Saint Louis Beacon - Issues/Politics

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Issues/Politics

Once pale red, polls now show Missouri's magenta

By Elia Powers, Special to the Beacon
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 )
Throughout the summer, the smart money bet that Missouri would end up a shade of red in the presidential vote. Polls showed Republican McCain leading Democrat Obama by at least 5 percentage points in a state that has leaned right in recent presidential contests. Now Missouri is looking more like magenta. Recent polls in Missouri show Obama gaining ground, even edging ahead, of McCain, making Missouri a key battleground.

Downticket candidates pay to be heard

By Terry Jones, Special to the Beacon

Last Updated ( Thursday, 09 October 2008 )

Media coverage of Missouri candidates for lieutenant governor, treasurer, auditor and secretary of state has traditionally been limited. But voters should pay attention because these are the people who go on to be governor or senator. How do they get their message out? TV ads.

G.M. and Chrysler talk merger; Bush, finance ministers pledge global action on economy

By News organizations

Last Updated ( Saturday, 11 October 2008 )

G.M. and Chrysler are talking about a possible merger, sources told the New York Times. They called the talks preliminary and put the odds at 50-50. | New York Times

The president praised finance ministers from the seven largest industrial nation for promising concerted action on the economy. Meeting in Washington, the ministers agreed on the concept but did not list specific steps. | Washington Post

Obama and McCain answer to voters in town hall debate

By News organizations
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 )
The anticipated gloves-off approach did not happen, but presidential candidates McCain and Obama drew sharp contrasts with each other on the economy, health care and foreign policy in Tuesday's town hall debate. McCain characterized Obama as favoring government mandates to solve domestic problems and lacking experience in foreign policy. Obama faulted McCain for favoring deregulation as the solution to most domestic problems and lacking foresight in foreign policy. \| New York Times

Fed tries another jolt to restore economy's heartbeat but stocks falter

By News organizations
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 )
In a new step to ease the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve will buy up the short term loans that fund the daily operations of banks and ordinary businesses. This direct support for individual businesses marks a radical role shift. \| Washington Post. Stocks drop more than 500 points Tuesday despite a hint that the Fed might lower interest rates. \| New York Times

St. Louis selects Major Daniel Isom as new police chief

By Bill Bryan, Special to the Beacon
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 October 2008 )
Updated 5 p.m., Mon., Oct. 6 The St. Louis Police Board has chosen Major Daniel Isom, a 20-year veteran, to be the city's next police chief. Isom, 41, has a doctorate in criminology as well as two master's degrees. He replaces Joe Mokwa, who was forced to retire in July as a scandal involving a towing company began surfacing. Isom, a graduate of St. Louis University High School, is a lifelong resident of St. Louis.

'Water Wars' are not limited to Africa and can be affected by local action

By Joyce LaFontain, Special to the Beacon
Last Updated ( Monday, 06 October 2008 )
The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting brought journalists into local schools to explain how water affects not only the quality of lives throughout the world but war and peace. A student from Rosati-Kain reports on what they learned and how actions in St. Louis can help. (Hand water pump photo from Wikimedia.)

Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Wachovia suspend litigation, try negotiation

By News organizations
Last Updated ( Monday, 06 October 2008 )
At the urging of federal regulators, rival suitors and their target - Wachovia - have given themselves until Wednesday noon to work out a mutually agreeable deal. Wachovia and its potential buyers, Citigroup and Wells Fargo, had spent the weekend challenging each other in both state and federal court in New York. Read the New York Times story.

Debate Blog: Following debate action and reaction

By Beacon staff and contributors

Last Updated ( Monday, 06 October 2008 )

What the candidates said - and how St. Louisans reacted - is recorded here as the vice presidential debate happened. Also, get a look at the pre-debate hoopla at Washington U. This is the archive of our liveblog, as we wrote it Oct. 2.

House passes bailout plan; most St. Louis area House members still vote no

By Dale Singer, Beacon staff
Last Updated ( Friday, 03 October 2008 )
Updated 1:20 p.m., Fri., Oct. 3 The economic bailout plan rejected by the House earlier this week passed today by a comfortable margin, 263-171, after changes were made in the Senate and a full court press was put on House members to reassure the markets and the American public. Local economist says, "If the treatment works, it's worth it."

