JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Republican-controlled Missouri House members have approved a proposal that would require voters to show photo identification at polling places.
Proponents say requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID before casting ballots would help prevent election fraud. Critics argue Missouri has had no known recent instances of voter impersonation. They also say the rule could make it harder for some people to vote.
Lawmakers have discussed the proposal several times in recent years, with the debate generally falling along party lines.
On Wednesday, House members approved a constitutional amendment allowing for a photo ID requirement. Lawmakers then endorsed separate legislation that would implement it. Both measures require another vote before they move to the state Senate.
Proponents say requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID before casting ballots would help prevent election fraud. Critics argue Missouri has had no known recent instances of voter impersonation. They also say the rule could make it harder for some people to vote.
Lawmakers have discussed the proposal several times in recent years, with the debate generally falling along party lines.
On Wednesday, House members approved a constitutional amendment allowing for a photo ID requirement. Lawmakers then endorsed separate legislation that would implement it. Both measures require another vote before they move to the state Senate.
SPRINGFIELD, IL (AP) - Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon says she won't seek re-election next year but is weighing her options when it comes to seeking another public office.
She declined to give details, but she spent much of a news conference yesterday playing up her legal and financial experience.
Political experts say the move points toward exploring a run for attorney general or another statewide office and would allow for Simon to raise campaign funds separately from Gov. Pat Quinn, who's seen his approval rating dip.
It would also allow Simon to see who else is running.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan said yesterday that she hasn't decided yet on a 2014 gubernatorial run.
Simon told Quinn her decision in December. She said that in a few months she'll make another announcement about her future plans.
She declined to give details, but she spent much of a news conference yesterday playing up her legal and financial experience.
Political experts say the move points toward exploring a run for attorney general or another statewide office and would allow for Simon to raise campaign funds separately from Gov. Pat Quinn, who's seen his approval rating dip.
It would also allow Simon to see who else is running.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan said yesterday that she hasn't decided yet on a 2014 gubernatorial run.
Simon told Quinn her decision in December. She said that in a few months she'll make another announcement about her future plans.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Democrats say they have enough votes to approve gay marriage on the floor of the Illinois Senate.
But Thursday's vote poses a challenge for Republicans.
After suffering big losses at the polls last fall, GOP leaders in Illinois and nationwide said the party needs to be more inclusive and diverse.
But after Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady publicly backed same sex marriage during January's lame-duck legislative session, members of the more conservative wing of his party called for his ouster. Opponents also pledged to fund primary challenges to any Republican who voted in favor of the bill.
The conflict comes as voters' feelings are shifting rapidly in favor of gay rights.
If the Senate approves the measure, it will move to the House.
But Thursday's vote poses a challenge for Republicans.
After suffering big losses at the polls last fall, GOP leaders in Illinois and nationwide said the party needs to be more inclusive and diverse.
But after Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady publicly backed same sex marriage during January's lame-duck legislative session, members of the more conservative wing of his party called for his ouster. Opponents also pledged to fund primary challenges to any Republican who voted in favor of the bill.
The conflict comes as voters' feelings are shifting rapidly in favor of gay rights.
If the Senate approves the measure, it will move to the House.
Students at one Washington County school will have Valentines Day off. A broken boiler is forcing officials to cancel classes at St. Joachim School in Old Mines, Missouri Thursday.
The principal says they hope to have repairs completed in time for school on Friday.
The principal says they hope to have repairs completed in time for school on Friday.
A good Samaritan is being credited with coming to the aid of a dementia patient who'd wandered away from a New Athens nursing home.
Eighty-four year old Arthur Crowl was discovered missing just after 7 a.m. Wednesday by staff at the New Athens Home for the Aged on South Johnson Street.
New Athens Detective Ray Wilson says Crowl had been wearing only pajamas when he was found walking along a side road just after 8 a.m. A motorist picked him up, took him to a nearby gas station and called authorities.
Detective Wilson says Crowl was taken to the hospital as a precaution, but seemed to be unharmed.
Eighty-four year old Arthur Crowl was discovered missing just after 7 a.m. Wednesday by staff at the New Athens Home for the Aged on South Johnson Street.
New Athens Detective Ray Wilson says Crowl had been wearing only pajamas when he was found walking along a side road just after 8 a.m. A motorist picked him up, took him to a nearby gas station and called authorities.
Detective Wilson says Crowl was taken to the hospital as a precaution, but seemed to be unharmed.
A pedestrian is in very critical condition after being struck by a car in north St. Louis Wednesday night. It happened about 8:30 at Halls Ferry and Veronica in the Baden neighborhood.
