Politics

The Missouri legislative panel will hold its second of three higher education hearings Tuesday at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.

The legislature’s Joint Committee on Education is working to develop a funding formula that would divide state money given to higher education institutions. State Representative Mike Lair said he would like to see Missouri’s community colleges included in the new budget. But, he said the new budget’s success depends on cooperation from all office holders.

An eight-month construction project begins Monday on one of downtown Kirksville’s busiest streets. The “Franklin Streetscape Project,” in downtown Kirksville is projected to be completed by early next summer.

City Engineer Ed Ieans said the project is a joint effort between Truman State University and the City of Kirksville as a downtown beautification project.

Republican Congressman Todd Akin is defending his statement comparing his opponent, Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, to a dog.

The 2012 presidential campaign has been unlike anything Missouri voters have seen in quite some time. Or perhaps "not seen" is a better description.

Neither Democratic President Barack Obama nor Republican challenger Mitt Romney has held any public campaign events in Missouri since winning his party's nomination. And neither has run TV ads specifically targeting Missouri.

That's a sharp contrast with the 2008 elections and the intense presidential campaigns that Missourians have come to expect over the past several decades.