Alyson E. Raletz
Monday, Oct. 13, 2008
Zweifel eyes efficiency
Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008
Friday, Oct. 10, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
‘Missouri is not better off,’ area Dems tell voters
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
Monday, Oct. 6, 2008
Monday, Oct. 6, 2008
Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008
Sheehan a ‘poster boy for the economy’
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
Blunt, Boehringer reveal possible expansion
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008
Schaaf not afraid to go against grain
Monday, Sept. 29, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008
English-only amendment sparks heated debate
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008
Monday, Sept. 22, 2008
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008
Bridge repairs going nowhere
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008
Voters to decide on energy initiative
Monday, Sept. 15, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008
Event is big exposure for a 'charming village'
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008
Palin faces 'uniquely feminine issue'
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008
Hulshof explains math, science plan
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008
Monday, Sept. 1, 2008
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
Monday, Aug. 25, 2008
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008
Friday, Aug. 22, 2008
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008
I-29 bridge work wrapping up
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008
Bike race to shine spotlight on St. Joe
Monday, Aug. 18, 2008
Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008
Friday, Aug. 15, 2008
Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008
Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008
Monday, Aug. 11, 2008
Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008
Monday, Oct. 13, 2008
An incumbent in a local Missouri House of Representatives race will address area Republicans Thursday.
Rep. Dr. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, and other candidates in area races are set to speak at the last Northwest Missouri Republican Club meeting before the November election.
Zweifel eyes efficiency
Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008
A Democrat from the eastern part of Missouri is taking on a Savannah Republican for the treasurer’s seat. Both are new fathers. Both are 30-somethings that started their state political careers in the Missouri House of Representatives. But they both are approaching the office differently. Sen. Brad Lager sees the office through the eyes of fiscal conservatism. Rep. Clint Zweifel, a Florissant Democrat, said he wants to run a competent office that focuses on excellence and fiscal restraint, but also sees it as an opportunity for broader leadership.
Biden visit 'affects the ticket from top to bottom'Friday, Oct. 10, 2008
A house divided prompted a local mother to excuse her son from school Tuesday morning to see the Democrats’ pick for vice president speak in St. Joseph. Heather Hurst, of Savannah, Mo., and her son, Austin, sat among a crowd of roughly 770 people waiting to hear Sen. Joe Biden speak.
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
Missouri’s secretary of state slammed the state’s voter registration process on the eve of today’s deadline in St. Joseph.
Political Notebook: Bailout 2.0 proved worse than the original, Graves saysWednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
The U.S. House waited until the second time around to pass a banking bailout package. Congressman Sam Graves says the measure hardly improved with age.
‘Missouri is not better off,’ area Dems tell voters
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
Nearly a week after Gov. Matt Blunt played up Missouri’s job climate in St. Joseph, area Democrats took a different look at the numbers. Tennessee and Missouri are tied for the 13th worst unemployment rate in the United States.
Voter registration on fire in Buchanan CountyMonday, Oct. 6, 2008
Citizens who want to have a say in who will run the White House, statehouse or Buchanan County Courthouse can head to the nearest fire house Tuesday night.
With Missouri’s voter registration deadline approaching at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Buchanan County Clerk Pat Conway’s office is putting on a Last Night Drive.
Monday, Oct. 6, 2008
Missouri’s Secretary of State Robin Carnahan will visit St. Joseph Tuesday to help a local Democrat with his statehouse campaign.
Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008
A Savannah, Mo., senator is pushing his background as a small business owner in his bid for state treasurer.
Sheehan a ‘poster boy for the economy’
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
A St. Joseph Democrat running for the statehouse can personally relate to voters in a way the incumbent Republican doctor falls short.
It’s an issue of employment.
“I’m the poster boy for the economy — a 58-year-old man who lost his job and lost his insurance,” said Mark Sheehan, the News-Press’ former Opinion page editor.
Blunt, Boehringer reveal possible expansion
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008
Gov. Matt Blunt painted a hazy, but bright picture of the state’s economic climate Tuesday when he announced the possible expansion of an animal pharmaceuticals company in St. Joseph that could bring 116 jobs.
