Bookstores, libraries and newspapers provide new immigrants with access to reading materials. In the second of three parts, the Beacon looks at the newspapers that serve those new to the area and those who want to learn the language. The first was on libraries .

Two statutory amendments -- one regarding home care, and the other concerning casinos and gambling -- will appear before Missouri voters in November, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan has announced. Carnahan said Tuesday that the two measures have been certified to appear on the ballot.

Ballot language in full text for the issues is available on the secretary of state’s website: www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2008petitions/08init_pet.asp.

Bookstores, libraries, and newspapers provide new immigrants with access to reading materials. In the first of three parts, the Beacon looks at how libraries try to serve new constituents.

As the temperature soars, the estimates of voter turnout plunged. The Missouri secretary of state had predicted a 31 percent turnout for today's primary election, but election officials in St. Louis city and county said the number could be closer to 25 percent. The scorching heat has kept some usually dedicated senior citizens at home. (Photo by Rachel Heidenry | The Beacon)

It's been a long and winding road to Ballpark Village, with many miles yet to go. The Cordish Co. project is going to be looking for approval from both the city of St. Louis and the state of Missouri. And in politics, approval is spelled s-u-b-s-i-d-y. Will politicians balk -- or will they do whatever it takes to make Ballpark Village a reality? (Illustration of revamped Clark Street from the Cordish website)

On a sweltering election day in Missouri, voters arrived at St. Louis area polling places with chilled bottles of water, cardboard fans and agendas as varied as their backgrounds.  A man from Lake St. Louis said he votes against anyone who supports the war, in honor of a brother who was killed in Vietnam. A woman from Ballwin says she leans toward candidates who share her Christian values. And a man from the city, who said he wanted to shake up the political status quo, threw his support to "all the women" on his primary ballot. Polls opened at 6 a.m. and will close tonight at 7 p.m. Turnout appeared light, with little or no waiting at most locations. 

Last week, Sen. John McCain's handlers suggested that Sen. Barack Obama was playing the race card when Obama described himself as not like "all those other presidents." As the general election looms, some political observers believe it will be difficult for the two candidates to avoid race since, for the first time, a major political party is likely to nominate an African American to head its ticket. The question is: Will the discussion take the high -- or the low -- road?

Government investigators were still weeks away from possible charges against Bruce Ivins, the government biodefense researcher who had become the main suspect in the anthrax letter attacks of 2001. Some evidence points to Ivins, who committed suicide last week, but other key links are missing. Former Sen. Tom Daschle, a target of one of the letters, was among those who said the invetigation had long been flawed. Read the New York Times story.

Unique genetic signature of the anthrax led to singling out Ivins. Read the Los Angeles Times story.