and claim federal money
          KWMU:  Bond to lobby for Missouri to expand Medicaid
          P-D:  Share of American workers belonging to labor
unions held steady in 2013 - but not in Missouri, where union
membership percentage declined once again
          Kraske:  Meet Ryan Silvey, the thorn in Gov. Jay
Nixon's big toe +
          KC Star:  Tax cut struggle resumes in Missouri +
          SE
Missourian:  In Cape visit, Nixon says educators around the state
are excited about plan to fully fund foundation formula +
          P-D:  Ferguson-Florissant sets hearing date for
suspended superintendent
          CDT:  Wolfe will recommend tuition deal;  Nixon
asked universities not to raise tuition costs
X
          KWMU:  UM president will recommend no tuition increase
          CDT:  Lawmakers, trade groups call for inquiry into
propane price spike X
          KSMU:  Lawmakers push for federal investigation amid
skyrocketing propane prices
          AP:  Missouri senators want investigation into propane
price
          AP:  Missouri execution set;  Michael Taylor and
pal Roderick Nunley kidnapped girl from KC bus stop then raped her,
stabbed her, and left her bleeding to death in the trunk of a car
          KWMU:  New report calls into question quality of
execution drug
          P-D:  Pharmacy boards in OK, MO take no action on
execution drug complaint
          St. Joseph News-Press:  On Missouri military tour,
Zweifel lauds Rosecrans X
          AP:  Sales of Missouri's "I'm Pet Friendly" license
plates raise $100K for shelters
          AP:  Man pleads guilty in death of MoDOT worker
          Joplin Globe editorial:  Nixon, Zweifel doing important
work on behalf of Missouri military X
          JCNT editorial:  Lawmakers look to delete "revenge porn" X
          KC Star editorial:  Capitol Watch series:  "Right
to Farm" vs. Shoemyer's group;  72-hour waiting period +
          P-D editorial:  Sinquefield should spend more money on
international chess issues, not public policy matters in his home state
          CDT's Waters:  Construction bonds for state
buildings:  Strike while the iron's hot
X
          KC Star op-ed:  KC youth would benefit from abolishing
the federal minimum wage +
          P-D letter:  Expanding Medicaid will improve treatment
of mental illness
          P-D letter:  Don't blame teachers or funding; 
School-transfer investigation would show "entitlement-dependent
communities" simply produce lower-productivity/IQ/motivation students
          P-D letter:  Print edition of Post-Dispatch riddled
with typos, grammar errors
          Disclosure
   
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     Friday, January 24
         KWMU:  Blunt calls for end on government "war on coal" 
           KC Star:  McCaskill urges Commerce Dept. to keep
weather repair jobs in KC +
           KC Business Journal:  McCaskill asks NOAA to keep
weather centers in KC + 
           KC Star:  Missouri Chamber of Commerce hires Kit Bond
to lobby Legislature for Medicaid expansion;  Mehan says group
opposed Obamacare, but encourages realistic approach
           Columbia Missourian:  Medicaid expansion's impact on
emergency room visits has complex causes
           Drebes: 
Dems beware:  Tim Jones, Kurt Schaefer, Eric Schmitt have
substantial war chests already
           Joplin Globe:  Marijuana forum draws crowd in Joplin X
           KSMU:  Lawsuit challenges Nixon's order to allowing
same-sex married couples to file joint taxes
           KWMU:  Missouri Transportation Commission stops adding
projects, says more revenue is needed
           JCNT:  MoDOT says its funding future bleak, asks
legislators to place one-cent transportation tax on ballot X
           P-D:  MoDOT chief:  Funding shortfall threatens
Missouri transportation
           JCNT:  Nixon defends use of bonds to build mental
hospital X 
           CDT:  Nixon defends Fulton hospital plan as lawmakers
question method X 
           CDT:  Schaefer, Rowden take hard line on Nixon budget
in committee hearings X
           P-D:  House Budget Committee questions Nixon's revenue
growth estimate
           KWMU:  Nixon calls Senate tax cut 'fiscally
irresponsible'
           AP:  Missouri Senate panel approves income tax cut plan
           AP:  Senate panel considers dropping E15 gasoline
           AP:  Sen. Ryan Silvey (R-Kansas City) proposes check on
gov's education budget-cutting powers
           SE
Missourian:  Nixon set to visit Central High School today; 
Cape Girardeau School District doesn't expect funding increase +
           KC Star:  Public school enrollment shows some
shifts;  KC Public Schools shows major drop +
           AP:  Missouri Senate to take up bill limiting acting
executive-department heads
           P-D:  Gun, drone regulations questioned during Missouri
legislative hearing
           AP:  Rep. Kevin Elmer (R-Nixa) seeks longer waiting
period for abortions
           KC Star:  For the first time in four years, Missouri
loses lead in per-capita black homicide victims;  Nebraska is new
leader +
           AP:  Citing federal budget restrictions, MO DNR denies
horse slaughter application
           CDT:  Sen. Mike Parson (R-Bolivar) surprised, angered
by diesel fuel inspections X
           JCNT editorial:  Nixon, GOP legislature very far apart X
           Washington Missourian editorial:  Kudos to SOS Jason
Kander for being forward-thinking on online registration issue
           Washington Missourian editorial:   Nixon, other
involved in works-training effort deserve credit for award
           Shelly:  Nixon's State of the State was better than
Brownback's +
           KWMU op-ed:  Normandy instrutional coach Inda
Schoenen:  Normandy school reform is already light years ahead of
state officials
           NY Times op-ed:  Documentary at Sundance Film Festival
focuses on Missouri girl;  "Sarah's Uncertain Path" explores
hard-knock life of a 15-year-old pregnant girl on food stamps
           Joplin Globe op-ed:  Missouri Republicans should stop
giving breaks to corporations and start putting welfare of the people
first X
           KC Star letters:  Nixon right to call for more
education money;  Plan A is best choice for Missouri riverways +
           P-D letter:  Remembering MLK's struggle for black
rights flows naturally into supporting LGBTQIA rights through Missouri
Non-Discrimination Act
           P-D letter:  Wal-Mart's abuses show what's wrong with
right-to-work laws
           Disclosure
   
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         Thursday, January 23
         KCUR:  Sen. Roy Blunt on child abuse prevention,
Benghazi and data security
           St. Louis Business Journal:  Federal spending bill
could give Boeing life in St. Louis
           Bloomberg:  Congress throws Boeing a lifeline for Super
Hornet
           JCNT:  Treasurer Clint Zweifel explains need for
"Military Partnership" X
           Brownfield Ag News:  New Ag Director Richard Fordyce
leads Missouri Ag Conference
           Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri "State of Agriculture"
event planned;  Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R) organizes event, says
Fordyce will speak
           Brownfield Ag News:  Newly formed group mounts
opposition to Right to Farm;  Missouri Farmers Care's Dan
Kleinsorge says Shoemyer group is a front for HSUS
           KWMU:  Kinder says he's tired of being ignored by
Nixon, says governor is "a true loner and avoids human contact when he
can"
           SNL:  Ozarks Technical Community College chancellor
unhappy with Nixon's 'inequitable' funding proposal X
           CDT:  Local reaction mixed to Nixon's education funding
proposals X
           SNL:  Nixon spells out plan to boost preschool funding X
           KSMU:  Nixon pushes education funding, says budget
estimate differences "relatively small"
           P-D:  Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) calls Nixon's
budget "absolute political fiction"
           JCNT:  Nixon visits Fulton to promote bonding plan X
           AP:  Sen. Kurt Schaefer concerned that Fulton hospital
bonds wouldn't go to a vote of the people
           AP:  Republicans, Nixon $370M apart on budget
           97.1 FM (St. Louis):  Audio:  Speaker Tim Jones
talks to Dana Loesch about "Santa Jay Nixon," discusses SOTS, school
transfers, right to work, more
           AP:  Missouri tobacco, gambling revenues falling short
           AP:  Missouri House panel mulls Medicaid asset limit
changes
           Washington Missourian:  Education groups - Missouri
Association of School Administrators, MNEA, MSTA - give legislative
priorities
           KWMU:  "5 Things to Know" listicle theme: 
Takeaways from CEE-Trust report
           KC Star:  School transfer bills get their first hearing
in Missouri +
           AP:  Senators tackle Missouri school transfer law
           KWMU:  Five bills heard jointly seek to restructure
Missouri's student transfer law
           P-D:  Normandy schools face sobering short-term
realities as long-term plans are debated
           KWMU:  Normandy board skeptical of new plans for state
intervention
           SE
Missourian:  Scott City schools on track with Common Core +
           KWMU:  Politicall Speaking podcast:  Sen. Jolie
Justus (D-Kansas City) talks SOTS, Non-Discrimination Act, revising
criminal code
           AP:  Republicans have varied responses to Nixon's
non-discrimination theme;  Rep. Anne Zerr (R-St. Charles) says
govt. should "stay out of the bedroom," while other Rs disagree
           P-D:  Chief Justice Mary R. Russell says criminal code
may need an update
           Missourinet:  Legislation to create crime of 'revenge
porn' brought back for 2014 session
           Columbia Missourian:  House bill would add Columbia
site for umbilical cord collection
           St. Louis Review:  Legislation seeks to keep a closer
eye on abortion clinics
           P-D:  Committee hears bills on 72-hour waiting period
for abortion
           AP:  Lawmakers mull 72-hour waiting period for abortions
           JCNT:  Abortion on 2014 legislative agenda X
           P-D:  Parents seeks answers and documents in their
child's death;  Rep. Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) seeks to toughen
home day care safety laws
           JCNT:  Bill would expand privileges of foster parents X
           Missourinet:  Rep. Ron Hicks (R-St. Peters) saves
woman's life in state Capitol
           KWMU:  In light of investigations, murderer's lawyers
ask courts to stay execution
           Missourinet:  Sen. Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph): 
Corrections' secrecy 'baloney'
           KC Star editorial:  Nixon's investments would lift
Missouri +
           P-D editorial:  Want to compete?  Education needs
more than $493 million
           KC Star's Diuguid:  Path to improving Kansas City
public schools must include 'greater good' +
           SNL op-ed:  Workers' comp lawyer:  Monkeys and
workers' comp claims X
           JCNT letter:  Union rep Ken Menges:  Right to work
not about protecting workers' rights - rather, its goal is to destroy
the middle class X
           KC Star letters:  Kansas man weighs in on KC Public
Schools issue;  Missouri chapter of American Association of
University Women wants Missouri to pass Equal Rights Amendment +
           P-D letter:  St. Louis teachers' union president Mary
Armstrong:  Fix, don't abandon, our neighborhood public schools
           Disclosure
   
