Political Poll: Kinder or Montee, Who Has Your Vote?

If the election were held today, which Missouri Lt. Governor candidate would you vote for?

In the Presidential election, voters get to pick one ticket. If you vote for Barack Obama, you're voting for Joe Biden as Vice President. If you punch in Mitt Romney's name on Election Day, you’re also voting for Paul Ryan. Missouri, on the other hand, is different. In Jefferson City right now Governor Jay Nixon, a Democrat, and his second-in-command Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, a Republican, lead the state.  This November 6, just six short weeks away, voters in Missouri will get a chance to decide what the leadership in Jefferson City will look like. Will one party take control, or will we have four more years of a split party? Last week we asked your opinion on the Governor's race between Nixon and his Republican challenger Dave Spence. …

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Political Rewind: Gov. Nixon Logs $600k in Taxpayer-Funded Travel Expenses

Patch prides itself on local coverage, but Missouri politics can have just as much an effect as local government. Here's an easy guide to what happened this week on the state political scene.

Editor's Note: This article was created by aggregating news articles from Missouri Watchdog. McCaskill leads congressional candidates in out-of-state campaign donations Although Claire McCaskill is Missouri’s senator, they seem to love her in such places as New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. An examination of election donations shows that McCaskill, a Democrat, is the only Missouri congressional candidate who gets more individual campaign support from outside the Show Me State than from within its borders. Fifty-seven percent of the $6.3 million that McCaskill has raised for the 2012campaign from individual donations comes from other states. The next highest is District 5 incumbent Democrat Emanuel Cleaver, who has raised 41 …

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McCaskill: Rape Comment 'Window Into Akin's Mind'

Claire McCaskill appeared on MSNBC Monday to discuss Todd Akin's comment on 'legitimate rape,' which she calls a 'gut-check' for Missourians.

Claire McCaskill has been quick to respond to Todd Akin's comment Sunday in an interview with Patch news partner FOX2 that aired on Sunday with Charles Jaco in which Akin suggested the female body has ways of shutting down to prevent pregnancy during a "legitimate rape." See: Rep. Todd Akin On Hot Seat Over 'Legitimate Rape' Comment in FOX2 Interview After calling Akin's comment 'offensive' and 'outrageous' in a statement released Sunday, the Missouri Senator appeared on MSNBC Monday. "For the state I love, I hope this is a moment where everyone who hasn't been paying close attention, um, this statement is kind of a window into Todd Akin's mind," McCaskill said on Morning Joe.  McCaskill went onto note that Akin won the Republican primary …

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Sale or Sales Tax Holiday? Which One Offers The Best Back-to-School Deals?

Where will you find the best savings, during this weekend's sales tax holiday or during a store's regular sale? Tell us in our 'Patch' poll.

The Missouri sales tax holiday is underway and runs until midnight, Sunday. From Aug. 3 - 5, Missouri is waiving the state 4.225 percent sales tax and St. Louis County is waiving its 2.7 percent sales tax. Shoppers can save at least close to 7 percent of some purchases as a result. (Read Previous Story: Sales Tax Holiday Now Underway) Sales tax in waived on select items this weekend. Click here for a complete list of qualified items. Many cities opt out of the holiday and are not waiving the sales tax this weekend. The Missouri Department of Revenue lists all cities opting out on its website.  Although the weekend offers welcome discounts, St. Louis Better Business Bureau Director Chris Thetford reminders shoppers that although the sales …

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Gov. Jay Nixon Vetoes Contraceptive Services Bill: Agree or Disagree?

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a bill that would have allowed employers to deny insurance coverage for contraceptive services if they have religious or moral objections. What do you think of his actions?

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a bill that would have allowed employers to deny insurance coverage for contraceptive services if they have religious or moral objections. Nixon, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, said Missouri law already provides "strong religious protections" that let employers and employees abstain from paying for contraceptive coverage based on their beliefs. From the report: Nixon said the bill would undermine the current protections because it would let an insurance company "impose its will, and deny inclusion of contraceptive coverage, even if that position is inconsistent with the rights and beliefs of the employee or employer." At a news conference in his Capitol office this morning, Nixon said he vetoed the…

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Leaving Pets and Kids in the Car: Should the Law Do More?

According to one organization, a child can die from heat stroke on a 72-degree day if left unattended in a car.

Each summer, the same old story comes up—irresponsible parents and pet owners leaving their children or pets in the car during times of extreme heat. The result can be devestating. According to the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University, more than 500 children have died because of being left in a hot car since 1998—11 have been reported thus far in 2012. Most of the time, parents or pet owners tragically forget about their kids or pets. But the incident rarely finds sympathy amongst the public. According to SafeKids.org, a child can die from heat stroke on a 72-degree day. That's because their bodies aren’t the same as adults and a child’s body can heat up five times faster than an adult’s. And according to the Weather…

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Denise Bertacchi

8:45 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The way Patch is formatted right now, the cutlines only show up when you click the photos. Its there.   more ›

Patch Political Potpourri

Missouri Voters Will Decide a Bevy of Ballot Issues This Year

Plus: A goodbye and a thank you from your purveyor of Potpourri.

This election cycle brought about an unprecedented flow of initiative petitions -- 143 to be exact. Even though an innumerable amount of trees were sacrificed in paperwork, only four items have any chance of making it to the ballot. Earlier in May, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan announced that various groups had turned in signatures for the following ballot initiatives: It’s not known yet whether any of these items will actually be put up for a vote. For one thing, several of the items, including the cigarette tax increase and the payday loan measure, are tied up in litigation. Arch City Chronicle writer Dave Drebes indicated earlier this month that the cases may be heard later in June. The other wrinkle is that the proposals need a …

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Nate Birt

9:27 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012

Jason, you're a credit to your industry. Keep up the good work, and have a blast at your new gig.   more ›

Should Rush Limbaugh Be in the Hall of Famous Missourians?

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 …

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Sonny Pondrom

10:49 am on Monday, November 5, 2012

I don't think Missourians should be proud of just anyone born here. I think a famous person should be someone our children should look up to. Putting this Missouri boy on a pedestal with people who have made great contribution to this country is a mistake and demeaning to the current group of heros.   more ›

From the Senator's Desk

Visiting the Christian Women's Benevolent Association

A column from State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal.

I recently learned a lot about an amazing group and the work its members have been doing right here in the St. Louis area for more than 109 years. The Christian Women’s Benevolent Association (C.W.B.A.) has been tirelessly helping the area’s poor, homeless, orphaned, elderly and needy families to survive and thrive since 1899. Although it no longer have an orphanage and its Christian hospitals are now under new management, these women with core beliefs in the teaching of Jesus Christ started a valuable and uniquely American tradition of taking care of those who are need. Since its humble beginnings, the C.W.B.A. has been providing exceptional care for men and women of all faiths, and this continues to this day. Society has certainly …

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MoDOT to Attack Potholes

The new plan with have road crews filling potholes within 24-hours. Add potholes in your area to Hazelwood Patch's interactive map in this article.

Beginning in March, the Missouri Department of Transportation is aggressively attacking potholes across the St. Louis area and commits to filling the holes with asphalt with 24 hours when they are reported to MoDOT on weekdays. MoDOT stated in a news release that the plan is part of an improved program to respond to and fix potholes throughout the St. Louis area district which includes St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties. "It's the right thing to do," explained Tom Blair, St. Louis Asst. District Engineer with MoDOT. Why now? The month of March is when we get out the heart of winter weather, so this is a major priority to our staff, to now get out there an get these potholes filled. The goal is the fill the potholes while they …

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