Schaaf not afraid to go against grain
Monday, Sept. 29, 2008
Editor’s note: A similar profile on Democrat Mark Sheehan will be featured in the News-Press later this week.
Both candidates in a St. Joseph House of Representatives race have described Rob Schaaf as a maverick.
While previously employed as the News-Press’ Opinion editor, Democrat challenger Mark Sheehan dubbed the incumbent so after going up against the governor on controversial health care issues.
Now Dr. Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, is using the adjective with pride in campaign speeches and advertisements to convince voters in the 28th House District that they should elect someone unafraid of fighting the establishment to a fourth term.
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008
National and state business groups are backing two area Republican incumbents in their bids for re-election to the Missouri House of Representatives.
Heads up candidates, the News-Press will publish endorsements intermittently in political notebooks in the print version or here in Political Punch blog posts. A St. Joseph Democratic candidate plugged a blog of his own this week.
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008
Campaigns for state treasurer traded barbs Wednesday via the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Cecil “Ken” Franklin of the Missouri Democratic Party filed an ethics complaint against the Republican in the race, Sen. Brad Lager, of Savannah, for not going into detail on campaign expenses he paid with his credit card.
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008
The future of construction projects at two regional universities looks hazy if Attorney General Jay Nixon is elected state governor.
English-only amendment sparks heated debate
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008
A question on the ballot in November is prompting debate among St. Joseph business owners who all call English their second language. Ruth Matos’ South Side taxi service, Vamanos, is tailored to Spanish speakers, a growing population in St. Joseph. But Missourians this election will be able to solidify that when it comes to government business, only English is allowed.
Third House race heats upMonday, Sept. 22, 2008
The race for the largest Missouri House of Representatives district in the state is stirring up big campaign promises, but likely will come down to experience.
Financial shock waves felt in treasurer’s raceSaturday, Sept. 20, 2008
Events that rattled the financial world this week underscored the relevance of the Missouri state treasurer’s race.
Group criticizes judge nomineesThursday, Sept. 18, 2008
An area judge who’s in the running for the Missouri Supreme Court mailed a questionnaire to Gov. Matt Blunt the same week a group of critics asked the governor to reject him.
Political Notebook: Campaigns swap claims on tax plansWednesday, Sept. 17, 2008
Wall Street financial institutions fought for their survival this week while surrogates for two presidential candidates swapped claims about which side had the best tax plan for Missourians.
Bridge repairs going nowhere
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008
Gov. Matt Blunt called on highway officials to initiate an overdue statewide bridge repair program Monday.
The plea came one year and 15 days after he stood on an Interstate 29 overpass in St. Joseph and signed legislation that enabled the work on 802 of the state’s worst bridges.
Dubbed one of the oldest bridges in the state, the deck of the U.S. Highway 169 bridge that runs over Interstate 29 was slated for a makeover, Mr. Blunt said on Sept. 5, 2007, during a special ceremony.
Mr. Blunt had called a special session that summer to hasten the repairs.
Voters to decide on energy initiative
Monday, Sept. 15, 2008
Voters’ minds already deciding between red and blue entrees in a buffet of political races now have a green side dish to mull over this November. Missouri ballots will serve up the Missouri Clean Energy Initiative, which a Spanish-based company building a wind farm near Tarkio, Mo., backed with some green of its own. The measure would require renewable energy sources to make up at least 15 percent of the electricity supply that investor-owned utility companies buy or generate by 2021, upon voter approval.
Lawmakers nix student curator voteThursday, Sept. 11, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — State lawmakers voted Wednesday to keep that same power from university students.
Event is big exposure for a 'charming village'
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008
If Cathedral of St. Joseph school children had it their way, perhaps they would’ve renamed the international bike tour that started from St. Joseph Monday to Tour “de” Missouri.
Britain, Paraguay, Ireland and Spain were just some of the countries represented on flags the pupils anxiously waved for the cyclists at the starting line — a little reminder of home before the riders pedaled around the Pony Express statue.
