March 18, 2019

Barrier-Breaking Grandmaster Youngest Woman To Be Inducted In Chess Hall Of Fame

A Webster University chess coach will today become the youngest woman to be inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame.

Susan Polgár was the first woman to win the coveted grandmaster title through traditional tournament play in 1991. The Hungarian-born champion has broken gender barriers in the male-dominated chess world during a career that spans five decades.

“There will be naysayers, and there will be men that don’t want to see women succeed, especially in a male-dominated field,” she said. “But don’t let that hold you back — just work harder and prove them wrong.”

Many consider Polgár one of the most famous players in the world. She became the first woman to qualify for the men’s world chess championship, in 1986. She’s won five Olympic chess championships.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/barrier-breaking-grandmaster-youngest-woman-be-inducted-chess-hall-fame

March 18, 2019

Barrier-Breaking Grandmaster Youngest Woman To Be Inducted In Chess Hall Of Fame

A Webster University chess coach will today become the youngest woman to be inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame.

Susan Polgár was the first woman to win the coveted grandmaster title through traditional tournament play in 1991. The Hungarian-born champion has broken gender barriers in the male-dominated chess world during a career that spans five decades.

“There will be naysayers, and there will be men that don’t want to see women succeed, especially in a male-dominated field,” she said. “But don’t let that hold you back — just work harder and prove them wrong.”

Many consider Polgár one of the most famous players in the world. She became the first woman to qualify for the men’s world chess championship, in 1986. She’s won five Olympic chess championships.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/barrier-breaking-grandmaster-youngest-woman-be-inducted-chess-hall-fame

March 17, 2019

New fuel tax increase proposal gets support in hearing

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri voters may have rejected a motor fuel tax last November, but that hasn’t stopped the state Senate from considering the idea again.

And this time, it wouldn’t be up to the voters to decide if they like it or not.

State Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, is the sponsor of Senate Bill 430, which would gradually increase Missouri’s motor fuel tax to 23 cents within three years. After the third year, the bill proposes that the tax continue to be adjusted annually for inflation.

“We’re 23 years without adjusting anything for inflation,” Libla said after the bill’s hearing.

https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/new-fuel-tax-increase-proposal-gets-support-in-hearing/article_0c1f23aa-46ad-11e9-921e-7bd56a24e961.html

March 17, 2019

A question for 2020: Who will Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez support in Clay-Bush rematch

WASHINGTON • Activist, nurse and pastor Cori Bush will again challenge Rep. William Lacy Clay in 2020, a rematch of their Democratic primary showdown last year.

A big question looms: Who will Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., support?

Bush was endorsed by the woman known as AOC in 2018. Bush says she hasn’t asked and that the two are longtime friends and campaigned for one another in 2018, so an endorsement hasn’t been much on her mind.

Clay says he hopes he’ll get the endorsement of the first-term congresswoman who has attracted a media spotlight far brighter than that usually accorded first-term members of Congress.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/a-question-for-who-will-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-support-in/article_69f2ee99-557f-5211-92f9-981a495e68cc.html

March 17, 2019

Missouri posts draft rules for medical marijuana dispensaries, grow facilities and more

Late Friday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services released more drafts of rules for the state's emerging medical marijuana system.

According to a news release sent around 4:30 p.m., DHSS has posted draft regulations for marijuana cultivation facilities, dispensaries, manufacturing facilities and medical marijuana establishments in general.

Officials emphasized the rules are just drafts and may change. Amendment 2, formally known as Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution, compels DHSS to have all of the medical cannabis program's rules finalized by June 4.

https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2019/03/15/missouri-posts-more-draft-rules-emerging-medical-marijuana-system/3180012002/

March 17, 2019

Missouri River flooding prompts interstate to close north of Kansas City

The Missouri State Highway Patrol tweeted Friday that Interstate 29 was closed at the 110 mile marker due to flood waters.

The U.S. Coast Guard says all traffic on the Missouri River from about 50 miles south of Omaha, Nebraska, downstream to St. Joseph, Missouri, has been shut down due to the river’s high water levels.

The order came Friday. The Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also requested all river vessel operators create as little wake as possible between St. Joseph downstream to Kansas City to minimize levee damage.

Officials say the restrictions will be lifted as soon as flooding conditions improve.

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article227964634.html

March 16, 2019

Citing Congressional Authority, Blunt Votes To Reject Trump's Emergency Declaration On Border Wall

The US Senate voted 59-41 Thursday to reject President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to build a barrier along the US-Mexico border. Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri was among the 12 Republicans who joined Democrats to go against the president on what some are calling a historic vote.

The Republican-led Senate sent a firm message to the White House, with several Republicans saying they could not support the president because they felt he did not have the authority to take such steps.

The Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the authority to appropriate funds; however, federal law also says the president can take over some of that responsibility during a national emergency.

In a statement, Blunt said he had opposed the Obama administration’s attempts to “circumvent Congress’ appropriating authority,” and that the same principle should apply, regardless of which party occupies the White House.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/citing-congressional-authority-blunt-votes-reject-trump-s-emergency-declaration-border-wall

March 16, 2019

Missouri House Wants To Allow School Districts To Offer Elective Class On The Bible

Members of the Missouri House have given initial approval to allowing school districts to offer an elective social-studies class on the Bible.

It’s a proposal that drew praise, for offering students context on how the religious work affects society, and criticism, from lawmakers who believe it will plunge the state into needless litigation.

Rep. Ben Baker’s legislation would authorize school districts to offer an elective social-studies class on the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament of the Bible, or the New Testament of the Bible. Missouri House members gave initial approval to the Neosho Republican’s bill on Wednesday.

“So what’s happened with school districts that would like to offer this as an elective, their legal counsels are saying, ‘No, you can use it as a reference, but not as a full class or a full elective,’” Baker said. “So part of what I was trying to accomplish with this is to make it so that it’s very clear: That you can do a full elective bible class from a historical, literary perspective. And, that way, it will empower them to be able to do what they’re actually already allowed to do.”

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-house-wants-allow-school-districts-offer-elective-class-bible

March 15, 2019

Missouri's Revenue Chief Resigns After Taxpayers Face Surprises

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced the resignation of Department of Revenue Director Joel Walters on Friday morning, a move made after months of criticism over the agency’s handling of income tax withholdings.

The issue has led to thousands of Missouri taxpayers either receiving lower refunds or seeing higher bills on their 2018 tax returns, although they will not pay more in overall taxes.

Parson said in a news release that he received Walters' resignation letter on Thursday and his last day will be March 22. Ken Zellers, the Department of Revenue's chief operating officer, was named acting director.

"I appreciate Joel Walters' willingness to devote two years of service to the State of Missouri," Parson said in a statement. "His leadership and transformative vision helped to turn around the Department of Revenue, leading to increased customer service, identifying efficiencies that led to significant budget savings and implementing a number of conservative reforms that helped improve and streamline services for Missouri taxpayers."

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/revenue-chief-expected-resign-after-missourians-face-tax-surprises#stream/0

March 14, 2019

FEMA Urges St. Louisans To Buy Flood Insurance

Federal officials are encouraging St. Louis residents to enroll in flood insurance, in anticipation of a potentially severe flood season.

Most homeowners and renters-insurance policies don’t cover flooding, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency offers flood insurance to residents in thousands of U.S. cities, including St. Louis. The program — which dates back to the late 1960s — sets insurance rates based on building location, age and other factors.

Major flood events can occur with little warning, said David Maurstad, chief executive of the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

“Where it can rain, it can flood,” he said.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/fema-urges-st-louisans-buy-flood-insurance