http://www.joplinglobe.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Sun, 11 May 2008 21:35:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_132213632.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_132213632.html JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — As quick as a camera flash, Republican lawmakers have resurrected a plan to require photo identification for voters. They will press to pass it this week, lest their political opportunity to do so disappears.With only five days remaining in the 2008 legislative session, Republicans who control the House, Senate and Governor’s Mansion have come to realize that this may be their last, best chance to enact certain parts of their agenda.There is no guarantee Republicans will maintain their legislative majorities after the November elections. Sun, 11 May 2008 21:33:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_132213434.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_132213434.html TOPEKA, Kan. — Pigs became a favorite metaphor as legislators debated proposals clearing the way for two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas and restricting the power of the regulator who’s blocked them.For critics, the coal plants were the pigs. Extra provisions attached to each of three bills, “green” or otherwise, were described alternatively as lipstick, dresses and, finally, a tiara. Sun, 11 May 2008 21:32:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_132213250.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_132213250.html OKLAHOMA CITY — Superintendent Jim McCharen would like to hire 10 new teachers for his Choctaw-Nicoma Park Public School District to keep pace with a growing student population and keep class sizes down in the suburban Oklahoma City district.But McCharen won’t hire any new teachers for the upcoming school year as he struggles to keep the district’s yellow school buses on the road and joins a growing list of school administrators across the state who are sapping money from the classroom to keep up with skyrocketing fuel prices. Thu, 08 May 2008 23:04:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129230510.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129230510.html BRENTWOOD, Mo. — As lawmakers advanced a proposal Thursday that could lead to photo ID requirements for voters, Lillie Lewis expressed fears that a chain reaction of circumstances could make it difficult for her to vote in Missouri. Thu, 08 May 2008 23:04:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129230249.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129230249.html TOPEKA, Kan. — Legislators failed to pass any immigration bill this year, but it’s an issue that’s not going away anytime soon. Thu, 08 May 2008 23:01:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129230155.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129230155.html OKLAHOMA CITY — Severe weather experts picked through debris and damage across northwest Oklahoma City on Thursday to determine whether tornadoes touched down briefly after thunderstorms rumbled across the state. Thu, 08 May 2008 00:04:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129000419.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129000419.html JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A $240 million plan to entice a Canadian airplane maker to Kansas City flew through the Legislature on Wednesday as politicians praised it as Missouri’s best-ever chance to land a super-sized development deal. Thu, 08 May 2008 00:03:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129000318.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129000318.html TOPEKA, Kan. — Supporters of two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas failed again Wednesday to muster the support they’d need in the House to override a veto of a bill to make sure the plants get built. Thu, 08 May 2008 00:01:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129000216.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129000216.html OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma education officials criticized plans for a multimillion dollar state bond package Wednesday and said it makes no sense for the state to go into debt during an economic downturn. Tue, 06 May 2008 23:56:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_127235632.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_127235632.html JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Matt Blunt’s administration is forging ahead with a plan to archive state e-mails — even though lawmakers have not approved the money needed to run it. Tue, 06 May 2008 23:55:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_127235525.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_127235525.html TOPEKA, Kan. — The state’s highest court is allowing a grand jury to keep investigating one of the few U.S. doctors who performs late-term abortions but is limiting its power to subpoena his patients’ records. Tue, 06 May 2008 23:54:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_127235433.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_127235433.html OKLAHOMA CITY — Supporters of legislation that would require health insurance companies to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism brought new political pressure Tuesday on Republican leaders in the Oklahoma House to schedule a hearing on the Senate-passed bill. Mon, 05 May 2008 22:48:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_126224831.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_126224831.html ST. LOUIS — For the second time in recent weeks, some St. Louis area residents awoke on Monday to a disconcerting rumbling. But this time, the earthquake was right beneath their feet.The quake at 6:25 a.m. had its epicenter in southwest St. Louis County — just the sixth documented earthquake over the last two centuries centered in St. Louis city or St. Louis County. The U.S. Geological Survey pegged it as a magnitude 2.7. Seismologists at Saint Louis University believe it was a 2.8 or a 2.9.Either way, it wasn’t a major or even moderate quake. There were no reports of damage or injuries. Mon, 05 May 2008 22:46:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_126224703.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_126224703.html TOPEKA, Kan. — A legislative dispute over the budget held up work Monday on the year’s final spending bill and a measure allowing two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas.The Senate convened only briefly, and few members were at the Statehouse. The House met but considered only one minor bill, a measure attempting to settle a water dispute in eastern Douglas County.The inaction gave legislative leaders a chance to work out the two chambers’ differences. Senators expected to debate the coal plants bill Tuesday, but negotiations over the budget didn’t resume Monday night. Mon, 05 May 2008 22:45:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_126224536.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_126224536.html OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Brad Henry signed a bill on Monday to combat childhood obesity by doubling the amount of class time devoted to physical activity and nutrition programs for the state’s youngest students.The amount of physical activity will increase from 60 minutes a week to 120 minutes a week. The requirement will apply to students in kindergarten through the fifth grade.Henry said junk food and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle are taking a serious toll on the health of Oklahoma’s young people.