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        Wednesday, January 22
        St. Joseph News-Press:  Blunt leads effort to help fund
child advocacy centers X
          CDT:  BJC Healthcare president says federal laws led to
lower revenue X
          Missourinet:  Budget chief Linda Luebbering: 
Missouri's economy doing better than all surrounding states
          KOMU:  Nixon plans new spending for next budget
year:  Linda Luebbering gives details
          Missourinet: 
Video:  Gov. Jay Nixon's State of the State address and GOP
response from House Speaker Tim Jones
          AP:  Text of Gov. Jay Nixon's State of the State address
          AP:  Text of Speaker Tim Jones' response
          KC Star:  Nixon outlines an aggressive spending plan +
          CDT:  Nixon finds little Republican support for budget
full of new state spending X
          Missourinet:  Student transfers, transportation
funding, tax credits, campaign contribution limits take back seat in
Nixon's State of the State address
          KWMU:  Nixon proposes to restore state spending lost
since 2008
          P-D:  Nixon wants more money for schools, spurns GOP
tax cut
          P-D:  Nixon's focus on education funding may spur
tug-of-war with Legislature
          Columbia Missourian:  Missouri lawmakers back Nixon's
proposals on education funding, mental hospital
          AP:  Nixon proposes $278M school aid hike
          JCNT:  Budget includes 3 percent raise for state workers X
          AP:  Nixon proposes 3 percent pay raise for Missouri
workers
          JCNT:  Nixon:  Failing to expand Medicaid is
punishing Missourians X
          AP:  Nixon renews call for Medicaid expansion
          Missourinet:  House Republicans want Nixon to propose
more policy, less spending
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Area GOP lawmakers: 
Nothing new in Nixon's address X
          The Missouri Times:  SOTS reaction:  Soundbites,
punchlines from Dem, GOP reps
          JCNT:  Nixon pushing bonds to pay for Fulton hospital X
          Fulton Sun:  Rep. Jeanie Riddle (R-Mokane) happy Nixon
mentioned Fulton State Hospital, but still concerned the funding won't
be there
          Missourinet:  House Republicans say they haven't spent
time discussing bill banning discrimination against LGBTQIA employees
          AP:  "5 Things to Know" listicle theme:  State of
the State edition
          The Missouri Times:  Liberal group Progress Missouri
hands out baseball-card type promotional materials, targeting
Republican ALEC members and supporters
          JCNT:  Legislators debate slimmed-down version of tax
cut X
          AP:  Sen. Scott Rupp (R-Wentzville) says Nixon will
appoint him to PSC on March 14, clearing the way for Dem nominee Daniel
Hall's approval by Senate
          AP:  Missouri Senate panel considering gun law
nullification
          Missourinet:  Corrections Director cites litigation,
pending execution for not talking to Oversight Committee
          KC Star:  Sen. Paul LeVota (D-Kansas City) files bill
urging provisional accreditation for KC schools +
          KC Star:  Under a cloud of possible state takeover,
nine file for KC school board seats +
          SE
Missourian:  Local black students struggle to realize MLK's
dream;  Proficiency exams show area black youths lag white
counterparts, other minorities +
          KC Star:  Social services agencies deal with homeless
teens;  One estimate shows number of homeless Missouri students
rising +
          P-D editorial:  "Shell game" campaign finance series,
Part II:  Spotlight on Rex Sinqufield, Steve Tilley (R), Rep.
Casey Guernsey (R)
          JCNT editorial:  Faith Voices for Jefferson City to
address "social equity, economic dignity," more;  Group will turn
out more than 300 people tomorrow night X
          P-D op-ed:  Missouri Right to Life's Pam Fichter: 
Why we march
          Shelly:  Nixon's new tone;  Gov didn't get much
cooperation from Republicans before, so at least now he's sounding like
a Democrat +
          P-D op-ed:  Timothy McBride, Wash U.'s Brown School of
Social Work:  Medicaid expansion is a no-brainer
          McClellan:  North County native attributes poor health
to playing in Coldwater Creek as a child;  Man receives Medicaid
and food stamps, but feels he deserves more
          KC Star op-ed:  Rutgers university professor: 
CEE-Trust overhaul report earns an 'F' +
          P-D letter:  AFSCME's Jeff Mazur responds to comments
of workers' boss in piece on Sexual Offender Rehabilitation and
Treatment Services (SORTS)
          P-D letter:  By blocking Medicaid expansion, Missouri
legislators prevent mental health care - and they should hang their
heads in shame
          P-D letter:  Missouri River floodway is the worst place
for Ameren to dump their coal ash
          Disclosure
   
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        Tuesday, January 21
        KWMU:  Annual Roe v. Wade piece:  Battle over
abortion being waged in the states
          KC Star:  Big drop in Missouri River water levels
becoming critical problem +
          KC Star:  U.S. attorneys build a case for themselves as
moneymakers for the feds;  Comments from Tammy Dickinson, U.S.
attorney for Western Missouri +
          KOMU:  Obama's comments stoke marijuana debate in
Missouri
          Missourinet:  State of the State will be streaming on
Missourinet.com
          Columbia Missourian:  Local reps offer anticipatory
remarks on Nixon's address
          Priddy:  SOTS perspective:  Event drones on 40
percent longer than it should, because gov plays show-and-tell with
guests in the gallery and his party constantly applauds
          SNL:  Schools look to Nixon for full aid; 
Superintendents air their hopes for tonight's SOTS X
          Missourinet:  Nixon, legislators already split on budget
          The Standard (Missouri State University):  Same-sex tax
ruling faces challenges
          P-D:  Legislators want answers on death penalty
          CDT:  Nixon pitches $10M hospital renovation to aid
Lincoln University X
          JCNT:  St. Mary's offers to give old hospital to state X
          JCNT:  St. Mary's goal was always to benefit health
education, officials say X
          AP:  Nixon recommends hospital renovation for classes
          P-D:  Nixon wants to renovate hospital for nursing
classes
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Bill from Sen. Rob Schaaf
addresses spying, cell phones X
          Hannibal Courier-Post:  MoDOT reports salt supply low,
not out
          P-D editorial:  Army's effort to oust 'toxic' leaders
should intensify;  McCaskill a leader on sexual-assault issue
          St. Joseph News-Press editorial:  Great Northwest Days
at the Capitol are Feb. 4-5 X
          Joplin Globe op-ed:  Blunt is wrong - Impact of
Obamacare isn't devastating at all X
          P-D op-ed:  McCaskill, Blunt, Clay should support
food-stamp funding
          KC Star's Abouhalkah:  McCaskill tweets her disapproval
of firing-squad idea +
          P-D letter:  No plans address how little Missouri
spends on low-performing schools
          KC Star letters:  CEE-Trust, Medicaid expansion, right
to work +
          Disclosure
   
