ST. LOUIS — As an independent bid adds interest in the race to replace former State Rep. T.D. El-Amin, the city’s Central Democratic Committee has passed a resolution seeking to crackdown on those who oppose the party’s nominee.
Committee members approved…
[...]
Danforth
UPDATE: Bill Lambrecht covered the announcement in Washington this morning.
ST. LOUIS — Washington University will announce today the creation of a new institute on the study of religion and politics named in honor of one their chief benefactors, John…
[...]
Incognito
ST. LOUIS — What happens when a football team has one win in its last 23 games?
Even the mayor joins in to pile on the misery.
After Sunday’s 40-point drubbing by the Tennessee Titans — filled with mental errors that kept…
[...]
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill will not support health care if it means putting people or the nation in a financial hole, the Missouri Democrat said over the weekend.
Speaking on Fox News Sunday, McCaskill said she would…
[...]
Wainwright
ST. LOUIS — Cardinals strikeout artist Adam Wainwright, who came thisclose to winning his first Cy Young Award this year, will speak at the governor’s prayer breakfast next month.
Gov. Jay Nixon’s office announced Thursday that Wainwright will provide the keynote address at…
[...]
Malek, left, and Black
A pair of Washington’s most consummate insiders — Fred Malek and Charlie Black, whose resumes are as long as any Republicans in D.C. — are hosting a fundraiser this evening for GOP Senate hopeful Roy Blunt.
Black is…
[...]
D'Agrosa
ST. LOUIS — Former State Rep. Talibdin “T.D.” El-Amin, who pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges in September, could get a new sentencing date thanks to his lawyer’s wounded ligament.
El-Amin, who faces as much as two years in prison, was originally set…
' [...]
The Roberts Brothers
ST. LOUIS — For U.S. Senate hopeful Robin Carnahan, St. Louis’ Lindell Boulevard might as well be Wall Street — it’s where she is going to raise capital for her campaign.
About six weeks ago, Carnahan was feted at…
[...]
Calloway
ST. LOUIS — Last month, State Rep. Don Calloway plunged feet first into the turmoil surrounding the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District, getting taken away in handcuffs after yet another one of the agency’s rowdy meetings last month.
There have been…
[...]
The Simmons Firm
The region’s most prominent class-action law firm is reaching across the river to fuel a campaign-funding spending spree.
As Missouri legislators prepare to begin their new session next month, one East Alton law firm — Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides…
[...]
Sowers
ST. LOUIS — Local Democrats are throwing a Central West End fundraiser for Tommy Sowers, the young special-forces vet who is running for the Congressional seat representing Southeast Missouri.
Sowers, 33, ran counterinsurgency operations in Iraq, winning a pair of Bronze…
[...]
ST. LOUIS – Alderman Sam Moore, a first-term Democrat who represents the Ville neighborhood, reacts to news that Sumner High — whose students have included Chuck Berry, Arthur Ashe and Tina Turner – could be closed by the school district.
It…
[...]
Wahby at the White House
Two Missouri Democrats visited 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue this week — but don’t call them crashers.
State Auditor Susan Montee and St. Louis Democratic Party Chairman Brian Wahby attended — with invitations — the annual White House Christmas Party on…
[...]
Crow
UNIVERSITY CITY — Late Thursday afternoon, University City councilman Terry Crow, a candidate for mayor, sent a note to supporters boasting about the city’s fiscal accolades — winning the “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.”
Yawn. Sort of a wonkish memo for a…
[...]
Beck
ST. LOUIS — Love him or hate him, radio and television personality Glenn Beck has become a force in the national media landscape.
And, love or hate him, he’s coming to St. Louis.
Tickets went on sale Thursday for “An Evening with Glenn…
[...]
Karla May
ST. LOUIS — Democrat Karla May lost her party’s nod to fill the vacancy left by state Rep. T.D. El-Amin, but that doesn’t mean she is out of the running.
