The Royals are quickly losing their division lead. The White Sox set season-highs on Wednesday with 15 runs, 19 hits and six home runs in a 15-4 rout of Kansas City. Jose Valentin went deep three times for the White Sox, driving in five runs in the process. Paul Konerko hit a grand slam and had six RBI. The White Sox are now an AL-best 11-2 since the All-Star Game. The Royals began the second half with a seven-game lead over Chicago. That lead has now been trimmed to just two games.
Cards Score Early, Often In Win
July 31, 2003 By
The Cardinals buried the Expos with a quick start on Wednesday. The Redbirds put a seven-spot on the board in the first inning, en route to an 11-1 win over Montreal. Mike Matheny and Edgar Renteria each drove in three runs for St. Louis, which knocked Montreal starter Claudio Vargas out of the game after he gave up seven runs while recording just one out. Renteria also hit his 11th home run of the season. Rookie Dan Haren improved his record to 2-2. He threw four-hit, shutout baseball over seven innings.
Jobless Rate In Missouri Rises
July 30, 2003 By
Unemployment jumped in Missouri in June, up nearly a full percentage point from May’s figures. The state pegs the June unemployment rate at 5.8 percent, up from the May rate of 4.9 percent. Missouri remains under the national unemployment rate of 6.5 percent. The state blames the jump on normal seasonal factors that make the unemployment rate jump up each summer.
Holden Orders Flags To Fly At Half Staff For Bob Hope
July 30, 2003 By
If you see flags at half-staff at state buildings, it’s becuase Governor Bob Holden has ordered them lowered in honor of Bob Hope. They’ll fly at full staff again tomorrow. Hope was not a Missourian, but entertained in several places here in his long career. One of his daughters went to college in St. Louis.
Supreme Court Says Caskets Subject To Taxation
July 30, 2003 By
The State Supreme Court says caskets come under the state sales tax. But the Court says the burial vaults they are placed in are not. The Court says caskets are personal property, thus subject to the tax. But vaults are not tangible personal property, and are therefore tax exempt. A St. Louis funeral home had argued that it should not have to charge sales taxes because the customer does not own the casket until it is placed in the ground.
