Governor Nixon Visits Parkway School District, Outlines Education Goals

Missouri's Governor visited Oak Brook Elementary School in West St. Louis County this week to talk education.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon reinforced some already-stated education policy goals Thursday in a St. Louis County visit ahead of Monday's State of The State address, and also discussed school security in a visit to Oak Brook Elementary School in the Parkway School District. (For instant news updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.) After meeting with district administrators in private and then visiting an Early Education classroom, he talked in the school's library of creating a "seamless" path of education from Pre-K programs to college. Governor Nixon said he would request "additional resources" to fund early education programs, noting the connection between Pre-K and success later in life. He did not identify a dollar amount, but …

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A Nixon White House in 2016? Possible, Some Pundits Say

It's a bit early, but Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's name is being bandied about as part of a Democratic ticket in 2016.

As Gov. Jay Nixon and Sen. Claire McCaskill led a blue resurgence in a red state in 2012, some started mixing mentions of the Missouri governor with the year 2016. St. Louis Post Dispatch columnist Bill McClellan may have been among the first to suggest a Democratic Nixon taking run at White House. But national media have since picked up on the fact that Nixon, a Democrat, has turned up the ability to appeal to Republicans as part of this year's re-election effort, as chronicled by the Huffington Post. “I think if Gov. Nixon were to run for president in 2016, he would use the Bill Clinton model from 1992 and run as a centrist or moderate,” said David Kimball, professor of political science at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Others …

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Missouri Voters Overwhelmingly OK 'Right to Pray' Amendment

U.S. Rep. Todd Akin wins the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate. Businessman Dave Spence wins the GOP nomination for governor.

A state constitutional amendment touted as a "right to pray" provision has won by better than a four-to-one margin. Proponents say Amendment 2 protects the right of Missourians to pray in public. Opponents of the measure say those protections are already guaranteed in the Bill of Rights and the amendment would be a boon for lawyers, who will battle in court over unintended consequences spawned by the provision. Meanwhile in the race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Wildwood, has won. The Springfield News-Leader declared Akin the winner with about 80 percent of votes tallied. Akin faced down challengers Sarah Steelman, the former state treasurer, and businessman John Brunner has 29 percent. In the race for the …

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Kevin Lane

4:41 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012

BTW - An "authoritarian-type government" doesn't usually go around posting your rights so you can see them every single day. An "authoritarian-type government" would be the kind that would try to take them away.   more ›

Former MO Gov, Town and Country Attorney Sentenced For Misappropriation of Funds

Former Missouri Governor Roger Wilson and Town and Country attorney Edward Griesedieck were both sentenced in connection to the misappropriation of funds from an insurer.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, former Missouri Governor Roger Wilson and Town and Country attorney Edward Griesedieck were both sentenced Monday, after entering guilty pleas in April. Their sentences were in connection to their misappropriation of funds from Missouri Employers Mutual, of which Wilson was CEO. (Sign up here for the FREE Patch Newsletter, including Breaking News Alerts.) In a news release, prosecutors stated that both men were sentenced to probation, fines, restitution and community service. The following information detailing the sentences and the case was included in the U.S. Attorney's news release. Roger B. Wilson was sentenced to two years probation, a $5000 fine, $5000 restitution and 100 hours of community …

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Patch Political Potpourri

The Great Shift

A week about movement as Ed Martin thinks about his next move and new state legislative maps cause some chaos.

With the Republican nomination for governor all shook up, so to speak, there’s increased speculation that Ed Martin might bolt from the 2nd Congressional District race. Martin didn’t help pare down curosity when hewent on KMOX to say that he would consider switching races once again during the election cycle. Martin already bowed out of the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate after U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Wildwood) decided to run for the nation's greatest deliberative body. Beyond having to answer for his propensity to switch races midstream, Martin may have to deal with yet another well-funded opponent in Dave Spence. The Frontenac businessman gave himself $2 million for his gubernatorial bid. He also has the backing of Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, …

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Patch Political Potpourri

Pundits Skeptical of Gingrich Rise

Former House Speaker gains in the polls as alternatives to Romney falter.