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    Monday, January 20   State
holiday - Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
        P-D:  Construction skills boot camp in Wellston for
unemployed minorities shut down;  State, federal funding runs out
          AP:  Urban streets named for MLK still struggle; 
Six-mile North St. Louis stretch provides clientele with "open-air drug
markets," pawn shops, liquor stores
          P-D:  If Martin Luther King were alive today, he'd be
concerned about GOP photo ID requirements, says local community college
engineering science professor
          Missourinet:  Follow-up on week-old Hillary vs.
McCaskill book story
          KC Star:  Peggy and Terry Dunn to chair KC finance
committee for 2016 GOP convention +
          Rosenbaum:  Will any Democrat be willing to take on Tom
Schweich?  Roy Temple frames expectations, while Rosenbaum looks
at the lineup of Dems who'll take a pass
          SE
Missourian:  Summary of area state rep campaign finance reports +
          JCNT:  Summary of campaign finance reports from GOP
reps Jay Barnes, Mike Bernskoetter X
          Joplin Globe's Susan Redden:  Former Rep. Kevin Wilson
(R-Neosho) not optimistic about campaign finance proposals passing X
          Drebes: 
GOP veteran Aaron Baker to work for Kristen Blanchard's Axiom lobbying
arm
          KWMU:  Nixon's State of the State to call for education
funding, Medicaid expansion
          Missourinet:  Opponents of tax cuts state their
case;  Audio of Jim Moody, Missouri Budget Project's Amy Blouin
          KC Star:  Bill from Sen. Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph)
targets hospital billing practice +
          AP:  Wisconsin to recognize Missouri gun permits
          Missourinet:  Rep. Rick Stream (R-Kirkwood) not
planning legislative response to KSDK-induced school security scare
          Joplin Globe:  Neosho board to huddle more on Common
Core X
          Carthage Press:  Sarcoxie district stops using
Facebook;  Superintendent says page had become "forum for
negativity"
          St. Joseph News-Press:  University of Missouri Alumni
Association honors Rep. Mike Thomson (R-Maryville) X
          KWMU:  Republic services will expand carbon monoxide
testing at Bridgeton landfill;  Koster had made the original call
for more testing 
          KWMU:  Interviews with 17 area young people in
politics:  State reps Michael Butler, Courtney Curtis, Paul
Curtman, Joshua Peters, others
          KWMU:  Video:  Interviews with all 17 area elected
officials, staff, activists featured above;  Includes Charles
Hinderliter, Molly McCann, Mary Ellen Ponder, more
          St. Joseph News-Press editorial:  Thanks to Secretary
of State Jason Kander, voting just got easier
X
          JCNT editorial:  Avoid haste on marijuana legalization X
          KC Star editorial:  States should rethink capital
punishiment;  Brattin's firing-squad bill doesn't deserve a
committee hearing +
          Priddy:  What if convicted murderer Herbert Smulls
wants to die via gas chamber?  Thinking through execution
hypotheticals and contingencies
          P-D letter:  Republican positions on Medicaid
expansion, unemployment benefits and utility-bill subsidization are
causing people to go hungry and freeze in their homes
          Disclosure
   
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    Sunday, January 19
        KWMU:  Universities' citizenship study: 
Missourians more likely to volunteer, less likely to talk politics
          Nextgov:  Social media campaign from Rep. Emanuel
Cleaver's Congressional Civility Caucus lasted three weeks
          St. Joseph News-Press:  'War on Poverty' still being
fought;  Comments from area poor woman, AFL-CIO rep X
          AP:  Funding for Missouri River study again
stripped;  Comments from Luetkemeyer's office, Corps, Sierra Club
          KC Star:  Would ending Net neutrality mean a better Web
or a digital divide?  McCaskill, Blunt staff provide statements +
          P-D:  Shortage of psychiatrists, funding issues create
crises in mental health care
          CDT:  Requests for state money roll in as revenue is
expected to increase X
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Anticipation varies for Nixon's
State of the State;  Local GOP reps anticipate "a lot of presents
(Nixon) can't pay for" and budgetary "smoke and mirrors" X
          SE
Missourian:  House Speaker Tim Jones lays out "4G" agenda during
Cape visit +
          SNL:  Battle looming over Right to Work issue; 
Union leaders cite "corporate greed," say RTW proponents "have been
gaining a little ground year by year" X
          SNL:  Sinquefield's "pro-free market" Grow Missouri
seeks to go around lawmakers on tax policy as legislators offer new
proposals X
          JCNT:  Schmitt, Kraus present new tax-cut proposals X
          JCNT:  Nixon to make education announcement tomorrow
morning at Lincoln University X
          P-D:  Missouri's neighbor seeks to transform failing
schools;  Tennessee parents, administrators weigh in on charter
school for urban youths
          CDT:  Bill to curb bond sales criticized by Columbia
Public Schools official X
          JCNT:  "Faith Voices" to advocate for Medicaid
expansion, early-voting initiative;  More than 300 will attend
Thursday night event at A.M.E. church X
          AP:  Bill from Rep. Kathy Swan (R-Cape Girardeau) seeks
reviews of four Missouri abortion facilities
          JCNT:  Missouri revises execution protocol X
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Like it or not,
America has a welfare state;  Time to require those receiving
extended unemployment to work for their handouts
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Kander's
campaign-finance proposal is long overdue and demonstrates
Missouri-inspired values
          SNL editorial:  Time to fix 'broken' system; 
Missouri DSS and Children's Division are entrenched, fearful, and
unwilling to respond to reasonable requests X
          JCNT editorial:  Wise approach to revise criminal code X
          P-D editorial:  Firing squads in Missouri?  It's
the silly season.
          CDT's Waters:  Some kind of campaign finance reform,
and/or term limits, needed X
          SNL's Jonathan Shorman:  The State of the State is the
single most tiring legislative event for reporters to cover X
          CDT op-ed:  Rep. Chris Kelly (D-Columbia):  Let
voters weigh comprehensive 1-cent sales tax X
          CDT op-ed:  Attorney Craig Van Matre:  Term limits
have corrupted our legislature X
          SNL op-ed:  Environmental activists:  It's time to
protect our air and water from Ameren's coal ash and other threats X
          P-D letter:  Rolla woman says she's suing Nixon because
she and others have constitutional right to a state representative
          KC Star letter:  IBEW's Jim Cianciolo on right to
work:  Much like a homeowners association, you shouldn't enjoy
benefits of a union without paying your dues
+
          SNL letter:  Williamsville man says Tim Jones supports
corporations, not workers X 
          Disclosure
   
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    Saturday, January 18
        AP:  National Transportation Safety Board: 
Southwest Airlines pilots confused by wrong airport's lights
          Washington Post:  McCaskill's D.C. party pad up for sale
          KC Star:  Cerner officially launches its $4.3B Three
Trails office campus;  Nixon attends event +
          Missourinet:  Cerner expands in KC, will add 15,000 new
jobs
          AP:  Challenge for Missouri lawmakers:  What to do
with all this extra money?
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Local legislators give
updates;  "Rosy" revenue predictions, tax-credit revamps,
performance-based funding for higher ed X
          KC Star:  Execution drug spurs a Missouri tug-of-war +
          AP:  Lawyers for convicted murderer on death row: 
State of Missouri improperly stored new lethal injection drug
          P-D:  In response to execution-drug brouhaha, Rep. Rick
Brattin (R-Harrisonville) offers bill to allow firing squads
          Missourinet:  Rep. Rick Brattin discusses firing-squad
proposal
          KWMU:  Campaign-report summaries for state Senate, city
officials:  Lamping's retirement-year total is low, Schmitt's
bankroll hefty, Slay adds to the re-election kitty
          KSMU:  Missouri Association for Social Welfare, others
issue report on poverty in Missouri
          P-D editorial:  Columbia developer Jeffrey E. Smith -
Missouri's king of tax credits - is up to his old money-laundering
tricks
          Joplin Globe editorial:  No more free lunches: 
Lawmakers should pass campaign-finance and lobbyist-gift bill from Rep.
Kevin McManus (D-Kansas City) X
          CDT's Waters:  Wide-ranging thoughts on Missouri
campaign fundraising and reform options X
          SNL op-ed:  Springfield Democrat Andy Dalton: 
Shane Schoeller doesn't want Democrats to vote, and is also controlled
by Rex Sinquefield X
          KC Star letter:  Raymore woman says new grand plan for
KC schools will be bad for unions +
          P-D letter:  Olivette man skeptical of Ameren's claims
on coal ash
          Disclosure
   
