Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Missouri, announced Monday that she would resign from the U.S. House of Representatives in February 2013, nearly a month after winning reelection. Emerson represents the 8th Congressional District in southeastern Missouri, stretching north into Jefferson County and west to include Rolla. She plans to become the president and CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.  She first took office in 1996, replacing her husband, Bill Emerson, after his death. With Emerson's retirement, Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Missouri, becomes the longest serving member of the Missouri …

Do you know where to go to vote in Hazelwood on Election Day 2012? If not, you can use the handy Google Voter Info embed above to find the location of your designated polling place. Simply enter the address where you're registered to vote. This tool's data has been updated to reflect changes that may have been caused by Hurricane Sandy. For details and articles about every candidate in Hazelwood, check out Patch's Election Guide here: Voter Central. Registered voters need to present one type of identification from this list: ID issued by the federal government, state of missouri or a local …

The St. Louis County Police Department will focus extra attention on polling places located in the unincorporated areas of St. Louis County Tuesday, as well as the municipalities that St. Louis County police contract out to and serve. "Presidential elections generally bring large voter turnouts, which are expected this year," said St. Louis County police officer Randy Vaughn on Monday. “We have not had many problems in recent years,” said St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch in a news release. “Most participants have kept their focus on their right to vote. "During all elections, we want …

Welcome to your home for local November 2012 election news for the City of Hazelwood! - - - Updated at 1:33 a.m. - - - Gina Walsh deafeats Jaqueline Thomas for the State Senate District 13 seat. "Yesterday was a victory for Missouri’s working families in North St. Louis County," Walsh said on her election site. " A tremendous testament to middle class families, seniors and veterans, educators, all the people of North County. "This is the way elections are supposed to be decided, by the people." - - - Updated at 1:32 a.m. - - - Bill Otto defeats Eugene Dokes by a close margine for the State …

The final vote totals for the Election 2012 presidential race are less than 72 hours away, but the final pre-election numbers for contributions to President Obama and Mitt Romney have been calculated. In Missouri, 25,561 contributions have come into the two candidates -- 20,508 for Obama and 5,053 for Romney. In Hazelwood, 73 contributions have come in for the president and three for Romney. To see who from Hazelwood -- or anybody from Missouri -- contributed to the campaigns, just type their names in the appropriate window above. Note that the database is based on data from Federal Elections…

Are you heading the polls to cast your vote in Tuesday's election Hazelwood? There is a lot a stake. In addition to electing our president for the next four years, St. Louis County voters are also picking a U.S. senator. At the state level, voters will pick a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, along with state senators, representatives and judges.  A number of issues will also be voted on Tuesday, including Proposition S, which would approve an operating tax levy for the Special School District of St. Louis County, Proposition B which would …

Hazelwood voters are less than 24 hours away from hitting the polls, in hopes of voting in a new president or giving the current one another four-year term. Chances are, they've already influenced the outcome whether the meant to or not. According to a Pew Research Center study, 66 percent of social media users—or 39 percent of all American adults—have done at least one of eight civic or political activities with social media. Those activities include things such as posting one's thoughts about issues, posting links to political material, encouraging others to take political action, following…

As we close in on November’s elections, Hazelwood Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race in town.   In addition to our own coverage, we have invited candidates in every race to upload information about their campaigns directly to this site. You will definitely want to bookmark this page for updates.  U.S. Senate Claire McCaskill's bid for re-election will be closely watched by the entire nation in part because of her close ties to President Obama's 2008 campaign.  The fiercely-fought GOP primary saw U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Wildwood), emerge victorious, only …

The full Twitter list is available here. See anyone missing for local or state races? Send me a tweet at@ryanmartin87.

