( KTRS ) Newly proposed Missouri legislation would make it a crime for women to use drugs while pregnant. Rep. Jered Taylor, a Republican from Nixa, says his bill is intended to get women into treatment before they give birth. He says the bill would push offenders into drug court, where their sentences would be deferred…
( KTRS ) As the new year Missouri Lawmakers will try to tighten ethics laws in response to allegations that former lawmakers acted inappropriately toward interns. Republican leaders of the state House and Senate say ethics is a priority in the session beginning Wednesday. Proposals set for this year, could set limits to political donations…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois attorney general has ruled that Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office has withheld too much information on his daily appointment calendars from taxpayers. The state’s public access counselor issued an opinion in response to an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act by The Associated Press. Public access attorney Joshua Jones…
( KTRS ) Lawmakers are again pushing for bills to address concerns that brought national attention to St. Louis after the civil unrest in Ferguson. The fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in 2014 sparked protests in the area and around the country. Lawmakers last session passed a bill to limit the power and revenue-generating…
NEW YORK (AP) – The divide between Republicans and Democrats over abortion is deeper than ever. Activists on both sides foresee a 2016 presidential campaign in which the nominees tackle the volatile topic more aggressively than in past elections. Friction over the issue also is likely to surface in key Senate races. The opposing camps…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Republican lawmakers in Missouri will try again in 2016 to require voters to present photo identification at the polls. Lawmakers pre-filed measures to change the state constitution and state law to require photo ID for voting. Senate sponsor Will Kraus says photo ID could prevent fraud by individuals impersonating other…
( KTRS ) The Illinois budget impasse, now in its sixth month will be at the center of discussions during another meeting between legislative leaders and Gov. Bruce Rauner. The meeting scheduled for this afternoon will be the third in as many weeks between Gov. Rauner and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan along with Democratic…
BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) – An Illinois State Board of Elections official says he’ll accept written arguments later this week in the case of three southern Illinois judges who plan to retire in name only to avoid retention elections that require 60 percent approval rather than a simple majority. The Belleville News-Democrat reports (http://bit.ly/1P45McI ) hearing…
( KTRS ) Lawmakers from the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus say the state’s budget stalemate is having a big impact on the black population as youths miss out on financial aid for colleges and after-school programs. The group called at a Monday news conference for an end to the standoff between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner…
( KTRS ) Revised campaign finance reports show a former campaign aide to Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder has been paid at least $60,000 more than originally reported. Additional payments to former campaign manager Logan Thompson were among hundreds of changes made to Kinder’s campaign records. Kinder’s gubernatorial campaign say independent contractors prepared incorrect reports…