Last month, Democratic ward leaders nominated attorney Hope Whitehead to take the…
[...]
Wright-Jones, left, and Keaveny
If St. Louis officials are to end more than a century of state control over the city’s police department, they will need a coordinated approach from their delegation in Jefferson City.
So far, that’s off to a wobbly…
[...]
Obama delivers his plan at West Point
Local Republicans offered a mix reaction to President Obama’s announcement last night that he will send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan.
U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, who is retiring next year, was mostly positive, offering…
[...]
Palin's "Going Rogue" in Southwest Mo.
The “Going Rogue” tour hits Missouri today, with ex veep nominee Sarah Palin stopping in the heart of the state’s Republican corridor.
While the 2008 campaign season took Palin to St. Louis to debate her Democratic [...]
Burris and his wife, Berlean, with the Salahis at a Black Caucus event
Looks like the senator who landed in Washington amid Rod Blagojevich’s spectacular political crash had a run-in with a pair of alleged [...]
From left, aldermen French, Triplett, Young and Cohn at Planned Parenthood
ST. LOUIS — The three youngest members of the city’s Board of Aldermen and their most tenured colleague were at Planned Parenthood today to mark World [...]
Drury
As President Obama prepares to make his big announcement on Afghanistan tonight, the work of one Mizzou political science teacher offers some insight into winning over the public: Use words that are easy to understand.
And be careful not to confuse any of…
[...]
Arch City Deli enters the City Hall food market
ST. LOUIS — When it comes to purchasing lunch, City Hall employees can be a tough crowd.
For the third time in as many years, yet another food service provider will [...]
Blunt, left, and Carnahan
If you’re looking for info on where Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Robin Carnahan is — or isn’t — these days, you’re in luck: There’s an app for that.
On the same day that Republican rival Roy Blunt continued his assertion…
[...]
Clay at a census announcement earlier this year
ST. LOUIS — Thanks to the 2010 census, you can count on a big year for U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay.
When new committee assignments were handed out last year, Clay became chair of [...]
City Hall
ST. LOUIS — The unions representing City Hall workers have formally agreed to a furlough plan, the mayor’s office announced this afternoon.
According to the agreement — which had been in negotiations for months — rank-and-file city workers will take…
[...]
Fred Palmer
On Tuesday, the Missouri Republican Party reported a $25,000 donation from Gayle Palmer of Ladue.
Who is Gayle Palmer? The required disclosure form lists her only as a “housewife.”
Why would a Ladue housewife make a five-figure contribution to the state GOP?…
[...]
Joe Shepard, a.k.a. Mr. Claire McCaskill, at last night's state dinner
You know you’ve made it in Washington when you can rub elbows with the rich and famous at an event like President Obama’s first state dinner [...]
O'Keefe
ST. LOUIS — Hoping that conservative passion proves stronger than tryptophan, Tea Party activists are planning a post-Turkey Day rally Saturday in Kiener Plaza.
The headline speaker at the noon rally will be James O’ Keefe, whose undercover videos of ACORN led…
[...]
Lamping
Come 2010, local Republicans are hopeful that they can take back the 24th Senate District, a cushy stretch of St. Louis County that includes Creve Coeur, Clayton and Frontenac.
For the past seven years, the district has been represented by University…
[...]
Just in time for the holiday season, New York U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer wants the federal government to examine if customers are getting the most mileage out of airline incentive programs.
Schumer, one of the Senate’s most prominent…
[...]
Bowlin
ST. LOUIS — Mayor Francis Slay has added another member of the Facebook generation to his office staff.
New press secretary Kara Bowlin, 25, began work in Room 200 last week, adding to the crop of 20-somethings that have taken posts…
[...]
Freeman, left, and Shannon
Two St. Louis icons have joined the ranks of the state’s civic honor society, the Academy of Missouri Squires.
Gov. Jay Nixon announced today that Cardinals broadcaster and former third baseman Mike Shannon and St. Louis civil rights leader and…
[...]
