MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
Rep. Kate Hollingsworth has proposed a bill that enables families to receive a background check on child and elderly care providers by establishing a database. The purpose of the bill is to let families have the reasurrence needed in the safety of their family members.
Governor Carnahan said it was the Pope's personal request that persuaded him to commute the death sentence of Darrell Mease. Pope John Paul II asked Carnahan to have mercy on the convicted murderer during his visit to St. Louis last week.
Carnahan stressed that he still favors the death penalty, but took Mease off of death row because of the pope's unusual request.
Gov. Mel Carnahan commuted the death sentence of Darrell Mease after a personal appeal from Pope John Paul.
Carnahan's office said he made decision late Wednesday night, after a private meeting the Pope had requested to discuss the Mease case.
Carnahan's decision was greeted with mixed reaction from Catholic lawmakers, many of whom are death-penalty supporters.
See our newspaper story and our package of radio stories with digital audio.
The State Salary Commission's plan to hike judges' salaries by about 11 percent also includes a repeal of an old pay raise for state lawmakers. Since the state legislature did not reject the Commission's proposal, it will become official by default on Monday.
see our newspaper story and our radio story.
Hunting rights and conservation groups have lobbied heavily to alter the sweeping ban on animal fighting that Missouri voters turned into law last November. Debate began in the Senate Agriculture Committee over two proposals that will severely restrict the ban.
See our radio story package.
The House approved and sent to the Senate a resolution to reject an commission recommendation for pay hikes for judges that would average about 11 percent.
Under the state's law on salaries for elected officials, the commission's recommendations automatically take effect unless rejected by the House and Senate.
This is the second set of recommendations since that law took effect. Two years ago, lawmakers rejected the commission's first salary recommendation that would have boosted legislator's salaries along with other government officials.
The resolution is expected to be debate in the Senate on Thursday. Monday is the deadline for action by the legislature or the salary hikes will go into effect.
See the House roll-call vote.
St. Louis Representative Pat Dougherty's bill would legalize breast feeding in public.
The bill would also encourage doctors and hospitals to distribute information regarding breast feeding and would allow women with children one year old or younger to postpone jury duty.
See our newspaper story and our radio story for details.
A proposal from Sen. Harry Wiggins, D-Kansas, to create a new "Respect Life" specialty license plate has drawn fire from abortion rights supporters.
The measure would authorize the plates for those who gave contributions to alternatives to abortions.
The measure was heard in a Senate committee Tuesday.
See our newspaper story and our radio story for details.
House Speaker Steve Gaw announced formation of a special committee to review issues involved with the tobacco settlement -- an agreement projected to bring the state $6.7 in the next 25 years.
Both Gaw and the committee's chairman said they disagree with GOP proposals to submit the issue to Missouri voters to decide whether taxpayers should have the money refunded thru the state constitutional limit on government spending.
See our newspaper story for details.