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St. Louis leaders are taking a tough approach to stop people from asking for money at exit ramps.

Director of Human Services Bill Siedhoff told KMOX Radio that some are so aggressive that drivers are intimidated. He says some drivers have changed their routes to avoid the ramps such as one at Interstate 64 and 14th Street.

To address the problem, the city has put up "no begging" signs at 25 locations and plans another two dozen.

The White River, which cuts through southern Missouri and Arkansas, is America's second National Blueway.

The Kansas City Star reports that the new National Blueways System is part of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative aimed at establishing a community-driven conservation and recreation agenda.

Several groups, including the Nature Conservancy and the Missouri Department of Conservation, nominated the White River for the designation. The White River was given the designation Wednesday.

Public schools could receive state money for preschool programs under a new proposal by a Missouri senator. But budget concerns could diminish its prospects of passage.

Sen. Joseph Keaveny filed two bills Thursday that would fund preschool programs through the state formula that already distributes money for K-12 education. One version would provide state aid for all preschool students; the other would pay only for lower income students.

Republican Senate leaders said Thursday that they like Keaveny's idea but it's unlikely the state can afford it.

Aside from Medicaid expansion, the most talked-about issue so far during the just-begun Missouri legislative session is whether Gov. Jay Nixon has the authority to appoint a new Lt. Gov. if Peter Kinder succeeds Republican Jo Ann Emerson in Congress.

Following his annual prayer breakfast, Gov. Nixon told reporters he believes he has the authority to appoint a new lieutenant governor if the office suddenly becomes vacant.

Missouri's public schools are 41st in the country in Education Week's annual rankings.

The publication released its 2013 "Quality Counts" rankings Thursday. Missouri's overall grade was a C, up slightly from last year's grade of C minus.

The president of Columbia College announced Thursday he will be stepping down in August. The president’s nearly two-decade-long tenure has been filled with some memorable achievements.

Applause filled the Atkins-Holman Student Commons at Columbia College as Gerald Brouder made the announcement. Brouder says there’s a couple of reasons why he decided to retire.

“The institution is in very fine shape both fiscally and otherwise – curricular wise,” he said. In a few weeks I’ll be turning 70 years old and that just seems like the right age to do something.

Regional news coverage from the KBIA Newsroom, including:

• Lawmakers lay out agendas as new legislative session begins
• Mo. farmers eligible for federal aid following disaster declaration
• Monthly bills to increase for KCP&L customers

Missouri’s 2013 legislative session is now underway.  Legislative leaders kicked things off by laying out more details on what they want to pass this year.

During his opening remarks to the Missouri House, Speaker Tim Jones said he wants to restore caps on medical malpractice damage awards, which were stripped away last year by the State Supreme Court.

Gov. Jay Nixon has named three people to the commission responsible for overseeing the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

The appointments were announced Wednesday and will require state Senate confirmation. Republicans Edward J. Tabash and Zane Yates were selected along with Democrat Bruce Thomas Sommer.

Tabash had been a partner for MRCT-Benefits Plus, a St. Louis company that provides employee benefits. Yates served in the Missouri House from 1990 to 1996 and was the assistant Republican leader. He works for Centene Corp.

A former St. Louis real estate broker faces sentencing in April after admitting in federal court that he defrauded the government and financial institutions of more than $1 million.

Authorities say 28-year-old Jerrick Hawkins pleaded guilty Wednesday to multiple fraud charges. Prosecutors say Hawkins recruited people to apply for conventional and FHA loans to buy properties in the St. Louis area and directed them to supply false employment and income information.