East St. Louis school wins School Improvement Grant.

( KTRS ) Several Illinois schools will receive more than $20 million in federal grants over the next five years to help improve student performance and ensure students are better prepared for college. State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith says there are five School Improvement Grant winners including the Gordon Bush Elementary in East St. Louis.…

MU to continue subsidizing grad student health insurance

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – Graduate students at the University of Missouri will receive subsidized health insurance premiums for another year. The Columbia Daily Tribune (bit.ly/1ZL5GiE) reports that interim Chancellor Hank Foley made the announcement Tuesday. Health insurance became an issue after the university gave graduate assistants 24-hour notice in August that they would no longer…

Ban on lobbyist gifts passes Missouri House committee

( KTRS ) A proposed ban on lobbyist gifts to lawmakers and public officials has won approval from a House panel. Current law allows lobbyists to give unlimited gifts to legislators and other officials. Republican Rep. Justin Alferman’s bill would prohibit that. On Tuesday, members of a House committee voted unanimously in favor of the legislation.…