Sinquefield
ST. LOUIS — As one of the state’s most prolific campaign contributors, Rex Sinquefield is plenty familiar with Missouri campaign finance laws.
So his latest contribution — for $5,001 to new St. Louis State Sen. Joe Keaveny — is more than just a…
[...]
Smith leaves court on Tuesday
ST. LOUIS — Those who heard U.S. District Court Judge Carol E. Jackson sentence Jeff Smith this week may have thought she was sending a message to the former state senator by ordering him to serve a year…
[...]
Keaveny is sworn-in by Supreme Court Judge Michael Wolff
A day after his successor was sentenced to prison, St. Louis Democrat Joe Keaveny was sworn-in to officially become Missouri’s Fourth District State Senator.
Keaveny, previously a banking executive, won the seat in a special…
[...]
Kelly, left, and Martin
Should lawmakers be given an open ended ticket to Jefferson City? Or should their stay be capped at a set number of years?
Those are the questions that will be argued tonight by a pair of politicians from…
[...]
ST. LOUIS– Maxwell D. Marker, assistant special agent in charge for the FBI in St. Louis, reacts to the verdicts against former state lawmakers Jeff Smith and Steve Brown.
[...]
Smith after pleading guilty in August
ST. LOUIS — Former state lawmakers Jeff Smith and Steve Brown will be sentenced today for lying to federal officials in an effort to cover-up their involvement in an anonymous political attack.
Smith, who represented St. Louis [...]
Ever since he let loose on Congressman Russ Carnahan, Lemay baker Dave McArthur has not been content keeping his focus solely on cookies and confections.
McArthur, whose family runs McArthur’s Bakery, has become active in the Tea Party…
[...]
Luetkemeyer
Updated 12:41 p.m. with a response from Luetkemeyer.
Missouri U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer was one of several members of Congress to submit a statement on the health care bill using the exact language submitted by biotech lobbyists, the New York…
[...]
Whitehead
ST. LOUIS — Before she clinched the nomination to fill a vacancy in the State House on Saturday, St. Louis Democrat Hope Whitehead paid a visit to City Hall a day earlier.
Not to mobilize supporters, but to pay hundreds of dollars…
[...]
In Poplar Bluff, Slay finds church founded by his uncle
Mayor Francis Slay hit the road this week to lobby southeast Missouri legislators on bringing control of the St. Louis police department back to City Hall.
Along the way, [...]
Whitehead, left, and May
ST. LOUIS — Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: City Democrats will gather this weekend to pick a nominee to replace a lawmaker who left office after pleading guilty to corruption charges.
This time, party leaders…
[...]Sessions
CLAYTON — Texas Congressman Pete Sessions, head of the committee charged with electing Republicans to the U.S. House, is in town tonight, hosting a high-dollar fundraising dinner for Capitol Hill hopeful Ed Martin.
Sessions, head of the National Republican Congressional Committee,…
[...]
Watch out, deer: The governor's got a gun
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is planning on making a dent in the state’s deer population.
A note attached to a news advisory sent out by the governor’s office says the shooter-in-chief will mark the opening…
[...]
St. Louis Police headquarters
Former State Rep. T.D. El-Amin is certainly in no position to win lawmaker of the year, but — back before he got in trouble with the feds — he offered an intriguing solution to one of the…
[...]
Nasheed, far right, in India/Photo by The New Indian Express
Who’s that appearing in a photograph across the world in the New Indian Express newspaper?
Missouri State Rep. Jamilah Nasheed, part of a bi-partisan delegation of young political leaders [...]
On the week of Veteran’s Day, a veteran’s organization is airing an ad in Missouri seeking to convince the state’s U.S. Senate delegation that energy independence is a key component of national security.
According to the…
[...]
Skelton
The region’s Congressional delegation voted mostly on party lines in this weekend’s House vote approving a health care reform package.
The exception: Missouri Democrat Ike Skelton, who was one of 39 members of his party to vote against the plan pushed…
[...]