Betty Anne Ward McCaskill, 84, died today from natural causes, surrounded by her family at her home in St. Louis, according to the McCaskill campaign. Senator Claire McCaskill released the following statement: I am very sad to announce today the passing of my mother, Betty Anne McCaskill. For some time, mom's health has not been good, and our family takes comfort that she is now at rest. People all over the state have asked about her, and their prayers and concern have been greatly appreciated. Mom never met a stranger and lived life with enthusiasm that none of us could match. We were …

With only 12 days to go before Election Day, the campaigns of Sen. Claire McCaskill and Rep. Todd Akin continue to duke it out for Missouri's U.S. Senate seat. Today, McCaskill's campaign released three new ads highlighting the difference between the two candidates on Medicare, minimum wage and the middle class. To view the ads, click on the links below.  Medicare Minimum Wage Middle Class Meanwhile, Akin's camp released a statement blasting McCaskill for focusing on alcohol abuse and bar brawls in Afghanistan instead of investigating the death of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya. Quoting Rick …

The 2012 Election Season is a very important time for America. As we head into November and selection of a president, a lot of information can be skewed about voter registration and voting at the polls. Here's some information Hazelwood Patch has compiled from the Missouri Secretary of State's Election website about common misconceptions related to registering to vote and what to do on election day. 1. Felons Can't Vote in Missouri. Incorrect. Upon completion of your sentence and probation or parole, you are eligible to vote in elections. Individuals who have been convicted of an election …

Until now, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) had been the source of controversy this election cycle over well-documented problems with paying taxes on an aircraft. But Tuesday, citing information provided by a "Democratic operative" the website Politico reported that John Brunner (R-Frontenac) was late paying property taxes for a plane owned by his company, Vi-Jon Services. Check out Politico reporter David Catanese's reporting on the issue, including response from the Brunner campaign. Does this disclosure change your opinion of the race at all? Tell us in the comments.

Sometimes it can feel like voting for the lesser of two evils is the only option. Sometimes a person can feel like they don't have a voice any way it goes, but it's still important to vote. With the August Missouri Primary approaching quickly, followed by the November Presidential election, here are some reasons why those in Hazelwood and everywhere else should register to vote and then head out to the polls. If you are unsure of the issues, check out the Hazelwood 2012 Election Guide. Click here. It's your right: Young people, women and underrepresented groups all fought hard for the right …

With just over a month until Hazelwood voters, along with teh rest of Missouri will determine which Republican will take on U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill in November, the trio of top GOP contenders sparred Friday night in a debate seen across the state of Missouri. The debate, featuring U.S. Representative Todd Akin (R-Wildwood), Frontenac Businessman John Brunner and former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, was held at Washington University's Edison Theater and carried by KMOV-TV in St. Louis and KCTV-TV in Kansas City. Steelman, speaking second in the debate's opening statements after Brunner…

You may have already seen Patch has launched a Voting Guide for the August and November 2012 Election. There, you can find the best of our reporting on the candidates and the ballot issues coming your way in the primary and general election. A key piece of information we're adding to the guide is all about the campaigns themselves. Links to their websites, background about the candidates, where they went to school, when they were elected, military service, etc. If you're working for a campaign, make sure someone fills this out on your candidate's behalf; be it local, county, regional, state …

As the race towards the Aug. 7 primary picks up, Rep. Russ Carnahan has picked up more key endorsements toward his challenge with 1st Congressional District incumbent, Rep. William Lacy Clay. Earlier this week, the St. Louis Beacon reported Missouri Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Rep. Carnahan. “The Missouri Fraternal Orderof Police is proud to stand with Russ because of his record and understanding of the sacrifices that law enforcement officers make every day to keep our communities safe,” Kevin Ahlbrand, President of the Missouri FOP, said in the article. “We know that Russ will …

Did you know you have six days left to register to vote in the August 7 Missouri Primary Election? There is still lot of time remaining to register for the November 6 General Election, but if you want to have a say locally and at the county and state level, you need to register today. Registering to vote is very simple. Missourians can register to vote: By filling out the Missouri Voter Registration Application At the office of the local election authority – Local Election Authority Contact Information At any Department of Motor Vehicles office, or state agency providing a service to the …

Patch in St. Louis is getting ready to launch a fun and we hope informative project in conjunction with the 2012 election cycle, and we need your help to find a few good men and women to make it happen. We're looking for current or former elected officeholders, campaign activists, or township, county or state party officials--both Republicans and Democrats--who would be interested in telling us their opinions as we arrived at upcoming elections. Whether you live in Hazelwood or another part of the Greater St. Louis Area, participate in Patch's Participate 2012! We'll leave it there as far as …