Police say the victim, a man in his 50's, was taken to Barnes Jewish Hospital with two broken legs and a head injury.
An accident reconstruction team is investigating.
Police say the driver did stop. It's not known if that driver will face any charges as the investigation is ongoing.
Police say the victim, a man in his 50's, was taken to Barnes Jewish Hospital with two broken legs and a head injury.
An accident reconstruction team is investigating.
Police say the driver did stop. It's not known if that driver will face any charges as the investigation is ongoing.
The legal battle between St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church and the St. Louis Archdiocese is over. At issue had been the control of church assets and property.
Last March, a St. Louis Circuit Court judge had ruled against the Archdiocese claim, and affirmed St. Stan's ownership of its property. The Archdiocese appealed the ruling, but is now backing down.
Wednesday, the two parties released the following joint statement:
Last March, a St. Louis Circuit Court judge had ruled against the Archdiocese claim, and affirmed St. Stan's ownership of its property. The Archdiocese appealed the ruling, but is now backing down.
Wednesday, the two parties released the following joint statement:
"The Archdiocese of St. Louis and St. Stanislaus have resolved their legal dispute. The Archdiocese will dismiss its appeal and the judgment of the trial court is now final. St. Stanislaus has agreed that it will not hold itself out as affiliated in any way with the Archdiocese of St. Louis or the Roman Catholic Church. Neither side made any payments to the other as part of this resolution. All other terms of the resolution are confidential. By bringing this legal dispute to an end, we pray that this will help to initiate a process of healing.”The church is located just north of downtown St. Louis at 1413 North 20th Street.
The St. Louis County Council will decide next week whether to add a zip line course to Creve Coeur Park. The proposed course would be located near the corporate picnic sites on seven acres in the upper portion of the park.
St. Louis County Parks Director Tom Ott said the course would be run by the private Go Ape company, which runs similar courses in other public parks.
Ott said the physical impact on the 2,114 acre park would be minimal, but the impact on the county parks budget would be big, with an additional $100,000 a year in revenue.
Ott said the treetop adventure course would include a lot more than just a zip line. "There's going to be about 30-to-35 obstacles," Ott said. "There's going to be cargo nets to climb, ladders, swings, swinging bridges and then the zip line."
The County Council's final vote on the proposal will be Tuesday, February 19th.
St. Louis County Parks Director Tom Ott said the course would be run by the private Go Ape company, which runs similar courses in other public parks.
Ott said the physical impact on the 2,114 acre park would be minimal, but the impact on the county parks budget would be big, with an additional $100,000 a year in revenue.
Ott said the treetop adventure course would include a lot more than just a zip line. "There's going to be about 30-to-35 obstacles," Ott said. "There's going to be cargo nets to climb, ladders, swings, swinging bridges and then the zip line."
The County Council's final vote on the proposal will be Tuesday, February 19th.
A Central West End apartment building that was the scene of a massive fire last July is set to reopen.
The 3949 Lindell Apartments had housed about 250 professionals and SLU graduate students when it burned. It had taken more than 160 of firefighters from the city and county to put it out.
After seven months, the first phase of the rebuilding is complete. Units in back part of the complex are now ready for renters.
Construction on the front half of the complex, where the fire started, should be finished by August.
The cause of the blaze has never been determined.
The 3949 apartment building has set up a Facebook page to keep the community updated on the status of the building.
The 3949 Lindell Apartments had housed about 250 professionals and SLU graduate students when it burned. It had taken more than 160 of firefighters from the city and county to put it out.
After seven months, the first phase of the rebuilding is complete. Units in back part of the complex are now ready for renters.
Construction on the front half of the complex, where the fire started, should be finished by August.
The cause of the blaze has never been determined.
The 3949 apartment building has set up a Facebook page to keep the community updated on the status of the building.
Illinois' financial troubles appear to be taking a toll on the popularity of the man charged with fixing them.
A new poll by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIU-Carbondale shows that Governor Pat Quinn has taken a hit. Quinn trailed badly among fellow Democrats, losing to state Attorney General Lisa Madigan by nearly ten points in a hypothetical party primary. The governor also trailed the "undecided" category by almost six points.
The poll also showed Illinois Republicans have no consensus on a gubernatorial candidate, with no one getting more than 10 percent support.
A new poll by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIU-Carbondale shows that Governor Pat Quinn has taken a hit. Quinn trailed badly among fellow Democrats, losing to state Attorney General Lisa Madigan by nearly ten points in a hypothetical party primary. The governor also trailed the "undecided" category by almost six points.
The poll also showed Illinois Republicans have no consensus on a gubernatorial candidate, with no one getting more than 10 percent support.
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