The world-class athletes weren’t the only first-timers to St. Joseph Friday.
Palin faces 'uniquely feminine issue'
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008
Critics of Sarah Palin’s bid for vice president came at her with a feminine touch this week. A sharp spotlight already on the Alaskan governor sharpened after releasing the news that her unmarried teenage daughter was pregnant. Questions arose over whether the “hockey mom” of five should’ve accepted the status as Sen. John McCain’s running mate in light of family obligations, which prompted fellow Republicans in Missouri to work the defense.
Hulshof explains math, science plan
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
Missouri Western State University graduated four math teachers and one science teacher in 2007.
One physics teacher graduated in the entire state that year, a gubernatorial hopeful said Friday at the St. Joseph university while plugging a campaign initiative that’s proved controversial in the statewide education community.
The locals aren’t thrilled, either.
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
A local senator’s campaign for state treasurer is picking up dollar signs.
New law may open floodgates for political spendingWednesday, Sept. 3, 2008
A political science professor at Northwest Missouri State University is ready to red-ink his fall lesson plans for a state and local government course.
When Rich Fulton starts to lecture his students on states that limit individual contributions to political campaigns this semester, he’ll have to draw a line through Missouri.
The reversal comes courtesy of a new law authored by a local senator that went into effect last week.
Monday, Sept. 1, 2008
A high-profile bicycle commute from St. Joseph to Kansas City in September will wheel an onslaught of revelry into both cities.
In House race, challenger hopes 4th time's a charmSunday, Aug. 31, 2008
KING CITY, Mo. — Wind and politicking are picking up in Gentry County as two King City natives compete for a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives — again.
Obama campaigns in KCWednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
Sen. Barack Obama underlined the United States’ economic woes to a group of workers American Airlines may lay off at its overhaul base in Kansas City Tuesday.
Rucker quizzes Obama on health careWednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
Sen. Barack Obama picked a St. Joseph Democrat out of the crowd Tuesday. State Rep. Martin Rucker was one of six supporters the presidential hopeful selected to ask him questions after he talked economics with American Airlines workers at its overhaul base in Kansas City.
Video available of Dems' BBQTuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
Feast your own eyes on a recent Democratic chow-down in St. Joseph. The following are video clips of the 14th annual Northwest Missouri Central Labor Council barbecue, which took place this weekend at Callison Hall.
Casinos propose vote to lift loss limits on November ballotMonday, Aug. 25, 2008
The gaming industry is banking on voters supporting an effort that the Legislature has repeatedly rejected.
Lawmakers’ failure to lift casino loss limits has prompted Kansas City’s Ameristar Casino to put the question on the ballot in November.
In return for the removal of the $500 loss limits, casinos are willing to up their tax rate a percentage point and prohibit the building of any more casinos in the state to pit fears of gambling expansion.
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008
A hall full of the area’s most notable Democrats clapped with joy over the announcement of Sen. Barack Obama’s vice-presidential pick Friday night.
Nixon looking for some change in Northwest MissouriFriday, Aug. 22, 2008
Attorney General Jay Nixon plans to fundraise in Northwest Missouri this weekend.
The Democratic candidate for governor will attend volunteer canvass events in Kansas City Saturday morning, but then will shoot over to rural Northwest Missouri for a series of "grasroots fundraisers."
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008
A Tarkio Republican has been nominated for the Missouri Supreme Court.
The court’s Appellate Judicial Commission after 5 p.m. released the names of the three finalists they’ve submitted to Gov. Matt Blunt to fill the July vacancy left by Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr.
The commission has selected Atchison County Associate Circuit Court Judge Zel M. Fischer, according to a news release.
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008
Mark Sheehan wants voters to know they can call him at home — too.
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008
The Missouri Hospital Association targeted a local state representative race with a telephone poll this week that the incumbent sees as misleading.
The statewide group, which represents Heartland Health and other hospitals, launched an intense lobbying effort in Jefferson City this spring against Rep. Dr. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph.
