A bipartisan panel chaired by James Baker and Warren Christopher — both former secretaries of state — recommends repealing the so-called “War Powers Act” of 1973 and creating new legislation to govern how the executive branch consults and informs Congress over going to war. The story from the Associated Press says the act should be…

…replaced with new legislation that would require the president to inform Congress of any plans to engage in “significant armed conflict,” or non-covert operations lasting longer than a week. In turn, Congress would act within 30 days, either approving or disapproving the action.

Here’s a link to…

From a story for Tuesday’s Post-Dispatch:

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra has an important new partnership: Wachovia Securities will be the title sponsor of the ensemble’s main orchestral series for the next three seasons.

Neither Symphony President Fred Bronstein nor Wachovia spokesman Justin Gioia would disclose the exact dollar amount. However, said Bronstein, “over time, it’s a gift that’s significantly into the six figures.”

With the sponsorship comes this: “The ‘Wachovia Securities Orchestral Series’ name will apply to a total of more than 60 performances over the 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. It will appear immediately on signs, advertising and other…

The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives began during President Bush’s years in office as a way of supporting “compassion in action” by religious groups serving their communities.

Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama says he supports the efforts of that office and would allow it to continue. In fact, he says he would “expand it to direct more money to religious groups,” according to a story out today.

The announcement by the Democrats’ presumptive nominee was met by suggestions that he was merely trying to curry favor with religious voters, a segment of the electorate in which he has…

On the occasion of Bissinger’s winning a big national award, I have candy on the brain. Here’s what our story for Friday’s Post-Dispatch says:

Bissinger’s Blueberry and Açai Gummy Pandas brought home a Special Outstanding Food Innovation Award from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade’s Fancy Food Show in New York. The association recognized winners in 32 categories, chosen from more than 2,000 entries. The judges evaluated taste, packaging and originality and recognized Bissinger’s for “outstanding confection.”

Honestly, we might have talked about this before. I just can’t remember. But it’s a holiday weekend, so let’s try something a…

Our story for Thursday’s Post-Dispatch talks about how some St. Louisans’ shopping habits are changing. “You just can’t not shop. You just can’t,” said Bridgette Moore, 43, of Baden. But how you shop can change. You might scale back what you do and find different ways to splurge.

Moore goes on: “Maybe instead of a fabulous shopping spree (at Lane Bryant) and then going out to dinner (at the Cheesecake Factory), I’ll just go buy something small and go to a nicer grocery store.”

Here’s another key piece of info from the story:

Glenn MacDonald, a professor of economics and…