JEFFERSON CITY - Last year, the Missouri State Legislature passed the "Safeplace for Newborns Act" to provide an alternative for parents who decide they don't want their baby. But Family Services officials say this week's abandonment of a baby in Kansas City shows parents aren't going by the law. The act allows infants up to five days old to be dropped off at hospitals as long as they show no signs of abuse. First-degree child abandonment is a felony with prison sentences ranging from five to 15 years. Under the act, parents can legally abandon their babies, but only if they leave them with hospital or health-care workers, law officers, firefighters or emergency medical technicians.

JEFFERSON CITY - Local gun stores say they have received an increase in phone traffic after lawmakers passed the conceal and carry bill. Local training facilities believe they will see an increase in business, as well. The bill goes into effect on October 11.

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JEFFERSON CITY - Ten bathrooms in the statehouse are being renovated with imported marble and bronze fixtures. Both taxpayers and legislators question the necessity of the renovations during Missouri's current financial crisis.

Legislators are questioning the necessity of continuing the project as other state programs lack appropriate fudning and are being eliminated.

JEFFERSON CITY - In a sign of economic recovery for Missouri, general revenue through August has increased by more than 6 percent over the same period last year. Revenue collections for August increased by 4.4 percent over totals from August 2002.

JEFFERSON CITY - Sen. Jon Dolan confirmed that a Republican political fund controlled by the Senate president pro tem funded his flight from Cuba, where he is serving as a major in the Army.

When Dolan first arrived in the Senate, he indicated he had paid for the flight out of his own pocket, but said he did expect to be reimbursed -- possibly by the GOP fund.

In fact, however, the Senate president pro tem's chief of staff actually purchased the tickets -- more than $8,000.

Meanwhile, Dolan has confirmed that his trip and his decision to vote are under investigation by the military.

JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Municipal League, which represent Missouri cities, is drafting a model ordinance for cities that want to keep guns out of local government buildings. As it stands, the concealed weapons law prohibits guns in police stations, but does not cover other municipal buildings like city hall.

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JEFFERSON CITY - A Jackson county judge has ruled the state has no power to enforce new child support claims. Because of a reorganization of the state's child welfare agencies in August, the old Department of Child Support Enforcement has been folded into the new Family Support Division. But the old department was given the authority to collect child support by a 1974 law, and a judge has ruled the new division has no such authority.

The ruling applies only in the Kansas City area, but similar interpretations could lead to a halt in new child-support collections statewide.

Attorney General Jay Nixon has filed an appeal of the ruling, arguing that the governor's executive order carries the legal weight necessary to allow collections. If appeals to higher courts are unsuccesfull, the state's only recourse will be to pass a new law clarifying the statute.

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JEFFERSON CITY - Governor Holden joined with the Governors of Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois to express concern to President Bush about proposed changes for operating the Missouri River.

Due to low water releases from the Missouri River and drought conditions, the U.S. Coast Guard was required to close a stretch of the Mississippi River last month. The Governor's office says the proposed changes could damage Mississippi River agriculture, industry and transportation.

This will be the fourth time that Mississippi River Governors have requested that changes be made in the plan for managing the Missouri River.

Dave Dillon, Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture says, "The impact Missouri management has on the Mississippi system is incredible."