Politics on the brain

Now that both the Republican and Democratic national conventions have wrapped up and leaders of both parties say they are poised to shape the country’s future, it seems like an appropriate time to take a quick look at the current business and political landscape.

Alas, Gov. Nixon gives SWMO a nod

I was starting to wonder if Gov. Jay Nixon had forgotten about southwest Missour-ah … or is it Missour-ee? Either way, the governor hasn’t tapped this part of the state for many appointments since he took office two months ago.

That changed this week.

McClure leaves Division of Finance

Eric McClure, a Rogersville resident who was appointed Missouri Division of Finance commissioner by former Gov. Bob Holden in January 2003, has left his post after six years, but my efforts to find out more about his departure have come up empty.

From National Mall back to halls of Kickapoo High

Things may be back to normal for Kickapoo High’s Chase Snider, but he will never be the same.

That’s to be expected when you’re the only high school kid in America with a press pass to the inauguration of our first black president.

So how did a Springfield student score the credentials?

Remember the Local Races

With the coverage that SBJ and other media outlets have given to the presidential and gubernatorial campaigns, as well as Missouri ballot propositions A, B and C and the nonpartisan court plan, some of the local races may have been overlooked.

For those of you looking for more information about some of those local races, Urban Neighborhoods Alliance is trying to help.

Springfield law firm Strong on political spending

The state’s chamber is reporting that Springfield trial law firm Strong-Garner-Bauer PC is No. 3 on a list of 15 law firms that donated $2.4 million combined to statewide political campaigns from 2005–08.

The Branson Experience

Roger Cohen, op-ed columnist for The New York Times, is traversing Missouri to gauge just how Election Day could go next month. He calls the Show Me State “America miniaturized,” because of its ability to vote for the winner in every presidential election since 1904, with the exception of 1956.

Today, we get Cohen’s take on Branson.