JEFFERSON CITY - Secretary of State Matt Blunt previewed his gubernatorial campaign issues with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.

JEFFERSON CITY - Claire McCaskill is expected to announce her intention to run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination next week.

Get the radio story.

JEFFERSON CITY - One in 73 Missouri households filed for some kind of bankruptcy protection last year. While some people search for the reasons why, others want to know how it can be stopped.

JEFFERSON CITY - Sen. Bill Foster, a crucial moderate voice in the Missouri GOP, has announced he will not run for re-election.

JEFFERSON CITY - The U.S. Census Bureau reports more Missourians, especially young men, are without health insurance. However, the state's industrial base is keeping the number of uninsured Missourians below the national average.

JEFFERSON CITY - The injunction on concealed weapons raises new questions about judge shopping. Some state officials wonder if plaintiffs filed suit in St. Louis City to get a sympathetic judge. Suits against the state are normally filed in Cole County where the state capital is located.

JEFFERSON CITY - With the high cost of prescription drugs, some states are looking to Canada for cheaper prices. But the Missouri legislature have no intention to create a similar plan.

Missouri plans to help citizens through a Medicare drug benefit bill instead.

JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Supreme Court has refused to strike down a St. Louis circuit court injunction that has blocked implementation of the state's new concealed-weapons law.

The Supreme Court decision was unsigned by any of the judges. The decision noted that the normal appeal process will allow supporters of the law to bring the case to higher courts if the circuit court continues the injunction.

JEFFERSON CITY - The former St. Louis senator died of a heart attack in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Banks, who began his state service in the House in 1969, rose to the highest legislative position ever held by a black in Missouri history -- Senate Democratic floor leader.

He was one of the state's most flamboyant legislators. He once wore on the Senate floor holsters with toy guns to symbolize his opposition to legalizing concealed weapons.

He was not without controversy. He was the target of several criminal investigations. He resigned from the Senate shortly have pleading guilty of filing a false income tax return. Early in his House career, he faced a legal challenge that he did not live in his district as required by the state constitution.