johncombest.com

Missouri's political news website since October 2001.

Archive- January 2015



    


        Saturday, January 31
       
SNL:  As Senate showdown over immigration looms, Blunt pushes hard line;  McCaskill says GOP is "playing a very dangerous game of politics" X
          P-D:  How the local congressional delegation voted this week
          CDT:  Hartzler outlines priorities at Pachyderm meeting, targets "these crazy regulations" on 4th District businesses X
          Columbia Missourian:  Hartzler says it's exciting to have House, Senate "on the same page"
          Kraske:  Government has been sold, and folks like Rex Sinquefield have the receipts +
          KMOX:  Audio:  Tom Schweich says Hanaway's pre-Sinquefield fundraising numbers were "very, very bad" (3:55), difference between her Rex money and his Sam Fox money (5:30), Medicaid expansion (10:00), more
          Shelly:  Tom Schweich, disrupter;  Liberal columnist applauds candidate's criticism of top GOP donor +
          Missourinet:  Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer not interested in governor's race in '16, plans to run for re-election
          Drebes:  Missouri State Council of Firefighters' Tony Kelly starts Firefighters for MO Governor PAC
          Missourinet:  Lawmaker who left House Democrats says more could follow;  Rep. Keith English (I-Florissant) says liberals "don't want to hear the moderates"
          CDT:  Senate bond plan moves ahead as lawmakers raise concerns about Capitol security X
          AP:  Correction to building repairs-bonding story:  Amount set aside is actually $40,000,000.00, not $40,000.00 - three decimal places, or $39,960,000.00, off
          P-D:  Missouri lawmakers reject pay raise
          Missourinet:  Proposal to eliminate Missouri Conservation sales tax withdrawn
          KC Star:  UMKC Bloch School submitted false data for rankings, but results might not have changed, auditors say +
          KMOX:  Audio:  University of Missouri President Tim Wolfe says Missouri is "trending to the bottom in key areas" (2:20), acknowledges Schaefer as "great supporter" of higher ed (4:05), more
          SE Missourian:  Rust Communications teams with university, KFVS to create student media lab +
          KWMU:  Municipal court personnel get first peek at proposed reforms post-Ferguson
          KWMU:  Public comment period for Missouri state energy plan ends today
          KC Star:  "Small crowd" of liberal women gather to push gun-control measures:  Grandmothers Against Gun Violence, Rep. Stacey Newman (D-Richmond Heights), Brady group, et al. +
          KMOX:  Army Corps seeks to sooth Coldwater Creek concerns
          SE Missourian:  Local counselor settles Medicaid fraud suit +
          AP:  Ferguson-Florissant schools seek new leader, healing after Brown death
          P-D:  Police apprehend protester who threw brick at officer;  Marquis Davion Williford charged with second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, a felony
          P-D:  After delay caused by Ferguson riots, Guns N' Hoses comes back swinging
          P-D editorial:  University president seeks to end Missouri's race to the bottom:  Tim Wolfe says legislators must stop being beholden to Rex Sinquefield, wants to see tobacco tax increase for education
          KC Star "Capitol Watch" editorial:  MO Senate better than House on ethics;  Newman's latest gun-control bill won't go anywhere this time, either;  Lawmakers correct to reject pay raise +
          KC Star's Steve Paul:  Kickoff to Missouri press corps' 2016 Overanalyzation Series:  Claire McCaskill's communications team does an outstanding job getting her message out, so maybe she's running for president +
          Disclosure


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




        Friday, January 30
       
The Missouri Times:  Blunt continues fight in Senate against Obama's Executive Order on immigration
          AP:  New push on Capitol Hill for more oversight of U.S. aid agency;  Comments from McCaskill
          NY Times:  U.S. suddenly goes quiet on effort to bolster Afghan forces;  McCaskill:  "I'm offended this previously unclassified information is not being classified"
          Kraske:  The Chat:  McCaskill scoffs at turn toward military spending secrecy +
          Columbus (OH) Dispatch:  McCaskill teams up with Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) to simplify permitting process
          KMOV (St. Louis):  Dr. Oz linked to weight loss supplement that doesn't work;  McCaskill was ahead of curve in calling out TV quack's hucksterism
          P-D:  Ann Wagner, others urge justice to 'dismantle' website they say pushes sex trafficking
          KWMU:  Anti-trafficking advocates want more money
          Helling:  Blunt calls for agency ads to carry "paid for by" tag, but uses taxpayer-funded email to communicate that message;  Ipso facto, Roy Blunt is a hypocrite. +
          Missourinet:  Schweich talks candidacy for Missouri governor
          KMOX:  Schweich announces candidacy for governor
          P-D:  Day after announcing gubernatorial campaign, Schweich rakes it in - to the tune of $366,000 in new donations
          SE Missourian:  Schweich discusses gubernatorial aspirations during Cape visit +
          KFVS (Cape Girardeau):  Schweich makes stop in Cape Girardeau, will take on Katherine [sic] Hanaway
          KODE (Joplin):  Schweich makes campaign stop in Joplin
          The Missouri Times:  Candidate profile:  GOP secretary of state candidate Sen. Will Kraus (R-Lee's Summit)
          KC Star:  Former state rep/current Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker (D) will not run for attorney general;  Mike Sanders still considering race +
          The Missouri Times:  Lobbyist profile:  Richard McIntosh of Flotron & McIntosh
          CDT's Ashley Jost:  Learning Curve column:  Sen. Mike Parson (R-Bolivar) spearheads Senate weight-loss challenge X
          JCNT:  Midwest March for Life set for Saturday X
          KTVO (Kirksville):  'Raise Your Hand for Kids' tobacco tax increase campaign stops in Kirksville
          KTRS (St. Louis):  Video:  Show-Me Cannabis' John Payne talks about Missouri marijuana legalization campaign
          Columbia Missourian:  Profile:  NORML's Benton Berigan:  Reporter Emma Reynolds notes "clean-cut" activist's "big green eyes," dark hair, "gentle demeanor," and "kind voice"
          Riverfront Times:  Ideological differences spark controversy inside Missouri's marijuana movement
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri Farm Bureau's Blake Hurst:  Even in ag-friendly Missouri, HSUS state councils look to target producers
          Brownfield Ag News:  Egg prices skyrocketing in California;  Protect the Harvest's Brian Klippenstein talks about animal activists' efforts in Missouri
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri trade trip to Cuba in March
          AP:  Farming groups highlight Cuban trade possibilities
          KWMU:  Nixon announces Missouri trade mission to Cuba
          AP:  Senate passes bill aimed to help Missouri dairy farmers
          Drebes:  Rep. Courtney Curtis (D-Berkeley) files bill which would weaken labor organizations in the construction industry - "an unusual move for a Democrat"
          Missourinet:  After dramatic buildup, Senate rejects raise for legislators and elected officials
          CDT:  Senate rejects pay raise for lawmakers, statewide officials and judges X
          AP:  Pay raise for Missouri lawmakers, state officials blocked
          AP:  Senate OKs building repair plan for $400M in bonds
          P-D:  State Capitol could gain annex with MoDOT building takeover
          P-D:  School choice debate continues to be a sticky one
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Macon Superintendent Chuck Stockton visits with new DESE Commissioner Margie Vandeven
          Columbia Missourian:  Rep. Kip Kendrick (D-Columbia) pushes for telehealth services in schools +
          JCNT:  Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education holds third public hearing to formulate statewide plan X
          CDT:  Curator nominations blocked by Senate objections to heavy lawyer presence on board X
          The Maneater:  Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) appointed top Democratic member of Higher Education Appropriations Committee
          The Maneater:  ASUM continues lobbying legislators for student curator vote;  President Trey Sprick optimistic about passing a student vote bill this year
          Truman Index:  University President Troy Paino says unless state funding and other factors change in five-year plan, university on pace to be $3M in debt
          The Maneater:  Students who choose to attend four-year university while making conscious decision to borrow money tell tales of struggle, including having to work to pay bills
          Washington Missourian:  Area reps have mixed opinions on texting-while-driving ban
          Missourinet:  Nixon says he could, but doesn't want to, go it alone on stadium bonds
          KMOX:  Loud 'no' coming from Missouri Senate concerning new STL football stadium
          P-D:  Diehl prefers legislative vote if stadium bonds extended
          Northeast News:  Rep. John Rizzo (D-Kansas City) files bill to halt Missouri executions (link via TonysKansasCity.com)
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri Corn Growers push for higher hauling limits;  Comments from Rep. Tila Hubrecht (R-Dexter)
          KTVO (Kirksville):  Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown) proposes captive deer reclassification
          P-D:  Program from St. Louis Regional Chamber, U.S. Green Building Council aims to cut building energy use by 25 percent
          P-D:  Ferguson-Florissant supe finalists give their pitches to public
          P-D:  Civilian oversight board appears headed for passage, despite police union opposition
          The Maneater editorial:  It's (seriously) time for a student vote on Board of Curators;  Efforts of Trey Sprick's ASUM, others should be applauded
          JCNT editorial:  Everyone should get behind Kander's initiative to protect victims of trafficking X
          P-D editorial:  Melee over law enforcement is a disgrace
          JCNT letter:  Blunt should push for more taxpayer funding of cancer research X
          P-D letter:  Vianney chaplain pleased with local participation in D.C. pro-life march
          P-D letter:  Olivette octogenarian says Missouri Legislature is composed entirely of "spineless hypocrites"
          P-D letter:  Ferguson man asks:  If Nixon moved swiftly to repair tornado-damaged Joplin, why not do the same for protester-ravaged Ferguson?
          Disclosure


          X
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        Thursday, January 29
       
The Hill:  Blunt on immigration vote:  "You don't know how these legislative battles go if you don't have them, and we intend to have this one"
          USA Today:  Blunt's bipartisan bill could break highway funding gridlock
          The Missouri Times:  Obama drops Zweifel-opposed proposal to 529s
          KCUR:  KC program focuses on 'healthy women, healthy babies;'  McCaskill, Bond wrote letter supporting funding
          The Missouri Times:  Open enrollment events hosted with deadline looming
          Missourinet:  Tom Schweich enters 2016 race for Missouri governor
          KWMU:  Tom Schweich lambastes Rex Sinquefield as he outlines bid for governor
          The Missouri Times:  Schweich announces run for governor
          P-D:  It's official:  Tom Schweich in GOP primary battle with Catherine Hanaway
          AP:  Tom Schweich joins Catherine Hanaway in GOP contest for governor
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Schweich calls himself "the true anti-corruption candidate," but Hanaway is not impressed;  Kraus releases SOS campaign video;  Blunt on better coordination of Medicaid doctors +
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Journogang has a chat with Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) about attorney general bid, state budgets, Ferguson, more
          Drebes:  Bev Randles stepping down from Missouri Club for Growth opens up spot for Tim Jones
          CDT:  Grass Roots Organizing turns out eleven (11) to protest Missouri payday loan rules X
          SE Missourian:  Nixon touts workforce training designation during visit +
          CDT:  Kander, lawmakers push privacy protections for victims of human trafficking X
          Missourinet:  Diehl puts an end to out-of-Capitol hearings
          KWMU:  Diehl puts a stop to committees meeting in restaurants
          AP:  House to halt committee hearings at restaurants, country club
          The Missouri Times:  Q&A with Rep. Lyndall Fraker (R-Marshfield) about changing venues for committee hearings
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate Democrats talk new life into proposed lawmaker raises
          JCNT:  Pay hikes go into effect unless senators pass resolution today X
          AP:  Missouri lawmakers, elected officials likely to get raise
          KC Star:  Missouri sees temporary truce over Common Core standards +
          Missourinet:  Nixon's involvement spurs Missouri transfer law discussion
          P-D:  Dialogue with Nixon on school transfer law could prove helpful to lawmakers
          AP:  House endorses measure aiding Missouri dairy farmers
          Missourinet:  Republicans propose new requirements for abortions in Missouri
          Daily Dunklin Democrat:  PSC rate hike hearing draws crowd in Dexter
          KWMU:  Army Corps to update public on cleanup of Coldwater Creek;  Segment of North County natives blame their poor health on 1940s radiation
          KWMU:  North City site for National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency faces opposition from residents
          AP:  Koster sues cemetery over maintenance
          KC Star:  Women's state-school group gathers statistics about women, calls it "data with a soul" +
          Twitter:  Post-Dispatch reporter Alex Stuckey reacts to having yesterday's typo pointed out:  "didn't write that part of the story so I have no idea what you're talking about"
          Twitter:  Post-Dispatch reporter Stephen Deere reacts to having yesterday's typo pointed out:  "That was my mistake. Should be fixed now."
          Gateway Journalism Review's Terry Ganey:  Jefferson City press corps wants The Missouri Times to end parties, draft newsroom independence policy;  Comments from Collin Reischman
          AP:  With increase in violent crime downtown, St. Louis police chief seeks help from Missouri State Highway Patrol
          P-D:  St. Louis cops seek highway patrol's help to restore order to downtown streets
          KWMU:  Police say releasing videos of looting has helped apprehend seven thieves
          KWMU:  Chaos at St. Louis City hearing on civilian oversight bill;  Video of uncivilzed behavior, expletive-laden and indecipherable gibber, more
          P-D:  Public hearing on civilian review board ends in chaos;  Union leader Jeff Roorda calls for order, as protesters call for his arrest
          JCNT letter:  It's time to ground excessive state flights X
          P-D editorial:  Speaker John Diehl flip-flops on committee restaurant hearings
          P-D letter:  Missouri Republicans should embrace Medicaid expansion because it's the humanitarian thing to do
          P-D letter:  St. Peters man says Missouri DNR is not looking out for citizens on landfill issue
          Washington Missourian letter:  Recent events show black communities cannot or will not contol themselves;  People should stop committing crimes against people who are black, white or "pea green"
          Disclosure


