Saturday, May 19, 2012
The national program airing Saturday and Sunday will focus on initiative petition campaigns tied to capping interest rates at 36 percent.
A Missouri ballot initiative aimed at curtailing interest rates at “payday loan” entities is getting some national attention. For an episode of PBS’s Need to Know, airing locally this weekend, the program traveled to the Show Me State to follow around activists who are collecting signatures for an initiative petition. If the ballot measure makes it to the ballot and if voters approve it, interest rates on certain lending companies would be capped at 36 percent. Supporters of the initiative argue that the loan agencies place poorer Missourians in a cycle of debt. But opponents counter that the entities are usually the only way lower-income citizens can obtain short-term loans to pay ordinary expenses. While supporters of the initiative …
Friday, May 18, 2012
Country music and laryngitis are two of the methods employed this week.
The last few iterations of this column have noted how several candidates for the U.S. Senate utilized creative means to entice fundraising efforts. For instance, Rep. Todd Akin (R-Wildwood) used his rhetorical scuffle with President Barack Obama over student loans in a fundraising pitch. And Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) has directly attacked third-party organizations that are pre-emptively attacking the incumbent lawmaker as she makes a difficult bid for re-election. McCaskill’s campaign staff continued on a creative path in an email that was sent to supporters earlier this week. They played on the fact that McCaskill had lost her voice right before she was supposed to make a speech at a Democratic gathering in Kansas City. “Between …
Missouri Department of Transportation reports no work zones for St. Louis County or Jefferson County for the week of May 17 to May 23.
Motorists should be aware of the following on-going closures:
Thursday, May 17, 2012
St. Louis voters will decide the rate at which their sewer rates rise this summer. Here's a look at the federal law—and lawsuit—that started it all.
Hundreds of sewer overflows in the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) system are at the heart of a Clean Water Act settlement agreement and a ballot issue planned June 5. That's according to a primer document compiled by MSD. In August, MSD reached the settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment Foundation, a news release posted to the federal agency's website states. Now, MSD customers are tasked with deciding whether they will pay more now—or later—to fund the $4.7 billion in repair work mandated by the agreement. Several sources outline the alleged violations and the reasons for the EPA's involvement in the case. The following are questions by Patch paired with quotes …
The St. Louis Rams have outlined a renovation plan for the Edward Jones Dome that is estimated to cost $700 million.
The Rams want us to buy them a new house. Just fixing up its current home—the Edward Jones Dome—won't do. Instead, the St. Louis football franchise expects an extreme makeover, to the tune of $700 million, as it is estimated by a company hired by the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission (CVC) to analyze the team's counter proposal to a the CVC's own plan to upgrade the Edward Jones Dome with a $124 million facelift. If someone doesn't cough up the $700 mil to redo the Dome, it is feared the team will take its football and go home to Los Angeles, where it came from before it was the St. Louis franchise. All of this wrangling was set in motion in 1995 when the team negotiated a 30-year lease with the CVC. It was stipulated that the …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
A June 5 vote is planned in St. Louis county and city on Proposition Y, along with eight charter amendments aimed at increasing the efficiency and transparency of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.
People living in the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) can't change the fact that their sewer bills are going to rise incrementally over the next several years, Ed Rhode said. What they can control is the rate at which that change happens. That's why Rhode and Mike Kelley—members of the pro-Proposition Y committee Clean Water STL—are encouraging residents of St. Louis County and St. Louis city to vote yes on the $945 million bond issue June 5. If St. Louisans vote yes, sewer rates for the average single-family MSD user would rise from roughly $29 for the average single family to roughly $44 by mid-2015. The new rate effective July 1 of this year would be about $31. By contrast, a rejection of the measure would raise that average …
Rush Limbaugh was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians this week. An honor well deserved? Or a mistake on the part of Missouri lawmakers?
Rush Limbaugh, the controversial conservative commentator, was enshrined into the Hall of Famous Missourians this week, sparking controversy across the state and country on whether Limbaugh should be worth of such an honor. Limbaugh's name now sits amongst such famous Missourians as Mark Twain, Dred Scott, Jack Buck and Stan Musial. According to the St. Louis Beacon, Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley gave reporters less than a half-hour’s notice of the ceremony. From the Beacon: Tilley’s decision to honor Limbaugh, a Cape Girardeau native, has sparked opposition from Democrats and progressives because of Limbaugh’s often strong words when he talks about people with whom he disagrees. Limbaugh’s bust will be placed in the Capitol’s Hall …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Safety, job creation and better transportation were cited Monday as reasons Missouri needs funding for better roads, rails and bridges.
The future needs and challenges facing Missouri’s transportation system were the subject of a public forum Monday at the Missouri Department of Transportation in Town and Country. Such forums will be held across the state throughout the spring and summer. The Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee on Missouri Transportation Needs is holding the meetings. The committee was appointed by Missouri House Speaker Steven Tilley, R-Perryville, in early March. The 21-member panel consists of of business leaders, contractors and special interest groups from across the state. Members are looking for public input on future transportation needs and solutions. MoDOT, Metro and East-West Gateway all presented upcoming projects and transportation needs for the St…
Sunday, May 13, 2012
A meeting will be held Monday afternoon to address the needs and challenges of Missouri's transportation system. It's a chance for St. Louis area drivers to voice concerns.
The Missouri Department of Transportation's ‘Blue Ribbon’ Committee hopes to hear input from residents Monday on future transportation needs. MoDOT stated in a news release the meeting begins at 1 p.m. Monday at MoDOT's Transportation Management Center, 14301 South Outer Forty Road, in Town and Country. MoDOT released the following information in that press release. The future needs and challenges facing Missouri’s transportation system will be the subject of a series of public forums across the state this spring and summer. The meetings are sponsored by the Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee on Missouri Transportation Needs that was appointed by Missouri House Speaker Steven Tilley, R-Perryville, in early March. The Blue Ribbon Committee is …
Saturday, May 12, 2012
MoDOT's St. Louis regional work zone report through May 16.
Missouri Department of Transportation crews will be painting bridges, patching potholes and striping roadways throughout the St. Louis region during the next week. Motorists are reminded to slow down when approaching work zones or moving operations on the roadways. Motorists should be aware of the following on-going closures:
Michael Rhodes
7:04 am on Friday, May 18, 2012
That amendment prevents an increase in state residents percentage of taxes from income. I do not believe it would cover a hotel tax or tourism tax. The two articles I saw said that there are many loop holes in the amendment. I could be wrong. more ›