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    Friday, January 17
        Politico:  Obama nominates Steve Bough to Western
District of Missouri
          KC Business Journal:  Obama nominates Bough to federal
bench
          SNL:  Panel OKs Harpool judicial nod X
          KWMU:  Obamacare advocates celebrate first month of
expanded coverage;  Comments from Missouri Health Care for All's
Jen Bersdale, others
          KSMU:  McCaskill asks Missourians to share their
experiences of weight-loss scams
          AP:  Budget bill essential blocks all horse slaughter
operations;  Missouri company says it will file claim
          KWMU:  St. Louis chosen for "Strong Cities"; 
Obama program to park federal employee inside Slay's office
          P-D:  They're from the government, and they're here to
help;  St. Louis one of seven cities to be assigned federal
"experts"
          SNL:  Plan to help state workers investigating neglect,
abuse brings cautious optimism;  Advocates say money is not
cure-all against child abuse X 
          SNL:  In the trenches:  State director visits
Springfield X
          P-D:  Emails point to internal struggles at Missouri's
lockup for sex predators;  MO Dept. of Mental Health plays down
e-mail from former head Schafer, says it is out of context
          AP:  Sen. Gary Romine (R-Farmington) files Medicaid
overhaul plan
          P-D:  Missouri at center of new GM, Ford pickup rollouts
          AP:  Nixon proposes additional $4.5 million for
Missouri Works Training
          AP:  Missouri tax-cut backers, foes both cite Kansas
cuts
          CDT:  Missouri Senate committee weighs three income tax
cut bills X
          Missourinet:  Schmitt, other tax-cut proponents promote
bills
          KWMU:  House Speaker Tim Jones to deliver response to
Nixon's "State of the State" next Tuesday
          Missourinet:  Jones calls lifting of med-mal caps a top
priority
          KWMU:  House Speaker Tim Jones makes medical
malpractice caps a top priority for 2014
          JCNT:  Speaker Tim Jones:  Malpractice reform a
priority for 2014 X
          AP:  Speaker Tim Jones wants reinstated lawsuit limits
          AP:  Missouri bill would allow execution using firing
squad
          P-D:  Abortion-related legislation draws emotional
testimony in Missouri House
          The Missouri Times:  Former Sen. Wes Shoemyer creates
PAC to fight "Right to Farm" proposal
          AP:  Missouri House panel considers 'revenge porn' bill
          CDT:  Senate committee hears bill that could increase
funding for Missouri universities X
          Missourinet:  Education officials want state money for
Normandy School District
          CDT:  Fairview Elementary teacher wins award, is
recognized by McCaskill X
          P-D:  Schweich's growing campaign nest egg clears the
auditor election field - for now
          Drebes: 
In Lamping/Schupp Senate District, Republicans seeking to recruit
Wesley Jones, hope to assign him a moderate persona
          CDT:  Ameren Missouri begins cleanup of Columbia
Superfund site X
          JCNT editorial:  Fears and flaws connected with capital
punishment X
          McClellan:  Hillary probably still mad at
McCaskill;  Meandering thoughts on baby boomers, hippie ponytails,
etc.
          Helling:  Politicians may soon have to take marijuana
legislation seriously +
          Columbia Missourian's George Kennedy:  Rep. Chris Kelly
continues to represent Boone County well
          KWMU op-ed:  KWMU's Margie Freivogel congratulates her
reporters on campaign-finance reporting, weighs in on Rex Sinquefield
          SNL op-ed:  Jason Kander on his campaign-finance
proposals X 
          P-D letter:  State gets poor grades in taking over
failing schools
          Disclosure
   
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        Thursday, January 16
        Missourinet:  Blunt calls Benghazi report 'troubling'
          Missourinet:  Congress passes Luetkemeyer amendment to
fund Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan
          Bloomberg:  McCaskill wants Target to provide info on
breach
          SNL:  FAA looking at pilot error in airport mix-up,
senators say X 
          P-D:  Area residents lament inability to pay their
utility bills;  Urban League distributes taxpayer dollars in St.
Louis, Wellston
          KWMU:  Koster's Missouri Medicaid fraud unit recovers
$47 million in 2013
          CDT:  Bill seeking requirements for health exchange
navigators gets favorable reception X
          AP:  Koster reports $1.6M in bank account for
2016:  A look at Jones, Schaefer, Schweich totals
          AP:  Democrat Jay Swearingen drops bid for state auditor
          The Missouri Times:  Statewide officeholder, potential
candidate reports:  Money raised, cash on hand
          The Missouri Times:  House campaign finance
reports:  House GOP leadership, House Dem leadership, other GOP
reps
          The Missouri Times:  Senate campaign finance
reports:  Key races, incumbents
          CDT:  Kander, Dem rep introduce ethics reform bill,
criticize level of gift limits proposed by Rep. Caleb Rowden
(R-Columbia) X
          KWMU:  Backers consider petitions to legalize marijuana
in Missouri
          P-D:  Petitions for legalization of marijuana are
approved for circulation
          Drebes:  Determining when an issue goes before the
voters
          SNL:  Nixon to propose $6 million in new funds for
Children's Division X
          KC Star:  Nixon seeks millions in funding for Missouri
Children's Division +
          Missourinet:  Legislators could ask voters to define
governor's budget restriction powers
          KWMU:  An in-depth look at right-to-work:  Major
players and motivations
          AP:  Missouri Senate panel taking up tax-cut legislation
          Missourinet:  Anti-poverty groups oppose tax-cut
proposals
          Joplin Globe:  Reviews mixed for Nixon's higher-ed
funding proposal X
          KWMU:  Nicastro:  Normandy schools headed for
bankruptcy;  Rep. Genise Monticello (D-St. Louis) directly calls
for resignation
          Missourinet:  Schweich's office to review contract
awarded to CEE-Trust
          P-D:  Schweich's office to review education
department's awared of CEE-Trust contract
          P-D:  Superintendent says Normandy has no plans to
close despite money woes
          AP:  Washington U. to sponsor all-girls charter
school;  DESE must give approval
          P-D:  Missouri legislators weigh coverage of
anti-cancer drugs
          AP:  Speaker Tim Jones plans health care conscience bill
          AP:  Missouri senators consider criminal code overhaul
          AP:  Governor's Conference on Agriculture gets underway
today
          CDT:  Tarnished reputations:  A National Guard
officer in Columbia alleges retaliation, discrimination a part of Guard
culture X
          AP:  Appeals court to hear Missouri flag desecration
case
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Options diminish for Missouri
horse slaughter startup X
          P-D:  North County residents blame health maladies on
Coldwater Creek;  Women's informal survey contradicts state health
department's facts
          KMOX:  Facebook survey associates North County natives'
health problems with living near Coldwater Creek
          P-D editorial:  Analyzing the CEE-Trust report
          SNL editorial:  Shane Schoeller is wrong - election
fraud is not the top election issue;  Candidates should focus on
voter turnout, election costs X
          Priddy:  Analogizing Nixon appointment of former Rep.
Dennis Fowler (R) to The Sopranos;  Tim Jones : Tony Soprano ::
Dennis Fowler : Massage-parlor owner
          Disclosure
   
