Saturday, May 19, 2012
The national program airing Saturday and Sunday will focus on initiative petition campaigns tied to capping interest rates at 36 percent.
A Missouri ballot initiative aimed at curtailing interest rates at “payday loan” entities is getting some national attention. For an episode of PBS’s Need to Know, airing locally this weekend, the program traveled to the Show Me State to follow around activists who are collecting signatures for an initiative petition. If the ballot measure makes it to the ballot and if voters approve it, interest rates on certain lending companies would be capped at 36 percent. Supporters of the initiative argue that the loan agencies place poorer Missourians in a cycle of debt. But opponents counter that the entities are usually the only way lower-income citizens can obtain short-term loans to pay ordinary expenses. While supporters of the initiative …
Friday, May 18, 2012
Country music and laryngitis are two of the methods employed this week.
The last few iterations of this column have noted how several candidates for the U.S. Senate utilized creative means to entice fundraising efforts. For instance, Rep. Todd Akin (R-Wildwood) used his rhetorical scuffle with President Barack Obama over student loans in a fundraising pitch. And Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) has directly attacked third-party organizations that are pre-emptively attacking the incumbent lawmaker as she makes a difficult bid for re-election. McCaskill’s campaign staff continued on a creative path in an email that was sent to supporters earlier this week. They played on the fact that McCaskill had lost her voice right before she was supposed to make a speech at a Democratic gathering in Kansas City. “Between …
Missouri Department of Transportation reports no work zones for St. Louis County or Jefferson County for the week of May 17 to May 23.
Motorists should be aware of the following on-going closures:
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The St. Louis Rams have outlined a renovation plan for the Edward Jones Dome that is estimated to cost $700 million.
The Rams want us to buy them a new house. Just fixing up its current home—the Edward Jones Dome—won't do. Instead, the St. Louis football franchise expects an extreme makeover, to the tune of $700 million, as it is estimated by a company hired by the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission (CVC) to analyze the team's counter proposal to a the CVC's own plan to upgrade the Edward Jones Dome with a $124 million facelift. If someone doesn't cough up the $700 mil to redo the Dome, it is feared the team will take its football and go home to Los Angeles, where it came from before it was the St. Louis franchise. All of this wrangling was set in motion in 1995 when the team negotiated a 30-year lease with the CVC. It was stipulated that the …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Federal funds to cover 80 percent of the project.
A new bicycle loop being discussed by the O'Fallon city council members could land the city's bicycle enthusiasts 10 miles of bikeable paths. The council introduced the measure at its meeting last week. If approved, a bicycle lane loop system would be constructed from Highway K to Route 364 South Outer Road to Winghaven Boulevard to Technology Drive and back to Highway K. The project, according to city documents, would cost just more than $358,000. Of that money, 80 percent would be paid for by federal STP-E funds. The remaining 20 percent would be paid for by O'Fallon. STP-E funds are Because there is federal funding involved, this project will need to go through the MoDOT Local Public Agency (LPA) process for approval of the …
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 …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
On May 10, the City of O'Fallon had a council meeting to discuss the installation of updated population signs.
The City of O’Fallon’s city council met last week to discuss the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Agreement for the installation of updated population signs. In this proposed plan, the O’Fallon would enter into an agreement with the Missouri Department of Transportation for the installation of 10 city limit signs on MoDOT maintained interstates or routes leading into the city. Also included in the plan, MoDOT will update existing city limit signs with a current population and include the city’s logo, replace old signs, and install signs at previously unmarked locations. The updated signs would contain the city logo with a green background. According to US Census Data, the City of O'Fallon grew by 33,160 people from 2000 to …
Citizen committee heard comments from St. Louis area leaders about transportation needs.
The future needs and challenges facing Missouri’s transportation system were the subject of a public forum Monday at the Missouri Department of Transportation in Town and Country. The 21-member Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee on Missouri Transportation Needs consists of of business leaders, contractors and special interest groups from across the state. Members are looking for public input on future transportation needs and solutions. MoDOT, Metro and East-West Gateway all presented upcoming projects and transportation needs for the St. Louis area. Like most that addressed the committee Monday, the agencies cited better transportation, job creation, safety and the expansion of the area rail system for necessary funding of transportation …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Friday's ceremony at St. Charles County's newest park paid homage to the owner of the famous "Pink Plantation."
St. Charles County’s tenth park opened to the public on Friday, May 11. Towne Park, located at 100 Towne Park Dr., at the Farris Rd. exit off Highway 61, near Wentzville, was dedicated during a ribbon cutting ceremony. Rich in St. Charles County history, the 109-acre park features a reconstructed 1800s historical homestead, formerly known as the “Pink Plantation”; the only Certified Nature Explore Classroom in St. Charles County; paved and natural surface trails; a large fishing pond; picnic areas, a forest-themed playground and a series of interlinked scenic rain gardens for the public to enjoy. Performers from the Living History Company portrayed Ruth Boyd, the original owner of the homestead who settled the land in the early 1800s, as …
The nominations have been made, now it's time for the readers to choose the top library in St. Charles County.
It's time to vote now in the second phase of this week's St. Charles County Readers' Choice. You've given us your nominations. Now, it's time to vote from among the finalists. Who has the best library in St. Charles County? The weekly Readers' Choice is our friendly competition among businesses, restaurants, and attractions in St. Charles County Patch sites: St. Charles, St. Peters, O'Fallon, Wentzville and Lake Saint Louis. So, here are the places you nominated as our finalists in this week's Readers' Choice: We got some glowing recommendations for our libraries from Patch readers along with their nominations. Patch reader Mary said, "The McClay Library is my special, friendly, home-away-from-home. Besides picking up books, I can always …
Michael Rhodes
10:03 am on Monday, May 21, 2012
I have heard reasons that these business do provide a need service to folks with a lower credit rating or need that little bit of cash before the paycheck arrives. For the most part though I think they just suck money out of communities. more ›