JEFFERSON CITY - The task force on eminent domain recommended Thursday that private property should not be allowed to be taken under eminent domain.

The task force will meet next week to finalize their recommendations due to the governor by the end of the year.

JEFFERSON CITY - Representative Allen Icet was previously the committee's vice-chairman.

Jetton said he thinks Icet can help the state eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.

JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri children will be required to wear booster seat restraints if a major transportation safety bill expected for the upcoming legislative session passes.

A booster seat raises a child, so the vehicle's seat belt fits properly. Rep. Neal St. Onge, R-Ellisville said, "This will make it a lot safer for our young folks driving across Missouri."

JEFFERSON CITY - Recent cuts and eligibility reductions to Medicaid disproportionately affect women because they are more likely than

men to qualify for the state health care program, according to a report released yesterday by the National Women's Law Center.

JEFFERSON CITY - If a proposed cigarrette tax increase is approved by voters the state will have government funded tobacco education.

The programs would be required to follow the Center for Disease Control's Best Practices Guidelines of proven programs.

JEFFERSON CITY - Tobacco settlements in Missouri add up to more than 200 million dollars. None of that money is being spent on youth tobacco prevention.

JEFFERSON CITY - Cattle theft in southwest Missouri has become so bad in the past few months cattle producers have come together to patrol for rustlers at night.

Ranchers say the crime has gotten worse as the price of cattle has risen.

JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Democratic Spokesperson Jack Cardetti says he wanted Blunt to add the 2nd Senatorial District vacancy to the already scheduled February 7th election.

The seat was left behind when Rep. Senator Jon Dolan accepted a job with the nursing home industry.

JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri received $250,000 in federal funds to research policies to protect children exposed to methamphetamine labs.

The steering committee will work together for the next two years.

JEFFERSON CITY - The FDA is currently debating whether or not to make the Morning After Pill avaiable over the counter.

But State Senator Jason Crowell says he plans to introduce legislation to keep the drug available only by prescription.

JEFFERSON CITY - A federal appeals court has ruled against Missouri's ban on partial-birth abortions.

The measure was approved by the legislature in 1999, after lawmakers overrode the governor's veto.

The appeals court upheld a federal district court decision that ruled against the law because it did not include a provision exempting the ban in cases in which a mother's health was a risk.

JEFFERSON CITY - An Arizona religious group has filed suit seeking to block the petition campaign for the ballot issue that would provide a constitutional protection for stem cell research.

The lawsuit charges the official description of the ballot proposal is misleading.

The description approved by the Secretary of State says the measure would ban human cloning. But the lawsuit charges the proposal actually would allow cloning thru stem cell research.

JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri National Guard announced it will pay existing guardsmen to bring in new recruits.

It is one of four states to launch the trial program.