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



        Wednesday, January 28
       
P-D:  Blunt leading Republicans on immigration fight
          National Journal:  Senate set to join immigration fight;  Comments from Blunt
          SNL:  Billy Long set to launch border-security bill X
          Kraske:  Blunt reports $2.2M on hand;  No primary fight, no Dems in sight +
          AP:  209K Missourians sign up for health care through Obamacare exchange
          KWMU:  County Assessor Jake Zimmerman (D) announces bid for attorney general
          Kraske:  Will Mike Sanders jump in to attorney general race?  Cleaver may hold on to congressional seat to help pay off massive debt +
          KWMU:  Schweich set to declare for governor
          P-D:  State Auditor Tom Schweich to kick off campaign for governor this afternoon at UMSL
          Drebes:  Mark Ellebracht set to challenge Rep. Nick King (R-Liberty) in 2016 rematch
          CDT:  Committee OKs ethics bill to close 'revolving door' of lawmakers becoming lobbyists X
          Missourinet:  Another lawmaker leaves Missouri House Democrats
          The Missouri Times:  Rep. Keith English of Florissant leaves Democratic party to become Independent
          KWMU:  Amid anger from colleagues, Florissant state rep leaves Democratic Party
          Missourinet:  Missouri House members react to Keith English's party switch
          AP:  Missouri Democratic House member switches to independent
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Reps. Jake Hummel, Brandon Ellington react to English's departure +
          Missourinet:  House committee hears voter photo ID arguments
          KWMU:  Legislators once again consider photo-ID mandate for voters
          KC Star:  Year-end numbers show jobs rose, joblessness fell in Missouri +
          The Missouri Times:  Road closed:  The uncertain future of transportation funding
          CDT:  Boone County commissioners:  MoDOT maintenance cuts will have 'substantial' budget hit X
          KWMU:  Bills to combat human trafficking filed in Missouri Legislature, passed by U.S. House
          The Missouri Times:  Missouri bill aims to protect human trafficking survivors
          JCNT:  Kander proposes expanding privacy rights to human trafficking victims X
          AP:  Missouri bill would shield human trafficking victims' info
          JCNT:  Rural prosecutors oppose bills to restructure offices X
          AP:  Missouri GOP lawmakers seek to expand abortion notifications
          P-D:  Missouri schools making progress on sports concussions
          P-D:  Missouri to drop expensive Hepatitis C drug
          AP:  Missouri Medicaid to save $4.2 million by switching Hepatitis C drug
          P-D:  Country club committee hearings again raise questions about Missouri lobbying laws
          P-D:  Nixon official:  State can spend for stadium without legislative vote
          Missourinet:  Lawmakers bristle at idea state could spend money on new stadium without them
          STL BJ:  Ferguson consultants handed no-bid contracts:  Vector Communications (Laurna Godwin and Jessica Perkins), AHC Consulting (Allison Collinger), Emerging Wisdom (Rebeccah Bennett)
          P-D:  Money for groups addressing Ferguson issues becoming source of controversy;  Certified Minority/Women/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firm Victor [sic] Communications, others handed no-bid contracts
          AP:  Dave Spence works to help Ferguson recovery
          P-D:  Ferguson-Florissant set to select new supe;  Suspense builds as protest-torn district must choose between black guy, white guy
          AP:  Koster endorses body cameras for police
          P-D:  Police release more images from Ferguson looting;  Thief perfoms high jump over counter, other criminal feats captured at Mickey's Gas-N-Go
          JCNT editorial:  Pass legislation requiring students to pass civics test X
          SE Missourian editorial:  Region is well-represented in Senate, House leadership +
          P-D letter:  St. Charles woman disagrees with Onder on Obamacare, Missouri Medicaid expansion
          P-D letter:  Area woman says McCaskill, P-D editorial board, other Dems criticize Hanaway to cover up Koster's NY Times ethics issues
          KC Star letter:  Area woman dislikes GOP stance on abortion, urges KC women to not vote in state rep elections for Town and Country's John Diehl or Harrisonville's Rick Brattin +
          Disclosure


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



        Tuesday, January 27
       
Politico:  Keystone vote fails in Senate;  McCaskill absent due to weather
          SE Missourian:  As Obamacare enrollment deadline looms, navigators help consumers sign up
          KTRS (St. Louis):  Jake Zimmerman set to announce bid for attorney general
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Former Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell (D), now working for HSUS, strikes surprising stance on meat
          Drebes:  Former state Rep. Mike Sutherland (R-Warrenton) joins Missouri Budget Project
          Missourinet:  State has too many planes, allows unauthorized passengers
          CDT:  Schweich's audit of state airplane use highlights costs for highway, conservation commissioners
          P-D:  Schweich's audit:  Missouri state government has too many airplanes
          AP:  Schweich audit:  $376K spent flying commissioners to meetings
          KC Star:  Schweich:  Missouri owns too many aircraft
          Missourinet:  Nixon outlines plans to reduce wait list at state's veterans' homes
          JCNT:  New veterans home proposed
          The Missouri Times:  Bond, young veterans stop by Capitol to support Silvey's Medicaid bill
          CDT:  Rep. Chris Kelly (D-Columbia) embarks on new career as lobbyist;  First client is Ameren Missouri
          Missourinet:  Committee chairman Lyndall Fraker (R-Marshfield) defends holding hearing at local country club
          Missourinet:  Diehl hints that practice of holding evening committee hearings at restaurants may come to an end later in session
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  State representatives reject pay raise;  Comments from Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport)
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Missouri House improves bill-crafting process;  Comments from Rep. Joe Don McGaugh (R-Carrollton)
          AP:  Missouri panel endorses limits to unemployment benefits
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Budget crunch to hit MoDOT in 2017;  Engineer explains "Missouri 325 System"
          The Missouri Times:  Agriculture omnibus bill poised to move through Senate
          SNL:  Bill from Rep. Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) would mandate citizenship exam
          The Missouri Times:  New House Judiciary Committee Chairman Kevin Austin (R-Springfield) looks forward to judicial improvements
          AP:  Proposal exempts banks from Missouri consumer protection law
          KWMU:  Missouri Senate could complicate extending bonds to fund new stadium
          Missourinet:  Special prosecutor looking again at drowning in Missouri Patrol custody
          Missourinet:  State honors Winston Churchill on 50th anniversary of his death
          KWMU:  Interview with outgoing Slay COS Jeff Rainford on role of the media, more
          AP:  Rams notify St. Louis they'll go year-to-year on dome lease
          AP:  Missouri Department of Conservation reports 2 more cases of deadly deer disease
          KWMU:  SLU announces concessions to Ferguson protesters:  Will hand out more money to attract and retain black students, will build sculpture to honor squatters, more
          P-D editorial:  Missouri legislators give ethics bill the silent treatment;  Country club to host committee hearing of Rep. Lyndal [sic] Fraker (R-Marshfield)
          SNL op-ed:  Spanking proposal from Sen. Joe Keaveny (D-St. Louis City) is unnecessary;  Senator serving in minority is either seeking attention, or needs more to do
          The Missouri Times letter:  Kerry Messer pens open letter to Capitol friends
          P-D letter:  Alzheimer's Association wants delegation to support "significant increases" in funding
          P-D letter:  Sen. Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis) responds to BJC CEO op-ed on Medicaid expansion
          P-D letter:  It's not fair that Missouri state workers earn so little while state legislators earn so very much
          P-D letter:  Post-Dispatch perpetuating "Hands Up" fairy tale does nothing to heal Ferguson wounds
          Disclosure


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



        Monday, January 26
       
Bloomberg:  Revving up, Jeb Bush rolls through Washington;  Missouri native Jack Oliver, Dubya's money man, helping herd fat cats
        National Journal:  For Jeb Bush, all's (perhaps too) quiet on Capitol Hill;  Blunt says it's still a little early to name congressional campaign chairs
        Kraske:  The Chat:  Clint Zweifel stands up for Missouri on 529;  Ron Richard on ethics;  Mike Parson on using MoDOT building;  More +
        AP:  Share of U.S. workers in unions slips again;  Drop in union membership even more pronounced in Missouri
        KWMU:  Uninsured last year?  You may pay a penalty on your taxes
        KWMU:  Journalism sponsored by Missouri Foundation for Health:  "The Listening Project" will provide coverage on "racial disparities in education, income and health"
        KODE (Joplin):  Secretary of State Jason Kander speaks at Dem event, talks Medicaid expansion
        Drebes:  Brad Ketcher (D) files three initiative petition campaigns for 2016 ballot:  Missouri Medical Marijuana, Smaller Government, and Missouri Research:  Jobs, Health and Lower Taxes
        Missouri Viewpoints:  Toll roads vs. higher taxes:  Thoughts on infrastructure improvements from MoDOT's Greg Horn, Show-Me Institute's Joe Miller
        This Week in Missouri Politics:  Rep. Robert Cornejo (R), Aaron Willard (R), Sen. Joe Keaveny (D), Vicky Englund (D) discuss Medicaid expansion, more
        JCNT:  Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Rhodes Russell:  Courts' future work must include protecting seniors X
        P-D:  Former Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources employees say regulator stifles public information;  Implications for Koster, others
        KC Star:  Either warn businesses about tax changes or give them a pass, says Sen. Will Kraus (R-Lee's Summit) +
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown) responds to Nixon's state of the state, targets governor's withholdings for Cyber Crimes Task Force
        St. Joseph News-Press:  Area higher education officials optimistic over Nixon's state budget plan X
        P-D:  Judge order Kansas City charter school operator to pay nearly $1 million
        St. Joseph News-Press:  Ports bill from Rep. John McCaherty (R-High Ridge) could benefit St. Joseph facility X
        KC Star:  Police use of sobriety eye exams is under fire in Missouri +
        This Week in Missouri Politics:  Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-University City) talks Ferguson
        P-D editorial:  Don't let CHIP funding run out for poor children and families
        JCNT editorial:  State of state workers remains stagnant;  Nixon's SOTS offered something for everyone, except state employees X
        CDT letter:  Missouri NORML's Dan Viets disagrees with JCNT's anti-pot editorial X
        P-D letter:  Clayton woman suggests that contacting Missouri legislators and advocating pro-choice positions is a good use of time
        P-D letter:  After months of protester howling, few file for Ferguson offices - probably because it would require hard work
        Disclosure


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




        Sunday, January 25
       
WSJ:  Blunt, other Republicans weigh expanding 'nuclear option' for Supreme Court nominees
        P-D:  At Fort Leonard Wood, gender targets push female drill sergeants up the ranks
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  McCaskill prepares for Cuba trip, hopes to clear way for Missouri farmers to sell their soybeans, rice, poultry, pork, and beef
        Brownfield Ag News:  Former MO Lt. Gov.-turned-HSUS VP Joe Maxwell:  People should stop eating so much meat
        Brownfield Ag News:  HSUS' Joe Maxwell responds to Brownfield piece on animal activists' losses, Missourians' passage of "Right to Farm"
        Brownfield Ag News:  Protect the Harvest is leading the charge against animal activists;  Comments from Brian Klippenstein, Missouri Farm Bureau's Blake Hurst
        JCNT:  Mike Kehoe, Rocky Miller push back against EPA water regulation proposals X
        KODE (Joplin):  Alliance for Childhood Education meets with Joplin leaders to discuss potential statewide vote to increase Missouri tobacco tax
        Drebes:  Missouri Alliance for Freedom and Americans for Tax Reform team up to expand "no-new-taxes" pledge
        CDT:  Fight over supplemental budget puts focus on Medicaid funding X
        Washington Missourian:  Washington School District supe says district will lose $414K in funding unless Nixon and legislators reach agreement
        Columbia Business Times:  Mid-Missouri colleges prepare to tackle the nursing shortage;  Obamacare will dump thousands of attention-seeking patients into waiting rooms
        AP:  MU:  Missouri has restrictive laws that require physicians to oversee nurse practitioners' work
        Washington Missourian:  School safety director is hired to shepherd first-in-Missouri crisis incident program
        Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri ag bill advances;  Munzlinger says proposal includes dairy provision but not controversial deer piece
        KC Star:  Death of Brandon Ellingson, who drowned in handcuffs, gets another look +
        JCNT:  Proposed Missouri hiking, biking trail draws mixed response X
        KWMU:  Police supporters rally in Clayton
        P-D:  Pro-police rally draws 200;  Pack of 30 counter-protesters shows up to chant catchphrases, yell into bullhorn
        P-D:  After Ferguson, police consider tactical retreat instead of force;  Officers regard it as 'shameful,' and even advocates recognize potential dangers
        CDT:  After Ferguson, MU Legion of Black Collegians wants more black students granted admission, more black faculty hired, more of administration's time spent sitting around talking about race, etc. X
        Washington Missourian editorial:  Is Obama actually serious with "free" co-co proposal?  Missouri already has scholarship programs for motivated students
        Washington Missourian editorial:  Hinson's bill to close tax loophole is grounded in common sense - and likely to be opposed by education lobby and local governments
        Washington Missourian editorial:  Deer like Missouri - and Missourians like killing deer
        CDT op-ed:  University of Missouri's Tim Wolfe, others:  Medical shortage is fixable X
        Jensen:  Nixon's actions deserve explanation;  McCaskill attended pre-verdict meeting, so what was her involvement in Nixon's do-nothing decision?
        SNL letter:  To improve Missouri transportation infrastructure, higher gas taxes - not toll roads - are the way to go X
        P-D letter:  Keep deer under Missouri Department of Conservation management
        P-D letter:  Member of Riverview Gardens Special Administration Board welcomes positive article about students, uses Biblical allegory
        KC Star letter:  Missouri "moms against guns" groups are cowards for holding their carping klatches in safe areas rather than urban war zones +
        Disclosure