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Results 111 - 120 of 583

Editors' Picks

Region
- McCain looks like winner in Missouri vote: With all but four counties tallied, his lead over Obama is 4,355 votes out of 2.9 million cast. | Kansas City Star
- Albert does it again: Despite the Cards' fourth-place finish, Pujols is named the league's MVP, making him and Stan Musial the only Cardinals to win the award twice. Ryan Howard, his closest rival, grew up in the St. Louis area. | ESPN
- InBev completes purchase of Anheuser-Busch: The combination creates the global leader in beer and one of the world's top five consumer products companies. | MarketWatch
- MySpace suicide trial set to begin in L.A.: Lori Drew is accused of taunting 13-year-old Megan Meier over the Internet, leading to her hanging herself in St. Charles County. | STLtoday
Elections
- State propositions run the gamut: Same-sex marriage, animal rights, physician-assisted suicide and more were decided by voters nationwide on Tuesday. | AP/Washington Times
- How they voted: A national exit poll shows Obama did better among women than men, better among young than old, better among Jews than Protestants. | New York Times
- Democrats pick up at least 19 House seats: The gain builds on the 30 seats the party captured two years ago. | AP
- Democrats gain at least five Senate seats: Several races - Minnesota, Alaska, Georgia and Oregon - were still too close to call on Wednesday morning. But the Dems appeared unlikely to gain attain a filibuster-proof 60 seats. | New York Times
Nation/World
- Obama said to favor Eric Holder Jr. for attorney general: The former judge, U.S. attorney and deputy attorney general will be nominated if he can garner enough Senate support, sources say. He would be the first African American to hold the post. | Washington Post
- Stevens loses Senate seat in Alaska: The Republican who was found guilty of seven felonies a week before the election was defeated by Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, who will be the first Democrat to represent Alaska in the Senate in nearly 30 years. | Anchorage Daily News
- Changes aim to ease holiday travel congestion: In an effort to clear space for crowded planes, airspace typically dedicated to the military will be temporarily opened to commercial airliners. | AP/Chicago Tribune
- Lieberman retains Senate chairmanship: Despite his support for the GOP presidential ticket, the Connecticut senator -- now an independent -- didn't lose his position as head of Homeland Security committee. | Politico

Development
- Consumer prices register record 1 percent drop in October: Fuel costs plummeted and retailers used discounts for cars and clothing to entice consumers hobbled by job losses and sinking home values. | Bloomberg
- Mark Cuban accused of insider trading: The SEC says the Internet billionaire and NBA team owner used confidential information on a stock to avoid more than $750,000 in losses. | AP/USA Today
- Citigroup will cut more than 50,000 jobs: The nation's second-largest bank has been one of the hardest hit financial institutions during the credit crisis. | CNN
- Consumer spending shows record drop in October: Led by autos, retail sales fell 2.8%, which was the fourth straight monthly decline and much bigger than the 2% decline economists expected. | Detroit Free Press
Education
- Washington U. tightens its belt: With endowment down 25 percent, chancellor announced cuts in pay -- including his own -- and construction delays Wednesday. | Student Life
- Pay for presidents of public universities rising faster than that at private schools: Median pay and benefits for presidents of public institutions rose 7.6 percent in 2007-8, to $427,400. | New York Times
- Chief Illiniwek will dance again: On Saturday, the new version of the longtime mascot will make his debut after the Illini-Ohio State football game at Champaign-Urbana. | Chicago Tribune
- Anonymous Washington U. students start bike-sharing program on campus: The Washington University Green Bicycle Project lets students, staff and faculty use the bikes without charge. | Student Life

Jazz with Jerome Harris

Video by Christian Cudnik

Jazz musician and educator Jerome Harris talks about the importance of teaching. See a larger version of this video and read a profile of Harris.

Voices

Jimmy Carter was right
In the News

In his much-maligned "malaise" speech, President Jimmy Carter spoke of a "crisis of the American spirit" and a Congress paralyzed by special interests. He warned that shared sacrifice had been "abandoned like an orphan without support and without friends." Those warning hold true. The United States need to come to terms with its lowered economic position and restore its moral leadership.
Cartoons for Nov. 18, 2008
Editorial Cartoons
The presidential ransition still gets lots of attention, but the cartoonists are also looking at specific economic and social issues. Find the work of Scott Stantis, John Sherffius, Chris Britt, Marshall Ramsey and Mike Thompson inside.
Protest at the School of the Americas teaches lessons in human rights
In the News
Posted 5 p.m. Mon. Nov. 17 - This weekend, nearly a hundred St. Louisans, many of them high school students, will travel to Fort Benning, GA to protest the School of the Americas. Among its graduates are some of Latin America's most notorious dictators, guilty of some of the continent's most savage human rights violations. Rachel Heidenry, who participated in the protest while a student at Nerinx Hall and Bard College, describes the experience and took the photographs that accompany the story and are in a slideshow at the end of the article.
Justices perplexed by 7 Aphorisms case
Law Scoop

Posted, 1:20 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13 - Not often do the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court admit to such bafflement as they did on Wednesday when trying to decide if Pleasant Grove City, Utah has to add the 7 Aphorisms to the 10 Commandments in its city park.

The Lens

B-i-r-t-h-d-a-y M-o-u-s-e

Time for a celebration!

Today is the 80th birthday of one of Hollywood's most beloved creations: Mickey Mouse !

..while yesterday was the 30th anniversary of something they'd rather not talk about: Star Wars, The Holiday Special .

Giving Back

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