8th District race: More from the fringe
Space restrictions in the print edition of Sunday's Southeast Missourian caused me to short shrift what I believe was the most interesting conversation I had about fringe candidates Larry Bill and Rick...
View ArticleWhat does Isle's $125 million pay for?
We're less than a week away from the election. Have any more questions about the casino issue? I do. Isle of Capri said from the start that the casino project would cost $125 million. But what does...
View ArticleChatting with the chairman
Jim Mathewson has had heard a lot of information. As chairman of the Missouri Gaming Commission, the former state senator from Sedalia has heard detailed pitches from all three companies that are...
View ArticleElection Day info
I may have singlehandledly saved the election. I noticed that the Missouri Secretary of State's {http://www.sos.mo.gov/ Web site} had placed its Election Day information front and center. You can click...
View ArticleI totally stole this: Log your election predictions here!
I'm sitting here at the office after a Cape Girardeau City Council meeting, with less than 10 hours until the polls open. I was checking out the St. Louis Post Dispatch's Web site and saw a blog asking...
View ArticleWill Cape council bawk, er, balk, at back-yard chicken ordinance?
Whether or not Cape Girardeau residents will be {http://www.semissourian.com/story/1673476.html allowed to keep chickens} on their property for non-commercial reasons is still up in the air. But if the...
View ArticleCasino matters and bitter pills
The {http://www.mgc.dps.mo.gov/ Missouri Gaming Commission} is meeting as we speak to pore over the financial data from each of the three casino companies, including...
View ArticleSt. Louis smoking advocate draws ban to gaming commission's attention
If you're familiar at all with St. Louis history, then you've probably heard the name Bill Hannegan. His grandfather was co-owner and team president of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1940s and chairman...
View ArticleGroup has sufficient number of signatures to put smoking ban on Cape ballot
Breathe Easy of Cape Girardeau has cleared a huge hurdle toward its goal of getting a smoking ban on a citywide ballot, possibly as early as April. City Clerk Gayle Conrad confirmed that the petition...
View ArticleThe shadow of the shoe factory
I remember the men. They came from Spanish, Mill, Mason and the other sinewy side streets where I grew up. In my memory, they were always trudging. Heads down. Stoic. Some took long, slow drags off of...
View ArticleSmoking ban group issues statement
Breathe Easy of Cape Girardeau issued a statement Monday on its Web site. It reiterates the group's position and only mentions the casino in passing. But I thought I'd pass it along. ***Statement on...
View ArticleGOP: Nixon popular, but vulnerable
Gov. Jay Nixon is popular, but Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder may still have a shot at upending him in 2012, according to an internal Republican poll released earlier this week. The American Viewpoint survey,...
View ArticleCan a reporter who smokes cover a smoking ban without bias?
A few months ago, I tried again. I put them down and made familiar promises. No more. For good, this time. My family had been begging me to quit for years, especially my 9-year-old, Hannah. "They're...
View ArticleYay! More details about wastewater
Judging from the turnout at {http://www.semissourian.com/story/1694638.html last night's public hearing}, there's not a lot of public interest in the city's proposal to build a new $62 million...
View ArticleDrug testing for welfare recipients?
A bill being considered by the Missouri House would require drug testing for certain federal welfare recipients. The bill made it out of a Missouri House committee last week and is sponsored by Rep....
View ArticleSmoking ban opponents launch web site
The group of Cape Girardeau residents and business owners have launched a web site encouraging people to vote no to the proposed smoking ban on April 5. Have a look {http://www.standupcape.org/ here}....
View ArticleCovering city hall -- or 'how boring is your beat anyway?'
People generally have the same reaction when I tell them I write about city government: A nod of the head, a sympathetic sigh and a slight pursing of the lips. They usually try to let me know --...
View ArticleEmerson eyeing Missouri Senate seat?
Fresh off her huge November re-election victory, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson may be mulling a run for the Senate. According to several bloggers and political insiders, the Republican may throw her hat...
View ArticleKinder responds to DOJ's attempt to dismiss health care lawsuit
Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder has filed a memorandum in opposition to the U.S. Department of Justice's attempt to dismiss his constitutional challenge to the federal health care law. Kinder released the...
View ArticleSkate park at Capaha Pool? Not likely
My {http://www.semissourian.com/story/1698622.html story} about the demise of Capaha Park pool apparently has the skate-boarding community abuzz. "Why not convert the old pool into a skate park?" seems...
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