Missouri News

Two men were charged Saturday with murder and rape in the death of a 9-year-old girl whose body was found the day before in a hillside cave in southwest Missouri. via Athens Banner-Herald

“I look forward to working with the Missouri Wilderness Coalition and my colleagues in Congress to extend federal protection to remaining areas deserving of special protection”

Hundreds of bird-watchers, backpackers, hunters and rafters from across the state are lobbying Congress to designate about 50,000 acres as federally protected wilderness areas. via KMOV-TV Saint Louis

“As individual states crack down on illegals the illegals will be channelized to those states and cities that are illegal friendly. These jurisdictions are likely to be overwhelmed to the point that their taxpayers demand change.”

Minor traffic violations do not usually warrant a press release from a governor. via Free Republic

“This bill is enormously important, and it has been a long time coming”

The Senate voted overwhelmingly today for a popular $23 billion water projects measure affecting locales across the country, thereby handing President Bush his first defeat in a veto showdown with Congress. via New York Times

“We melded a lot of them together”

A panel examining how Missouri can better help those with autism is proposing several statewide changes, from improvements to health insurance coverage to measures for smoothing transitions throughout the life ... via Belleville News

Buffalo -- A Buffalo man charged with killing his wife last Christmas was bound over for trial Thursday. via Springfield News Leader

“We took action by requesting this assistance and I commend Acting Secretary Connor for quickly approving this disaster declaration which will allow Missouri farm families to receive this assistance.”

" Gov. Matt Blunt today announced that the U.S. Agriculture Acting Secretary Chuck Connor declared 22 Missouri counties as natural disaster areas for agricultural loss due to drought related damages. via Joplin

“Around here, a lot of guys have a suck-it-up attitude. This is the Midwest!”

Dressed in the Army uniform he wore in the Persian Gulf War, John Vitale draws stares at food kitchens as he waits for a free meal.

He earned 18 medals, ribbons and awards in Iraq, and was honorably discharged. He wants strangers to know he's a veteran. He says he doesn't drink or use illegal drugs. He calls everyone 'sir' or 'ma'am.'

But something about him isn't right.

His eyes dart, scanning for an unknown assailant. His hands shake. His moods swing wildly. He can't hold a job. For the last two years, Vitale, 40, has traveled in and out of homelessness. Read more

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to speak at two town hall meetings in Missouri on Monday. via The Topeka Capital-Journal

A 9-year-old southwest Missouri girl missing for a week was found dead today in a sinkhole in eastern McDonald County, a law enforcement official said. via STLtoday

“And that's a big deal. It isn't easy for members of the other side to stand up to a president in their own party. I know. I know what that's like. It's hard.”

The Senate dealt President Bush the first veto override of his presidency on Thursday, with a resounding bipartisan vote to adopt a $23.2 billion water resources bill that authorizes popular projects across the ... via HendersonvilleNews.com

“Returning over-limit contributions is not a hardship, and our campaign is ready to start putting checks in the mail tomorrow if Matt Blunt agrees to do the same”

Attorney General Jay Nixon's campaign said in September that he instructed his campaign staff "to make preparations to return all over-limit contributions." Now that the Missouri Ethics Commission is proceeding ... via Columbia Tribune

“Now there's no plan. If we can address the shortage by bringing more people into the system, we can bring down the cost. When people have little access to care, they get no preventive care and the cost of their treatment is far higher.”

Missouri House Democrats on Monday unveiled a series of health-care proposals designed to expand Medicaid coverage, fight childhood obesity and help people quit smoking.

The centerpiece of the package is the reversal of the 2005 cuts in Medicaid eligibility, which eliminated coverage for 90,600 people and reduced services and raised fees for more.

To facilitate the expansion of health coverage, Democrats also proposed a plan to consolidate the state's health programs under a single Health Policy Authority. Read more

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt is meeting with Japanese business leaders this week in New York City, Blunt's office said today. via Springfield News Leader

They're just 11 percent of the U.S. adult population, but a report finds that veterans make up one in four homeless people. via WNOL-TV New Orleans

Two sisters have been identified as the victims of a deadly house fire in northeast Missouri. via St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Missouri was one of six states that received the highest bond rating by all three rating agencies Fitch Ratings , Standard & Poors and Moody's Investor Service, Gov. via St. Louis Business Journal

Ameren Corporation has selected a contractor to rebuild its Taum Sauk reservoir in southeast Missouri. via KSDK NewsChannel 5

Missouri Corrections officials said a decision on where to imprison Michael Devlin is expected in two to three weeks. via CW11 St. Louis KPLR-TV

“That means we'll barely be able to maintain our highways, much less address congestion, safety and economic development concerns.”

In the Missouri Department of Transportation 's annual report to the state legislature, an independent audit showed sound financial practices and continuing progress in improving road conditions throughout the ... via St. Louis Business Journal