JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A special panel created by Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander is recommending that the state allow early voting and expand absentee voting by mail.
The bipartisan commission released its recommendations Thursday for overhauling Missouri's voting laws.
Missouri now allows people to vote by mail only if they meet certain conditions, such as a disability or absence from their district on election day. The commission says voters should be allowed to mail their ballots without such restrictions.
It also recommends requiring all local election authorities to establish one location where voters can cast ballots in-person beginning six weeks before election day. For presidential elections, highly-populated areas would be required to establish an additional polling place for early voting.
The 11-member commission is made up of local election authorities, attorneys and former lawmakers.
The bipartisan commission released its recommendations Thursday for overhauling Missouri's voting laws.
Missouri now allows people to vote by mail only if they meet certain conditions, such as a disability or absence from their district on election day. The commission says voters should be allowed to mail their ballots without such restrictions.
It also recommends requiring all local election authorities to establish one location where voters can cast ballots in-person beginning six weeks before election day. For presidential elections, highly-populated areas would be required to establish an additional polling place for early voting.
The 11-member commission is made up of local election authorities, attorneys and former lawmakers.
Tagged under
A senior citizen's was stabbed death overnight, now that woman's niece is in custody while police question her about the murder.
The woman's body was found inside her North County apartment this morning by a maintenance worker. Police say she had been stabbed several times. Fox 2 reports that the niece, who lives with the woman, was sitting in the apartment acting like nothing happened.
The woman has been identified as Bernice Winston of Ferguson.
The woman's body was found inside her North County apartment this morning by a maintenance worker. Police say she had been stabbed several times. Fox 2 reports that the niece, who lives with the woman, was sitting in the apartment acting like nothing happened.
The woman has been identified as Bernice Winston of Ferguson.
Tagged under
A former St. Louis County police officer allegedly stole over a thousand dollars from the department by filing fraudulent overtime.
Michael Wood was charged Wednesday for felony stealing. Wood, a 10-year-veteran of the St. Louis County Police Department, was serving as an officer in the North County Precinct when he resigned in November.
Michael Wood was charged Wednesday for felony stealing. Wood, a 10-year-veteran of the St. Louis County Police Department, was serving as an officer in the North County Precinct when he resigned in November.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A wide open debate on possible fixes for the state's pension mess is set for the Illinois House.
House Speaker Michael Madigan has scheduled a hearing for Thursday. Lawmakers are expected to vote on pension changes he is proposing.
A provision among the changes calls for penalizing retirement before age 67 with reduced benefits.
Another measure requires employees hired after January 2011 to pay an additional 5 percent toward their pensions on top of other contributions.
Riverside Democratic state Rep. Michael Zalewski says the expected votes are intended to gauge lawmakers' support for some potential reforms.
Zalewski says there's been enough talk about the changes and now is the time for legislators to actually show where they stand.
House Speaker Michael Madigan has scheduled a hearing for Thursday. Lawmakers are expected to vote on pension changes he is proposing.
A provision among the changes calls for penalizing retirement before age 67 with reduced benefits.
Another measure requires employees hired after January 2011 to pay an additional 5 percent toward their pensions on top of other contributions.
Riverside Democratic state Rep. Michael Zalewski says the expected votes are intended to gauge lawmakers' support for some potential reforms.
Zalewski says there's been enough talk about the changes and now is the time for legislators to actually show where they stand.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A disease that has decimated bat populations in the eastern United States has been detected in Illinois.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources said Thursday that two laboratories confirmed the presence of the fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome.
The disease was found in bats from four counties: LaSalle in north-central Illinois, Monroe in southwestern Illinois and Hardin and Pope in the far southern part of the state.
Researchers are especially concerned about the disease because bats play a crucial role in the environment.
In particular, they devour agricultural pests, saving that industry billions of dollars a year.
There is no known way to prevent the disease, which has now been detected in 20 states, most of them in the eastern U.S.
It affects seven hibernating bat species.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources said Thursday that two laboratories confirmed the presence of the fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome.
The disease was found in bats from four counties: LaSalle in north-central Illinois, Monroe in southwestern Illinois and Hardin and Pope in the far southern part of the state.
Researchers are especially concerned about the disease because bats play a crucial role in the environment.
In particular, they devour agricultural pests, saving that industry billions of dollars a year.
There is no known way to prevent the disease, which has now been detected in 20 states, most of them in the eastern U.S.
It affects seven hibernating bat species.
Tagged under
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri senators have passed legislation scaling back tax breaks for developers and offering new incentives for high-tech businesses and world trade.
The Senate's 27-7 vote Thursday sends the bill to the House, where it already faces some opposition.
House Speaker Tim Jones has said senators "over-reached" by significantly lowering the amount of tax credits available for the construction of low-income housing and the renovation of historic buildings. But Jones likes provisions in the Senate bill that create new tax credits for air cargo exports, computer data centers and investors in high-tech, start-up businesses.
Gov. Jay Nixon praised the bill Thursday for containing "long-overdue reforms" to tax credits.