Roddy
ST. LOUIS — Alderman Joe Roddy is known around City Hall for a wry sense of humor, using his perch as one of the board’s senior members to take lighthearted cracks at his fellow lawmakers.
But, recently, even Roddy admits that he…
[...]
After our Washington bureau chief Bill Lambrecht noted that U.S. Rep. Todd Akin missed a word in the Pledge of Allegiance — “indivisible” — the miscue at the Tea Party rally Thursday continued to draw attention.
The sharp-tongued Wonkette was…
[...]
Zweifel
If you get an e-mail from the Missouri Treasurer’s Office seeking personal information to collect unclaimed property, watch out — it’s bogus, the treasurer’s office says.
State Treasurer Clint Zweifel issued a warning this week about an e-mail purporting to be from an…
[...]
Election Day 2009
Although their causes came up short on Tuesday, Republican and Libertarian leaders in St. Louis County claimed some progress in defeat.
In Clayton, county GOP Chair Rich Magee liked what he saw — even though Republican Dan O’Sullivan lost…
[...]Wrapping up our election night coverage with a few more winners:
Voters in Kirkwood approved a municipal smoking ban that is stricter than the county version also approved tonight. County voters approved a tenth-of-a-cent sales tax to fund new emergency radio equipment. St.… [...]Here’s the good news, smokers: You’ve got over a year to get used to puffing outside.
Voters in St. Louis County have overwhelmingly approved a ban on smoking in restaurants and most other indoor businesses. The vote means that smoke-free legislation…
[...]
Newman
Update: It’s official — Newman wins by 61 percent of the vote.
Looks like Stacey Newman has made the most out of her second chance.
The Richmond Heights Democrat is on her way to winning the 73rd District State House seat, a…
[...]The St. Louis County smoking ban might do more than pass — it might pass with authority.
With just over 40 percent of precincts reporting, the ban has broken out to a wide lead:
YES: 63.55%
NO: 36.45
Yes, most of the county’s precincts…
[...]Read into this what you like: Absentee ballots in St. Louis County favor the smoking ban by a wide margin.
The first results posted of the day show 69 percent of voters who filled out their ballots early support the smoking…
[...]
KIRKWOOD — While voters considered a countywide smoking ban today, the ballot in Kirkwood featured a separate municipal proposal that can restrict smoking in the city, regardless of what happens to the county ban.
Post-Dispatch photojournalist…
[...]If you haven’t made it to the polls yet, better do it soon — polls close at 7 p.m.
Technically, voters who are in line by then are eligible to cast their ballots, but waits have not been a problem at…
[...]ST. LOUIS — The city Board of Election says it is bracing for a 10 percent turnout in today’s election.
Though is even that estimate too high for a contest that is merely a formality?
Officially, voters in about half of the…
[...]Updated: 8:37 a.m. Tuesday
Polls opened as expected at 6 a.m today for local voters, who will consider a partial smoking ban, a tax to raise money for emergency radio equipment and a pair of legislative races.
Most of the action will…
[...]
Keaveny, left, and Vogt
ST. LOUIS — At least one of his future colleagues is not happy that Joe Keaveny is set to become Missouri’s newest state senator.
In an interview last week, state Rep. Mike Vogt, a fellow Democrat whose district…
[...]
Super singer and Sikeston, Mo. native Neal Boyd today stopped by the Capitol Hill office of U.S. Sen. Kit Bond’s — who he was pushing paper for prior to earning acclaim, and $1 million, as the 2008…
[...]
If you missed the health care debate between on Wednesday between Howard Dean and Newt Gingrich in Cape Girardeau, you can still watch part of it online — but you’ll have to rely on your imagination for sound.
Per…
[...]
Scalzo
ST. LOUIS — Dr. Dre may have more rhythm, but at least St. Louis University doctor Tony Scalzo is a real physician.
As for Scalzo’s lyrical skills? Well, if nothing else they come from the heart — or, better yet, intended to…
[...]
