Politics

Republican Roy Blunt took in $2.2 million in recent months while enlarging his cash advantage over Democrat Robin Carnahan in Missouri's U.S. Senate race.

The Senate passed the bill 20-7, and the House approved it 101-40 Wednesday after Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield, gave up on his all-night filibuster.

The retirement legislation passed both the House and Senate and now goes to Gov. Jay Nixon. The bill requires new state employees to contribute 4 percent of their pay toward their pension and to spend at least a decade working for the state to qualify for pension.

The new law requires quicker reporting of campaign donations and strengthens the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Obama's appearance at two fundraisers will bring in at least $500,000, the Senate candidate's campaign said.

President offers voters choice between party that caused economic meltdown and party that's fixing it.

Francis Vangeli of Columbia believes it's time for ordinary citizens to run the federal government.

Voters must mail their registration or go to the county clerk's office by 5 p.m. Wednesday in order to vote in August's primary election.

The president will stump for Robin Carnahan and make a stop to talk about the economy.

In a special session, the Missouri House extended tax breaks to seniors, data centers and manufacturers in the transportation center. The House also voted on changes that require state employees to make payments toward their pensions.

New legislation raises retirement age and requires workers to contribute part of their pay toward pensions.

Byrd died peacefully at about 3 a.m. at Inova Hospital in Fairfax, Va. He had been in the hospital since late last week.

Many employees on Capitol Hill work with their dogs underfoot.

The initiative to provide incentives to keep Ford Motor Co. in the state seemed to have majority support during the special session. Most of the legislative work will begin next week.

Obama is scheduled to attend a fundraiser for Democratic nominee Robin Carnahan's senatorial campaign in Kansas City.

The lawsuit asks a judge to declare Gov. Jay Nixon's directives for school funding illegal and to order the state to pay Kansas City schools under a separate plan approved by the legislature.

Purgason has begun airing ads criticizing Republican front-runner Roy Blunt as a "Washington insider."

The ballot measure would defy the federal health care law requiring most Americans to have insurance or face fines, starting in 2014.

Gov. Jay Nixon visited Columbia auto workers and touted legislation aimed at keeping Ford Motor Co. in Missouri.