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Politically Speaking for May 14: Missouri legislature, IRS targeting of Tea Party groups

In Beacon Blog

4:16 pm on Tue, 05.14.13

On this week's episode: Jo calls in from Jefferson City to give us a preview of what is going on in the final week of legislative session, and then we all talk about the reaction from Senators Claire McCaskill and Dick Durbin to the IRS profiling tea party groups. We also discuss the role 501(c)(4)s, and compare the federal campaign finance rules to Missouri's no-limits system.

McCaskill, Durbin issue scathing rebuke of IRS scrutiny

In Region

2:40 pm on Mon, 05.13.13

Two Democratic U.S. senators condemned the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative groups as "un-American" and "absolutely unacceptable." U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill said high-ranking IRS officials should be fired if they knew what was happening.

McCaskill on the offense in debate on sexual assault in military

In Washington

5:57 pm on Wed, 05.08.13

With the Pentagon reporting a sharp increase in sexual assaults and the Air Force officer in charge of preventing such crimes charged with sexual battery, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill is stepping up her efforts to try to toughen prosecution and deter such assaults. Sen. Roy Blunt praises her efforts.

McCaskill bashes credit reporting firms for errors hurting consumers

6:11 am on Wed, 05.08.13

A Senate Commerce panel chaired by U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill held a hearing Tuesday to examine errors in credit reporting that affect the lives of millions of Americans who apply for car loans or mortgages and, in many cases, seek to rent an apartment or apply for a job. 

Senate approves internet tax bill; opponents focus on House

In Washington

12:17 pm on Tue, 05.07.13

The Senate’s approval of a “marketplace fairness” bill to make it easier for states to collect taxes on internet sales now shifts the focus to the U.S. House and – ultimately – to states such as Missouri that don’t enforce their existing internet sales taxes.

Senators decry VA disability claim delays in Missouri, Illinois

In Washington

Updated at 11:33 am on Tue, 04.30.13

Missouri and Illinois U.S. senators are among the 67 urging the White House to “take direct action” to end the disturbing backlog in processing veterans’ disability claims. In the VA's central region, the Chicago office has the highest and the St. Louis office the fifth-highest percentage of disability claims pending for more than 125 days.

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Conference of American nuns will mull response to Vatican charges

In Nation

7:55 am on Fri, 08.03.12

Meeting in St. Louis next week, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious will have its first opportunity as an assembled group to consider what to do after the Vatican issued a mandate for change this spring. It calls on the conference to reorganize and more strictly observe church teachings.

The 'free' Zoo

In Commentary

7:51 am on Tue, 05.22.12

When a family of four goes to the St. Louis Zoo, they can be forgiven for not knowing it will cost them $60, $72 if they park. If they can't pay, the alternative is to tell the kids they can't do what kids do at the zoo.

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Pirates are first to land on Opera Theatre's shore

In Performing Arts

12:24 am on Mon, 05.20.13

“We speak in old language in a new witty way with contemporary feel,” Sean Curran said about the OTSL production of "Pirates of Penzance," which is set in the 1870s. Much of the Gilbert and Sullivan satire, however, focuses on still-relevant human foibles, government officials’ ineptitude and opera excesses.

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Save that dirt, Howard Buffett says

In Science

11:09 am on Wed, 05.15.13

Speaking to reporters at Monsanto, Howard Buffett warned that future generations would foot the bill for irresponsible soil use. He urged leaders to address thorny issues such as malnutrition and environmental destruction.

Arch Grants winners set for debut

In InnovationSTL

11:32 am on Tue, 05.14.13

Twenty winners will split a million dollars and a wide array of professional services after this year's Arch Grants competition. Victors will also see one-on-one business mentoring in their prize package. The diverse group includes everything from biotech concerns to fashion enterprises.

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Innovation and entrepreneurial activity are on the rise in St. Louis, especially in bioscience, technology and alternative energy. The Beacon's InnovationSTL section focuses on the people who are part of this wave, what they're doing and how this is shaping our future. To many St. Louisans, this wave is not yet visible. InnovationSTL aims to change that. We welcome you to share your knowledge, learn more about this vibrant trend and discuss its impact.

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Save that dirt, Howard Buffett says

In Science

11:09 am on Wed, 05.15.13

Speaking to reporters at Monsanto, Howard Buffett warned that future generations would foot the bill for irresponsible soil use. He urged leaders to address thorny issues such as malnutrition and environmental destruction.

Supreme Court rules unanimously for Monsanto in Roundup case

In Law Scoop

10:42 pm on Mon, 05.13.13

Vernon Bowman's challenge to Monsanto Co.'s patent on its Roundup Ready soybean seeds was billed as a David vs. Goliath contest. Goliath won and won big. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that an Indiana soybean farmer had violated Monsanto's patent on its genetically engineered soybean seeds.

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U.S. Grant and the Battle of Vicksburg

In Commentary

12:22 am on Mon, 05.20.13

When the Civil War broke out, Grant rejoined the military. He may not have liked it, but it was what he was good at: fighting. The battle that cemented his reputation began 150 years ago yesterday.

Is political ethics an oxymoron?

In Commentary

12:22 am on Mon, 05.20.13

Democracy is our answer to perhaps our most difficult ethical problem: How do we ethically protect the social cooperation that makes our society strong, while respecting the rights of individuals to pursue vastly divergent visions of the good life and deeply conflicting moral and political beliefs?

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