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        Saturday, January 24
       
P-D:  McCaskill, Blunt and Clay get oversight slots
          St. Joseph News-Press:  McCaskill embraces seat on investigative panel X
          Politico:  Blunt spearheading push to abolish Supreme Court filibusters
          The Hill:  White House readies crackdown on financial advisers;  Ann Wagner will again sponsor proposal requiring Dept. of Labor to wait until SEC issues rules
          P-D:  How St. Louis area congressional delegation voted for Jan. 19-23
          Marshall Democrat-News:  Tax consequences of Obamacare broken down at Chamber of Commerce breakfast
          P-D/Kaiser Health News:  Suburban St. Louis, Springfield lead way in Obamacare sign-ups
          P-D:  Dem vet Julie Gibson heads to troubled Family Support agency
          KC Star:  Missouri retailers relish the prospect of higher taxes on smokes and booze in Kansas +
          CDT:  Ethics bill gets early hearing as Senate leader pushes changes in lobbying rules X
          Missourinet:  Missouri agriculture bill set to be first on Senate floor
          AP:  Nixon's budget faces challenges in months ahead;  Comments from Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia)
          AP:  Nixon proposes modest increase in higher education funding
          CDT:  Bond proposal would convert MoDOT building into space for Legislature X
          The Missouri Times:  Proposed judicial reforms go far beyond Macks Creek Law
          SE Missourian:  State hosts Cape hearing Monday on Ameren rate request +
          AP:  Settlement reached in so-called "hot fuel" litigation
          Columbia Missourian:  New member profile:  Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport)
          Columbia Missourian:  Missouri foster children are given higher-than-average amounts of psychiatric drugs
          CDT:  Missouri Department of Economic Development reaches out to employees at Nordyne, where layoffs began Jan. 15 X
          KWMU:  New data:  Missouri men earn more than women;  Economist Jacqueline Michael-Midkiff:  "What these numbers do not reflect is a man and a woman at the same job at the same company ... so it's not comparing apples to apples"
          KWMU:  Gay-rights group ranks Missouri on LGBTQIA equality categories:  Bottom in most, tops in one
          KWMU:  Area group complains about landfill, wants legislators to give authority to Army Corps of Engineers
          P-D:  Police release more photos of looters running wild after ruling in Michael Brown assault/shooting case
          KC Star editorial:  Weekly "Capitol" Watch editorial:  Silvey, unlike rest of GOP, has "seen the light" on Medicaid expansion;  Committee hearing held at country club thanks to Rep. Lyndall "Fracker" [sic] Update:  Fixed at 9:15 a.m. +
          P-D editorial:  A new football stadium requires a vote
          CDT's Waters:  Octogenerian publisher commits High Broderism on Missouri budget:  "Shall we point fingers in both directions?" "(S)ome stuff must get done," etc. X
          Messenger:  Welfare of the people should drive court reform
          Columbia Missourian op-ed:  Missouri Hospital Association's Herb Kuhn:  Missouri is not prepared to take care of its olds
          KC Star letter:  When legislators support lower taxes, they are hurting Missourians +
          Disclosure


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



        Friday, January 23
       
SNL:  Blunt, McCaskill land powerful committee posts X
          NY Times:  Senate rejects Blunt amendment to nullify U.S.-China carbon-emission agreement
          KWMU:  Zweifel sounds alarm bells over Obama's changes to 529 plans
          NBC:  McCaskill wants phone companies to offer robocall-blocking technology
          The Hill:  McCaskill signs onto municipal Internet bill
          KWMU:  Missouri marchers reaffirm opposition to abortion;  McCaskill calls out role of Wagner and Hartzler on abortion bill
          P-D's Raasch:  McCaskill narrative suggests Senate election 3 1/2 years from now could be factor in today's abortion restriction bill
          The Missouri Times:  Gregg Keller, stable of political vets create anti-Obamacare group:  Missouri Century Foundation
          Drebes:  Rep. Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City) considers embarking on department-by-department review of state government to identify best practices, mission creep, other intel
          The Missouri Times:  Sen. Ron Richard (R-Joplin) presents ethics bill
          AP:  New home for Missouri veterans proposed to ease waiting list
          KWMU:  Nixon proposes expanding hands-on learning in science, technology
          CDT:  Budget battle joined on supplemental spending, Medicaid expansion X
          P-D:  MO state senators balk at cost of hepatitis C drug, other mid-year expenses
          KC Star:  Funding dilemma divides state school districts into winners, losers +
          KWMU:  Normandy Supe Tyrone McNichols resigns
          P-D:  Tyrone McNichols resigns as Normandy superintendent
          P-D:  Auto dealers sue Missouri over Tesla car sales
          STL BJ:  Auto dealers sue Missouri over Tesla licensing
          AP:  Missouri car dealers sue state over Tesla's direct sales
          The Missouri Times:  Missouri Automotive Dealers Association says Missouri Department of Revenue's approach to Tesla violates equal protection rights
          AP:  Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Rhodes Russell calls for review of municipal courts
          JCNT:  Mary Rhodes Russell urges lawmakers to follow courts' successes X
          JCNT:  Lawmakers, courts focus on possible municipal court changes X
          CDT:  Small-town officials defend ticketing in municipal court bill hearing X
          KWMU:  Debate begins on traffic revenue limits in Missouri Legislature
          AP:  Missouri cities added to lawsuits over traffic fine revenues
          AP:  Missouri Senate confirms Dan Isom as Public Safety Director despite racial-discrimination lawsuit
          SE Missourian:  Deaths by suicide appear to be increasing across Missouri +
          Missourinet:  Missouri Supreme Court halts upcoming execution of Marcellus Williams
          Missourinet:  Attorney awaits Missouri high court's next move after death warrant pulled
          P-D:  Missouri Supreme Court stays execution for murderer Marcellus Williams
          AP:  Court halts execution of man who murdered Post-Dispatch reporter
          KWMU:  Missouri used midazolam in its most recent successful execution
          P-D:  Federal investigation of Ferguson coming to an end
          P-D editorial:  The state of the state of Missouri?  Losing ground
          KC Star editorial:  Nixon's budget proposal spells trouble for Missouri schools +
          JCNT editorial:  Recreational marijuana points in wrong direction;  Responses to potheads' dopey claims X
          KC Star's Steve Paul:  McCaskill steps up to top-ranking role on Senate panel once known as Truman Committee +
          P-D op-ed:  SLU law student Erica Mazzotti:  Nixon should grant clemency to criminals more often
          KC Star's Sanchez:  Even without indictments, Ferguson could move the country forward +
          SE Missourian letter:  Union member dislikes Rehder's position on "paycheck protection" +
          P-D letter:  Illinois man says Missouri teachers shouldn't be expected to work wonders with poor kids
          JCNT letter:  Area woman applauds crowd of two (2) "brave feminists" at pro-choice gathering, says local pro-lifers are "a patriarchal people" X
          P-D letter:  Instead of blaming guns, Post-Dispatch should consider investigating social reasons for savage violence and looting
          Disclosure


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



        Thursday, January 22
       
P-D's Raasch:  Obama's SOTU was combination victory lap and warning to GOP;  Comments from delegation fall along predictable lines
          P-D:  State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) chides Obama over college savings
          KRCG (Jefferson City):  State officials skeptical of Obama's "free" school proposal;  Comments from Blunt, MO Community College Association's Rob Dixon
          P-D:  Catholic youth travel to Washington to participate in March for Life
          KWMU:  More than 2,000 area Catholics to pro-life rally in Washington, D.C.
          Warren County Record:  Gov. Bart Korman?  State rep's interest in state's top position done as tribute to friend
          KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Journogang chats with former state Sen. Sam Page (D-Creve Coeur) on his '08 run against Kinder, success in the Legislature, EPA and West Lake Landfill, more
          Drebes:  Shannon Weber, formerly of Carpenters' union and MO AFL-CIO, will help new STL County exec with state legislative affairs
          Text of Gov. Jay Nixon's State of the State address
          Text of House Speaker John Diehl's response to State of the State address
          KWMU:  Nixon focuses on legacy from Ferguson as he outlines priorities
          KC Star:  In State of the State speech, Nixon pushes for Medicaid expansion +
          CDT:  Nixon hits ethics, education and Ferguson themes in State of the State address X
          P-D:  Nixon calls for building plan, municipal court reform, change in use-of-force law
          Missourinet:  Nixon revisits familiar themes, calls for bipartisanship
          Missourinet:  Diehl's unscripted comments during press availability offer 'real' response to Nixon
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate Leader Tom Dempsey (R-St. Charles) not overly concerned with Nixon's speech:  "We've got the numbers to really dictate our agenda"
          AP:  Nixon urges "healing and hope" after Ferguson
          JCNT:  Local lawmakers generally pleased with many elements of speech X
          Shelly:  Nixon gives a strong speech ... "but really, where has he been the last six years?" +
          AP:  Nixon proposes 'modest' budget with more education money
          CDT:  Nixon budget proposes 1.3 percent increase for University of Missouri X
          JCNT:  Nixon's budget:  No pay hike for state workers, more job cuts X
          AP:  Nixon recommends no pay increase for Missouri state workers
          P-D:  Nixon's budget, by the numbers
          Missourinet:  Amendment 10 changes how Nixon proposes spending
          CDT:  Budget hearing highlights difference between Nixon, lawmakers on spending X
          Missourinet:  Missouri House rejects elected official raises, Senate could allow them
          Washington Missourian:  Rep. Dave Hinson (R-St. Clair) wants to fix tax rate 'loophole'
          AP:  State transportation officials say heavier truck cargo could hurt roads
          SE Missourian:  Rep. Kathy Swan (R-Cape Girardeau) pushes civics test for high school students +
          The Missouri Times:  Civics education initiative in Missouri is a bipartisan effort
          SE Missourian:  Open carry of guns remains prohibited in many places +
          P-D:  Municipal court proposal draws crowd to Missouri Senate hearing
          The Missouri Times:  Senate hears bills aimed at Macks Creek Law reform
          AP:  Municipal courts targeted after Ferguson
          Sikeston Standard-Democrat:  Noranda, Ameren remain at odds over electric rates +
          KWMU:  Media outlets still pushing state to release name of pharmacy that supplies lethal-injection drugs
          P-D:  Cole County judge hears arguments for, against execution drug disclosure
          JCNT:  NAACP, ACLU, et al. support bill to end executions in Missouri X
          NY Times:  Obama's Justice Department not expected to fault Officer Darren Wilson in assault/shooting case
          AP:  Source:  FBI completes federal probe of Michael Brown-Darren Wilson assault/shooting
          P-D:  NAACP's Adolphus Pruitt says it would be "unfortunate" if Justice Department didn't find fault with Wilson
          KC Star editorial:  KC Power & Light's right move on coal helps customers and the environment +
          KC Star letter:  U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, others who support Keystone XL pipeline should be removed from office for "fraud" +
          P-D letter:  Rex Sinquefield and his "minions" don't make any economic sense
          P-D letter:  Illinois man disagrees with Rex Sinquefield's Missouri tax approach
          JCNT letter:  Home-schooling story lacks quality X
          JCNT letter:  Proposed changes to MO Dept. of Conservation have merit X
          Disclosure


