St. Louis County police to carry heroin antidote Narcan
CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) – St. Louis County police officers will soon carry the heroin antidote Narcan. Training for use of the antidote is scheduled to start Thursday, soon after a news conference detailing the plan. The department says all commissioned police personnel will be trained in use of the medication, and it will be available…
U of Illinois confirms Whitman is its new athletic director
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – The University of Illinois has confirmed reports that Josh Whitman will be its new athletic director. In a statement Wednesday interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson praised the leadership and accomplishments of the 37-year-old Whitman. Whitman called the job a dream come true. Whitman has been the athletic director at Division III Washington…
Missouri House votes to limit union fee collections
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Missouri House is advancing a bill to require annual written authorization from public employee union members before paying union dues. The measure endorsed in a voice vote Wednesday would require similar approval for unions to spend worker fees on political activities. Lawmakers exempted unions representing first responders, such as police…
The Latest: Cullerton says Rauner budget $3B out of balance
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Senate President John Cullerton says Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “sketch” of a budget proposal Wednesday is more than $3 billion short of necessary revenue. The Chicago Democrat says that doesn’t count the deficit the state is building in the current year because lawmakers and the Republican governor never approved a budget last…
Michael Brown’s family pushes for Missouri body camera bill
( KTRS ) Michael Brown’s family is urging Missouri lawmakers to overcome politics and pass a law requiring police to wear body cameras. Leslie McSpadden, Brown’s mother, told a Senate panel Wednesday that body cameras are only one piece of police reform, but would help restore trust. The bill would require police in Missouri’s largest cities…
University of Missouri leaders address state lawmakers
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – University of Missouri System Interim President Mike Middleton is asking lawmakers for time to enact changes following a tumultuous fall at the Columbia campus. Middleton told state lawmakers during a Wednesday hearing that the university is working to address concerns raised after turmoil. Middleton, the interim chancellor of the Columbia…
Group expresses interest in bring MLS team to St. Louis
(KTRS) – St. Louis is making steps toward bring a Major League Soccer franchise to the Gateway City. The Post-Dispatch reports that a group of business and sports leaders expressed interesting in spearheading the effort to land an MLS team. The group includes: Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III, property owner Bob O’Loughlin, WorldWide Technology CEO…
Madigan rejects executive budget-cutting power
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – House Speaker Michael Madigan has rejected Gov. Bruce Rauner’s idea to give the Republican executive sole budget-cutting authority. The Chicago Democrat says Rauner’s conservative agenda is too “extreme” to trust him with that power. Lawmakers gave similar authority in the past to former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. Madigan favors Rauner’s idea…