Posted 10:45 a.m. Tues., 02.09.10 --I Heard The People Say, one of the region's active conservative groups spawned since the 2008 election, will be focusing on vote fraud at its next event this Saturday in Chesterfield. Thor Hearne, a Republican lawyer and activist often involved in area vote-fraud debates and court cases, is to address attendees. The event comes as Republicans in Jefferson City resurrect their quest to mandate a government-issued photo ID for voters.

Updated 4:40 p.m. Mon., 02.08.10 - Republicans may have forced former state Rep. Bill Ransdall off the state Tax Commission, but Gov. Jay Nixon is apparently committed to keeping him in state government. Ransdall, D-Waynesville, quietly began a new job today in the state Department of Economic Development, working on "local economic development matters," according to Nixon spokesman Scott Holste. Last week, Republican resistance ended Ransdall's stint on the state Tax Commission.

Posted 12:15 p.m. Mon., 02.08.10 --The St. Louis Police Officers Association has announced that it plans on Tuesday to formally endorse state Rep. Allen Icet’s (left) bid for Missouri state auditor later this year. Association president Thomas Walsh said in a statement that the group, which represents the city police rank and file, voted at its last meeting to back Icet, R-Wildwood, over his chief Republican rival, former Bush ambassador Thomas Schweich.

Posted 11:30 a.m. Mon., 02.08.10 --The Missouri Republican Party is demanding today that Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, denounce a new ad aired independently by an allied group -- VoteVets.org -- because it "superimposes an image of Congressman Roy Blunt over footage of the aftermath of the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, an attack which killed seventeen American servicemen and women." However, in 2002, the state GOP had aired a spot at party gatherings that included footage of the 9/11 attacks.

Updated 10 a.m. Mon., 02.08.10 --New Lambert St. Louis Airport director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge says there's little chance that the airport will continue operating three firehouses after the next fiscal year begins July 1. Nine surrounding fire departments are objecting to the closure of the oldest fire station, situated nearest the terminal. Hamm-Niebruegge noted in an interview that the airport was served by only two fire stations until 2006, and that it now handles far less air traffic. The firefighters union says safety is the issue.

Posted 3:40 p.m. Fri., 02.05.10 --The gossip Web site "Smoking Gun'' has gotten ahold of the two-page contract for this week's appearance of former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford, D-Tenn., at Northwest Missouri State University. Ford, who spoke at Washington University a few months ago, is publicly testing the waters for a possible U.S. Senate bid in New York state.

Posted 3:10 p.m. Fri., 02.05.10 --U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Mo., told St. Louis area business leaders today that tensions between the United States and China over various issues shouldn't affect the progress of the region's "Big Idea" -- the quest to have China use Lambert airport as a Midwest cargo hub. Bond also told members of the Regional Chamber and Growth Association that, when it comes to curbing the rise in health care costs, he advocates more co-pays and deductibles for the public.

Posted 6:45 p.m. Thurs., 02.04.10 - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (left) is among 10 governors named Thursday by President Barack Obama to serve on the newly created Council of Governors. According to the White House, the 10-member council "will work closely with the secretary of defense, the secretary of homeland security, and other defense and national security advisors" on matters related to the military, national defense and homeland security.

Posted 6 p.m. Thurs., 02.04.10 - National Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly (right), former U.S. Sen. Jim Talent (left) and state Sens. Jim Lembke and Jane Cunningham are among area conservatives slated to speak at a three-day conference here conducted by the Constitutional Coalition. Commentator Glenn Beck is to speak Friday night at the Chaifetz Arena. Because organizers say the press must pay the $199 conference fee, the Beacon will not be covering the event.

Posted 4:50 p.m. Thurs., 02.04.10 --Alternative Opportunities Inc., a not-for-profit agency based in Springfield, Mo., is now the new operator of the Missouri vehicle-license office in Maplewood, among five such contracts that the agency has obtained in recent weeks. The agency, which serves teens and the disabled, has apparently corrected the problems that prompted the Missouri Department of Revenue to rebid 10 earlier license contracts awarded the agency, including two in the St. Louis area.