Recent Stories
Missouri House panel trims but doesn’t close budget gap
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A House committee reduced spending Thursday for some government services but failed to cut enough to cover a projected shortfall in Missouri’s next budget. After considering dozens of amendments, the House Budget Committee finished its work after cutting only about $55 million more from the proposed budget. That means more cuts likely will be needed when the spending plan heads to the House floor and then the Senate. House Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet said he wasn’t concerned that the proposed 2011 budget remained out-of-balance at this point.
Fed holds rates at record lows
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve on Tuesday repeated its pledge to hold interest rates at record lows to foster the economic recovery and ease high unemployment.
A flood of new policies
MOORHEAD, Minn. — When the swollen Red River threatened his uninsured house last spring, all Mark Baumgardner could do was pack up and hope he wouldn’t lose everything.
Tiger Woods says he'll play in next month's Masters
Tiger Woods issued a statement Tuesday to announce he will begin his 2010 season at the Masters.
All eyes on the Fed
WASHINGTON — Debate is heating up within the Federal Reserve over how and when to signal that the days of record-low interest rates are numbered.
Dems start countdown toward vote
WASHINGTON — House Democrats triggered the countdown Monday for the climactic vote on President Barack Obama’s fiercely contested remake of the health care system, even though the legislation remained incomplete and lacked the votes needed to pass.
Are people receiving too many medical tests?
CHICAGO — Too much cancer screening, too many heart tests, too many cesarean sections. A spate of recent reports suggests that many Americans are being overtreated. Maybe even President Barack Obama, champion of an overhaul and cost-cutting of the health care system. Is it doctors practicing defensive medicine? Or are patients so accustomed to a culture of medical technology that they insist on extensive tests and treatments? A combination of both is at work, but new evidence and updated guidelines are recommending a step back and more thorough doctor-patient talks about risks and benefits of screening tests.
Loosening their belts
WASHINGTON — Retail sales posted a surprising increase in February as consumers refused to let snowstorms stop them from stepping up purchases for everything from clothes to appliances. The improvement provided hope that the recovery from the Great Recession is gaining momentum.
Parkinson signs Kansas smoking ban
TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Mark Parkinson signed Kansas’ first statewide smoking ban Friday, calling it a victory for people concerned about clean air.
Nixon suggests combining education departments
Looking to fill a $500 million gap in the state budget, Gov. Jay Nixon on Thursday proposed combining the state’s education departments. The announcement found the approval of Dr. Robert Stein, commissioner of the Missouri Department of Higher Education. Combining the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with the Department of Higher Education is part of the governor’s initial proposal to cut $125 million in spending. Slashing health care services, appropriations to schools, and axing one passenger train between Kansas City and St. Louis are also in his initial proposal.