Newman
When Steve Brown’s spot in the Missouri State House became open after his corruption conviction, Richmond Heights Democrat Stacey Newman left the woman’s coalition she helped start to make a run for the seat.
This week, the group — “Harriett’s List” — showed they…
[...]
Carnahan
ST. LOUIS –Democratic Senate candidate Robin Carnahan is in the Middle East for the second time in less than six months, traveling with local Jewish leaders around Israel.
Carnahan, on a trip organized by the St. Louis Jewish Federation, will be meeting…
[...]
ST. LOUIS — When the city approved anti-smoking legislation last week, sponsor Alderman Lyda Krewson predicted it would trigger activists in the city to campaign for next week’s all-important vote in the county.
She’s right — and future doctors are leading the…
[...]
Schweitch
Republican Tom Schweich, the former State Department official running for Missouri auditor, is getting pulled off the campaign trail — way off — on an international mission.
Schweich has been invited to Germany to train NATO officers about to deploy to…
[...]
Wagner
FRONTENAC — Former Missouri State GOP chair Ann Wagner is back in the U.S. and ready to be part of Republican politics once again.
Wagner, who recently returned from a four-year ambassadorship in Luxembourg, will serve as campaign chair for U.S.…
[...]
Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill was on “This Week,” ABC’s signature Sunday morning news show.
[...]ST. LOUIS — After a marathon session of debates and amendments, city aldermen approved a bill Friday banning smoking in most bars and restaurants on Friday.
Now they’ll have to wait for the county to decide if it goes into effect.
The…
[...]
McCaskill
It’s hard to say what’s more amusing about U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill’s plug “for the other white meat” in a Senate committee hearing this week — hearing the fiscal hawk extol the virtues of pork, or who she was saying it…
[...]
Dean, left, and Gingrich
If you’re heading to the face-off between Newt Gingrich and Howard Dean next week in Cape Girardeau, leave the video cameras and audio recorders at home: The host does not want any YouTube moments.
Gingrich, who was speaker of the…
[...]
A maize-n'-race: A custom-corn tribute to Mizzou football in Moscow Mills, Mo.
Two years ago, Charles Meyer’s farm in Lincoln County became an Internet sensation after the discovery on his corn field of a Cardinals logo so large it could, [...]
ST. LOUIS — Looking for a bounce back year, the St. Louis Rams will enter the season with at least one successful completion under their belt.
Last week, the Rams — who begin regular season play Sunday in Seattle– gave $10,000 to Mayor…
[...]
The Shimkus shuffle?
No, he didn’t heckle the president, but Collinsville Republican U.S. Rep. John Shimkus has garnered some attention for his actions during the president’s health care address to Congress last night.
Shimkus walked out of the speech sometime before…
[...]
O'Sullivan
CLAYTON — Richmond Heights Republican Dan O’Sullivan will get a second shot at the State House, thanks to ex-State Rep. Steve Brown’s foibles.
Clayton-area Republicans last night tapped O’Sullivan, 50, as their nominee for the vacancy left by Brown, who resigned after pleading…
[...]
Wilson shouts at the president
A spontaneous outburst by a South Carolina congressman has unleashed a torrent of criticism.
During Barack Obama’s health care address to Congress last night, Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson shouted at the president, “You Lie!”
Wilson was reacting to a…
[...]
Michelle Barron, owner of the Book House
U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, who has been the target of much consternation from those who oppose the White House’s health care push, is bringing an ally to hear the president make his pitch tonight.
MIchelle…
[...]
ST. LOUIS — Pour on the soy milk and break out the antioxidant shea butter – the local Tea Party has hit Whole Foods.
But, unlike previous outings by the anti-Obama coalition, the Tea Party faithful stowed their costumes and placards,…
[...]Carnahan
Republican Roy Blunt isn’t the only one talking about the light public calendar of his Democratic opposition for a U.S. Senate seat.
Posted on the popular Beltway news site Politico is a story discussing Democrat Robin Carnahan’s early campaign strategy of staying out…
[...]
