JEFFERSON CITY - After June's U.S. Supreme Court ruling making homosexual activity legal, Missouri may have to change its sodomy law.

The current law, which was put into effect in 1856, says members of the same sex cannot legally engage in sexual activities. Rep. Vicky Riback Wilson (D-Columbia) plans to sponsor legislation for the upcoming year to bring Missouri's law into compliance with the Supreme Court ruling.

JEFFERSON CITY - The upswing in the Missouri economy stalled in October, and it is highly unlikely Gov. Bob Holden will release funding withholdings, according to Missouri's Budget Director Linda Luebbering.

Overall, net revenues and gross collections are up for the year compared to last year. Howevers, officials disagree on whether the increases are enough to justify releasing withholdings to fund state programs.

JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri taxpayer dollars are not properly secure, a state audit says. The state accounting system, known as SAM II, is not secure from those who should not have access and lacks recovery procedures in case the computer system goes down. The state auditor's office also recommends background checks on employees who can enter and retrieve information from the system. Forty-six employees with access to the system had criminal histories involving robbery, theft or fraud, the audit states.

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JEFFERSON CITY -Every morning, students across Missouri stand with their hands over their hearts to recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag. With the Supreme Court's decision to review next year a court decision in California that found the pledge unconstitutional, Missouri's law mandating the pledge in schools could be in limbo.

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JEFFERSON CITY - Columbia's legislators are gearing up to tackle bills on a range of issues from toll roads to gay rights, from rock-climbing to science research. With the December 1 deadline for prefiling bills for the next legislative session approaching, senators and representatives are putting the finishing touches on bills they plan to introduce.

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JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Department of Revenue released a report stating that Missouri's general revenue collections has dropped over four percent in October. General revenue is up over last year but not enough to meet the budget this year.

JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Bob Holden appointed Steve Gaw as chairman of the Public Service Commission Monday. The PSC regulates utility rates throughout Missouri.

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JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission heard testimony from MoDOT officials today on its priorities for the next fiscal year. Members of an independent Blue Ribbon Panel also addressed the commission about its recent report calling for the department and commission members to restore public confidence.

JEFFERSON CITY - Attorney General Jay Nixon says the Missouri Supreme Court does not have the authority to decide whether or not juvenile executions are "cruel and unusual punishment." The United States Supreme Court applied the "cruel and unusual" clause to executions of mentally retarded persons, rendering this unconstitutional. But "cruel and unusual" has nothing to do with juveniles...

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