Free Republic

Across Missouri, about 900 state road and highway bridges are rated in “poor” condition by Missouri Department of Transportation inspectors. In Southwest Missouri alone, that number is a little more than 200. MoDOT officials say the problem — money, or the lack there of — is not anything new. Without a big infusion of new money coming into the state’s road budget, the number of bridges with a “poor” designation likely won’t improve much. and while sources for new revenue are on state and federal tables, they still have obstacles that would have to be overcome. MoDOT officials say being...

JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday made final a ruling that said the state's concealed-weapons law imposed unfunded mandates on counties. The court's action means there will be no rehearing of issues in the case as requested by opponents of the law who brought the legal challenge. The law's opponents, as well as Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, had said the court's initial Feb. 26 ruling resulted in a confusing patchwork of enforcement across the state. “I think we're in the same situation we were in before,” said Richard Miller, a Kansas City lawyer who represented the...

Hancock - Amendment could 'undo' guns law JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Former U.S. Rep. Mel Hancock believes Missourians should have the right to carry concealed guns, but also thinks the state amendment bearing his name that forbids unfunded mandates "very well could undo" the law. Enacted when legislators overrode Democratic Gov. Bob Holden's veto Sept. 11, the law allows Missourians age 23 and older to receive concealed gun permits from their local sheriffs after passing criminal background checks, firearms training courses and paying a fee of up to $100. The law also entitles Missourians age 21 and older to conceal...

<p>JEFFERSON CITY - The Supreme Court judges who heard arguments on Missouri's concealed weapons law Thursday focused not on its public safety aspects but on how county sheriffs would be paid to carry it out.</p> <p>During 30 minutes of debate, the judges peppered lawyers on both sides of the issue on whether the law violated the state's constitutional spending cap known as the Hancock Amendment.</p>