Political Fix

West St. Louis County led in smoking ban votes

Phil Sutin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:16:25 +0000

West St. Louis County townships provided more votes last Tuesday in St. Louis County for banning smoking in indoor public places, but the strongest sentiment for the ban came from townships in the central part of the county.

The St. Louis…

Missouri DNR reduces parks system layoffs to 48 employees

Tony Messenger — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:35:47 +0000

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri’s plan to cut about 100 state parks workers has been scaled back, according to the Springfield News-Leader’s Chad Livengood. After various workers exercised seniority rights and jobs were moved around, only 48 jobs were cut, according…

No joke: Alderman offers apology for prank resolution

Jake Wagman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:01:35 +0000

: Roddy

ST. LOUIS — Alderman Joe Roddy is known around City Hall for a wry sense of humor, using his perch as one of the board’s senior members to take lighthearted cracks at his fellow lawmakers.

But, recently, even Roddy admits that he…

Sen. Kevin Engler seeing red over Missouri’s Blue Books

Tony Messenger — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:24:54 +0000

JEFFERSON CITY — The day after Secretary of State Robin Carnahan announced that her office has made past state Blue Books available online, Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, has issued a news release repeating his past call to do away with the…

Democrat leader: “Very close” to votes needed to pass health bill

Bill Lambrecht — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:38:31 +0000

Hoyer

WASHINGTON — House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said this morning that Democrats are closing in on the votes needed for the U.S. House to pass a bill with historic changes in health insurance.

But lacking 218 votes, Hoyer said Democrats were continuing to persuade members in his party nervous about…

Akin achin’? Congressman’s pledge gaffe at rally draws attention

Jake Wagman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:26:50 +0000

After our Washington bureau chief Bill Lambrecht noted that U.S. Rep. Todd Akin missed a word in the Pledge of Allegiance — “indivisible” — the miscue at the Tea Party rally Thursday continued to draw attention.

The sharp-tongued Wonkette was…

Lincoln County commissioner charged with drug possession

Joel Currier — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:56:10 +0000

Matthew Bass

Our crime blog, STL Crime Beat, has a story about a Lincoln County commissioner who was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of drug possession after police say he bought prescription pain killers in the parking lot of a Troy, Mo.,…

State Senator calls for investigation into casino chief’s outburst

Paul Hampel — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:47:30 +0000

Lee

CLAYTON — State Sen. Timothy P. Green, D-north St. Louis County, has asked the Missouri Gaming Commission to investigate a casino executive who interrupted the St. Louis County Council meeting Tuesday to protest a council member’s vote.

At the meeting, Daniel…

Bowling proprietors hope St. Louis County smoking ban will bring back customers

Phil Sutin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:12:21 +0000

The Greater St. Louis Bowling Proprietors Association, which campaigned against the ban on smoking in indoor public places that St. Louis County voters approved on Tuesday, has conceded defeat. It hopes non-smokers will come to their bowling centers when the…

Thousands rally against Dems’ health insurance reforms

Bill Lambrecht — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:18:04 +0000

Rep. Todd Akin greets Capitol protesters today.

WASHINGTON — Chanting “Kill the Bill, Kill the Bill,” thousands of people are rallying this afternoon at the U.S. Capitol, protesting Democrats’ health-care legislation and blaming Washington for a host of perceived ills from high…