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        Wednesday, January 15
        P-D:  Blunt says he's not surprised that young adults
are not signing up for Obamacare
          KC Star:  Liberal groups urge McCaskill to support
taxpayer-funded phone program;  Senator has been critical of
Lifeline's waste, mismanagement
          The Hill:  McCaskill, other Dems call for briefing,
hearing on Target hack
          KC Star:  McCaskill, Blunt want answers in case of
wrong-airport landing
          SNL:  At hearing, McCaskill cites alleged role of air
traffic controllers in Southwest airport mix-up
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Missouri Corn Growers
Association lobbies lawmakers for renewable fuel standard reversal
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Statement from Graves' staff
praises federal relief for volunteer fire departments
          AP:  Provision of federal spending bill puts future of
Missouri horse breeders in jeopardy
          AP:  Auto parts maker to build facility in
Warrensburg;  Nixon says project could create 164 full-time jobs
          KWMU:  Sinquefield still reigns supreme among state's
biggest individual donors
          P-D:  Approaches vary for strengthening Missouri's
ethics laws
          AP:  Secretary of State Jason Kander proposes ambitious
campaign finance overhaul;  Bill to be sponsored by Rep. Kevin
McManus (D-Kansas City)
          Missourinet:  Kander proposes major campaign ethics law
changes
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Mannies
& Rosenbaum on right to work;  Rep. Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson
City) joins to discuss Medicaid expansion
          AP:  Missouri House Democrats elect leaders;  Rep.
Chris Kelly (D-Columbia) replaces Rep. Steve Webb (D-Florissant)
          KWMU:  Missouri House Democrats propose alternate tax
cut plan
          SNL:  Sen. Bob Dixon (R-Springfield) seeks changes to
appointments process, says move will help fill vacancies faster
          JCNT:  Lawmakers again asked to define 'misconduct' by
fired workers
          JCNT:  Bill would expand prenatal care for Missouri's
poor
          KC Star:  Kansas City school district releases its own
turnaround plan
          AP:  KC coalition releases plan for improving schools
          Missourinet:  CEE-Trust details plan to turn failing
schools in Kansas City around
          KC Star:  Mayor Sly James supports "elements" of
CEE-Trust plan
          KWMU:  Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-University City)
calls for Chris Nicastro's resignation
          P-D:  Chappelle-Nadal calls for Nicastro's resignation
          AP:  Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal calls on Nicastro to
resign
          CDT:  Rep. Mike Thomson (R-Maryville), Brady Deaton
receive Geyer Award from Mizzou alumni
          SNL:  New MSU governors commited to their alma mater
          AP:  Bill from Sen. Scott Sifton (D-St. Louis) would
let emergency workers vote absentee
          Missourinet:  Bill proposes moratorium on, and study
of, state executions
          Drebes: 
Adrianne Marsh departs McCaskill's office for Missourians for a
Balanced Energy Future;  Group lists legislative priorities
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri Cattlemen's Association's
top priority:  Help inform voters about Farming Rights Amendment
          P-D:  Sen. Scott Rupp (R-Wentzville) says challenging
County Exec Steve Ehlmann "still in the realm of possibility"
          CDT:  Judge rules 250 Missouri municipalities - plus
St. Louis County - won't refund AT&T taxes
          SNL editorial:  Efforts by Gov. Jay Nixon, Clint
Zweifel to defend federal defense spending in Missouri is important
          KC Star's Joe Robertson:  History tells us to expect a
fight in remaking the Kansas City school district
          P-D op-ed:  Ameren's Charles Naslund:  Concrete
reasons not to fear coal ash landfills
          Disclosure
   
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    Tuesday, January 14
        KSHB:  McCaskill says wording in defense bill means
A-10 jets will stay at Whiteman Air Force Base this year
          National Journal:  McCaskill's package of moderate
reforms stymies Gillibrand's controversial push in sexual-assault battle
          Politico:  McCaskill on Hillary's hit list; 
Selected excerpts from new book
          P-D:  'Hate is too weak a word':  P-D draws
selected excerpts from Politico's selected excerpts from new book
          AP:  Obamacare website attracts disproportionate amount
of aged Missouri females
          Missourinet:  Lacy Clay calls for Target, Neiman-Marcus
credit breach investigations
          AP:  Boeing postmortem: Documents show Missouri bid was
alive until Washington machinists struck fatal blow
          KWMU:  Democrats edge out Republicans in big donations
in 2013;  Presumptive Dem gov nominee Chris Koster rakes it in
          Missouri Wonk's Linda Rallo:  Infographics: 
Graphical representations of campaign contributions, 2011-2013
          Drebes: 
Rep. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield), defending seat in swing district,
raises $105K this quarter
          AP:  Kander, Rep. Kevin McManus (D-Kansas City) to
unveil campaign-finance proposals today
          KMOX:  Audio:  Lamping on anti-Obamacare
legislation, Nasheed on raising minimum wage
          AP:  House Dems propose raising taxes on upper-income
Missourians, cutting taxes for lower- and middle-income individuals
          KWMU:  Right to work bill praised, blasted during House
hearing
          AP:  Missouri House panel hears right-to-work bill
          SNL:  Right to work supporters, foes clash during
hearing X
          P-D:  Lively debate at five-hour right-to-work hearing
          The Missouri Times:  Right to work hearing held
          KC Star:  CEE-Trust presents its proposal to remake
Kansas City's public schools +
          P-D:  Proposal would disband failing districts
          AP:  Consultant proposes dismantling failing districts
          KMOX:  More testing this week at Bridgeton Landfill
          AP:  Schweich to examine corrections department
          P-D:  Former Met Darryl Strawberry owes Missouri $15K
          JCNT:  Opponents of death penalty press reforms X
          AP:  Missouri death penalty foes mark 25 years of
executions
          Missourinet:  Statewide Amber Alert starts second decade
          CDT:  New lawsuits seek millions of dollars from
Mamtek's collapse X
          P-D:  Ameren Missouri plans to build solar energy center
          AP:  Ameren plans solar energy plant in O'Fallon
          KC Star:  As more fail to pay their utility bills,
funding for assistance dwindles;  Federal taxpayer money to
subsidize low-income users has dropped significantly since 2009 +
          Joplin Globe editorial:  Tenacious McCaskill: 
Senior senator's doggedness leads failed lt. general to retire X 
          P-D editorial:  Special elections simply a boon for
political consultants;  Nixon should stand his ground, leave seats
vacant until fall election
          SE
Missourian editorial:  Military election filing bill a
common-sense move + 
          KC Star editorial:  Kansas City school proposal
intriguing but risky +
          CDT's Waters:  Federal government, not states, should
administer money for crumbling highways X
          KC Star op-ed:  University of Missouri law prof James
Hawley:  Hobby Lobby's legal challenge to Obamacare is about
conscience +
          Shelly:  Six takeaways from the CEE-Trust report on
Kansas City Public Schools +
          P-D op-ed:  D.C.-based animal-rights activist:  AG
Chris Koster wrong to side with state's egg producers
          JCNT letter:  Jefferson City woman responds to
Luetkemeyer op-ed, says Keystone XL is a bad idea and GOP is too busy
ginning up hate X
          SE
Missourian letter:  Puxico woman whose unemployment checks ran out
says no jobs are available + 
          Disclosure
   
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    Monday, January 13
        The Hill:  New book on Hillary explores relationship
with McCaskill
          UPI:  McCaskill and Hillary Clinton:  An early
jab, "epic tears," apologies, more tears, non-endorsement, mended
fences, a 2016 endorsement, residual emotions and more
          Joplin Globe's Susan Redden:  McCaskill takes on
weight-loss scammers;  Rep. T.J. Berry (R-Kearney) to try again on
tax cuts X
          KWMU:  Nixon promotes Missouri auto jobs during visit
to Detroit
          KWMU:  Crowd of initiative petitions will soon compete
to get on ballot
          Drebes: 
Speaker Tim Jones' camp suggests he'll have $900K on hand this quarter
          KC Star:  MLK service's fiery rhetoric links Obamacare
to King's message +
          P-D:  New attack on Obamacare filed in Missouri
Legislature
          AP:  Missouri House panel to hear 'right to work' bill
          AP:  Nixon, GOP lawmakers disagree over budget figures
          Missourinet:  House to have multiple options for tax
cuts
          AP:  Rep. Jon Carpenter (D-Kansas City) to release
details on Dem tax-cut bill today
          AP:  Conservative lawmakers plot new strategy to
undermine federal laws' "chilling effects" on gun ownership
          Daily
Dunklin Democrat:  Sen. Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff) hopes session
helps businesses;  Senator opposes Medicaid expansion, wants
economic development and tax cuts
          KC Star:  Missouri wrestles with school transfer rules
as KC braces for potential student flight +
          Fox 2 (St. Louis):  Revisiting the school transfer
program;  Charles Jaco talks it over with Sens. Eric Schmitt
(R-Glendale) and Scott Sifton (D-Affton)
          KWMU:  Missouri lawmakers call for investigation into
state's execution method
          Missourinet:  Audit will probe Corrections Department
execution procedures, drug procurement
          Missourinet:  Sen. Jay Wasson (R-Nixa) pushes for
sinkhole protection
          KC Star's Diuguid:  Food insecurity, income disparity
hurt neighbors;  Missouri's hard-knock numbers should be blamed on
wealth gap + 
          KC Star's Sanchez:  Missouri is going too far on death
penalty secrecy + 
          SNL letter:  "Open letter from an angry voter" to Sen.
Roy Blunt;  Senator should stop wasteful spending, should start
taking his own lunch to work, other suggestions X
          P-D letter:  Metropolitan Congregations United
President Jim Sahaida:  Extending unemployment benefits is the
moral thing to do
          Disclosure
   
