Gingrich in St. Louis to support Todd Akin
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich will be in suburban St. Louis on Monday at a fundraiser and news conference in support of Todd Akin's Senate campaign. The men are scheduled to appear at a $500-per-person, or $750-per-couple, fundraiser. They'll also speak at a late-morning news conference in Kirkwood.
Akin is seeking to unseat incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill in the November election. Many Republicans distanced themselves from Akin after his comments in August about what he called "legitimate rape," including GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan.
Missouri to pay more for pensions
Missouri will chip in nearly $330 million next year to pay for state worker pensions. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports state government will pay about 20 percent more than in the current year largely because of lower investment returns and longer life expectancies. The board for the Missouri State Employees Retirement System approved the increase by a 10-1 vote.
State Budget Director Linda Luebbering says the increased payment is not a surprise.
Shooting at East St. Louis club leaves three dead, two injured
Authorities say a shooting outside an East St. Louis club has left three men dead and two others wounded. The shooting occurred around 2:15 a.m. Sunday morning in the parking lot of Club VIP. Authorities say it was a "teen night." Two 18-year-olds were also injured. They were treated and released.
Details of what prompted the shooting were still unfolding yesterday. But Mayor Alvin L. Parks, Jr. says it may have stemmed from an argument over dance partners. Authorities say some patrons had been thrown out of the club and they allegedly went to their cars to retrieve guns and started shooting. At least one person has been taken into custody for questioning.
Parks has been a supporter of allowing the clubs to remain open at late hours because they bring in tax revenue. This summer, he was opposed to the City Council changing the nightclub hours requiring them to close an hour earlier at 3 a.m on the weekends.
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