That leaves transportation officials and legislators alike wondering whether taxpayers will step up to fill the funding gap, possibly through a gas-tax hike.

A ruling by a Cole County judge last month put $244 million of state revenue in legal limbo until at least next year when an appeals court will decide if the money must be refunded to state taxpayers.

The proposed bill by Sen. Stephen Stoll would designate March 21 as Bird Appreciation Day.

As if the $244 million to be refunded to Missouri taxpayers under revised Hancock Amendment rulings wasn't enough, tax collectors across the state have the Internet to worry about.

A recent federal government report estimates more than $10.8 billion will be lost nationally in sales tax revenue by 2003 from Internet shopping. And with record numbers of people going online this year for holiday purchases, revenue collection could affect funding for basic government services.

Maxwell said he is researching how he could use his role as President of the Senate to determine how the Senate will be run until special elections take place Jan. 23, if the parties cannot come to an agreement by the beginning of the session.

The state missed a 3 million dollar federal bonus for not passing the bill last year.

She says this bill would help prevent overcrowding at the polls.

Holden announced he would appoint as the governor's chief of staff the person who has held the same position for him as state treasurer.

And he announced appointment of the governor's current chief of staff as commissioner of administration.

Among the bills are ones to make it legal to use force to stop someone from desecrating the flag and another to create an official day for birds.

State Representative John Loudon says the reforms are in response to election problems seen across the state.

MoDOT spokesman Jim Coleman says crews are prepared to treat and clear the nearly 32-thousand miles of highway across Missouri.

St. Louis Circuit Judge Robert H. Dierker Jr. issued a ruling stating that the law applies only to partial-birth abortions, but physicians can perform such procedures if the health or life of the mother is at risk.

Wilson said he acted quickly so that Carnahan could attend orientation sessions for new members of the U.S. Senate.

Carnahan will replace Republican John Ashcroft in January.

Just eight members of Missouri branches of the organization attended the event to demand that "every vote be counted" in Florida.

Several top officials, including Truman State president Jack Magruder and Southwest Missouri State president John Keiser say the report is not fair because it lumps all state instutions into the same category. Both claim there are major differences between all schools.

Joni Finney, vice-president of the National Center says the reports are accurate and are based on information the universities themselves provided.

On Thursday, a Governor's Conference on Higher Education will be held in Columbia to discuss the findings.

Both men wanted to run for the Senate seat vacated by Congressman-elect Lacy Clay.

But, Troupe shifted his support to Patrick Dougherty, a white Representative, and Dougherty won the right to run for the seat.

Troupe says Dougherty will represent blacks better in Jefferson City than Shelton would have.

But, Shelton says that he'd represent all of his constiuents.

The Missouri Citizens' Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials recommended a 5.5 percent pay raise across the board. The commission said it did so because all elected officials faced the same financial issues.

The Republicans are still awaiting a Democratic response to the idea.

While agreeing to pay the fine, the company denied all wrongdoing.

But there is evidence that Station Casino violated state rules by failing to propery supervise and report the activities of its lobbyist, Michael Lazaroff, according to the settlement agreement.

Under the settlement, the state will also close its investigation of Lazaroff.

The Las Vegas-based company says its trying to sell its Missouri casinos.

Even though the secretary of state has yet to formally certify the results of the election, Bob Holden's transition team has already has moved into the transition office provided by the state.

Law enforcement officials say those kind of drug stops rarely are done in Missouri.

The high court's decision did not affect alcohol roadblocks that are conducted in Missouri.

Groups on both sides of Proposition A, which would have limited the number and type of billboards in Missouri, said they plan to bring similar legislation to the General Assembly in the legislative session that begins in January.