Sherman A1
Sherman A1's JournalMissouri Supreme Court To Decide If Voters Without Photo ID Must Sign Affidavit
The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday on whether a portion of the state’s voter identification law is unconstitutional.
The law allows three methods to cast a vote. People can show a photo ID; another form of identification, like a utility bill, but are then required to sign an affidavit; or they can cast a provisional ballot, which will only count once they return to show ID or election workers match their signatures with a past ballot.
The signed affidavit option is what Priorities USA, a Democratic-aligned voting rights group, argues is unconstitutional. Last year, Senior Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan agreed, saying the language in the affidavit was misleading and confusing.
During oral arguments, Marc Elias, representing Priorities USA, said the affidavit discourages people from voting because they are subject to perjury. He pointed out what he considers flaws within the affidavit, line by line.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-supreme-court-decide-if-voters-without-photo-id-must-sign-affidavit
Pritzker To Decide If 'Tobacco 21' Becomes Law
The Illinois Senate Thursday approved raising the legal smoking age from 18 to 21. All eyes now turn to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who has yet to say where he stands on the idea.
Some lawmakers say they’re confident Pritzker will sign the plan into law, which would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to those under 21 and penalize businesses that violate it. But—the democratic governor has stayed mostly silent on the issue.
In an unrelated press conference, Pritzker said those who smoke should pay higher taxes on cigarettes and start paying a tax on vaping products. He talked about his children and smoking.
"As the parent of teenagers, I don’t want my kids to take up cigarette smoking, I don’t want them to take up vaping, but people who choose to do it can help subsidize, for example, the healthcare of others in the state”.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/pritzker-decide-if-tobacco-21-becomes-law
Pritzker To Decide If 'Tobacco 21' Becomes Law
The Illinois Senate Thursday approved raising the legal smoking age from 18 to 21. All eyes now turn to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who has yet to say where he stands on the idea.
Some lawmakers say they’re confident Pritzker will sign the plan into law, which would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to those under 21 and penalize businesses that violate it. But—the democratic governor has stayed mostly silent on the issue.
In an unrelated press conference, Pritzker said those who smoke should pay higher taxes on cigarettes and start paying a tax on vaping products. He talked about his children and smoking.
"As the parent of teenagers, I don’t want my kids to take up cigarette smoking, I don’t want them to take up vaping, but people who choose to do it can help subsidize, for example, the healthcare of others in the state”.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/pritzker-decide-if-tobacco-21-becomes-law
Schnucks To Stop Selling Tobacco Products By January 2020
Grocery chain Schnucks announced Thursday it will stop selling tobacco products beginning Jan. 1. The company plans to sell existing inventory of cigarettes, chewing tobacco and similar products through the end of the year.
Spokesman Paul Simon said the announcement falls in line with the Maryland Heights-based company’s increasing focus on health and wellness.
“They are a profitable part of our business, but our company’s mission is to nourish people's lives, and tobacco products directly contradict that mission,” he said. “And that means we decided they simply didn’t belong in our stores.”
Simon declined to disclose how much revenue the private company makes from those products.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/schnucks-stop-selling-tobacco-products-january-2020
Schnucks To Stop Selling Tobacco Products By January 2020
Grocery chain Schnucks announced Thursday it will stop selling tobacco products beginning Jan. 1. The company plans to sell existing inventory of cigarettes, chewing tobacco and similar products through the end of the year.
Spokesman Paul Simon said the announcement falls in line with the Maryland Heights-based company’s increasing focus on health and wellness.
“They are a profitable part of our business, but our company’s mission is to nourish people's lives, and tobacco products directly contradict that mission,” he said. “And that means we decided they simply didn’t belong in our stores.”
Simon declined to disclose how much revenue the private company makes from those products.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/schnucks-stop-selling-tobacco-products-january-2020
Ameren, MoBot Are Making Solar Power More Affordable For Homes, Schools And Nonprofits
Two recently launched programs in Missouri aim to lower cost barriers for residents, nonprofits and businesses that want access to solar energy and to reduce their carbon footprint.
Ameren Missouri began taking applications today for its $14 million Neighborhood Solar program. Under the program, Ameren will pay the cost of installing and maintaining solar panels for up to seven schools, nonprofits or community organizations.
The Missouri Botanical Garden and Washington University also recently began offering St. Louis and St. Louis County residents discounted rates for installing panels on their properties.
Given the success of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s Grow Solar program in other states, it’s a good time to offer it in St. Louis, said Glenda Abney, director of the garden’s EarthWays Center.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/ameren-mobot-are-making-solar-power-more-affordable-homes-schools-and-nonprofits
Ameren, MoBot Are Making Solar Power More Affordable For Homes, Schools And Nonprofits
Two recently launched programs in Missouri aim to lower cost barriers for residents, nonprofits and businesses that want access to solar energy and to reduce their carbon footprint.
Ameren Missouri began taking applications today for its $14 million Neighborhood Solar program. Under the program, Ameren will pay the cost of installing and maintaining solar panels for up to seven schools, nonprofits or community organizations.
The Missouri Botanical Garden and Washington University also recently began offering St. Louis and St. Louis County residents discounted rates for installing panels on their properties.
Given the success of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s Grow Solar program in other states, it’s a good time to offer it in St. Louis, said Glenda Abney, director of the garden’s EarthWays Center.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/ameren-mobot-are-making-solar-power-more-affordable-homes-schools-and-nonprofits
Stalled: Transit Union Says No Deal On Proposed Employment Contract
The transit union that represents MetroBus and MetroLink workers voted Monday to reject Bi-State Development’s most recent proposed new employment contract.
Union representatives said the contract fell short on worker safety, wages and medical benefits.
Bi-State Development and the Amalgamated Transit Union 788 have been negotiating for more than a year. The existing contract’s one-year extension expired at the end of June. A new contract would affect the wages and benefits of more than 1,500 workers across St. Louis-area transit systems in Missouri and Illinois, including vehicle operators and mechanics.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/stalled-transit-union-says-no-deal-proposed-employment-contract
Yang talks divesting from policing and prisons and reinvesting in communities hit by gun violence,
Yang answered a question from Taylor Martin and Jesse Holmes — two high school students from Washington, D.C. — about making gun violence a public health issue and reallocating resources form policing and incarceration to communities that have been harmed by it.
Yang called the criminal justice system “inhumane” and called for the end of private prisons. He said that money should go to families and communities that can create small businesses and increase the buying power of black consumers to improve neighborhoods.
We pay a “higher and darker price” by putting money towards prisons and over-policing minority communities, he said, adding, “We need to treat gun violence like a public health crisis."
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/live-blog/gun-safety-forum-live-updates-las-vegas-n1060911
Dr. Marty Makary On Why Health Care Costs Keep Skyrocketing -- And What To Do About It
Much of the conversation about contemporary American health care revolves around money more than actual medicine. But given the crushing costs associated with seemingly every aspect of the industry, that focus isn’t so surprising.
As Dr. Marty Makary of Johns Hopkins University notes in his newly published book, “The Price We Pay: What Broke American Healthcare — And How To Fix It,” one in five Americans currently has medical debt in collections.
On Wednesday’s St. Louis on the Air, Makary joined host Sarah Fenske to talk about his research into why costs are skyrocketing — and what can be done to redesign the broken U.S. health care system.
Makary, who is a surgeon and professor of health policy as well as an author, joined the talk show in advance of his appearance Wednesday evening at St. Louis County Library.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/dr-marty-makary-why-health-care-costs-keep-skyrocketing-and-what-do-about-it
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