Coleman
ST. LOUIS — The man who refused to lose his seat on Capitol Hill is coming to town to help another Republican who’s hoping to get there for the first time.
Former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, who lost a protracted recount…
[...]
Jones
Sen. Kit Bond has weighed in to the outrage surrounding Van Jones, an expert on “green” jobs who apparently put his name on a petition questioning the government’s role in 9/11.
Jones is now the Special Advisor for Green Jobs at the…
[...]
The Missouri mule
Newsweek recently named the contest to replace outgoing Missouri Republican Kit Bond one of the hottest Senate contests in the nation.
On paper, it should be. In reality, the dog days of August have given way to the donkey days of…
[...]
El-Amin
ST. LOUIS — The intrigue continues to pile up in the push to replace Jeff Smith in the State Senate.
Last night, at a meeting of north St. Louis Democratic committee members, State Rep. T.D. El-Amin announced he is no longer seeking…
[...]Newman
CLAYTON — Democratic activist Stacey Newman missed her shot last year at a seat in Jefferson City after losing an acrimonious primary to party rival Steve Brown.
On Thursday night, she got it back.
A party panel picked Newman, 55, as their nominee…
[...]
Troupe
ST. LOUIS — If there is ever a tranquil period in First Ward politics, it might indeed be a first.
At one time, Alderman Quincy Troupe was simpatico with former State Rep. Yaphett El-Amin, who he mentored through state and local politics.
But…
[...]
Kinder
ST. LOUIS — President Barack Obama is planning a televised address next week for students that will be beamed into the nation’s classrooms.
An appropriate session of civics — or a state-subsidized political advertisement?
Count Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, the only statewide GOP…
[...]
Shimkus, left, and Blunt
ST. LOUIS — Used to meeting on Capitol Hill, Republican Congressmen Roy Blunt and John Shimkus will meet in St. Louis tomorrow to discuss cap-and-trade legislation.
The pair will gather at 9 a.m. Thursday at deVan Sealants, a sealant and…
[...]
Keaveny
ST. LOUIS — Earlier, I speculated that 28th Ward Committeeman Joe Keaveny may back out of his push to replace Jeff Smith in the State Senate race now that neighbor Rachel Storch had entered the running.
That’s not the case, Keaveny told me Tuesday.
In…
[...]
Blunt, left, and Carnahan
In campaigns, one classic maneuver calls for the candidate to invite their opponent to a debate.
If the opponent declines, it looks like they are scared. If they accept, well — it’s on your terms.
U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt appears…
[...]
Gina Mitten, left, and Stacey Newman are vying for the post
CLAYTON — Candidate seeking to replace former State Rep. Steve Brown will get a chance to make their case to party leaders and voters [...]
Lager
Last week, U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt and National Republican Committee Chairman Michael Steele were both in the hot seat after a radio host in Springfield questioned Blunt’s conservative credentials.
Today, Blunt’s campaign [...]
Storch
ST. LOUIS — The nascent race to fill the State Senate set left by Jeff Smith has been, so far, a race of near equals.
But will the newest contender pull to the front of the pack?
State Rep. Rachel Storch said today…
[...]ST. LOUIS — The pending decision for county voters whether to approve a smoking ban could go a long way towards what City Hall plans to do on the contentious issue.
When the Board of Aldermen adjourned last month, they had…
[...]
Bond
ST. LOUIS — U.S. Sen. Kit Bond’s farewell tour hit Busch Stadium yesterday, where the retiring Republican joined play-by-play man John Rooney in the broadcast booth during the Cardinals matinee loss against the Houston Astros.
On the air, Bond, a life-long Redbirds…
[...]
Tyus
ST. LOUIS — Former Alderman Sharon Tyus fell short in her attempt earlier this year to get back to City Hall, but did get named Democratic committeewoman for the First Ward.
Now, that consolation prize is paying larger dividends as the party decides…
[...]
