JEFFERSON CITY - Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan heard arguments Thursday in the St. Louis City lawsuit that seeks to force the state to allow early voting in the city.

Missouri's Secretary of State Matt Blunt has blocked the early-voting effort, arguing that the state legislature had not authorized it.

Instead, Blunt argues the legislature only authorized coming up with a plan for possible implementation of a system by which people could vote prior to election day.

JEFFERSON CITY - The new director of Missouri's Transportation Department told reporters Thursday that he supports a November ballot issue that would prohibit use of gasoline tax funds for non-highway purposes.

Pete Rahn made his comments at a news conference at which his appointment was announced.

Rahn had been director of the New Mexico Transportation Department.

JEFFERSON CITY - GOP gubernatorial candidate Matt Blunt says he would withdraw the nomination of the Senate's Demoratic leader as chair of the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission.

Blunt also said he would seek changes in the commission's pension system that gives an appointee unemployment benefits regardless of the length of service.

The state government pension for former Sen. Ken Jacob jump from nearly $29,000 to more than $47,000 immediately after his appointment. Jacob, who lost the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, had served 22 years in the state House and Senate -- earning him the nearly $29,000 pension from the state.