It seems that with each passing week, there’s a new main challenger to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s front-runner status. First it was Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minnesota). Then it was Texas Gov. Rick Perry. And later, it was Georgia businessman Herman Cain. For various reasons, all of these candidates slipped in the polls after the media spotlight became white hot. Last week is almost déjà vu all over again, so to speak, with the case of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. After suffering some setbacks during the early portions of his campaign,Gingrich has seen a rise in his poll numbers after other candidates, like Cain and Perry, have faltered. But with increased attention comes increased scrutiny, such as a report that …

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Kinder Drops Out, Leaves Ladue Businessman As Republican Frontrunner for Governor

Kinder said David Spence now is Republicans' best chance to unseat Jay Nixon in 2012.

A Ladue businessman is the Republican frontrunner for the 2012 gubernatorial primary. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder announced at 4 p.m. Friday that he is dropping out of the Missouri governor race, according to an Associated Press story. Kinder has struggled after articles about visits at a strip club and taxpayer-supported hotel stays. Kinder said he would support the candidacy of Dave Spence, of Ladue. Spence is president of Alpha Packaging on Page Industrial Boulevard in Overland. He has never run for office. Spence is “a self-made man and proven manager who understands how to create jobs and improve the state's economy,” Kinder said, according to the AP article. Bill Randles, a lawyer and consultant from Kansas City, is another candidate for …

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Dennis Broadbooks

8:41 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011

Joe, it's somewhat understandable you wouldn't know about Bill Randles' campaign as virtually no news source is covering it. It's one of the best kept secrets in MO politics & it shouldn't be. Thanks for following up!   more ›

Patch Political Potpourri

Mr. Self-Destruct?

Texas Gov. Rick Perry's debate woes promp questions about whether he will last in the presidential race.

It's still early, but Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s presidential campaign may be defined by one word: Oops. Although the GOP debate Saturday night seemed to be a better one for Perry, even joking about his most recent memory lapse, it is last Wednesday's debate that has many questioning how far he will really go. The longtime chief executive of the Lone Star State came into the 2012 race for the White House with high expectations. But he fell behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney after a series of substandard debate performances. And another widely panned debate effort last Wednesday may have driven Perry further down in the proverbial hole. That’s because Perry fumbled badly when he tried to name three cabinet-level executive agencies he…

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Gabrielle Biondo

8:53 am on Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Thanks so much Maya for the catch! A correction has been posted in the story.   more ›

MO Governor Signs School "Facebook Law" Repeals

Governor Jay Nixon signs repeals to the Missouri school social networking law, but says even the revised version has flaws. The law no longer prohibits teachers and students from communicating through some social networking outlets.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed Senate Bill 1, which repeals a portion a state school social networking law passed, Senate Bill 54, by the General Assembly this spring. In August, Patch reported on the controversy and confusion surrounding Senate Bill 54, also known as the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act. It is sponsored by former Ladue school board member and Missouri State Senator Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield) and designed to protect students.  The Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) sued the state over ths social network portions of Senate Bill 54, claiming it was too vague. MSTA was awarded an injunction on Aug. 26, just two days before the new law was to take effect. Friday, that lawsuit and injunction are still in …

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Special Session Stalled: Aerotropolis, MOSIRA Still Up In The Air

Governor Nixon calls on lawmakers to pass an economic development package or go home.

Politics often gets described in metaphorical strategy akin to sporting events. If someone were to take a look at the status of the Special Session of the Missouri Legislature, they might describe parties involved as "getting chippy". Three weeks after the session started, one piece of legislation, a fix to the so-called "Facebook" law regarding teacher and student communication has been passed, even though some might argue the actual bill itself is outside the scope of what Governor Jay Nixon added to his call for the session. Another bill, which could boost the high tech sector in Creve Coeur, has also been passed, but is now tied to the fate of legislation seen as the main foundation for the session itself, an economic development bill …

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