Bob Watson

Missouri GOP leaders happy with Session

Missouri Republicans are pleased with the progress of their priority bills during the first half of the General Assembly’s session. Lawmakers are on their spring break until March 25.

Health officials: Handful got sick at conference

TV reports of ‘dozens’ falling ill unconfirmed

Cole County and state health officials are investigating possible links among four people who went to Capital Region Medical Center’s emergency room this week “for a variety of respiratory symptoms” that occurred while they were at the Truman Hotel and Conference Center.

Republican senators split on transportation tax proposal

Senate passes 1-cent transportation tax amendment

State senators on Thursday passed and sent a proposed one-cent transportation improvements sales tax to the Missouri House, but Republicans were divided on the vote.

Richter guilty of endangering child’s welfare

Babysitter accused of shaking 7 month-old in her care in 2010

Shelley Richter is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child — but is not guilty of felony child abuse, a Cole County jury ruled late Wednesday afternoon.

2 doctors explain boy’s injuries

Lane Schaefer “would have died without the medical care he received,” a Columbia pediatrician testified this morning, in the second day of the state’s trial of his babysitter, Shelly Richter.

‘Shaken baby’ trial begins

Seven-month-old Lane Schaefer was fine when he was left at Shelly Richter’s in-home day care on Aug. 19, 2010.

‘Shaken baby’ trial begins

The “shaken baby” case against Shelly Richter, Taos, began this afternoon, with Cole County Assistant Prosecutor Cheryl Nield telling jurors the state’s evidence will show a 7-month-old boy was fine when he was left at Richter’s in-home day care on Aug. 19, 2010, and he was severely injured only a few hours later.

‘Sequestration’ impacts coming to Missouri

Millions of dollars at stake from federal furloughs, cuts

If they work it correctly, Jeremy Amick and his boss expect no one will notice effects of the federal budget sequester — even though all three people in their Labor Department office will have to take 10 days of unpaid leave between April 5 and Sept. 30.

Three charged after Thursday drug bust

Three Jefferson City residents face various drug charges after officers served search warrants at two different addresses Thursday morning, and at a Michigan Street home Friday morning.

Bryan sentenced to 28 years for DWI, murder

Victim's daughter: “Did you think that you had some right to gamble with my father’s life?”

Damien Bryan was sentenced Friday to 28 years in prison on a felony murder conviction for killing Donald A. Edwards, 58, Russellville, and Joan D. Hamilton, 75, Lenexa, Kan., in a 2011 traffic accident, and for DWI.

Olten Sr. gets 15 more years in prison

Dale Olten Sr. will serve another 15 years in prison, after a Phelps County jury convicted him this week of second-degree burglary in a four year-old Cole County case.

Driver charged in fatal wreck

A little more than a dozen hours after he was involved in a fatal, wrong-way wreck on U.S. 54, Cole County prosecutors named Dennis G. Leporin in five criminal charges Thursday.

Chase case ends in a mistrial

Brandon Chase's murder trial ended Thursday in a mistrial, with a hung jury.

Nieves and dozen witnesses: Stop ‘Agenda 21”

A dozen Missourians told a state Senate committee Tuesday that they should pass a bill to prevent the state, county, city and other government bodies from doing anything that supports the United Nations’ “Agenda 21.”

Chase trial goes to jury today

Defendant takes stand, denies robbery plans

Brandon Chase’s future will be in the jury’s hands today, after the Cole County prosecutor and Chase’s attorney present their final arguments in his second-degree murder trial.

Emery: No RFIDs for students

Freshman state Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, wants lawmakers to make sure no Missouri public school district requires its students to use “radio frequency identification technology,” or RFID.

Sater proposes another law to block federal health care

Even though a divided U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the federal Affordable Health Care Act, Missouri lawmakers continue looking at ways to block its implementation in the state.

2 bills seek better control over released ‘sexually violent predators’

It’s a situation Missouri law officers may be facing more often: How to deal with people who’ve been identified as “sexually violent predators,” but who have been conditionally released from state custody.

Senate panel hears House version of Voter ID

The state Senate’s Financial & Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee heard testimony on the House-passed version of a proposed law, and separate constitutional amendment, to require voters to show a photo ID in order to cast a ballot.

Lawmakers asked to block Revenue ‘law-breaking’

Since last fall, the state Revenue Department has been switching to a new way of issuing driver’s and non-driver’s licenses, and how concealed-carry permits are recorded on those documents.

Gunn: ‘Good time’ to quit as PSC chief

Just minutes before his resignation became effective at noon Friday, former Public Service Commission Chairman Kevin Gunn said he doesn’t know what his next job is going to be.

FERAF targets exiting PSC chairman Gunn

As he was leaving office, Public Service Commission Chairman Kevin Gunn improperly lobbied lawmakers on behalf of Missouri’s regulated electric utilities, a consumers group charged last week.

County Commission prevails in sheriff’s suit over fees

A judge has ruled in favor of the Cole County Commission in Sheriff Greg White’s lawsuit over taking administrative fees out of the county's law enforcement sales tax.

Nixon names new PSC chairman

Public Service Commissioner Robert Kenney is the agency’s new chairman. Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon announced the appointment Friday after Kevin Gunn’s resignation became official.

Convenience stores support, helped write cigarette tax hike proposal

After helping block 3 statewide votes, the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Assoc. has helped write a proposed cigarettes-only tax increase it can - and will - support.