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



        Wednesday, January 21
       
KWMU:  President's address generates usual partisan split
          Missourinet:  Congressional delegation/communications staff respond to SOTU
          Politico:  GOP seeking Plan B on immigration;  Comments from Blunt
          KC Star:  Missouri man one of several guests at SOTU, gets to say cursory hello to President +
          USA Today:  McCaskill investigation shows couple games military recruiting program for $4 million
          KTVO (Kirksville):  Blunt plays large role in creating mental health grant
          KMBC (Kansas City):  Blunt:  Obama's "free" community college proposal unlikely to pass
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Hagel on modernization;  More +
          AP:  In State of the State, Nixon to call for increased education funding
          Missourinet:  "5 Things" journomeme:  Things to listen for in Nixon's State of the State
          Missourinet:  Sen. Ryan Silvey (R-Kansas City) proposes stand-alone veterans Medicaid expansion
          The Missouri Times:  Ryan Silvey proposes Medicaid expansion for veterans
          KWMU:  Silvey proposal would expand Medicaid to veterans in Missouri
          JCNT:  Silvey:  Expand Medicaid, at least for veterans X
          AP:  Silvey proposes Medicaid expansion for veterans
          The Missouri Times:  House rejects pay increase
          JCNT:  Missouri House votes against own pay raises X
          AP:  Missouri House votes to forego pay increases
          AP:  Sen. David Sater (R-Cassville) proposes restricting welfare benefits
          AP:  Advocacy groups plea with lawmakers to release millions in restricted funding
          P-D:  Advocacy groups criticize Nixon's budget decisions
          KC Star:  MO Chamber seeks regulatory uniformity to avoid hodgepodge of local laws;  Group wants statewide standard for discrimination laws, minimum wage, employee benefits +
          JCNT:  Ameren proposes new Noranda rate plan X
          Missourinet:  Lawmakers push for civics test requirement for graduation
          KWMU:  STL County Election Chief says new Dem county exec ordered her removal;  Rita Days (D) oversaw ballot shortages and mix-ups, late reporting, wildly inaccurate statements about registration, etc.
          P-D:  Rita Days is out, Eric Fey is in as director of St. Louis County elections
          SNL:  Koster announces that Tyson Foods will pay Missouri $530K in fish kill settlement X
          Missourinet:  U.S. Supreme Court orders hearing for Missouri inmate in halted execution;  Mark Christeson slashed woman's throat in front of her children, then slashed and suffocated the kids
          KWMU:  Low air pollution risk near West Lake Landfill
          AP:  EPA:  No air quality problems at Bridgeton landfill
          P-D:  EPA says air around Bridgeton and West Lake Landfills is safe
          AP:  Few candidates file for Ferguson election despite protests
          KWMU:  Ferguson Commission focuses on economic, racial divides in the classroom
          KWMU:  St. Louis to spend $50K more on minority recruitment program
          P-D:  Gannett to close printing plant;  Post-Dispatch plant will now print USA Today
          P-D editorial:  Five years on, Citizens United is worse than anyone imagined
          JCNT editorial:  Missouri's diversion of tobacco funds is unconscionable X
          CDT's Waters:  Republican legislators' budget process, designed to finish early, will be worth continuing year after year X
          KC Star's Diuguid:  "Southern Education Foundation" numbers show that 55 percent of Missouri public school children are not low-income +
          KC Star's Diuguid:  KCP&L compares neighbors' energy use and helps cheer people to lower electricity bills +
          P-D letter:  North American Elk Breeders Association President Travis Lowe says Missouri's ag department should regulate deer farmers
          P-D letter:  Oakville woman notes that Post-Dispatch gave attention to 18 students in Atlanta for MLK junket, but no mention of hundreds of pro-life students in D.C.
          P-D letter:  Creve Coeur man says racist-courts conspiracy theory has no evidence
          P-D letter:  Chesterfield man says criminals' savage behavior can't be cured by courts
          Disclosure


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



        Tuesday, January 20
       
SNL:  McCaskill, MO GOP delegation applaud/denounce proposals in Obama's yet-to-be-delivered State of the Union X
          P-D:  Obama to mention policing in SOTU, but no Ferguson-related guests in audience
          Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal:  Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel takes questions from crowd at Whiteman Air Force Base
          The Missouri Times:  Farmington Republicans speak out against EPA's lead remediation attempts
          Missouri Viewpoints:  Video:  Human Trafficking is destroying lives in Missouri;  Thoughts from anti-trafficking advocate and trafficking victim
          Drebes:  Ex-lawmakers lobbyist registration series:  Former Rep. Chris Molendorp (R-Belton)
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Video:  Anne Schweitzer (D), Megan Shackelford (D), Scott Dieckhaus (R), Danny Pfeifer (R) discuss Koster, new House committee structure, more
          The Missouri Times:  This Week in Missouri Politics expands to SEMO, will begin airing on Fox 23 KBSI starting in February
          SE Missourian:  New Missouri House committee structure aims to strengthen bill-drafting process +
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  School choice awareness week set for end of January;  Comments from National School Choice's Andrew Campanella
          Missouri Famer Today:  Legislature re-examines dairy act;  Comments from Rep. Bill Reiboldt (R-Neosho), Missouri Farm Bureau's Ashley McDonald
          Missourinet:  Missouri Senate committee to hear municipal court reform proposal
          P-D:  Lowering cap on municipal ticket revenue to get hearing
          The Missouri Times:  Legislator spouse profile:  Wife of Rep. Ron Hicks (R-St. Charles) changes diet, loses weight
          KWMU:  Professional football's future in St. Louis - Questions, and answers
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Video:  Jeff Rainford, the departing COS for St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, on the Rams, Ferguson, and more
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Black Caucus member compares Ferguson to Selma;  More +
          P-D:  Ferguson protesters disrupt MLK event;  Harris-Stowe student Shaquell Humphries:  "They came in here being so very disrepectful."
          Washington Post:  Angy protesters disrupt event celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr., block parade;  Rev. Cleo Willis:  "Well, what can I say? Our parade was hijacked."
          KWMU:  Peaceful Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration clashes with Ferguson protesters
          KSDK:  Video:  Protesters disrupt King celebration;  Former Rep. Betty Thompson (D-St. Louis City) says Dr. King would not be pleased with disrespectful shenanigans
          KC Star:  Activist group "One Struggle KC" marches around town, carries coffin labeled "AmeriKKKa" +
          P-D:  After early national exposure in Ferguson, St. Louis City Alderman Antonio French shifts attention back to his district
          KC Star:  After lack of indictment in Michael Brown case, Rep. Brandon Ellington (D-Kansas City) wants to abolish grand jury system +
          P-D editorial:  In Rex Sinquefield's vision, mom's generation is written off
          KC Star editorial:  Scott Tucker helped Kansas City become an early hub for the payday loan industry +
          P-D editorial:  The death penalty comes close to home;  Marcellus Williams stabbed a former Post-Dispatch reporter 43 times and left her for dead, but should get a break
          Helling:  Partisanship drives ballot-"reform" proposal in Kansas;  KS straight-ticket proposal contradicts strategy of former MO state Sen. John Loudon (R-Chesterfield) +
          SNL letter:  Charging tolls is the fairest way to fund roads X
          KC Star letters:  Missouri leads the nation in black homicides, but Al Sharpton is only concerned with Ferguson;  Share the Harvest provides hunters a chance to donate +
          Disclosure


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



        Monday, January 19   Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day MO State Holiday via Gov. John Ashcroft, attested by SOS Roy Blunt
       
P-D/Kaiser Health News:  Federal funding for CHIP in serious jeopardy;  Area 10-year-old's inability to sit still and pay attention costs $400/month in drugs
        KWMU:  Veterans optimistic about their effort to keep bowling at Jefferson Barracks VA
        Columbia Missourian:  Federal data theft legislation would differ from Missouri law
        Missourinet:  SLU law prof Marcia McCormick on what U.S. Supreme Court decision to rule on gay marriage could mean in Missouri
        JCNT:  Petition seeks statewide vote on marijuana legalization X
        Helling:  One election season ends, and another one starts;  Caitlin Legacki says permanent campaign "makes it harder to govern" +
        JCNT:  Kehoe campaign committee paperwork updated to note possible 'statewide' race X
        Kraske:  The Chat:  Rowden on likelihood of state subsidies for the Rams;  David Steelman on curator appointment +
        Drebes:  Former Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst (R-St. Louis County) registers as lobbyist
        SNL:  Local education leaders eager to hear Nixon's funding proposals X
        St. Joseph News-Press:  Briefs:  Kander's winter-photo display;  Nixon promotes Missouri's auto industry;  Rep. Mike Lair (R-Chillicothe) to host Joshua Hawley speaking tour/campaign events X
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Craig Redmon (R-Canton) seeks to clear up confusion about his Dept. of Conservation proposal
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg) says Missouri Senate ready to get to work
        Missourinet:  Sen. David Sater (R-Cassville) proposes a 'no-call list for minors'
        KWMU:  U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tx.), others meet with protesters in Ferguson
        AP:  Members of Congressional Black Caucus stop by Ferguson
        P-D:  Black Caucus members drop by Ferguson;  Comments from Dem Committeewoman Patricia "Patricialicious" Bynes
        P-D:  Riverview Gardens students gets free trip to King Center annual gala
        P-D editorial:  In Missouri, highway funding debate is about more than taxes, tolls
        SNL op-ed:  Area doctor:  Legislators should expand Medicaid X
        P-D letter:  Ameren President Michael Moehn responds to editorial
        P-D letter:  Society should be willing to pay just a little bit more to raise the minimum wage
        P-D letter:  Area female says Missouri's stance on Second Amendment "makes me so sad"
        Disclosure


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



        Sunday, January 18
       
KC Star:  Butler, Mo. man among Obama's SOTU storytelling tools;  Victor Fugate gets free trip to wave, smile and nod following student-loan segment +
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Mother of Rep. Vicky Hartzler passes away;  Visitation today, services tomorrow
        P-D:  At $37 million and counting, mega-donor Rex Sinquefield says he's not going anywhere
        Drebes:  Former Rep. Jay Swearingen (D-Kansas City) registers as lobbyist
        St. Louis Business Journal:  Home care provider settles Missouri Medicaid fraud allegations
        CDT:  Legislative leaders continue to pursue mid-April deadline for finishing work on state budget X
        St. Joseph News-Press:  State budget work to begin in earnest X
        Kirksville Daily Express' Jason Hunsicker:  Missouri GOP proposes anti-union legislation
        AP:  Lawsuit caps get renewed attention from Republican lawmakers
        JCNT:  Rural prosecutors challenge proposed changes X
        KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) says his committee will see legislation encouraging research at state universities
        JCNT:  Transportation officials seek input on '325 System' plan X
        SNL:  As MoDOT funding falls, cities focus on local roads X
        SNL:  Search still on for alternate road funding X
        St. Joseph News-Press:  Bill from Sen. Rob Schaaf (R) targets red-light cameras, license readers X
        Washington Missourian:  Keaveny's no-spanking bill a non-issue in WashMo district
        KC Star:  More than 1,100 mourners remember 'Fuzzy' Thompson as a civil rights pillar +
        SE Missourian:  Hunting season ends with shooters taking down 3 percent more wild animals +
        Boston Globe:  Activists get angry, point fingers at Harvard forum on Michael Brown
        KC Star:  The tools of criminals are almost always ill-gotten guns +
        JCNT editorial:  Correct training deficiencies for troopers X
        CDT's Waters:  McCaskill made a good call not taking on Koster X
        JCNT letter:  Story on the growing home-school movement was biased X
        P-D letter:  Pay for roads with higher fuel tax, not sales tax
        P-D letter:  Spend money on better roads, not a new stadium
        P-D letter:  Giving away tax dollars to stadium developers is wrong
        P-D letter:  Time for Ferguson residents to step up and start identifying looters caught on camera
        KC Star letter:  "Poor and disabled" woman says there is no way to contact members of Congress via mail;  Only "rich capitalists" can send letters via USPS +
        Disclosure


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




        Saturday, January 17
       
P-D:  Congressional briefs:  Blunt wants Obama to talk transportation, taxes at SOTU;  McCaskill enters MO emancipation anniversary into Congressional Record
        Washington Post:  Top 10 competitive Senate races list:  Missouri not among them
        Bloomberg:  McCaskill exemplifies the case of the elusive female governor
        KWMU:  HUD provides $500K in taxpayer money to help improve area around North St. Louis City Section 8 tenement;  Urban Strategies prez says O'Fallon has become a strain on surrounding neighborhoods
        SE Missourian:  Pro-life group to mark Roe v. Wade decision with prayer +
        The Missouri Times:  Dems target Hanaway;  MO Dems ED Crystal Brinkley says gov candidate "has let one wealthy extremist" fund her entire campaign
        The Missouri Times:  Reps discuss dealing with social media rage, trolling
        Drebes:  House to disapprove pay raise
        P-D:  Missouri revamps teacher preparation
        The Missouri Times:  David Steelman confirmed as University of Missouri curator
        KWMU:  Isom's confirmation as Missouri Public Safety Director delayed
        AP:  Hearings stall for official chosen after Ferguson shooting;  Jury awarded white police sergeant $420K after Isom told him whites need not apply
        KWMU:  St. Louis football stadium proposal getting cold shoulder from Missouri Capitol
        Miklasz:  Political leaders have been silent on new stadium;  Where are Nixon, Slay?
        AP:  Credit card companies to pay $2.2M to Missouri
        P-D:  Small group of protesters gather in Central West End;  Protesters hold "die-in" by sprawling their carcasses across lounge furniture at Weekends Only
        P-D:  August, November riots hurt McCluer dance team
        KWMU:  Organization for Black Struggle says McCulloch "expertly administered a miscarriage of justice," wants to see him punished
        AP:  Clay, Cleaver, others to visit Ferguson tomorrow for MLK service
        SE Missourian:  Southeast Missouri Pachyderm Club hosts black female speaker on MLK +
        P-D editorial:  Nasheed's adopt-a-stray tax credit not a very good idea
        P-D editorial:  Homicide series:  Time to pull out all the stops;  Missouri lawmakers' pro-gun stance has made city savagery even worse
        P-D's Nicklaus:  With immigration issue solved, entrepreneurial couple are happy to be in St. Louis;  McCaskill wrote letter of support for visas
        P-D letter:  Response to pro-Medicaid-expansion op-ed:  What's good for BJC is not necessarily good for Missouri taxpayers
        P-D letter:  Local colleges and universities should start handing out scholarships all around North County
        KC Star letter:  The court system is to blame for people getting frustrated and then committing crimes +
        Disclosure


