Medicare Phone Scam May Be Spreading to Missouri

Victims receive a telephone call "from Medicare" attempting to get personal information.

The Missouri Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) issued a press release about a telephone scam currently making the rounds in Iowa, with the warning that scams such as these tend to spread to neighboring states. In this scam, victims receive a telephone call with the caller identifying himself as being "from Medicare." The caller explains that there are changes to the Medicare summary notice and Medicare cards. They ask to visit the victim's home to give them information and materials and try to obtain personal information that will later be used to commit financial fraud. The SMP emphasizes that Medicare officials do not call beneficiaries to discuss changes, and they don't visit homes. Anyone suspecting identity theft can contact the Federal …

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Dream On: How Would You Spend $580 Million Powerball Jackpot?

The Associated Press is reporting that two winning Powerball tickets were sold for last night's drawing.

No one has stepped forward yet, but the Associated Press is reporting that two winning tickets were sold for last night's Powerball lottery. The AP says the winning Powerball tickets came from Missouri and Arizona. The winning numbers are 5, 16, 22, 23, 29 with the Powerball number of 6, according to the Powerball website.  Missouri Lottery officials say the winning ticket came from the Kansas City area. An exact store location will be released later today, according to spokeswoman Susan Goedde. “It is so exciting to sell one of these Powerball tickets,” said May Scheve Reardon, executive director of the Missouri Lottery, in a press release. “In addition, we sold two tickets that matched all five white balls, which means they each win $1 …

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Missouri Winter Weather Awareness Day 2012

Winter is just around the corner so now is the time to make some preparations so you are ready if affected by a severe winter storm.

Clint Zweifel Re-elected as Missouri State Treasurer

Democratic incumbent Clint Zweifel gave his acceptance speech just before midnight Tuesday, after a night of number watching in a close race with Republican challenger Cole McNary.

Democratic incumbent Clint Zweifel and Republican challenger Rep. Cole McNary faced off in the Nov. 6 election for the position of Missouri State Treasurer.  As results came in Tuesday night, both candidates gathered with friends and family at St. Louis area watch parties. Initially, it was a tight race, but ultimately Zweifel declared victory and thanked his supporters just before midnight. "I think a lot of this illustrates hard work and investment in each other," Zweifel said. With 100 percent of the precincts counted early Wednesday morning, Zweifel had 50.3 percent of the vote and McNary had 45.5 percent of the vote. Zweifel tells Patch McNary did call him and concede Tuesday night. Both parties tell Patch they knew it would be a …

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#STL #MO Election: Who to Follow on Twitter

The Nov. 6 general election is quickly approaching. Here's a list of candidates, reporters and pundits who are important to (and/or simply covering) races in St. Louis, Missouri.

The full Twitter list is available here. See anyone missing? Send me a tweet at@ryanmartin87.

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Tobacco Taxes Save Lives, Protect Kids

CEO of the American Cancer Society and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network writes a letter to the editor in support of Prop B.

Dear Editor, Thirty-five people a day die from cancer in Missouri. One-third of those deaths are directly attributable to tobacco use. That loss of life is tragic -- and it’s preventable. We have a moral imperative to do everything we can to reduce the toll of this devastating disease on families in our state and our country. Missourians have the opportunity Nov. 6 to take direct aim at cancer with a yes vote on Proposition B. The ballot measure would increase the state cigarette tax by 73 cents and invest $283 million a year into Missouri schools and programs to prevent tobacco use. Tobacco taxes have been proven to be the most effective way to reduce smoking rates and to help prevent kids from starting the deadly habit. If passed, Prop. …

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MoDOT Winter Weather Drill Puts Snow Plows on St. Louis Area Roads Wednesday

MoDOT is alerting drivers not to be alarmed if they see snow plows on the roads Wednesday. Severe weather is not on the way, MoDOT is performing a winter weather drill.

The Missouri Department of Transportation warns drivers they may see snow plows on the roads Wednesday. It's part of a statewide snow drill taking place throughout the day, MoDOT stated in a news release. (For instant news updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.) MoDOT officials said they began preparing for the area's first winter storm months ago. In rural areas, crews will take to the streets after 8 a.m. and in urban areas, the drill will begin after 9 a.m., according to MoDOT. As a response to a simulated snowfall event, trucks with snowplows and spreaders will deploy across state routes during the drill that is set to take approximately six hours. "We have a detailed plan and our trucks drive set routes that allow us to work …

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Jim Frain

10:43 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012

I certainly hope that MODOT does a better job this year with the snow removal than they have done with cutting the right of way areas that they are responsible for maintaining. Residents of O'fallon, MO are now being told to mow these areas that are on their property...and why? Because MODOT has no concern for maintaining their responsibility in these areas....Shame on MODOT and I question why …   more ›

Political Poll: Spence or Nixon, Who Has Your Vote?

If the election were held today, which Missouri Governor candidate would you vote for?

Three weeks from today the Missouri governor's race will come to an end. In a race you can't miss given the amount of television ads, voters across the Show-Me State will get a chance to vote for new, or old, leadership in Jefferson City. Incumbent Democrat Jay Nixon is taking on Republican Dave Spence for the role of Missouri's governor. The last time we looked at this race, Patch readers seemed to think Spence had the edge. In our poll, Spence picked up 64 percent of the vote to be Nixon, but that poll only had 17 total votes. In the last month have things changed? Does Nixon have your vote? Are you leaning to the new guy Spence? Why? Among the races in Missouri, this one seems to have less interest. Is that true? Are voters more …

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The Missourian

5:07 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012

The fact that 70% of Missouri voters are opposed to "Obamacare" only proves that 70% of Missouri voters would probably fail a reading comprehension and math test.   more ›

Political Poll: Kinder or Montee, Who Has Your Vote?

If the election were held today, which Missouri Lt. Governor candidate would you vote for?

In the Presidential election, voters get to pick one ticket. If you vote for Barack Obama, you're voting for Joe Biden as Vice President. If you punch in Mitt Romney's name on Election Day, you’re also voting for Paul Ryan. Missouri, on the other hand, is different. In Jefferson City right now Governor Jay Nixon, a Democrat, and his second-in-command Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, a Republican, lead the state.  This November 6, just six short weeks away, voters in Missouri will get a chance to decide what the leadership in Jefferson City will look like. Will one party take control, or will we have four more years of a split party? Last week we asked your opinion on the Governor's race between Nixon and his Republican challenger Dave Spence. …

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Political Poll: Nixon or Spence, Who Has Your Vote?

If the election were held today, which Missouri Governor candidate would you vote for?

Tuesday marks seven weeks out from the Nov. 6 when the general election. Most of the attention has focused on the race to the White House, but there are other races voters will be deciding. Last week we polled the St. Charles CountyPatch readership  on the race for the Senate between Claire McCaskill and Todd Akin. After a lengthy discussion, the voters were tabulated. Akin was a clear favorite with 88 votes (71 percent) to McCaskill's 35 votes (28 percent). This week's political poll will focus on Jefferson City. Incumbent Democrat Jay Nixon  is taking on Republican Dave Spence . Does Nixon have your vote? Are you leaning to the new guy Spence? Why?  Share your thoughts in the comments below and vote in the poll.

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