This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Political Rewind: Public Records And You; A $5.6 Million State Airplane & A State Highway Tax

Here are the top political and policy stories from Beyond November, a collaboration of the St. Louis Beacon, Nine Network and St. Louis Public Radio.

14 things we know and don't know about you

A newspaper in New York state printed the addresses of gun permit owners. Could a newspaper do likewise in Missouri and Illinois? What can people find out about you through public records? Maybe more than you realize. Try taking this true-false test to find out just how much privacy you have -- or don't have.

Find it at the St. Louis Beacon.

Find out what's happening in Creve Coeurwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Slay spends nearly $1 million in one week in bid to hold on to mayor's office

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay has spent almost $1 million in one week as he prepares for the final six-week campaign blitz leading to the March 5 Democratic primary, and his quest for a fourth term.

Find out what's happening in Creve Coeurwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Read Jo Mannies' report in the St. Louis Beacon.

Ladue  faculty, administrators look to heal wounds

In recent years, the atmosphere between the teaching staff and administrators in the Ladue School District has turned more adversarial. Both sides are hoping a new superintendent – the fourth since 2000 – will address that issue and others.

Read Part 2 of  Dale Singer’s report for the St. Louis Beacon.

Part 1: Ladue's  search for a new superintendent is taking place in the wake of a series of incidents involving students and abrupt personnel moves that run counter to the long-term stability it enjoyed in the past.

Read Dale Singer's report in the St. Louis Beacon.

Senate delays confirmation of Nixon appointee over $5.6 million plane

Gov. Jay Nixon’s choice to head his Office of Administration will have to wait. The Missouri Senate delayed confirmation after news broke that the State Highway Patrol spent $5.6 million on an airplane, which has been designated for use by the governor and other statewide officials.

Read Marshall Griffin's report for St. Louis Public Radio.

Politically Speaking: A $5.6 million plane and plans for special elections

Jefferson City correspondent Marshall Griffin joins political reporters Jo Mannies and Chris McDaniel to discuss the week in politics. (Jason Rosenbaum is on assignment.) On this week's show, the trio discusses the special elections bill that's speeding through the statehouse, voter ID issues and the Highway Patrol's $5.6 million plane.

Listen to the podcast.

Torture, 'torment' and 'Zero Dark Thirty'

As the U.S. Senate considers a nominee for CIA director and its Intelligence Committee withholds a key report, the "enhanced interrogation" techniques depicted in the film "Zero Dark Thirty" have sparked a heated debate on Capitol Hill.

Read Rob Koenig's report for the St. Louis Beacon.   

Ann Wagner's take: No budget, no pay for lawmakers

The freshman GOP congresswoman from St. Louis County says the Democratic-led Senate has exacerbated the debt crisis by not passing a budget in nearly four years. She backs a measure to force the House and Senate to each pass a budget or else members of Congress won’t get paid.

Read her commentary at the St. Louis Beacon.

McCaskill nearing 2,500 tweets on matters large and small

In the four years since Sen. Claire McCaskill sent her first tweet at President Barack Obama's first inaugural to her tweets at the second inaugural -- once again, making fun of Justice Antonin Scalia's cap -- the use of Twitter has grown tremendously on Capitol Hill.

Read Rob Koenig's report in the St. Louis Beacon.

St. Louis Public Radio will air State of the State address

St. Louis Public Radio, 90.7 KWMU will broadcast live coverage of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s State of the State address to members of the General Assembly on Monday, January 28, 2013. It will begin at 7 p.m. from the House chambers and will include the Republican response following the Governor’s speech. The special coverage is also being offered to other public radio stations in Missouri and Kansas, including KCUR/Kansas City, KSMU/Springfield, KBIA/Columbia, KRCU/Cape Girardeau and KRPS/Pittsburg, Kansas. (Coverage can also be heard and followed on www.stlpublicradio.org.)

Sales tax proposed for Missouri highway improvements

The head of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has unveiled a plan for funding the state’s aging highways and bridges.The centerpiece would be a new one-cent sales tax.

Read Marshall Griffin’s report for St. Louis Public Radio.

Bill would require parents to notify schools if they are gun owners

Legislation filed in the Missouri Senate would require parents to notify their kids’ schools if they are gun owners. The measure is sponsored by State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D, University City), who is at the podium in the picture at right. Read Marshall Griffin's report for St. Louis Public Radio.

Arch Tax faces smooth sailing in some places, rough seas in others

Legislative bodies in St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County have had decidedly different reactions to the proposal for a a 3/16th of one cent local sales tax for the Gateway Arch. Read Jason Rosenbaum's report in the St. Louis Beacon. Also: Sales tax will determine shape of Arch grounds improvements. Read Jason Rosenbaum's report in the St. Louis Beacon. 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Creve Coeur