Susan Weich’s column today talks about Brenda Hollrah, whose son is 24 and has three DWIs. She says he started drinking at age 15 at the home of some friends whose parents either condoned underrage drinking or looked the other way.

Some parents think they are keeping kids safe by buying the beer and taking away the car keys, but they are wrong, Hollrah said.

Research shows that kids who start drinking before age 21 have a dramatically increased chance of becoming alcoholics. And there have been cases of kids getting the keys and driving anyway from these adult-sponsored parties.

So are parents who sponsor…

A state disciplinary panel wants to reprimand St. Charles County Associate Circuit Judge Matthew Thornhill for his role in a bizarre plea negotiation that involved a baseball reportedly signed by Terry Bradshaw in exchange for reduced criminal charges in a check forgery case.

Columnist Susan Weich thinks a reprimand is letting Thornhill off easy, and he should be booted off the bench instead. What do you think?

The St. Charles City Council has backtracked on a city commitment to fix a longstanding flooding problem in the Pearl Ridge Estates subdivision near the Family Arena. In 2006, the council - then with a largely different membership - approved a contract with a construction firm to remedy the situation. Current council members say they’ve backed off because estimated costs have risen significantly - no matter which of several versions of the plan would be carried out. Residents say they’re caught in a dispute between the city and the developer over who’s responsible for the problem. The developer blames the city because the developer’s engineer drafted subdivision plans according to…

A city advisory commission on health issues wants the City Council to  ban smoking at bars, restaurants and other enclosed public places. A majority of council members are opposed, with some worrying that businesses in the city could suffer if St. Charles acts on its own without neighboring communities doing the same. Should the council pass such a prohibition, let city voters decide in a referendum or leave the law the way it is? 

The Missouri Legislature last week voted to repeal a state law requiring St. Charles to cut the city property tax rate when the city’s share of Ameristar Casino admission receipts increases above 2007 levels. Gov. Matt Blunt has yet to say whether he will sign or veto the repeal bill. Should the state require the city of St. Charles to give local taxpayers some of its casino revenue in the form of a tax cut - or should the money all be dedicated to city services and salaries and capital improvements?