A similar proposal to overhaul Missouri's tax credits failed during a 2011 special session.
The Senate's 27-7 vote Thursday sends the bill to the House, where it already faces some opposition.
House Speaker Tim Jones has said senators "over-reached" by significantly lowering the amount of tax credits available for the construction of low-income housing and the renovation of historic buildings. But Jones likes provisions in the Senate bill that create new tax credits for air cargo exports, computer data centers and investors in high-tech, start-up businesses.
Gov. Jay Nixon praised the bill Thursday for containing "long-overdue reforms" to tax credits.
A similar proposal to overhaul Missouri's tax credits failed during a 2011 special session.
Tagged under
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A former southwest Missouri lawmaker has been chosen as executive director of the Missouri Republican Party.
Former state Rep. Shane Schoeller, of Willard, was selected Thursday to oversee the daily operations of the Republican Party.
Schoeller lost an election last November for secretary of state and previously served six years in the House, rising to the number two spot as House speaker pro tem.
He succeeds Lloyd Smith, who resigned last month as executive director to make an unsuccessful bid for Congress.
Missouri Republicans have revamped their leadership since the 2012 elections, when they lost five out of six statewide races but gained a supermajority in the state House. Ed Martin, who lost a bid for attorney general in November, was selected last month as party chairman.
A milestone day in the construction of the new Mississippi River Bridge. At some point Thursday morning, contractors plan to 'touch land' on the Missouri side of the river for the first time. A MoDOT spokesman tells KTRS news the bridge won't meet over the water until late June or early July, depending on how the river cooperates. The new bridge is scheduled to open to traffic early next year.
Suspended Ellisville Mayor Adam Paul speaks out about a move by city council members to kick him permanently out of office. Calling it a bad parody of the Last Supper, the 32-year-old Mayor tells McGraw in the Morning he's been falsely accused of disclosing confidential information and drinking on the job.
"That's the most below the belt claim on there," Paul said.
Last April, Paul ran on a platform opposing a TIF for a new Walmart on behalf of hundreds of residents many of whom showed up Wednesday night on his behalf.
A hearing was scheduled for March 20th to decide whether Paul should be permanently removed from office. Mayor Paul tells McGraw he expects to be impeached and then plans to ask the courts to intervene. Paul is also considering another run for Mayor.
"That's the most below the belt claim on there," Paul said.
Last April, Paul ran on a platform opposing a TIF for a new Walmart on behalf of hundreds of residents many of whom showed up Wednesday night on his behalf.
A hearing was scheduled for March 20th to decide whether Paul should be permanently removed from office. Mayor Paul tells McGraw he expects to be impeached and then plans to ask the courts to intervene. Paul is also considering another run for Mayor.
Two Cardinals with St. Louis connections were center stage this morning as Pope Benedict said his final farewell. The Pope says he will pray for his cardinals as they choose his successor.
Cardinal-Emeritus Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, the former and 7th Archbishop of St, Louis, joined Ballwin native Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America."
George Stephanopoulos asked Rigali about speculation Dolan could be chosen to succeed Pope Benedict XVI:
"Stephanopoulos: He's on everyone's short list just about to be the pope. Rigali Well I think (Dolan laughs) we'll have to let the Holy Spirit decide that (Dolan laughs) You can see he has many virtues."
Benedict met with the cardinals as part of his final day as pontiff before retiring. Benedict promised "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor.
Latest News
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Storm debris pick up in St. Charles ends next week
St. Charles County officials say the last day for storm debris pickup is a week from today. Residents can place fallen tree limbs at the curb in impacted area east of Highway 94, n...
Convicted sex offender charged for another sex crime
A man, already on the sex offender registry, is facing charges for allegedly molesting a 10-year old boy. Douglas Hahn was convicted of sodomizing two girls in St. Louis County in...
Illinois lawmakers plan to form committee to examine pe…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois lawmakers have convened a special session in Springfield, where they're expected to move ahead with plans to form a committee to deal with pension...
Arrest made in Kirkwood murder case
19-year-old Nicholas Lunceford is in custody connected to the murder a murder in the Village of Marlborough. Police believe that Lunceford shot and killed 18-year-old Brandon Rich...
St. Louis group gets grant to provide job training to i…
ST. LOUIS (AP) - A St. Louis organization is getting a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to provide job training for inmates. Federal officials on Wednesday ann...
Former judge fills vacant St. Clair County position
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - A one-time appellate court judge is being appointed to fill a vacant St. Clair County court position after the judge who once held the job resigned over...
Advocates say Metro East customers overpaying smartphon…
Customers in the Metro East are overpaying by $300 million dollars a year for their smartphone plans. The study was released by the Citizens Utility Board in cooperation with wirel...
OBAMA: 'LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED' BY NSA PROGRAMS
BERLIN (AP) — Trying to tamp down concerns about government over-reach, President Barack Obama on Wednesday defended U.S. Internet and phone surveillance programs as narrowly targe...