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



        Friday, January 16
       
KCUR (Kansas City):  Obamacare insurance enrollment increases in Missouri
          The Hill:  Rep. Emanuel Cleaver:  Democrats "pretty much locked in behind" Hillary Clinton candidacy
          KSHB (Kansas City):  Cleaver ranks as third-poorest member of Congress;  Jackson County Clerk was forced to garnish septuagenarian's U.S. House wages
          KC Star:  Cleaver urges Obama to increase heating help for the poor;  Program helps foot the tab for adults who can't pay their own bills +
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri Farm Bureau members eye federal regulatory overreach
          KWMU:  Rex Sinquefield is top Missouri campaign donor in 2014;  McCaskill top donor to Dems
          AP:  Catherine Hanaway has $1.3M cash on hand;  Schweich has about $1M
          Mannies:  Criminal(s) shattered my windows, broke into my car while I taped "Stay Tuned St. Louis" in city
          JCNT:  Lawmakers:  Medicaid expansion's future unknown X
          AP:  Missouri panel opposes pay increases for elected officials
          Missouri Farmer Today:  At summit, Nixon shares vision for state's beef industry
          KC Star:  After man's drowning in handcuffs, legislators urge changes to improve safety on Missouri lakes, rivers +
          Missourinet:  Committee finds Missouri Water Patrol merger hurt training, didn't save money
          KWMU:  Missouri lawmakers question merger of Missouri Highway Patrol, Water Patrol
          AP:  Report:  Water, highway patrol merger meant less training
          Missourinet:  MoDOT's "Tough Choices Plan":  Provide more money or receive less road maintenance
          Columbia Missourian:  MoDOT:  Limited maintenance will cause smaller highways to deteriorate
          CDT:  Local officials worry about MoDOT's threatened cuts X
          Brownfield Ag News:  Young farmer sees benefit in proposed start-up tax credits
          JCNT:  Missouri auto dealers launch campaign to protect franchise marketing;  MADA takes on Tesla over the issue X
          AP:  Bill from Sen. Joe Keaveny (D-St. Louis City) would ban spanking, paddling in public schools
          Missourinet:  Rep. Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) says 'vile, nasty' messages were response to 'all comers' policy ban
          CDT:  UM curators question supplemental fee increases X
          Columbia Missourian:  UM System Board of Curators considers tuition increase for 2016-17
          Columbia Missourian:  MO Dept. of Revenue says Columbia license office was busiest in the state;  Second Columbia office could help relieve pressure
          Washington Missourian:  New Haven to seek $50,000 MO DNR grant to study water infiltration issue
          P-D:  EPA wants to map radioactive waste in Bridgeton Landfill
          KWMU:  Money? Pride? Both? Gauging the value of professional football in St. Louis
          P-D:  NFL exec:  St. Louis must build new stadium to keep NFL
          SNL:  Kander halts Springfield investment scheme X
          P-D:  Next man slated for execution in Missouri seeks DNA testing
          Drebes:  Nasheed's bills would prohibit employers from considering criminals' past, while allowing expungement of some criminal records
          KWMU:  In wake of August and November riots, hiring freeze remains at UMSL
          Washington Times:  George Soros funds Ferguson protests
          St. Louis Business Journal:  Billionaire funded group that spurred Ferguson protests
          KWMU:  EducationPlus invites white and black schools to "first of its kind race summit";  Hazelwood East scholar says she had never before talked to a white person
          P-D:  Summit enables students to skip a day of school work, share decade-and-a-half wisdom on race relations
          KC Star editorial:  Find better ways to support education in rural counties +
          P-D editorial:  Obamacare II:  The Rise of the Community Colleges
          SNL letter:  Legislators only go to Jefferson City to enrich themselves, and can't be trusted to reform ethics laws X
          JCNT letter:  Missouri Department of Conservation is a star among state agencies, and doesn't need change X
          SNL letter:  90-year-old is disgruntled that Ferguson protesters are "having fun looting, burning and destroying everything" while she picks up the tab X
          Disclosure


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



        Thursday, January 15 Web host servers down this morning, restored at 7:55 a.m. Thanks to all for your patience.
       
KMOX:  Blunt:  No more excuses for Obama on Keystone XL pipeline
          KC Star:  Blunt gives "free" juco a failing grade +
          Missourinet:  Missouri delegation votes party lines on Obama's immigration policies
          Washington Post:  Patent reform advocates are launching a 'super-coalition' to whack patent trolls;  McCaskill calls predatory shysters "bottom-feeders"
          P-D's Chuck Raasch:  In staying in Senate, McCaskill occupies shrinking moderate ground
          SNL:  Billy Long asks National Zoo to help save injured bald eagle in Springfield X
          The Missouri Times:  Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick (R-Shell Knob), new Vice Chair of Budget Committee, shares thoughts on fiscal priorities, Nixon's estimates, more
          P-D:  Missouri House committee approves measure against legislative pay raise
          KC Star:  MoDOT seeks more funding, says highway needs far exceed dollars available +
          KWMU:  MoDOT proposes scaled-back road maintenance;  Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission Chair Steve Miller calls budget prioritization "transportation triage"
          AP:  Reduced road maintenance plan proposed for Missouri highways
          P-D:  Chart:  MoDOT's annual construction budgets
          P-D:  MoDOT chief lays out plan for looming fiscal cliff
          P-D:  Lawmakers share thoughts on interior decorating of Capitol offices
          Columbia Missourian:  Opinions vary on proposal to raise speed limit
          CDT:  Board of Curators appointee appears before committee X
          AP:  Ameren Missouri raises energy efficiency charges
          JCNT:  Majority at PSC hearing oppose Ameren rate increase plan X
          CDT:  Sides reach settlement in Mamtek trial X
          CDT:  Legal battles over Mamtek continue despite federal court settlement X
          Missourinet:  Settlement reached in suit over failed Mamtek project
          AP:  Mamtek lawsuit settled
          KWMU:  Court fights end for failed development in mid-Missouri
          KODE (Joplin):  Missouri offers low-income home energy assistance
          AP:  More than 40 Missouri bills filed in wake of Michael Brown case;  Speaker John Diehl gives assurances that law enforcement won't be handcuffed
          KWMU:  Larry Flynt seeks records in Missouri execution case
          AP:  News groups back Larry Flynt's push for execution info
          KC Star:  In study of 2012 data, Missouri repeats as national leader in black homicide rate +
          KWMU:  Slay Chief of Staff Jeff Rainford steps down;  Reign of Mary Ellen Ponder to begin next month
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Doubtful that Congress will approve Obama's "free" community college proposal;  Missouri already has A+ program
          Washington Missourian editorial:  2016 gov race showdown between Chris Koster and Catherine Hanaway means a lot of talk about campaign contributions and ethics
          JCNT editorial:  Finding our way among priorities for transportation X
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Rams owner Stan Kroenke is no Gussie Busch;  For cranks to deny that sports teams have a significant economic impact is naive
          P-D:  Civic community steps up in Ferguson.  Heavy lifting remains.
          P-D op-ed:  Legal Services of Eastern Missouri's Dan Glazier:  The importance of equal access to justice for all
          P-D letter:  Medicaid expansion adds to nation's debt
          KC Star letter:  MLK picture illustrates what protesters used to be:  Dignified men and women with civilized deportment, with no "droopy pants" or flag-desecrating behavior +
          Disclosure


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



        Wednesday, January 14
       
Roll Call:  McCaskill among centrist Dems on McConnell's list of potential collaborators
          Roll Call:  McCaskill, other Senate Dems blast new House rule on Social Security
          KC Star:  Blunt meets with Obama, sees a chance to act on a narrow bipartisan agenda +
          KC Star:  Congressional Wealth Rankings:  Cleaver one of the poorest, worth negative $2.3M; McCaskill worth $23.4M; Hartzler at $8.3M; Blunt at $3.9M; Graves at $1.7M +
          AP:  Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's farewell tour stops at Whiteman Air Force Base
          AP:  Eastern Missouri man named Les Turulli Jr. claims he will run for governor as Independent, plans to burn through $20K of family business money
          Drebes:  Jay Ashcroft files paperwork to run for unnamed statewide office in 2016
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Sinquefield says tax cuts didn't cause Kansas budget problems;  Schweich says he'll announce gubernatorial bid early next month;  Webb takes responsibility for ethics penalty +
          The Missouri Times:  Devil in the details:  Missouri's campaign finance debate has many nuances;  Koster among many with good Sinquefield relationship
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Lindell Shumake (R-Hannibal) urges Koster to join states' lawsuit against Obama administration over immigration
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Nixon promotes mental health initiative X
          Missourinet:  Diehl to respond to Nixon's State of the State address
          P-D:  Diehl's rules to spread power draw bipartisan praise
          CDT:  Area lawmakers land roles as committee chairs X
          Missourinet:  Bills expected to move early include agriculture provisions, municipal court rule changes, and welfare reform
          P-D:  MoDOT Director Dave Nichols to warn of 'tough choices ahead' financially
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Moberly Area Community College President Jeff Lashley says he thinks lawmakers are committed to keeping A+ program going
          AP:  Missouri will test schoolchildren using national Common Core educational standards;  DESE's Michael Muenks sets expectations, says scores will take a hit
          JCNT:  Bill from Sen. Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City) expands sexual assault reporting X
          The Missouri Times:  Sen. Joe Keaveny (D-St. Louis City) is optimistic that the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act (MONA) will pass
          Missourinet:  MONA finds optimistic new sponsor
          AP:  Missouri court limits tax exemptions for construction
          The Missouri Times:  Missouri lawmakers shaky on Rams proposal
          CDT:  Sen. Mike Parson (R-Bolivar) wins MU alumni award X
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Missouri leads the nation in lowest amount spent on tobacco prevention
          P-D:  Jeff Rainford, Mayor Slay's fierce chief, to resign;  Mary Ellen Ponder to take over
          KWMU:  Murderer set to be executed files suit seeking DNA testing;  Marcellus Williams stabbed Post-Dispatch reporter 43 times
          KWMU:  NAACP Legal Defense Fund still calling for a Michael Brown grand jury do-over
          P-D:  St. Louis County Police release looting photos, will post more weekly;  This week's batch shows thieves running loose inside liquor store and pharmacy
          P-D editorial:  Schmitt's tax-cut proposal is twice as bad as last year's
          KC Star editorial:  Missouri should keep tolls in the mix as a way to improve and expand Interstate 70 +
          P-D op-ed:  BJC Healthcare CEO Steven Lipstein:  Missouri legislators should expand Medicaid
          Columbia Missourian's David Rosman:  Missouri Republicans better stop playing "Anything but Obama" game and start expanding Medicaid
          Columbia Missourian op-ed:  Show-Me Institute's Brenda Talent:  State subsidies to private business choke economic growth
          KC Star's Diuguid:  Annual MLK column:  Discrimination must be vanquished, police are guilty of "slayings," etc. +
          Disclosure


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



        Tuesday, January 13
       
KCUR:  Audio with text summary:  Claire McCaskill, on Steve Kraske's show, announces she's not running for governor in 2016
          KC Star:  McCaskill's decision not to run for governor narrows field for Dems;  Senior senator says Catherine Hanaway "can't salt her meat without asking Rex Sinquefield if it's okay" +
          Missourinet:  McCaskill a 'firm no' on run for Missouri governor in 2016
          KWMU:  McCaskill not running for governor in 2016, pledges to lead effort to reinstate state campaign contribution limits
          SNL:  Staying in Senate, McCaskill says her focus will be on campaign finance overhaul X
          AP:  McCaskill says she won't run for governor in 2016, says it is "very likely" she'll run for re-election in 2018
          Politico:  McCaskill won't run for Missouri governor
          Shelly:  Thoughts on McCaskill's announcement:  Koster-Hanaway now the most likely matchup;  Hanaway "tough as nails";  Koster takes Sinquefield money, too;  More +
          Helling:  Cracking down on wealthy candidates' lending to themselves would be a good start toward reform +
          Kraske:  The Chat:  McCaskill's announcement;  Diehl confirms that Medicaid expansion is D.O.A.;  Koster speaks at MLK Dinner +
          Missourinet:  Blunt:  Cuba could be - but isn't - a good market for Missouri
          KWMU:  Tom Schweich begins second term as Missouri auditor
          AP:  Schweich sworn in for second term
          Drebes:  Megan Werner to take the reins of Missouri Growth Association;  Ron and Ann Auer delete their lobbyist registrations
          The Missouri Times:  Staffer profile:  Scott Pearson, legislative assistant to Rep. Kevin Austin (R-Springfield)
          AP:  Missouri Ethics Commission rulings:  Former Rep. Steve Webb (D-Florissant) fined $100,000;  Rep. Mark Parkinson (R-St. Charles) to pay $270 within 45 days for failing to report some contributions in a timely manner
          AP:  List of Missouri Senate, Missouri House committee chairs
          JCNT:  Sen. Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City) heads Energy panel X
          The Missouri Times:  Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown), Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg) propose $12 million in new agriculture tax credits
          Brownfield Ag News:  Bills to assist beginnning farmers filed
          AP:  Proposed Missouri tax credits aimed at enlisting new farmers
          The Missouri Times:  Bill from Rep. T.J. Berry (R-Kearney) would apply new tax credit to student loan repayment
          SNL:  Springfield, regional schools brace for less state funding X
          KWMU:  Jennings, Riverview Gardens report progress in student achievement
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Bill from Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Springfield) would protect Missourians from speed-trap schemes in other states
          Missourinet:  Proposed bill would increase speed limits on Missouri rural interstates and freeways
          Missourinet:  Missouri traffic fatalities in 2014 one off of 2013 total
          P-D:  Legislators, staffers get training on how to respond in case of 'active shooter' incident
          Missourinet:  Inmate to challenge three death sentences in Missouri high court;  Robbie Blurton bound and gagged his aunt and uncle - and their 15-year-old daughter - and shot each in the head
          KWMU:  Crime in St. Louis City was down in 2014 - except homicides, which increased by 32%
          P-D:  Crime down in St. Louis City - except violent crime
          Missourinet:  Four from Missouri are charged in deadly shootout at gun store:  Niquan Midgyett, Londro Patterson, De'Anthony Wiley, and Hakeem Malik
          KC Star:  Judge appoints lawyers for defendants in deadly robbery attempt at gun store +
          KWMU:  Black mayors are wary of push for municipal consolidation in St. Louis County
          JCNT editorial:  Secretary of State Jason Kander's plan - sponsored by Sen. Wayne Wallingford (R-Cape Girardeau) - to reduce fees for businesses presents opportunity X
          P-D editorial:  Homicide series:  One state, two cities, two different trends in homicide
          P-D editorial:  North County mayors worried about court reform doth protest too much
          KC Star's Mara Rose Williams:  New adult ed programs put degrees, certifications in the hands of more graduates +
          P-D op-ed:  Cool Valley Mayor Viola Murphy responds to criticism of North County municipal court systems
          KC Star mini-opeds:  Under Our Skin race series' "diverse" panel:  Gay black man, two black women, white man raising biracial kids, white male playright who works at "Unicorn Theatre" +
          P-D letter:  Bills from Redmon, Munzlinger would would jeopardize funding for Department of Conservation
          CDT letter:  Abortion bill from Brattin is "dangerous rubbish" X
          SLU Center for Health Law Studies' pro-Medicaid-expansion talking points document (pdf)
          Columbia Missourian letter:  Zach Rubin's pro-Medicaid-expansion letter using verbatim language from Medicaid talking-points document
          CDT letter:  Zach Rubin's pro-Medicaid-expansion letter using verbatim language from Medicaid talking-points document X
          Disclosure