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      X
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    Saturday, January 11
        USA Today:  Reports of sexual assault dip at military
academies;  Statement by McCaskill's staff
          St. Joseph News-Press:  McCaskill and Blunt have
different philosophies, but still find some common ground X
          AP:  Nixon going to Detroit for auto show
          P-D:  Sen. Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) says Nixon
lashed out at her after she sided with Kinder on tax issue
          KWMU:  Nixon announces partnership to protect and
enhance military presence in Missouri
          AP:  Nixon creates Missouri military partnership
          AP:  Missouri lottery makes third largest education
transfer
          JCNT:  Missouri state employee buys lottery ticket at
Truman Office Building, wins $71,000 jackpot
X
          CDT:  Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg) introduces
funding formula bill for higher education X 
          KSMU:  Rep. Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) files bill
that would introduce new payback option for student loans
          Columbia Missourian:  Legislators attend Legislative
Forecast Breakfast;  On Boeing, Sen. Kurt Schaefer says, "we got
played"
          Washington Missourian:  Bills from Sen. Brian Nieves
(R-Washington) seek to disregard actions of federal government,
U.N.;  Senator did not return phone calls
          Fox4 (Kansas City):  Proposal from Sen. Ed Emery
(R-Lamar) would track domestic violence suspects with ankle bracelets
(link via TonysKansasCity.com)
          Drebes: 
Bill from Rep. Kevin Engler (R-Farmington) would outlaw "revenge porn"
          AP:  Schweich's audit criticizes regulatory board
vacancies
          AP:  Growing concerns over Missouri execution drug
          SNL:  Shane Schoeller takes aim at voter fraud,
announces bid for Greene County Clerk;  Missouri GOP political
director to step down in February X
          JCNT editorial:  GOP senators shouldn't punish Fowler
for siding with Nixon on tax cuts X
          P-D editorial:  Missouri bypasses the constitution in
its fumbling hurry to kill
          CDT's Waters:  2014 will be another bad year for health
care in Missouri;  What we need is a public single-payer insurance
option X
          KC Star letter:  Man employs sarcasm to mock GOP plan
to drug-test welfare recipients + 
          Disclosure
  
       X
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        Friday, January 10
        Missourinet:  McCaskill, Blunt take opposing views to
extending unemployment benefits
          Politico:  Journalists take part in panel celebrating
LBJ's War on Poverty, congratulate themselves on awareness-raising
efforts;  Comments from SNL's David Stoeffler
          Washington Post:  Homeland Security's IG nominee tells
supportive panel he is ready for challenges;  Comments from
McCaskill
          St. Joseph News-Press:  McCaskill lauds scrutiny of
scams involving weight-loss claims X
          CNN:  Video:  McCaskill calls weight-loss ad
claims "good old-fashioned horse manure"
          AP:  Nixon, Zweifel to tour military bases
          KWMU:  KC court to hear challenge to campaign finance
limits
          KWMU:  Conservatives file suit again Nixon's order
regarding same-sex couples' tax filings
          P-D:  Lawsuit challenges executive order on same-sex
couples tax filings
          KWMU:  Sen. Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) steps down as
head of Missouri Legislative Black Caucus
          AP:  Kinder wants meeting on housing tax credits
          KWMU:  Nixon stands behind appointee for state Board of
Probation and Parole
          AP: 
Nixon denies politics in parole board appointment
          Washington Missourian:  Transportation sales tax bill
expected in legislative session
          Mike Ferguson's Missouri Viewpoints:  Missouri Farmers
Care Executive Director Dan Kleinsorge:  Missouri needs a Farming
Rights Amendment
          CDT:  Divergent story lines emerge as as General
Assembly begins session;  Jones, Nixon spin same job numbers X
          Joplin Globe:  New MSSU board appointment ends
chairman's tenure on panel X
          P-D:  Division on changes to school transfer law
          Missourinet:  Rep. Margo McNeil (D-Florissant) files
proposal for changing school transfer law
          P-D:  Snow leaves many transfer students without
transportation
          AP:  Sen. Mike Parson (R-Bolivar) wants tax exemption
for old cars
          Daily Journal:  Rep. Kevin Engler (R-Farmington) seeks
to aid pregnancy centers;  Bill would increase cap on tax credits
          Missourinet:  Early push for new criminal code
          Drebes: 
Reaction to readers' poll:  Schaaf's Chris Dunn should have made
list
          AP:  Koster wants more data on Bridgeton landfill
          KWMU:  Attorneys for the poor lament Missouri's
"justice gap"
          P-D:  Nixon nominates Republicans John King, John
Maupin for St. Louis County Board of Elections
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Boeing proposal
unsuccessful, but it was worth the effort
          SNL editorial:  New "it's just common sense"
series:  Blunt and small farm operations, MO Legislature and life
vests for kids X
          KWMU's Margie Freivogel:  Analogizing the Legislature
to the snow storm:  "slippery slopes," inescapability, more
          KC Star letter:  Man attempts to analogize GOP agenda
to snow storm +
          P-D op-ed:  Blaiming Blaine:  Congressman's
constituent survey proves he and uber-capitalists "bitch about the poor
causing all of our problems"
          CDT's Waters:  A higher minimum wage would transfer
wealth from consumers to workers - so what are we waiting for? X
          Columbia Missourian's George Kennedy:  Lots of good
things - like Medicaid expansion - should happen this year, but thanks
to Republicans and Rex Sinquefield, they won't
          Shelly:  Speaker Tim Jones, Sinquefield want to see KC
Public Schools destroyed and hope other districts face turmoil +
          SNL op-ed:  Amanda Good, Missouri State Director for
HSUS:  D.C. lobby group distorts HSUS X
          P-D letter:  Reaction to Medicare readmission
piece;  in many cases, patients ignore discharge instructions, and
that's "their own darn fault"
          SE
Missourian letter:  Show-Me Institute's Patrick Ishmael: 
Legislators supported tax cut for Boeing;  ipso facto, they should
support tax cut for everyone +
          Disclosure
   
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        Thursday, January 9
        KWMU:  McCaskill, Blunt at odds over extending
unemployment benefits
          Washington Post:  Air Force general to retire after
criticism for handling sexual-assault case;  Comments from
McCaskill
          Reuters:  U.S. general who overturned sex assault
conviction to leave military;  Comments from McCaskill
          Politico:  Air Force official out over sexual assault
decisions
          KWMU:  Court to hear challenge to campaign finance
limits
          CDT:  Sen. Kurt Schaefer seeks added requirements for
health insurance navigators, cites "a real threat"
          P-D:  School choice, labor laws illustrate GOP
differences
          Columbia Missourian:  Session opens;  Comments
from majority leadership, local reps
          KWMU:  Session opens;  Comments from majority,
minority
          AP:  Session opens;  Comments from majority,
minority
          SNL:  Session opens;  Comments from majority,
minority X
          KC Star:  Session opens;  Comments from majority,
minority +
          AP:  Senate Republicans block Nixon's parole board
appointment of former Rep. Dennis Fowler (R-Advance), say plum job is
payoff for opposing tax cuts
          SNL:  Republicans rally on right to work ahead of
session start;  Comment from liberal group Progress Missouri X
          KSMU:  On first day of session, Nixon touts Missouri Rx
program in Springfield
          AP:  Nixon wants to renew Missouri Rx program
          Washington Missourian:  Local superintendent opposes
bill that would decide start, end date of school year
          KC Star:  Misuse of suspension needs to be challenged,
Obama officials say;  in Missouri, black students make up 24.4
percent of enrollment but represent 64% of those sent to out-of-school
suspension +
          AP:  Nixon elevates two acting department directors
          AP:  EPA plans more tests at Bridgeton landfill
          P-D:  Nixon appoints retired Ironworkers official James
J. Hunt to Edward Jones Dome board
          Joplin Globe:  Missouri Supreme Court hears arguments
in '07 murder case X
          Columbia Missourian:  Missouri Highway Commission
suspends new construction projects under two programs
          P-D:  MoDOT will raise half-mile stretch of Highway 94
next year to reduce flooding
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Missouri's effort on
777X not fruitful, but it did impress Boeing
          P-D editorial:  Missouri legislators should say yes to
longer school year
          Joplin Globe editorial:  Annual first-day-of-session
editorial;  Legislature should work for the people, etc.
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Missouri already a
pro-gun, low-tax state that allows "legalized murder" via abortion; MO
should expand Medicaid, enact campaign limits, put sales tax for roads
on ballot
          KC Star editorial:  It's time for a moratorium on death
penalty for Missouri's convicted killers +
          KC Star editorial:  Wind energy and efficiency finally
get top billing at KCP&L +
          P-D op-ed:  The case for rebuilding Fulton State
Hospital now
          Washington Missourian letter:  Franklin County
Democratic Party webmaster Darin Gilley:  Kinder pushes right to
work, which is bad for Missouri
          SNL letter:  Missouri Republicans' agenda is business
as usual:  Drug-testing those on the dole, not expanding Medicaid X
          KC Star letter:  Polsinelli's Phillip Zeeck:  On
lobbyist gifts, Missouri's foxes are guarding the henhouse +
          Disclosure
   