Verbal battle continues over utility surcharge

The public relations battle appears to be heating up again, even though Missouri lawmakers have yet to debate proposed laws that would let the state’s three regulated electricity providers add a surcharge to customers’ bills for some work on their infrastructure.

Bill seeks more limits on ‘speed traps’

Missouri law requires any community that makes over 35% of its income from speeding tickets on state highways to turn over the excess to state coffers. Now a senator wants the ceiling lowered to 20%.

Lamping: Legislature should meet less

For the second year, state Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, wants Missourians to vote on a constitutional change that would shorten the time legislators spend meeting in Jefferson City.

‘Loophole’ prevents campus cops from enforcing law

A “loophole” in current state law keeps some Missouri college and university police officers from enforcing state laws on campus streets, state Sen. Brad Lager said Wednesday.

PSC: Proposed surcharge adds nothing to final utility costs

A Public Service Commission analysis says electric utility customers will pay the same, in the end, for infrastructure improvements — whether they pay smaller increases over time through a proposed surcharge now being considered by Missouri lawmakers, or at the end of a utility’s regular rate case.

Cellphone provider shows why texting, driving don’t mix

State Rep. Charlie Norr, D-Springfield, took a turn Tuesday morning with the AT&T company’s driving simulator, designed to show lawmakers why no one should try to send or receive text messages while driving.

‘Eyewitnesses,’ informants examined

Kevin Green got to tell his story to a new audience Monday night — how he left his pregnant wife at their Tustin, Calif., apartment while he went to a nearby Taco Bell, then came home to find her near death after a brutal rape and bludgeoning.

With little rest, MoDOT shifts to second storm attack

‘No travel’ advisory issued

The second major winter storm in a week didn’t give state transportation officials much time to consider a job “well done” from the first one.

U.S. Attorney indicts three on marriage fraud

Alleged scheme involved Jefferson City residents

Three people with Jefferson City connections were named in a federal indictment released Friday, in a marriage fraud conspiracy.

Senate leaders like pace after one-third of session has passed

Senators already have sent 29 bills to the Missouri House for its consideration. "I expect the next 3 weeks, we'll be working very hard into Spring Break," Sen. Tom Dempsey said.

Opponents: Utility surcharge bill would allow unfair charges

By this time next week, supporters expect the Missouri Public Service Commission will have completed its analysis of the potential effects of Sen. Mike Kehoe’s bill allowing electric utilities to charge consumers for infrastructure work, even before getting PSC approval.

How state offices fared under a ‘state of emergency’

Gov. Nixon noted that Missouri citizens who need disaster information, shelter information and referrals are urged to call 211 or 800-427-4626.

Ex-teacher gets 60 days in jail

When Christopher Knehans pleaded guilty last September to two identical counts of sexual contact with a student, he agreed to spend at least 30 days in jail.

Panel to interview appeals court applicants Monday

Seven of the 18 people who’ve applied for an appeals court vacancy have Mid-Missouri connections — including six who worked at one time or another for then-attorney general, and now Gov. Jay Nixon, who will make the final appointment.

Knehans sentenced to 60 days

Christopher Knehans, a former Jefferson City Public Schools band teacher, was taken to the Cole County Jail this morning after Circuit Judge Dan Green sentenced him this morning to 60 days in jail, for his guilty pleas to two counts of sexual contact with a student, in September 2011.

Senator wants Missourians to modify redistricting rules

After lawmakers, other politicians and some political observers complained about the state redistricting process that ended about a year ago, one state senator has renewed his effort to change some of it.

Blind Missourians seek funds for 2 programs

Lawmakers need to continue at least last year’s funding levels for two state programs created to assist Missouri’s blind and visually impaired citizens, members of the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri plan to tell the Legislature this week.

Utility ‘surcharge’ debate moving slowly

A group opposed to the infrastructure replacement projects bill took credit this week, after a Missouri Senate committee didn’t vote to send the bill to the full Senate for debate.

Small-business owners lobby over health care

About 50 Missouri small-business owners gathered at the Capitol to meet with state lawmakers and learn more about their latest regulatory headache — the federal law known as “Obamacare.”

Bill to close records loophole advances

State senators must take one final vote to send Mike Kehoe’s “closed records” bill to the House. The bill protecting security records, as amended, would also strengthen parts of Missouri's open meetings law.

Missouri lawmaker proposes June primaries

Missouri lawmakers last year eliminated all elections in June. But now state Sen. John Lamping wants to move the August election day to June, eliminating August elections instead.

Senate panel considers ‘veterans’ courts

Veterans’ needs may be different from those of other people charged with crimes, so Missouri should have a statewide system of veterans treatment courts, state Sen. Will Kraus told the Senate’s Judiciary Committee Monday evening.

Lawmakers could consider competing changes to Lt. Governor’s office

Even though he won’t be the Republican candidate to succeed former U.S. Rep. JoAnn Emerson, Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder said Monday he still backs a bill that would require a quick special election when there’s a vacancy in his office.

Maries sheriff frustrated by execution delays

Fifteen years after Susan Brouk and her two children were murdered at a pond, a short distance from their home in a rural area near Vichy, Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman expressed frustration that ongoing legal battles have prevented the state from executing the man sentenced to death for those crimes.

Lawmaker increases focus on gifted education in Missouri

Schaefer wants to require dedicated staffer at state Board of Education

Last year, Missouri lawmakers and Gov. Jay Nixon agreed with state Sen. Kurt Schaefer’s idea to require public school districts to report how many students they had who’ve been identified as “gifted,” and whether the districts offer any programs for those students.

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