Attorney General Jay Nixon, the Democratic candidate for governor, has been  hammering on three issues: restoring Medicaid cuts, expanding affordable education and getting the economy moving again. In his limited spare time, he can be found fly-fishing with his dad along the White River in Arkansas. 

Comprehensive sex education, abstinence-only sex ed or no sex ed at all. Local high schools show the range of options -- while trying to put sex education in the context of relationships, love and marriage.  But does it work to stop teen pregnancy? A local study is under way to take a look. 

Missouri is no longer a bellwether. Since 2000, it has tilted Republican at the presidential level. The state's weathervane reputation is living on flawed numbers. Why? What has changed in the state?

Just eight years ago, more than 15.3 million passengers boarded flights at Lambert St. Louis International Airport, nudged by a booming U.S. economy and an enthusiasm for flying, pre-9/11, that filled gates to near capacity. Last year, the airport's boardings stood at about 7.7 million,  just half of its 2000 peak. Taking another hit with American Airline's decision to drop the area as one of its major hubs, Lambert has sunk from the nation's 15th busiest airport to 33rd. No airport in the country has fallen so quickly so fast. Can anything be done to halt the slide?

Venerable financial names are being swallowed or going broke, the stock market is heading south and the financial websites and cable networks might as well have a black border around their screens. What should you do? What can you do? When will things improve? Individually, the answer may be: not a lot. But economics professor Rik Hafer is doing his best to take the long view.

The prospective closure of the Dana-Thomas home in Springfield has prompted the most protest, but it's only one of several historic sites and parks set to be shuttered. The Illinois House voted to reverse some of Gov. Blagojevich's budget cuts, but the Illinois Senate is not supposed to be in session until November. Update Sept. 16: Governor announces two-week delay.

As rescuers make their rounds, they find that Galveston and Bolivar Peninsula are devastated. Houston begins to get back to normal. Read the New York Times story.

St. Louis mops up from floods in unexpected places. Read the Post-Dispatch story.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's travel expenses and payments for living expenses for days spent in her private residence have come under scrutiny. Missouri law clearly rules out such a per diem payment for the governor. Illinois law is not as clear, but Gov. Rod Blagojevich's spokeswoman says he does not take a per diem for time spent in Chicago. His travel expenses have raised questions. (The Illinois governor's mansion is pictured.)