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        Wednesday, January 8
        P-D:  Missouri Legislature to convene amid
election-year pressures
          AP:  Legislative preview:  Nixon, GOP legislators
differ on priorities
          AP:  5 things to know about new legislative session
          KWMU:  Legislative preview:  UMSL's Terry Jones
joins Mannies & Rosenbaum to discuss the upcoming session
          Washington Post:  Missouri debates how much - not
whether - to cut taxes
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Secretary of
State Jason Kander joins journo gang to discuss ethics reform
legislation, voter ID, more
          SE
Missourian:  Bill from Sen. Wayne Wallingford (R-Cape Girardeau)
would relax filing laws for candidates in military overseas +
          Missourinet:  Rep. Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City) wants
state's Boeing docs to be made public
          SNL:  Sen. Bob Dixon (R-Springfield) seeks upgrades for
Children's Division software X
          KWMU:  Nicastro says more funding needed for student
assessments under Common Core
          KWMU:  Lawmakers set to weigh changes in school
transfer law
          Missourinet:  Proposed background check extension,
other gun bills back in front of lawmakers
          AP:  Bill from Rep. T.J. Berry (R-Kearney) would cap
fines levied by traffic cameras
          AP:  Bill would bring rural Missouri speed limit to 75
mph
          AP:  Missouri bill would force more children to wear
life vests
          Drebes:  Lobbyist tipster:  Rep. John Wright
(D-Columbia) consolidating Dem support for state treasurer
          Kraske:  Daily "BuzzChatter" quote analysis: 
Missouri Right to Life on Girl Scouts, Speaker Tim Jones on Boeing and
unions +
          SNL:  Unemployment extension splits McCaskill, Blunt X
          KMBC:  RNC leader says KC is strong contender to host
2016 convention (link via TonysKansasCity.com)
          TonysKansasCity.com:  Rep. Emanuel Cleaver undergoes
knee surgery
          AP:  Schweich announces routine audit of Missouri
Department of Agriculture
          P-D:  Nixon names new associate circuit judges in
Warren, Lincoln counties
          P-D:  State office refuses plea deal with Freeman
Bosley, Jr. over mishandling of funds
          KC Star:  KCP&L will increase wind power and energy
conservation +
          P-D editorial:  Time to get beyond 'build now, pay
later' economic development
          Joplin Globe editorial:  Credit Patty Richard, wife of
Sen. Ron Richard, for speaking out about dense breast tissue and
screenings;  Legislature should pass bill from Sen. Dan Brown
(R-Rolla) X
          Jensen: 
EPA's onerous rules affect companies like Noranda, and costs get passed
along to consumers +
          P-D op-ed:  Five years after Tennessee incident,
Missouri faces own impending coal ash disaster
          Disclosure
   
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    Tuesday, January 7
        KWMU:  Missouri property rights advocates laud end of
Blueways program;  Comments from Rep. Jason Smith, Sierra Club's
John Hickey
          KWMU:  Ronnie White, Doug Harpool renominated to
federal bench in Missouri
          Politico:  Gregg Keller leaves American Conservative
Union to form his own company, Atlas Strategy Group
          Kaiser Health News, via P-D:  Medicare identifies
hospitals with high readmission rates;  Five are located in St.
Louis area
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Providers await influx from
health law X
          KWMU:  Departure of Sen. Ryan McKenna (D-Jefferson
County) leaves Nixon with special election conundrum
          JCNT:  Rep. Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City):  State
should release all documents submitted to Boeing X
          KWMU:  As special session opens, Missouri Legislature
may refight old battles but resolve some new ones
          KSMU:  Legislative preview:  Medicaid expansion,
tax cuts, guns
          Columbia Missourian:  Annual preview of area lawmakers'
top legislative priorities
          97.1FM (St. Louis):  Speaker Tim Jones talks to Dana
Loesch about right-to-work prospects for 2014, both through Legislature
and August ballot
          Missourinet:  School transfer issue not a top priority
for Speaker Tim Jones
          Missourinet:  Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey says
transfer issue as a priority, sees chasm between upper body and House
          KC Star:  Former interim KC superintendent named to
Missouri Board of Education +
          Politico: 
For right, Common Core fight prelude to bigger agenda;  Mentions
of Sen. Ed Emery (R), Show-Me Institute (link via Twitter, @ssnich)
          KC Business Journal:  AIM's Ray McCarty says border war
bill may be unconstitutional (link via TonysKansasCity.com)
          CDT:  Bill from Rep. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) would
limit lobbyist gifts to legislators X
          SNL:  Are horses livestock?  Missouri DNR weighs
question, considers horse-slaughter permit X
          AP:  New Mexico horse slaughterhouse company sues state
AG for slander;  Missouri company says politics is also to blame
for delays in Missouri
          AP:  Jury duty hoax hits Missouri county; 
Scammers tell targets they must pay fine in money orders
          CDT:  Columbia interests to stress need for I-70 work
to state Highways Commission X
          KC Star editorial:  MO Legislature could beat
expectations by limiting contributions, expanding Medicaid, stopping
death penalty, fixing school transfers, ending border war and not
cutting taxes +
          JCNT editorial:  A tangle in the branches of
government:  How much budgetary authority should Missouri's
governor have? X
          CDT's Waters:  Missouri's attempt to lure Boeing was
symbolic;  Credit Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) for being a
lone sane voice X
          Shelly:  Troubleshooter to represent KC on state Board
of Education +
          P-D letter:  Perennial candidate Bill Haas weighs in on
TIFs, says Koster is right to call it a zero-sum game
          Disclosure
   
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        Monday, January 6
        P-D:  Battle over state income tax will be revived in
Missouri Legislature
          AP:  Prospects remain slim for Missouri Medicaid
expansion
          Missouri Wonk's Brian Schmidt:  Predicting the next
Speakers of the House based on four variables;  Top contenders for
the gavel among incoming Class of 10, Class of 12
          Joplin Globe's Susan Redden:  Jasper-Newton County
Lincoln Day dinner to feature Long, Schweich, Richard;  Richard's
wife supports mammogram bill X
          KC Star:  New Bancroft school apartments are seen as a
spark for urban core redevelopment +
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Lake project receives state
funding from MO DNR X
          KC Star's Sanchez:  Repercussions loom in Missouri's
failed courting of Boeing +
          KC Star letter:  Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R) does not
appear to be concerned with workers or the unemployed +
          P-D letter:  Missouri should accept federal money to
expand Medicaid and help to the rural poor
          P-D letter:  Reform the sales tax system;  there's
no reason farm equipment should be exempt
          Disclosure
   
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        Sunday, January 5
        P-D:  Boeing's 777X is gone to Seattle. So what now for
St. Louis?
          CDT:  Boeing chooses Washington state over St. Louis
for 777X;  Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) says state should
focus more on education and less on "glittery objects" like Boeing X
          AP:  Seatttle's local labor influence takes hit in
Boeing contract;  Local union leader laments workers' vote to keep
jobs, calls vote "turning point in the labor movement"
          JCNT:  Obamacare may dramatically affect pharmacists,
patients X
          KC Star:  Paper seeks readers' stories of what
Obamacare has meant to them +
          Kraske:  Setting the scene for an unproductive
2014:  Nixon, free from burden of facing voters, can act like a
Democrat again, while Tim Jones seeks to score points in attorney
general primary +
          KC Star:  Missouri's no-limit legislature stokes debate
over ethics landscape +
          CDT:  Missouri lawmakers prepare for cash
quarrel;  Money to be at center of most debates this session X
          Drebes: 
Daniel Hall is at Missouri Department of Natural Resources after
interim PSC appointment was yanked at special session
          SNL:  Annual preview of area lawmakers' top legislative
priorities X
          JCNT:  Annual preview of area lawmakers' top
legislative priorities X
          JCNT:  Wednesday's "Taste of Jefferson City" to welcome
lawmakers, their staff and the public X
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Missouri Democrats seek minimum
wage hike X
          Washington Missourian:  Voting bill shows need for new
election machines, Franklin County clerk says;  Debbie Door weighs
in on bill from Sen. Brian Nieves (R-Washington)
          JCNT:  RIP, GED;  Missouri using new high school
equivalency exam X
          Turner Report:  National education blogger Diane
Ravitch takes aim at Rex Sinquefield (link via TonysKansasCity.com)
          Fox 4 KC:  Mother seeks answers after 14-year-old
daughter runs away from state facility;  Rep. Brandon Ellington
(D-Kansas City) says issue raises questions for state (link via
TonysKansasCity.com)
          SNL:  Officials site road improvements, education in
reduced traffic deaths in Missouri X
          St. Joseph News-Press editorial:  Richard Fordyce,
Missouri's new agriculture director, is equipped to lead X
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Newspapers owned by
chains often "driven to the dogs" by bottom-line mentality; 
Buffett's recent investment in papers a good sign
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Viticulture:  If
Missouri's biggest state school teaches journalism and produces a
newspaper, why not teach grape growing and make wine?
          KC Star op-ed:  Education Commissioner Chris
Nicastro:  The floor is open for ideas on education in Kansas City +
          St. Louis Magazine's Ray Hartmann:  Highway robbery by
government;  Missourians must end the scourge of traffic cameras
run amok
          P-D letter:  Sebelius must have been drinking Christmas
eggnog if she thinks Obamacare is good for Missouri's poor;  A
single-payer system is the way to go
          P-D letter:  D.C.-based Fair Election Legal Network's
attorney Jon Sherman praises Kander on voter registration changes
          Disclosure
   