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008
Missouri schools have below-par safety procedures and programs, according to a state audit released Tuesday.
Auditor Susan Montee’s review of the Safe Schools Initiatives found “insufficient violence prevention programs, anti-bullying policies ... and emergency management plans and drills.”
The St. Joseph Democrat called on districts to improve programs aimed at Internet safety and sex offenders, as well.
I-29 bridge work wrapping up
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008
CAMDEN POINT, Mo. — For the drivers who have been gripping their steering wheels over Bee Creek bridge work on Interstate 29 since March: There’s light at the end of that narrow tunnel.
Relief could come as early as this week, but all construction should be completed by the end of the month, a local Missouri Department of Transportation official said Monday.
“It’s taking so long. It’s just been so long,” lamented Kenny Gilbert, who manages Trex Mart convenience stores along I-29 in Dearborn, Mo., and Camden Point.
Bike race to shine spotlight on St. Joe
Monday, Aug. 18, 2008
As St. Joseph gears up to serve as host of an international bike tour, people who say “bicicleta,” “zì xíng che” and “fahradfahren” are readying their pens and suitcases for the home of the Pony Express. Plan on images of the Downtown Pony Express statue to splash newspaper pages, TV broadcasts and Web pages around the world as outside media converge on St. Joseph for a day. “It literally puts a city on a map,” Tour of Missouri spokesman Steve Brunner said of the attention.
Friendships online can blur fine linesSunday, Aug. 17, 2008
Thanks for the add, teach. No thanks, says a Missouri legislator trying to stop teachers from privately communicating with students on social networking sites, like Myspace or Facebook.
Friday, Aug. 15, 2008
You read Ken Newton's story from earlier in the week on U.S. Rep Sam Grave's keynote address at the opening of the Buchanan County Republican Headquarters. Now the News-Press' Political Punch blog is pleased to bring you video from the GOP event so you can hear the Congressman's words for yourself.
Sheehan opens Andrew County headquartersThursday, Aug. 14, 2008
A former St. Joseph newspaperman challenging a St. Joseph doctor took the race for the 28th House District to Savannah, Mo., Thursday night.
Democrat Mark Sheehan opened the doors to his Andrew County campaign headquarters, located in the south side of the square in downtown Savannah.
Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008
Kenny Hulshof may have clinched the Republican nomination for governor statewide, but his supporters are hearing crickets in Northwest Missouri. The Columbia, Mo., congressman lost 13 counties in the Midland Empire plus Clay County to primary contender Sarah Steelman in the primary election. Those included Buchanan, Andrew, Nodaway, Platte and other counties. Mr. Hulshof was able to claim Atchison, Gentry and Livingston counties — the latter two by only four and six votes, respectively.
Political Notebook: Environmental group takes on Rep. GravesWednesday, Aug. 13, 2008
A Washington-based environmental group on Tuesday put Northwest Missouri’s congressman on the grimy side of green issues.
GOP leader: Zweifel an unknown in treasurer's race; Zweifel: Are you kidding me?Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008
An area state senator can tout the support of the entire Republican establishment in his bid for state treasurer, the executive director of the Missouri Republican Party said Tuesday.
Democratic opponent Rep. Clint Zweifel, of Florissant, said he doesn’t think that’s necessarily a good thing.
Monday, Aug. 11, 2008
Area candidates and parties are organizing as the November general election approaches.
Buchanan County Republicans are set to open their St. Joseph headquarters on Wednesday, while a Democratic challenger in the 28th Missouri House of Representatives District race is planning a grand opening on Thursday in Savannah, Mo.
Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008
Campaign contributors in the hospital and health care industries are supporting the opponent of a St. Joseph doctor running to keep his seat in the Missouri House of Representatives. Apparently, the Republican incumbent’s role in the governor’s failed Insure Missouri plan to expand Medicaid eligibility isn’t water under the bridge. While no primary existed for the 28th House District race, incumbent Rep. Dr. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, and Democratic challenger Mark Sheehan have been busy fundraising for the November general election.
