Report: Fewer visitors to state-run historic sites
The drop is despite commemorations of the 150th anniversaries of the end of the Civil War and the 16th president’s death
Business Sues St. Louis Over Payroll Tax Paid By Employers
St. Louis, MO (KTRS) A lawsuit is challenging St. Louis’ payroll tax paid by employers. General Marine Services and attorney and financial adviser Thomas Joseph Neuner claim in their lawsuit filed on Monday, that the half-percent tax was never authorized by the Missouri Legislature. The legal action also alleges the city has no power to…
New law imposes fine for minors possessing e-cigarettes
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Anyone under 18 who’s caught with electronic cigarettes or other tobacco-free nicotine products would face a fine or community service under a new Illinois law. Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation last week that imposes penalties for minors who possess e-cigarettes. State Sen. Julie Morrison sponsored the measure. The Deerfield Democrat says…
Democrats will wait to send Rauner college funding bill
( KTRS ) Illinois Democratic Senate President John Cullerton says he’s delaying a funding bill for colleges in the hopes that Gov. Bruce Rauner will reconsider his threat to veto it. Democrats last week approved a $721.5 million to be split between community colleges and tuition grants for low-income students who qualify for the Monetary…
Missouri bill aimed at block censorship of student reporters
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A lawmaker says his bill to limit censorship was spurred by a confrontation in November between a University of Missouri staffer and a student videographer during campus protests. The bill by Republican Rep. Elijah Haahr, of Springfield, would prohibit public K-12 schools and colleges from blocking reporting in school-sponsored media.…
Missouri lawmakers look to enforce gender-specific bathrooms
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri high school’s protest over a transgender teen’s locker room use has prompted state legislators to file a handful of bills that would make schools enforce gender-specific bathrooms and locker rooms. The Kansas City Star reports (http://bit.ly/1PQgPtO ) that more than 100 Hillsboro High School students walked of school…
Missouri lawmakers propose bills to enforce rules at school bathrooms
(KTRS) – Missouri lawmakers are filing several bills that would make schools enforce gender-specific bathrooms and locker rooms. The bills come after protests at Hillsboro High School over a decision to allow a transgender teen’s use of a the girls locker room to change for gym class. One of the bills states that a student…
Illinois officials agree pension crisis is a priority
CHICAGO (AP) – Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner wants lawmakers to address Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension crisis “right away.” But despite a rare agreement between Rauner and Democratic Senate President John Cullerton, it’s unlikely a bill will advance anytime soon. Cullerton says it’s tougher than usual to pass a pension bill this year. That’s because of upcoming…