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        Saturday, January 4
        KWMU:  Washington state machinists narrowly approve
contract to build Boeing's 777X
          Missourinet:  Washington state union vote means Boeing
airliner won't be built in Missouri
          P-D:  Boeing machinists in Seattle approve contract
tied to 777X
          AP:  Seattle machinists OK contract tied to 777X
          AP:  Interior Department ends federal 'Blueway'
program;  Comments from Missouri-based Ozarks Water Watch,
Missouri's Nature Conservancy, others
          SNL:  The next 20 years:  Plan seeks public input
on how to manage Jacks Fork, Current River Park X
          Drebes:  Results of MoScout Reader Poll:  Most
effective legislators (R, D), best consigliore, toughest job, top
lobbyists, more
          AP: 
Nixon to give State of the State speech Jan. 21
          KODE:  Video:  In visit to Joplin, Speaker Tim
Jones shares legislative agenda
          KC Star:  Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro meets
with KC Star editorial board, says not everyone will like final plan
for unaccredited districts +
          P-D:  Transfer process for Normandy, Riverview Gardens
students begins again next week
          Daily
Dunklin Democrat:  Kennett High School working hard to meet new
state standards +
          KMOX:  Audio:  Host Charlie Brennan on UMSL
considering offering illegal immigrants in-state tuition
          Missourinet:  Speaker Tim Jones considering legislative
investigation of Corrections Department's handling of executions
          CDT:  Missouri Supreme Court lets Moberly out of Mamtek
lawsuit X
          AP:  Leaders out at Missouri Soybean Association in
wake of United Soybean Board audit
          KC Star:  Influential business leader, philanthropist
and occasional political donor R. Crosby Kemper of UMB dies in
California +
          P-D editorial:  Missouri Waltz:  A pathway for
Missouri Republicans to accept reality and expand Medicaid - and,
indirectly, help fix school transfer issue
          CDT's Waters:  Missouri Republicans block billions in
free federal money just because it's Obamacare - and surely, they'll
pay a price X
          KWMU op-ed:  KWMU's Margie Freivogel congratulates
reporters on execution-drug story, says KWMU demonstrates "the best
tradition of watchdog journalism"
          Disclosure
   
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        Friday, January 3
        AP:  Some workers set to reach $100K pay in Boeing deal
          TonysKansasCity.com:  List of cities competing with KC
for GOP national convention
          KSMU:  Nixon pushes for Medicaid expansion in 2014
          AP:  Study finds Medicaid expansion drives up ER visits
          KWMU:  Shoppers fuel huge increase in Missouri's sales
tax collections
          AP:  Missouri revenues up 2.8 percent at budget midpoint
          SNL:  On statewide tour, Speaker Tim Jones calls for
debate on "right to work" legislation X
          KWMU:  House Speaker Tim Jones launches tour to promote
2014 agenda
          Lebanon Daily Record:  Speaker Tim Jones makes Lebanon
stop, says federal government should leave states alone
          AP:  Speaker Tim Jones travels state to tout agenda
          AP:  Lawsuit seeks to compel Nixon to set elections
          Washington Missourian:  Franklin County Clerk Debbie
Door (R) expresses displeasure with online voter registration
          P-D:  Attacks in schools sometimes lead to restraining
order;  Francis Howell girl victim of savage attack
          KWMU:  Convicted murderers' lawyers ask Missouri Board
of Pharmacy to act before execution
          Missourinet:  Lawmakers consider legislative action in
response to death penalty controversy
          Missourinet:  Koster's office doesn't believe Target's
claim that customers' compromised PIN info is safe
          AP:  Koster sues St. Louis-area web designer for
bilking customers
          St. Louis Business Journal:  Brian Grace, Sen. Scott
Sifton (D) win publication's prestigious "40 Under 40" award
          Missourinet:  Man/MoDOT vs. Snow:  The $40M fight
          TonysKansasCity.com:  MSNBC's Melissa Harris-Perry, at
center of Romney/race brouhaha, to deliver MLK speech at UMKC
          P-D editorial:  Region moves forward as tuition
discrimination ends in junior college district
          P-D op-ed:  Wash U. teen program director and George
Soros Fellowship winner Dr. Katie Plax:  Raise minimum wage to
$15/hr. to improve child health and well-being
          KC Star's Diuguid:  Drug testing of welfare recipients
needs to go +
          Helling:  14 things we don't yet know: 
Uncertainty about the future of GOP convention, Boeing, Medicaid, tax
cuts, outcome of baseball and football seasons
+
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        Thursday, January 2
        P-D:  St. Louis' 777X hopes hinge on Seattle union vote
          KMOX:  Former local labor leader Bob Kelley predicts
Seattle machinists will reject Boeing's offer
          Missourinet:  Boeing weighs future of F-18
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Sen. Roy Blunt lauds Supreme
Court injunction of contraceptive mandate X
          Missourinet:  Minimum wage rises in Missouri
          Rosenbaum:  Transportation tax supporters still aim for
2014 vote
          AP:  Lawmakers mull changes to governor's budget power
          KWMU:  Hazelwood still waiting for Emerald Automotive
to find the millions it needs to build van plant
          TonysKansasCity.com:  Rep. Brandon Ellington (D-Kansas
City):  "I have no more faith in DESE than KCPS"
          Drebes: 
Alexander McArthy, a Cottleville alderman, to run for term-limited Rep.
Doug Funderburk's seat
          Missourinet:  Koster's office 'looking at all legal
options' in Target card breach
          SE
Missourian:  State audit gives Bollinger County a low rating +
          AP:  Missouri resident among first to buy marijuana in
Colorado (link via TonysKansasCity.com)
          Kraske:  "BuzzChatter" daily quote analysis: 
Local control (via KWMU piece linked here yesterday), Nixon-Fallon bet
(via AP piece linked here yesterday) +
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Another politically
incorrect year;  Paper pokes "sensitive" nature of gay marriage
debate, "Indians" vs. "Whitees" and "Crackers" as team names, more
          SE
Missourian op-ed:  Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder:  State - not the
federal government - better equipped to manage parks +
          KWMU op-ed:  M.Z. Guzy responds to P-D editorial
calling for Nixon to pardon convicts
          Disclosure
   
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        Wednesday, January
1   Happy New Year!
        Bloomberg:  Americans on wrong side of pay gap run out
of means to cope;  KC's Latoya Caldwell, a six-year Wendy's vet,
says it's unfair "CEO makes $5.8 million and he's sitting in an office"
          KWMU's Politically Speaking:  Top 2014 state
stories:  Tax cuts, ballot proposals, Tom Schweich's re-election
as auditor, state legislative races
          JCNT:  Nixon says he's optimistic about state's
economic fortunes in 2014 X
          P-D:  Nixon calls of Legislature to reform Medicaid,
tap federal money
          Missourinet:  Nixon renews call for Missouri to expand
Medicaid eligibility
          AP:  Nixon renews push for Medicaid expansion in
Missouri
          KWMU:  Without Medicaid expansion, 193,000 Missourians
left in coverage gap
          Drebes: 
Ryan Burns joins Office of Administration as public information officer
          The Missouri Times:  Joe Lakin moves to Victory
Enterprises;  Alex Curchin to replace Lakin in Diehl's office
          TonysKansasCity.com:  Good news from politicians in
2013:  KC Dem Reps. Brandon Ellington, John Rizzo team up, raise
money and awareness to feed the homeless
          TonysKansasCity.com:  KC Entrepreneur of the
Year:  Former Dem state Rep. Jason Grill
          KWMU:  St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson calls
transition to local control "seamless"
          AP:  Nixon, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) bet food on
Cotton Bowl game
          Joplin Globe editorial:  Kander's online voter
registration a good move toward making voting process more inclusive X
          The Missouri Times' Collin Reischmann:  "Young and
ambitious," Missouri Optometric Association's Jay Hahn - also available
for contract work - "has reputation as a charming pragmatist, making
him a valuable hire"
          P-D letter:  Reaction to coverage of
unemployment;  Program wasn't intended to last forever
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