MidwestSocial 🕸

cross-posted from: lemmy.world/post/160390

As the 2023 legislative session sputtered to a close, House Speaker Dean Plocher stood before a throng of reporters talking about what happened — including the failure to change ballot initiatives.

Republicans wanted to send a ballot item to voters that would raise the threshold to amend the state constitution from a simple majority to 57%. The Des Peres Republican said something that many in Missouri politics assumed all along: Making the constitution more difficult to amend was critical in stopping an initiative petition to expand abortion access in Missouri.

“We are pro-life,” Plocher said. “And if the Senate fails to take action on IP [initiative petition] reform, I think the Senate should be held accountable for allowing abortion to return to Missouri.”

Some Democrats, like House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, said Plocher was saying “the quiet part loud” about the motivations behind trying to get voters to approve a measure raising the constitutional amendment threshold. But in many respects, the proposal will have a far bigger impact than just stymying one potential initiative petition.

But now there’s another option for emergency contraception if you want to get it for free or without an appointment. Missouri Family Health Council and the St. Louis County Department of Health have stepped up to help get free emergency contraceptive kits to you in person and in the mail.

“In March, I signed an executive order committing St. Louis County to the reproductive and sexual health services it currently provides while working to expand services in an equitable way to address health and racial disparities,” County Executive Dr. Sam Page said. “Making emergency contraception free and accessible is a responsible public health decision. Thank you to the Missouri Family Health Council for making this possible.”

Des Peres will be the first city in the region to ask residents whether they want to ban recreational marijuana businesses next year, even as the first and only pot store in the city of 9,100 residents nears its grand opening.

Des Peres aldermen voted 5-0 Monday to give voters the option on Nov. 5, 2024, the first date allowable by Missouri law. Alderman James Osherow was absent.

The move was cheered by about 50 residents who have for months raised concerns over the dispensary’s proximity to a youth math tutoring center and that it could increase crime by becoming a target for burglaries.

“Just say no to drugs,” said Kevin Quigley, who was among eight residents who spoke during nearly two hours of public comment Monday.

With another summer comes another eclectic, enticing lineup of Muny musicals in Forest Park. The outdoor theater’s 105th season, featuring seven shows, kicks off with “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” and concludes with “Sister Act,” both Muny premieres.

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/1188374

Bonner said that even if librarians and a library board confirm a book is appropriate, the Ashcroft rule might “give them a path to appeal to the Secretary of State’s office or use the language of the SoS rule to sue in court.”

He said: “The rule is not about making libraries shelve materials in appropriate areas. Libraries already do that. They’ve been exceedingly conscientious about this issue since before I was born. No library I’ve ever worked at or used has what a reasonable person would call pornography in any kids’ area, or what the Supreme Court has determined would be ‘obscene.’ This rule corrects a problem that only exists in propaganda.

“The rule is about forcing librarians to conform to the views of a subset of the community instead of trying to serve the whole community, by increasing the leverage of that subset and by making librarians fearful of angering that subset.”

He also has told his board that “there is no way to be safe from challenge and still be a library,” referring to library goals to offer books with various viewpoints and to serve diverse patrons.

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/1188319

Calverton Park’s ordinance ‘prohibits property owners from having an unlicensed and/or inoperable car on the property.’

The city confirmed that since December 2020, there’s been a total of 350 violations and 81 vehicles towed away. If the vehicle is towed away, the city will also issue an abatement fee.

Attorney Jeff Schwartz said Missouri law clearly states that a car can’t be towed from private property unless it’s a safety hazard, or at the request of the property owner. He said trying to argue an expired tag is also a safety hazard is a stretch.

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/1174730

Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s attempt to increase the cost of an abortion-rights initiative petition was unprecedented and illegal, lawyers for the Missouri ACLU and state auditor’s office argued Wednesday in Cole County Court.

”No attorney general has ever attempted to exercise this level of discretion,” said Robert Tillman, deputy general counsel for Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick.

Meanwhile, the attorney general’s office contends it was simply exercising its authority under state law when it refused to sign off on a fiscal note summary crafted by the auditor that said the abortion-rights initiative petition would have no cost to state or local government.

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/1174678

St. Louis County Library will introduce social workers at five branches to help people access vital services like mental health, housing and other social service programs.

“It’s hard to come in to seek assistance and be told, well, you have to go ask someone else,” said Kristen Sorth, the director and CEO of SLCL.

Now they’ll have social workers to help answer those questions at Florissant Valley, Lewis and Clark, Natural Bridge, Rock Road and Weber branches.

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/1174661

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, a Democrat, announced Wednesday he is a candidate for U.S. Senate, setting up what could be an expensive intraparty battle to take on Republican incumbent Josh Hawley in November 2024.

In a launch video released Wednesday morning, Bell said, “We need leaders who try to help — unlike Josh Hawley, who’s in a rush to be famous and pretending to be tough while showing the world how weak he really is.”

Bell, 48, would face Democrat Lucas Kunce, who hauled in $1.1 million in the first fundraising quarter this year, in next year’s August primary.

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/1168894

Transgender minors and some adults in Missouri will soon be banned from accessing puberty blockers, hormones, and gender-affirming surgeries under a bill signed Wednesday by the state’s Republican governor.

Beginning Aug. 28, Missouri healthcare providers won’t be able to prescribe those gender-affirming treatments for teens and children. Most adults will still have access to transgender health care under the law, but Medicaid won’t cover it.

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/1168860

The Archbishop of St. Louis will close 34 parishes and one mission and reassign 155 priests in the most sweeping reorganization of the Catholic church in St. Louis history.

After 18 months of waiting, Catholics learned on Saturday the fate of their priests and parishes in the downsizing of the archdiocese called “All Things New.”

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/1168853

The St. Louis County Council decided Tuesday not to vote to override County Executive Sam Page’s veto of the bill aimed at banning people from streets when a sidewalk is present.
On May 16, the St. Louis County Council passed Bill 86 by a narrow 4-3 vote.

Sad day for Blues fans. Panger is a great broadcaster and his enthusiasm is infectious.

Testing whether I can cross post to midwest.social from outside the instance (lemmy.ml).

Anyone have any spots to add to the list?

“Forbes Contributor” (read: blogger) says STL is the “most exciting emerging arts district”, then goes on to describe art & culture… that we’ve always historically had? 🤔

cross-posted from: midwest.social/post/609991

In today’s “No Shit Sherlock” news…

I guess it’s always good that they “run reports” on this stuff, however. Then maybe someday they can continue to do not much about it.