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



        Monday, January 12
       
Bloomberg:  Obamacare enrollment groups shift focus to tax liabilities;  Comments from Missouri Foundation for Health's Ryan Barker
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Video:  Speaker John Diehl (R) on approach to session, voters' opinion of Obamacare and Medicaid expansion, the Rams, transportation tax increases, more
          This Week in Missouri Politics:  Video:  Rep. Ron Hicks (R-St. Peters), Gregg Keller (R), Sean Nicholson (D), Patrick Lynn (D) discuss Koster vs. McCaskill, Medicaid expansion, more
          Missouri Viewpoints:  Associated Industries of Missouri's Ray McCarty, AFL-CIO's Joe Mueller talk to host Mike Ferguson about right to work, other business and labor issues
          Drebes:  Brittany Burke starts Tactas, a public and government advocacy firm;  Former Nixon spinvixen specializes in media relations, social media, and reputation management
          JCNT:  Profile:  Missouri Ethics Commission Director James Klahr X
          P-D:  Missouri's 'undercover judge' - Mary Rhodes Russell - praised for customer surveys, reforms
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Nixon says Missouri loses "billions" every year to states that finish cows born here;  Comments from Missouri Beef Industry Council's Mark Russell
          Kirksville Daily Express:  Children at risk:  Kirksville computer crimes unit funding tied up as Nixon withholds funds
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Missouri NEA's Otto Fajen relives Amendment Three's loss, says gap in funding for foundation formula not likely to close any time soon
          Kirksville Daily Express:  Nixon appoints Kirksville's Pete Detweiler to MOHELA board
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg) wants funding for higher education scholarships connected to performance standards
          AP:  Bill from Rep. Stacey Newman (D-Richmond Heights) would ban domestic assailants from owning guns
          SNL:  A year after politicians were raising alarm, here's why Missouri isn't experiencing a propane crisis this winter X
          JCNT:  PSC to hear Ameren rate case on Wednesday night X
          P-D:  Police supporters rally in front of Ferguson police department;  Crowd of 200 loots zero stores, commits zero arsons
          P-D:  Ferguson Commission hears from youth;  Kievonn Monger, other teens tell tales of perceived bias
          P-D:  Body cameras may correct police memories, but they still have limits
          JCNT editorial:  Opening-of-session piece:  Processes should be simplified, elected officials should communicate, Nixon and Republicans should work together, etc. X
          P-D editorial:  Homicide series:  Solving murder.  It's time for St. Louis to try something new.
          JCNT letter:  Toll roads not the right answer for Missouri;  Instead, expand U.S. 50 to four lanes and increase fuel taxes for truckers X
          JCNT letter:  Response to Dept. of Conservation editorial:  Legislature has the right to appropriate money for all government entities, including DOC X
          P-D letter:  Stream and Schmitt fought for medical issues that affected them, but not Medicaid expansion
          P-D letter:  Nixon should not offer to help Rams, because Kroenke should build "his own damn stadium"
          Disclosure


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



        Sunday, January 11
       
CDT:  Missouri slaves gained freedom 150 years ago X
          CDT:  Old issues, complaints about racism and unfairness remain on anniversary of Missouri slave emancipation X
          P-D:  Annual MLK Dinner at Harris Stowe HBCU;  Blunt, Clay, Koster, Kander attend;  McCaskill sends rep;  Nixon does not attend
          Brownfield Ag News:  U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC) amps up;  Nixon speaks at National Press Club on potential benefits for Missouri farmers and ranchers
          KSNF (Joplin):  Crowder College reacts to Obama's free community college proposal;  Able-bodied coed says lenders are "crippling" her by providing student loans
          Daily Dunklin Democrat:  Former Congressman Bill Burlison (D), now 83, stops by Rotary Club +
          The Missouri Times:  Patrick Lynn (D), Sean Nicholson (D), Gregg Keller (R) to discuss Missouri Times' governor's race poll today on This Week in Missouri Politics;  Show airs in STL at 11 a.m. on KDNL, available online at 11:30 a.m.
          Drebes:  Rep. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown) elected 1st Vice President of State Rural and Agriculture Leaders
          JCNT:  What's the true meaning of legislative success?  Missouri lawmakers say it's about more than sponsoring, passing bills X
          JCNT:  Senators ponder meaning of Wednesday's break in gallery decorum;  Schaaf suggests protesters might be more successful if they explain a specific legislative agenda X
          P-D:  Boeing may reap $229 million in new subsidies from Missouri;  Comments from MO Dept. of Economic Development's Mike Downing, others
          KC Business Journal:  KC hospitals petition General Assembly for Medicaid expansion
          Washington Missourian:  Mercy plans to explore ways to assist Hermann hospital;  Official explains impact of Obamacare and lack of Missouri Medicaid expansion
          Monett Times:  Session priorities for Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick (R-Shell Knob) include A+ funding, bill to change how constitutional amendments are passed
          Washington Missourian:  St. Clair R-XIII officials pleased with A+ funding news
          KC Star:  Home-school numbers on the rise;  MO DESE makes it clear on website that it does not regulate home schools +
          AP:  Efforts to cut prison population working, but not yet saving money;  Comments from Sen. Bob Dixon (R-Springfield)
          JCNT:  Lawmakers consider value of grand juries;  Comments from Rep. Brandon Ellington (D-Kansas City), Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) X
          CDT:  Trial to begin Tuesday on Mamtek class action case X
          CDT:  Columbia resident Brian Jamison (R) among four Missourians appointed by Nixon to Missouri Gaming Commission X
          CDT:  Opponents of Callaway County hog farm seek new hearing X
          P-D:  Creativity and hope:  How St. Louis will fund a $985 million football stadium
          AP:  Losing Rams would be blow to St. Louis' pride, not economy
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Nixon's press team was wise to offer no comment on Chappelle-Nadal's silly "resign or be impeached" grandstanding
          P-D's Leiser:  The time may be right to raise Missouri's gas tax, or maybe not
          P-D's Nicklaus:  Stadium may sparkle, but it's not an investment
          KC Star letters:  St. Louis region should consolidate municipalities;  Sen. Ed Emery (R-Lamar) is wrong to oppose Medicaid expansion +
          Disclosure


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



        Saturday, January 10
       
KWMU:  U.S. House approves Keystone XL pipeline;  Clay, Cleaver are delegation's only 'no' votes;  McCaskill, Blunt are co-sponsors
          Missourinet:  Missouri House delegation votes along party lines for Keystone XL
          KWMU:  Blunt assumes chairmanship of powerful Senate Rules Committee
          P-D:  Back to getting secret briefings, Blunt says world is 'scary place right now'
          P-D:  Area congressional votes for the week
          P-D:  Former Congressman Bill Clay relives 1991, blasts Clarence Thomas and Jack Danforth;  Octogenarian to peddle score-settling book Friday at Harris-Stowe
          KWMU:  Nixon joins bipartisan coalition looking to expand trade to Cuba
          KWMU:  Praise, skepticism meet Obama's community college plan;  UMSL's James Shuls:  "You're not pulling community college out of a hat ... somebody's paying for it."
          Kraske:  Pat Gray had a profound impact on Kansas City +
          KWMU:  Missouri Lincoln Day to feature battle between Ed Martin, John Hancock for control of MO GOP;  Dem Chairman Roy Temple may run unoppsed in February
          Drebes:  Mike Leara joins Rick Stream, Andrew Koenig in GOP crowd for Schmitt's seat
          JCNT:  Report from Central Missouri Community Action:  Missouri unemployment shrinks as poverty grows X
          The Missouri Times:  Schmitt looks to double 2014 tax cut as Republicans debate 2015 priorities
          AP:  Bill from Rep. Keith English (D-Florissant) would prohibit food-stamp recipients from using handouts to purchase energy drinks
          AP:  Additional $4.5M of taxpayer money used to pay heating bills for Missourians earning up to 135 percent of the poverty level
          P-D:  St. Louis loses a corporate headquarters as Patriot Coal leaves for West Virginia
          P-D:  More data to be collected at burning Bridgeton Landfill
          KWMU:  Task force appointed by Nixon unveils plans for new riverfront NFL stadium
          Missourinet:  Governor's task force shares vision for new football stadium, but questions still linger on the future of the NFL in St. Louis
          P-D:  Nixon team proposes open-air stadium, and no new taxes
          AP:  New football stadium would cost at least $860M
          KWMU:  Fundraising efforts for Ferguson businesses continue;  Zweifel's Small Business Relief Program and Kander's #FergusonRebuild
          AP:  Missouri leaders sought resignation of Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson
          AP:  Organization for Black Struggles invites all 20 members of Legislative Black Caucus to Ferguson;  Five attend
          KC Star editorial:  Hoping for the best from a dysfunctional Congress;  McCaskill, Nixon deserves credit for seeking progress on Cuba +
          Washington Missourian editorial:  McCaskill - who doesn't need a salary after marrying a "very successful businessman" - right to call for an end to automatic pay raises
          JCNT editorial:  Protesters' uncivilized chanting of "This is what democracy looks like!" should really have been "This is what anarchy looks like!" X
          KC Star's new "Midwest Voices" lineup for 2015:  'Diverse' group of Missourians include Democratic operative Brian Noland, social worker, public school teacher, "tolerance and anti-bigotry" activist, writer for "poverty and policy" journal +
          P-D letter:  Lindenwood University's think tank director Howard Wall:  Response to Chris Sommers' piece on minimum wage
          P-D letter:  To solve Missouri's transportation-funding conundrum, charge trucking industry more
          SNL letter:  Man shares thoughts on teacher-tenure legislation, says legislators are whores X
          Disclosure


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



        Friday, January 9
       
Kraske:  The Chat:  McCaskill on Keystone XL, Cuba;  Sen. Marie Chappelle-Nadal (D) says Nixon has "disdain for children of color" +
          Missourinet:  Nixon joins push for lifting embargo on trade with Cuba
          P-D:  Nixon in D.C. promoting Cuban trade, but Blunt reiterates opposition to normalizing relations
          KC Star:  Blunt chosen to lead Senate rules committee +
          P-D/Kaiser Health News:  Federal health law still faces major hurdles in 2015;  Comments from Missouri Foundation for Health's Ryan Barker
          KC Star:  Definiton of 'full-time' work varies widely, debate on shifting Obamacare to 40 hours points out;  Comments from UMKC program's Judy Ancel +
          Washington Post:  Missouri's Jack Oliver working behind the scenes for Jeb Bush's campaign
          Drebes:  Veteran Dem fundraiser Margaret Onken leaves Koster's campaign, will focus on corporate and non-profit clients
          TonysKansasCity.com:  Pat Gray, Kansas City's top Democratic campaign consultant, passes away
          Columbia Missourian:  Infographic:  Legislative lobbying in Missouri
          The Missouri Times:  Photo gallery:  The 2015 Inaugural Ball Grand March
          Missourinet:  Freshman state Rep. Randy Pietzman (R-Troy) takes 14-year-old cancer survivor to the Inaugural Ball
          Kraske:  Nixon turning a new page, says he'll provide more attention to legislators' needs +
          AP:  Secretary of State Jason Kander aims to cut business fees;  Comments from Sen. Wayne Wallingford (R-Cape Girardeau), MO Chamber's Tracy King
          KSGF:  Audio:  Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Springfield) talks to host Nick Reed about P-D editorial board's hypocrisy on campaign contributions (31:00), past leadership races (19:30), likelihood of Legislature helping keep Rams (16:30), more
          Washington Missourian:  Over 6,400 gun permits issued in Franklin County since 2004 law passed
          KWIX/KRES (Moberly):  Rep. Nate Walker (R-Kirksville) outlines 2015 priorities:  educational benefits for families of emergency medical personnel killed in the line of duty, more
          P-D:  UMSL says reported rape on campus did not happed;  Coed fabricated tale about backseat encounter with svelte blue-eyed stranger
          KOMU (Columbia):  National Organization for Women's Seileach Corleigh, Rep. Stephen Webber address "gender inequality";  Eight local Republicans decline to be interviewed  (link via Twitter: @ssnich)
          KC Star:  How the public might help pay for a new stadium in St. Louis +
          AP:  Delegation to present findings in St. Louis' bid to keep Rams
          P-D:  Customers weigh in on Ameren Missouri rate request
          KWMU:  State takes more legal action over concerns landfill fire may be spreading
          AP:  Bridgeton Landfill owner disputes state's emergency claim
          Missourinet:  Blunt reiterates call for Justice Department to wrap Michael Brown investigation
          The Missouri Times:  Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal files scathing remonstrance against Nixon
          P-D:  North County municipalities under attack for their courts say they will work on own reforms
          P-D:  Public relations company hired for Ferguson says it didn't get paid;  The Devin James Group files breach of contract suit against PR firm Elasticity
          P-D editorial:  Laws of ecology should guide landfill, coal-ash decisions
          KC Star editorial:  St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch must test DNA evidence before Missouri execution +
          CDT's Waters:  Nixon, Slay should let Rams go and then lure another team X
          P-D letter:  Response to Chris Sommers' piece on higher minimum wages
          P-D letter:  Response to Chris Sommers' piece on higher minimum wages
          P-D letter:  Ferguson man displeased that Nixon, others allowed thieves to pillage his town
          Disclosure


