ST. LOUIS (AP) — Three Missouri lawmakers are proposing measures that would forbid motorists from texting while driving, regardless of their age. Current state law bans texting for drivers under the age of 21 and drivers of commercial motor vehicles. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports State Senator Jill Schupp, a Creve Couer Democrat, is sponsoring…
HONOLULU (AP) — President Barack Obama has vetoed two bills that would have blocked steps that his administration is taking to address climate change. One bill would have nullified carbon pollution standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. The second bill would have voided a set of national standards designed to reduce the amount of…
CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — A coalition of 12 municipalities has filed a lawsuit challenging a St. Louis County ordinance regulating police standards. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the municipalities, which include Clayton, Webster Groves and Florissant, filed the suit Thursday to block legislation that could place oversight of policing guidelines in the hands of…
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri system’s interim president’s contract calls for him to be paid nearly $40,000 a month. The Columbia Missourian reports that Michael Middleton signed the deal Wednesday, also putting him line to earn up to $25,000 in performance-based and deferred compensation payments Middleton took over as interim president on…
St.Louis, MO (KTRS) St. Louis has a stadium funding plan. On late Friday afternoon, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen approved the financing package by a vote of 10-17. Mayor Francis Slay is expected to sign the bill by Monday, according to city officials. The vote was preceeded by two hours of discussion. Even Comptroller…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A federal judge is weighing whether to allow a Missouri Planned Parenthood clinic to keep its abortion license past December during a court battle over its licensure. Planned Parenthood’s Columbia clinic stopped providing medication-induced abortions last month because its doctor lost state-required hospital privileges. As a result, the state health…
VERSAILLES, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the drowning of a handcuffed Iowa man. The Kansas City Star reports that a special prosecutor announced the charge Friday against Trooper Anthony Piercy outside the Morgan County Justice Center. Piercy was transporting Brandon Ellingson for a breath…
CHICAGO (AP) – Gov. Bruce Rauner says this week’s meeting with legislative leaders about the state budget impasse was productive even though House Speaker Michael Madigan did not attend. The Republican governor commented Friday after the Democratic speaker missed the latest meeting Thursday due to what his spokesman said was a scheduling conflict. Rauner says…
WASHINGTON (AP) -Bernie Sanders campaign manager says DNC is “actively attempting to undermine” campaign. A summary of computer logs show that four aides to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign accessed proprietary voter data compiled by the campaign of rival Hillary Clinton. And the records also show that the aides conducted 25 separate searches of…
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – A New Jersey nonprofit that was sued for offering to turn gays to heterosexuals has been ordered to close. A judge on Friday granted a permanent injunction against Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing, known as JONAH. In June, a Hudson County jury awarded damages to several men who had sued…