Jon Cecero

• 12/12/2008: Radio Story - Governor-elect Jay Nixon announced his plans to make Missouri license office's a more competitive operation and to end political patronage to fee licensing offices.
• 12/ 8/2008: Radio Story - Missouri rivers may end up dryer than you think if a bill banning certain types of alcohol and containers makes it through the legislature when the session starts up in January.
• 12/ 3/2008: Radio Story - As tuition costs continue to rise state funding for higher education is an increasing concern for Missouri.
• 11/19/2008: Radio Story - According to the Secretary of State's office Senator John McCain has been named the unofficial winner of the presidential election.
• 11/ 7/2008: Radio Story - A Missouri County Sheriff committed suicide a few weeks before losing his election by two votes.
• 10/29/2008: Radio Story - Governor Matt Blunt is considering the Lieutenant Governor's request for a special session on the Low Income Heating Assistance Program.
• 10/28/2008: Radio Story - St. Louis County Director of elections said Missouri voters need to do more than just show up to their voting precinct.
• 10/15/2008: Radio Story - Unsatisfied with the Missouri economy a spokesperson for the Missouri Democratic party is looking at the bigger picture.
• 10/ 8/2008: Radio Story - A gambling loss limits initiative could mean more money for Missouri's economy but some say it could be dangerous to its residents
• 9/23/2008: Radio Story - The St. Charles County Director of Elections said he is prepared for all aspects of this years election.
• 9/17/2008: Radio Story - New increases in security checks in voting equipment is a new priority for the Secretary of State.
• 9/15/2008: Radio Story - A spokesperson from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources said high gas prices in Missouri could be due to price gouging by oil companies.
• 9/10/2008: Radio Story - A Democratic Senator comes close to overriding the Governor's veto.
• 9/ 8/2008: Radio Story - Democratic Party Head says Scott Muschany should Immediately Resign
• 9/ 3/2008: Radio Story - A top Missouri Democrat calls offense the GOP selection of Sarah Palin as a VP candidate.

Posted December 1, 2008: 

I am still working on my higher education piece. I have finished my two wraps for the story but I have not finished the main body itself.

I  have two people of authority for the Missouri budget and I was able to interview Rob Mayer, the Education Chairperson in the Senate.

So far my story is going well, all I need now is a good human element to add in and I am all set.

It has been difficult to get a hold of her but once I do, I think my story will come together nicely. So hopefully I can get my story done and produced by next week. 

Posted November 10, 2008: 

Crazy Monks get into a huge fight....over religion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohKAT6qThgc

I love the guy in the red.

And I am doing a story on Higher Education.

Posted November 7, 2008: 

Today I have been given an interesting story to do.

There was a sheriff in Carter County MO who killed himself a couple of weeks before his election. And he only lost by two votes.

Now Phil wants me to see if it, first of all is true, and secondly since the vote is so close someone (obviously not the guy) can call for a recount.

However, even if there is a recount and the guy ends up winning who would be appointed sheriff? I doubt there will be a recount since the sheriff is dead he cannot call for a recount.

Weird. But interesting.

I doubt anyone will be willing to talk to me about it.

Posted October 22, 2008:

This past week I worked on a story about the unemployment rate in Missouri.

This was a tough story because it involved obtaining the correct figures to write and accurate story. I had received a press release from Blunt's office saying the rate had gone down in the month of September. When I went to check the numbers for September the Economic Department of Development did not have the numbers for September were not out yet.

So, after hours of calling I found out the press release had received the seasonal adjusted rate numbers (which is a rough estimate) and according to those numbers the unemployment rate did go down.

After verifying the number I was able to write a pretty good story, except for the fact that Blunt's media contact did not want to elaborate on the numbers. 

I had one good quote from a Missouri Democratic spokesperson who still was not satisfied with the number saying the unemployment rate is still the highest it has been in years. 

Posted October 8, 2008:

This has been a busy week.

I have a midterm tomorrow on philosophical history. Plato and Aristotle and all those fun guys, I will be doing a lot of reading tonight.

But I am excited for the weekend because it is Mizzou's first conference home game, and it should be fun. I am looking forward to ending this week as soon as possible.

I am also nervous because I applied to study abroad in Brussels Belgium, but I found out that 17 people have applied. So now the study abroad advisers are unsure if they can get everyone to go.

Wish me luck.  

Posted September 29, 2008: 

Birthday bailout.

The DOW dropped almost 700 points today even before the bailout bill was voted on. We have little to no plan on what to do because Congress decided the bail out was a no.

It is also my 21st birthday today (September 29) and what is weird is that the stock market crashed on October 29, 1929. A month and 79 years ago.

Good thing today is my birthday or this whole economic crisis would be somewhat depressing. I guess for everyone else it is just a bad bad day. So I should just be glad I am 21 and to try and forget today, but it will be hard to.

Posted September 22, 2008: 

Writing stories for Missouri Digital News is very challenging, it is tough to write a story when people almost never return calls. Although this work is demanding in the end it will have many rewards.

I am getting real experience with top radio stations and learning so much from the experienced members of MDN. Each day I come to the Capitol I am challenged with something brand new. In this place you have to always be thinking to stay ahead and write a good story. Hopefully today I can deliver because it is getting tougher and tougher every time I come in.

Even though it can sometimes get stressful or tough I know that I am light years ahead of people who were afraid to try something new and different. I am not scared and look forward to my new challenges.

Posted September 15, 2008:

It's football season.

Thats all I need to say. People lose their minds during football season, maybe the cooler weather brings out more of the crazy people. One of them happens to be me. I played football in high school in Texas where they are even more crazy about the pigskin. I love watching football College and Pro teams are extremely entertaining and you never know what might happen. College teams are especially fun to watch because you know the players are out there for the pure enjoyment of the sport.

Football has the potential of bring family, friends, and countries together.

I have been ready for this new season since the end of last season. Go Tigers!

Posted September 8, 2008:

Life without journalism....

Well. There would be much less to talk about around the water cooler. People would find it hard to keep up with their favorite sports teams and the world around them locally and globally.

I bring this up mostly because of the Missouri School of Journalism's centennial. 100 years of learning and growing. It is hard to imagine life without walking outside every morning to pick up a paper or flipping on the TV set to watch your favorite news broadcast. Now, we even have the handy dandy internet to keep us away from doing real work and up to date with the real world.

So thanks Walt Williams and others for pioneering something that without it, we would be less aware of ourselves and our impact on others.

Even though there are a few exceptions most of us get it.