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




        Thursday, January 8
       
SNL:  McCaskill plans Cuba trip to explore how Missouri farmers can benefit from eased relations X
          P-D:  McCaskill to travel to Cuba to assess markets for Missouri agriculture
          KC Star:  Missouri and other farm states:  Let us sell to Cuba +
          KWMU:  McCaskill warns GOP not to 'overreach' on Keystone, other issues
          KWMU:  Rep. Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester) to run for Schmitt's open state Senate seat
          AP:  GOP opens Missouri legislative session with historic numbers
          CDT:  Nixon lists 2015 priorities, sees himself taking larger role in persuading lawmakers X
          Columbia Missourian:  Governor's prayer breakfast kicks off legislature's Opening Day
          KWMU:  Opening Day recap:  Prayer breakfast;  Brief fit of yelling in Senate gallery;  Diehl assures taxpayers there will be no "Ferguson agenda";  Dems "soldier on" with super-minority status
          CDT:  Opening Day recap:  Comments from Nixon;  Medicaid-expansion supporters perform "die-in" theatrics;  Minority Leader Jake Hummel takes realistic approach to working with GOP X
          Missourinet:  Missouri legislative leaders address Ferguson riots, potential for municipal court rule changes
          KC Star:  Opening Day recap:  Lawmakers kick off session with Republicans fully in command +
          P-D:  Opening Day recap:  Legislators set priorities
          The Missouri Times:  Opening Day recap:  Senate leaders discuss priorities
          JCNT:  Opening Day recap X
          The Missouri Times:  Diehl takes the reins;  Text of speech
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Opening Day notable quotables from Ron Richard, Jake Hummel, Jason Kander +
          AP:  Protesters stall opening of Missouri Senate session;  Organization for Black Struggle's Kayla Reed says she hopes yelling, chanting will encourage legislators to take her group seriously
          Missourinet:  Video:  Protesters yell, hold banner:  "Pledge Allegiance to Black People"
          AP:  Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-University City) calls for Nixon's resignation over Ferguson
          CDT:  Chappelle-Nadal urges Nixon resign or be impeached X
          P-D:  Chappelle-Nadal calls for Nixon's resignation
          Missourinet:  Nixon wants Justict Dept. to release findings of Ferguson investigations
          Columbia Missourian:  Legislative preview:  Reps. Stephen Webber (D), Caleb Jones (R), Caleb Rowden (R), Kip Kendrick (D) list priorities
          AP:  Missouri House Chief Clerk Adam Crumbliss:  formal inaugural ball cost taxpayers less than $3,000
          KWMU:  St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay talks about school transfers, toll-road proposal, having to deal with litany of post-Ferguson complaints
          KWMU:  Want do less-than-full professors want?  Washington University will find out.
          JCNT:  Darryl Chatman, a member of Armstrong Teasdale's litigation group, becomes first African-American to serve as deputy director of Missouri Department of Ag X
          Washington Missourian:  Anti-drug crusader Jason Grellner:  E-cigarettes used to smoke pot oil
          P-D:  Koster asks court to force Bridgeton Landfill owner to collect more data
          Missourinet:  Nixon, state leaders discuss keeping Rams in St. Louis
          AP:  St. Louis leaders:  Rams owner won't return our calls;  Nixon says he's not giving up hope
          KC Star:  About 200,000 in KC area can now apply for refunds from American Traffic Solutions over red-light tickets +
          AP:  St. Charles OKs body cameras for its police
          JCNT editorial:  Legislative proposals are meddlesome, unnecessary threats to Conservation Dept. X
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Growing counties can be hamstrung by outdated state statutes;  St. Charles County will benefit from appointed police chief
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Landfill permit for Ameren was inevitable
          P-D editorial:  Missouri Supreme Court wades into Ferguson.  Excellent.
          Washington Missourian's Bill Miller:  Toll roads are the only feasible way to improve I-70 - but achieving that goal will require legislative leaders to have vision
          P-D op-ed:  HSUS' Washington, D.C.-based Paul Shapiro:  Missouri pork producers should drop inhumane practices
          Miklasz:  Recommendation for Rams fans:  Don't be mad at Los Angeles
          P-D letter:  Hazelwood man says that though Missourians elected Republicans to a supermajority, that might not actually be what the voters want
          P-D letter:  There are greater threats to driver safety than higher speed limits
          Washington Missourian letter:  Area man says he is fed up with protesters' savagery
          P-D letter:  Spanish Lake man suggests those who support police officers hold their own rallies - inside Ferguson, and at Berkeley gas stations
          Disclosure


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




        Wednesday, January 7   Missouri General Assembly Opening Day
       
The Hill:  Mitch McConnell finds his go-to Dems:  McCaskill a co-sponsor of Keystone XL bill
          Kraske:  The Chat:  Blunt on Obama's Keystone XL position;  McCaskill opposes automatic pay raises for lawmakers +
          SNL:  114th Congress preview:  Thoughts from Hartzler, Long X
          KRES/KWIX (Moberly):  Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer on Scalise controversy
          The Missouri Times:  Profile:  Joshua Hawley;  35-year-old is key attorney in Hobby Lobby, King v Burwell cases
          Drebes:  Rep. Bart Korman (R-High Hill) amends MO Ethics paperwork, lists office sought as "Governor"
          KC Star:  Nixon salutes Northland program that gives students job training, college fast track +
          Missourinet:  2015 Missouri legislative session preview
          JCNT:  2015 Missouri legislative session preview:  Comments from area elected officials X
          AP:  "5 Things" journomeme:  Things to know for 2015 legislative session
          P-D's Virginia Young:  List of elected officials to follow on Twitter
          P-D:  Republicans have upper hand with Nixon as budget battles loom
          KRES (Moberly):  Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg) says supplemental spending bill is critical
          AP:  Deer as livestock bill returns to Missouri Senate
          Missourinet:  Safety group wants primary seat-belt law;  Rep. Galen Higdon (R-St. Joseph) may or may not file bill again
          Columbia Missourian:  Interactive graphic:  The state of abortion in Missouri
          SE Missourian:  Medicaid expansion in Missouri continues to look unlikely +
          KRCG (Jefferson City):  Medicaid-expansion rally draws two dozen
          JCNT:  Rally braves cold to plead for Medicaid expansion X
          Missourinet:  Some still want Medicaid discussion in new Missouri legislature
          AP:  Insurance company to pay Missouri $161K for false statements
          KRES (Moberly):  Supportive Services for Veteran Families to help homeless Missouri veterans
          KWMU:  Missouri Supreme Court eases penalty for not paying court fines
          P-D:  St. Louis County police release video, photos of looters
          AP:  Judge extends order limiting Missouri police use of tear gas
          KWMU:  Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal's latest round of Twitstigation sparks controversy;  Insight from Sen. Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis)
          CDT:  In wake of Ferguson, lawmakers to spend time discussing complaints about race, law enforcement, etc. X
          KWMU:  Michael Brown grand juror Doe may have a case, say legal experts
          JCNT editorial:  Don't rush to judgment on raising speed limits X
          KWMU op-ed:  Nature Conservancy's Doug Ladd:  Current River deserves vigorous support and protection
          Columbia Missourian letter:  Show-Me Institute's Patrick Ishmael:  On taxes, Missouri's neighbors raise the stakes
          Jensen:  Building a movement around "Hands up, don't shoot" lie is a good sign of stupidity
          P-D letter:  It's a shame that "Hands up, don't shoot" lie will influence Legislature
          JCNT letter:  In wake of Ferguson, self-described "old white man" sarcastically wonders what he should apologize for - black juveniles' violent crimes, inability to read, and what else? X
          Disclosure


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



        Tuesday, January 6   Missouri Legislature Opening Day Eve
       
P-D:  Legislative ball set for tomorrow night at Capitol
        Resource/Recommended reading:  May 2014 Missouri political news headlines
        Resource/Recommended reading:  April 2014 Missouri political news headlines
        Resource/Recommended reading:  March 2014 Missouri political news headlines
        Resource/Recommended reading:  February 2014 Missouri political news headlines
        Resource/Recommended reading:  January 2014 Missouri political news headlines
        KSPR (Springfield):  Session preview;  GOP Reps. Eric Burlison, Kevin Austin on budget, taxes, Ferguson, more;  Rep. Charlie Norr (D) is mentally prepared for "a long session"
        KWMU:  Politically Speaking podcast:  Journogang previews 2015 legislative session, more
        CDT:  Session preview:  Lawmakers speed budget process to assert authority on spending
        KRES (Moberly):  Missouri Chamber of Commerce President Dan Mehan lists priorities:  Workforce training and development, workers' comp reform, civil justice reform, more
        Drebes:  Ashley McDonald to serve as Missouri Farm Bureau's new state lobbyist
        The Missouri Times:  Legislator profile:  Rep. Tila Hubrecht (R-Dexter)
        KC Star:  Activist profile:  Missouri marijuana legalization activist Amber Iris Langston
        KWMU:  December sees more money flow into Missouri coffers
        The Missouri Times:  State revenue on the rise
        AP:  Missouri revenue up five percent, on par with spending freezes
        CDT:  Bills address health care for students in schools
        Kraske:  The Chat:  Kansas' experience with higher speed limits seems to contradict claim from Rep. Mike Kelley (R-Lamar)
        CDT:  Nixon seeks ideas for promoting beef production, processing
        Columbia Missourian:  Panelists discuss beefing up cattle industry at MU summit
        Missourinet:  Designer:  new Fulton state hospital will be better, safer
        The Maneater:  Nixon appoints two new members to Board of Curators
        P-D:  SEIU organizing campaign succeeds, as Washington University's less-than-full professors vote to unionize
        KWMU:  Adjuncts at Washington U. vote to unionize
        KWMU:  St. Louis Schools' appointed and elected board start working together to transfer authority
        P-D:  Meeting offers little to signal shift in St. Louis schools governance
        KWMU:  After reports of an L.A. stadium deal, Nixon promises response to keep Rams in St. Louis
        P-D:  Missouri officials will fight for Rams - but not in a bidding war
        Miklasz:  Kroenke shows his hand
        Helling:  Issue of Rams stadium another headache for Nixon
        KWMU:  State to take more legal action over concerns landfill fire may be spreading
        KWMU:  Area delegation summarizes priorities for 114th Congress
        ABC News:  McCaskill's work on sexual assaults makes her one of top 6 women to watch this year
        KC Star:  Ferguson businesses to AG Eric Holder:  Wrap it up
        KTVI (St. Louis):  "Black People's Grand Jury" indicts Darren Wilson in fantasy trial;  Organizers announce decision whilst donning fur hats bearing Communist hammer and sickle
        KC Star:  NAACP calls for new Ferguson grand jury, investigation
        Missourinet:  Member of Michael Brown grand jury sues for right to speak publicly
        P-D:  Michael Brown case grand juror sues St. Louis County prosecutor, asking to speak out on case
        AP:  Ferguson grand juror sues to be allowed to talk about case
        Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal editorial:  McCaskill, Blunt do an excellent job communicating with the public
        KC Star editorial:  Legislative wish list:  Missouri Republicans should suddenly begin supporting Medicaid expansion, campaign-contribution limits, and an end to "corporate welfare"
        P-D op-ed:  Clergy Coalition, et al.:  Missouri Repubicans should suddenly begin supporting Medicaid expansion, "economic dignity," payday loan limits, etc.
        Columbia Missourian op-ed:  Area man's MoDOT funding solution:  State workers should pick up recyclable bottles roadside, then haul them to Iowa for $0.05 deposit
        Disclosure


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




        Monday, January 5
       
KC Star:  Missouri lawmakers continue opposition to Obamacare and Medicaid expansion +
          Washington Missourian:  Lawmakers:  Reform needed before Medicaid is expanded;  Comments from GOP Reps. Paul Curtman, Justin Alferman, Missouri Health Care for All's Jen Bersdale
          Missouri Viewpoints:  Host Mike Ferguson talks with Rep. Paul Curtman (R-Union), Missouri Budget Project's Jay Hardenbrook about Medicaid expansion, tax policy, transportation funding
          P-D:  Seventh time could be a charm for eating-disorder coverage;  Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg) to carry bill pushed for six years by Rick Stream
          KWMU:  Missouri legislative overview:  Medicaid expansion, school transfers, campaign-contribution limits, more
          AP:  Ethics on Missouri lawmakers' 2015 agenda
          Drebes:  MoScout 2014 Readers Poll:  Lobbyists;  Firm on the ascent, most underrated, best QB for big issue, more
          KODE (Joplin):  Group wants tax increase for Missouri tobacco sales;  Comments from Rep. Charlie Davis (R-Webb City)
          KC Star:  College endowments bounce back after big loss during recession;  Comments from UMKC spokesman John Martellaro +
          KODE (Joplin):  Rep. Mike Kelley (R-Lamar) proposes bill to increase highway speed limit
          KWMU:  With a possible hike in electric bills, Missouri Public Service Commission wants to hear from the public
          Daily Dunklin Democrat:  MO DHSS labels influenza as widespread across the state +
          St. Joseph News-Press:  Federal funds for rural broadband still flowing X
          Daily Dunklin Democrat's Laura Ford:  Through decades of name changes, this newspaper "has never lost its roots - DEMOCRAT" +
          JCNT letter:  Legislators targeting Department of Conservation are attempting a power grab X
          P-D letter:  Missouri should allow sales of growlers of beer
          P-D letter:  Legislature must change laws regarding municipal courts
          P-D letter:  O'Fallon, Mo. man recounts MetroLink experiences:  Prostitution, "boisterous game of craps," stolen liquor and boom-box music
          JCNT letter:  If Michael Brown had been "John White" there would have been no riots nor hysteria;  Majority of people stand with law enforcement X
          Disclosure


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




        Sunday, January 4
       
The Hill:  GOP prepares Keystone blitz;  McCaskill one of seven Dems expected to join all 54 Republicans in voting "Yes"
          KRES (Moberly):  Blaine Luetkemeyer previews 114th Congress, including continuing-resolution fallout and his committee assignments
          JCNT:  100,000 Missourians enrolled for health insurance but uninsured number stays high X
          KC Star:  United Health Foundation report says Missouri health is going downhill +
          P-D:  Tolls on I-70?  Rev up this debate again.
          Sikeston Standard-Democrat:  To-do list of Rep. Holly Rehder (R) includes prescription drug monitoring program, paycheck protection, grandparent guardianship bill
          Columbia Missourian:  Chris Kelly's replacement set to serve in super-minority;  Kip Kendrick enjoys gardening, biking, listening to "Most [sic] Def" (Updated 9:01 a.m. with correct spelling)
          JCNT:  Proposed legislation targets Missouri Department of Conservation funding, commission X
          CDT:  Ethics issues high on legislative agenda as session approaches X
          CDT:  Publisher's parties highlight reporting issues in Missouri ethics laws;  MATA reported spending $550 for food and drink to honor Sen. Jolie Justus (D-Kansas City) X
          The Missouri Times:  Scott Faughn responds to CDT piece on parties, questions timing of Rudi Keller's reporting
          P-D:  Frustration with EPA handling of West Lake growing
          KC Star:  Video of Missouri drug task force arrest raises concerns about police violence +
          Washington Post:  Protesters slam Oprah over comments that they lack 'leadership';  Man decries self-made mogul's diet of "truffles and grilled unicorn ass"
          AP:  A look at post-riot Ferguson:  Comments from residents, elected officials, small-business owners, more
          P-D:  Ferguson could set tone for Missouri legislative session
          AP:  Brown shooting prompts array of Missouri bills
          P-D:  Ferguson protesters' playbook "has puzzled many in the St. Louis area"
          KWMU:  African People's Socialist Party convenes make-believe "grand jury" to indict Darren Wilson
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Balance is needed in creating pro-business environment;  Missouri must not follow Kansas, where the pendulum swung too far
          Washington Missourian editorial:  Proposal from Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-University City) to give tax credits for pet adoption is a real laugher
          P-D editorial:  When Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal waves a cutout of Nixon and curses in public, she's serving only to divide - not make any meaningful point
          CDT's Waters:  Having Tim Wolfe's business expertise in the president's office brings great value to the UM system X
          JCNT's Bob Watson:  Living Capitol life without Bob Priddy X
          P-D letter:  Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst:  P-D editorial gets it wrong on New Madrid Floodway
          SNL letter:  Republicans' 10 years of control in Missouri - with 6 of those years under Nixon - has brought bad news to Missouri X
          P-D letter:  Paper has an obligation to stop calling criminal miscreants "protesters"
          Disclosure


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



        Saturday, January 3
       
KOLR (Springfield):  U.S. Postal Service to begin cuts in service Monday;  McCaskill, Blunt criticize agency for not performing feasibility studies
          St. Joseph News-Press:  McCaskill, Blunt, Graves lend voice to levees project X
          P-D:  Ann Wagner standing behind embattled GOP Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.)
          KRZK (Branson):  Billy Long asks Corps for extension on behalf of group managing Table Rock recreation areas
          AP:  Monthly report shows improved Midwest economic outlook
          Drebes:  MoScout 2014 Readers Poll:  Legislators;  Who does their homework, who gets things done, freshmen to watch, more
          KC Star:  Nixon tries to reverse opposition to I-70 tolls in Missouri +
          St. Joseph News-Press:  I-70 toll study gets mixed reviews;  Schaaf calls tolls "lesser of two evils";  Rep. Jim Neely (R-Cameron) suggests higher fuel tax, MoDOT admin cuts;  more X
          KODE (Joplin):  2015 legislative preview:  Joplin Chamber President Rob O'Brian suggests a state fund to lure businesses;  Rep. Charlie Davis (R-Webb City) sponsors voter ID bill
          CDT:  Nixon announces final two curator appointments:  Lawyers Maurice Graham (D-Clayton) and Phillip Snowden (D-Kansas City) X
          Columbia Missourian:  Two MU law graduates appointed to UM System Board of Curators
          CDT:  With higher ed funding on the Missouri legislative docket, Rob Dixon takes the helm of Missouri Community College Association X
          P-D:  Legislature to tackle Missouri's school transfer conundrum again
          Brownfield Ag News:  Missouri could become a feedlot state;  State Ag Director Richard Fordyce previews Missouri Beef Summit, which starts Monday
          Washington Missourian:  State approves new coal ash landfill in Franklin County
          P-D:  State regulators approve coal ash landfill in Franklin County
          P-D:  PSC holds public hearings Monday on Ameren rate hike
          KSMU:  Missouri Lottery tallies 2014 prizes
          KSMU:  Nixon pardons 9, including 2 convicted in Southwest Missouri
          TonysKansasCity.com:  Area urbanites upset that Nixon's pardons didn't include KC criminals
          P-D:  Nixon names new Ferguson Commission member:  Byron Watson
          AP:  Missouri History Museum capturing Ferguson history as it happens
          Mexico Ledger:  Longtime Ledger Managing Editor Janeen Sims dies
          Columbia Missourian:  Columnist Rose Nolen dies;  Windsor, Mo. native best known for classic tome "Hoecakes, Hambone, and All That Jazz"
          KC Star editorial:  Gov. Jay Nixon (D), AG Chris Koster (D), GOP legislative leaders are wrong to support the death penalty +
          Kraske:  The Newsmaker of the Year is Police Chief Darryl Forte +
          P-D:  Great Rivers Environmental Law Center's Kathleen Henry:  Anti-fossil-fuel crusaders are the modern-day abolitionists
          KC Star letter:  Missouri Jobs With Justice's Lara Granich on minimum wage +
          P-D letter:  Webster Groves woman wants Missouri legislators to expand Medicaid
          P-D letter:  Des Peres man says Medicaid is a human right, and should be placed on Missouri ballot
          P-D letter:  Ferguson man says we must seek equitable society, "whilst simultaneously rejecting inexcusable criminal behavior"
          Disclosure

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



        Friday, January 2
       
KWMU:  GOP Congress likely to flex new muscles with Keystone Pipeline vote;  McCaskill lone area Democrat to support project
          Helling:  Dems give Blunt a free pass in 2016 +
          Kraske:  2015's top question answered:  McCaskill to pursue life-long dream of being Missouri's first female governor, shoves Koster out of her way +
          KWMU:  Local group continues efforts to honor Missourians killed in Iraq and Afghanistan
          TonysKansasCity.com:  Winners and Losers of 2014:  Winners include KC's Ferguson and minimum wage protesters, KC Dem Reps. John Rizzo and Brandon Ellington
          KTRS (St. Louis):  Audio:  Alliance for Childhood Education's Erin Brower discusses Missouri tobacco tax increase
          SE Missourian:  Nixon's State of the State likely to focus on education, health care +
          AP:  Rep. Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City) pushes for school health clinics
          Washington Missourian:  Fresh effort being launched to establish prescription drug monitoring program in Missouri;  Comments from Reps. Holly Rehder (R-Sikeston), Dave Hinson (R-St. Clair)
          Washington Missourian:  Bill from Rep.-elect Justin Alferman (R-Hermann) seeks public vote to fill vacated commission seats
          Missourinet:  Rep. Jeff Grisamore (R-Lee's Summit):  Attack on son raises bar-camera question for Legislature
          KC Star:  Obscure state law pushes the Independence courthouse expansion forward +
          P-D:  Missouri could become the next state to increase top highway speeds
          CDT:  DOR awards contract for Columbia license office to Koester & Koester, which operates seven other state license offices X
          KWMU:  Missouri shooting range users asked to take exit survey on needs, possible improvements
          AP:  11K Missouri deer killed with alternative methods;  Spear-throwers, crossbows help harvest animals
          KC Star:  Amid a crackdown on violent criminals, Kansas City homicides sharply decline +
          P-D:  Friendly crowd gathers in St. Louis to support police, who return the favor;  170 adults, zero arsons
          AP:  St. Louis City man charged Thursday after advocating for "New Years [sic] Eve Massacre Kill A Pig Night"
          KWMU:  Swearing-in ceremony location moved after "multiple" security threats;  Audio of speeches from Bob McCulloch, Steve Stenger
          The Missouri Times:  Dave Spence's "1000 Ferguson Jobs" releases holiday wish list:  School transfer legislation, increase in cigarette tax to benefit scholarships, more
          Daily American Republic:  Poplar Bluff cops now wearing body cams
          KC Star's Yael Abouhalkah:  Juxtaposing KC, STL 2014 murder seasons:  KC has fewer, even with a population much higher than "long-declining St. Louis" +
          P-D letter:  High Ridge woman says officer who called stuffed-animal heap "trash" was right - why honor "a thug who was trying to beat up a cop"?
          P-D letter:  Governor, police chiefs are emasculated by mobs
          Disclosure


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



        Thursday, January 1   Happy New Year!
       
Kraske:  Blunt bullish on 2015 legislative prospects;  Toll roads would require a heavy lift from Nixon, help from GOP leaders +
          CDT:  Blunt urges public support for hunger relief during tour of food bank X
          Helling:  McCaskill, Blunt claims about Keystone XL's positive effects are dubious +
          KCUR (Kansas City):  Half of Obamacare enrollees in Missouri are new
          AP:  McCaskill, Klobuchar make stripped-down, single-item wager on Mizzou-Minnesota bowl game:  Tiger Stripe ice cream versus some kind of "frozen hot [sic?]" dessert Klobuchar claims is her "signature"
          Shelly:  2014 recap:  Koster only cared about campaign-finance ethics once he got busted;  Cleaver needs to do more;  Sinquefield's influence is bad;  more +
          Drebes:  Jeremy Cady joins Missouri Alliance for Freedom as legislative director
          AP:  New Missouri laws in effect today:  Minimum wage rises, again;  Women with dense breasts get extra attention;  More
          AP:  Report:  Double-digit tolls could fund I-70 repairs
          KWMU:  MoDOT report explores adding tolls to I-70
          P-D:  Highway Commission:  I-70 tollway across Missouri is "worthy of consideration"
          Columbia Missourian:  Nixon exploring options for tolls along I-70
          Columbia Missourian:  Overview of 2015 legislation affecting Missouri education
          AP:  Missouri's second execution of 2015 set for Feb. 11;  Walter Storey invaded neighbor's apartment, broke her ribs and pummeled her face, then slashed her throat until she bled to death
          JCNT:  Missouri Conservation Commission sets 2015 hunting seasons X
          KTVI:  Video:  Pack of charging protesters controlled by pepper spray;  Police Chief Sam Dotson says instigators keep police from doing work that matters
          P-D:  Protesters charge at police protecting headquarters
          AP:  Police use pepper spray to subdue protesters storming police headquarters
          P-D:  Protesters post list of demands:  "1)  Immediate meeting with the Dotson [sic], Slay or Lewis Reed."
          P-D:  Mini-profile of Berkeley's Ted Hoskins (D);  Mayor says that despite facts of Antonio Martin's demise, "There are some who will not believe anything"
          P-D:  Incoming Democratic county executive forced to move inaugural ceremonies due to security concerns
          KC Star' Yael Abouhalkah:  What won't happen in 2015:  Missouri-Kansas border war won't end;  Royals won't repeat as AL Champions;  More +
          Columbia Missourian's David Rosman:  Liberal columnist disagrees with Brattin on abortion
          SNL letter:  Protesters should keep doing their thing, but just stop blocking the travel and activities of normal people X
          Washington Missourian letter:  There's a sign missing from Ferguson protests:  "Stop the violence. Obey the law!"
          Disclosure


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



       



       



       

       


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

       



       


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