The fur is flying over a memo sent from an official with the Office of Administration to three state agencies. That memo ties state jobs to payment of union dues. The letter, sent by the Office of Administration’s Paul Buckley to the Department of Mental Health, Department of Corrections, and Missouri Veterans Commission advises those agencies to inform new employees hired after September 1st they must either join a union and pay dues or reject the union but have special fees deducted, anyway. He says no money will be deducted until a mechanism to do so is in place. Senate Leader Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau says a deduction is a deduction – no matter whether it’s called a union due or a special fee, and it’s wrong to take that money out of workers’ paychecks. Kinder says this is a clear case of Governor Holden paying off unions for their help in his efforts. Those sentiments are echoed by the state’s business community. Kelly Gillespie with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce says the Governor is using state workers as pawns, adding he is handing a share of every state worker’s paycheck to the unions. Jim Kistler with Associated Industries of Missouri says the Governor is sidestepping the constitution because state law prohibits any type of payroll deduction not authorized by an employee.
Clemons’ Conversations Reportedly Being Probed By FBI
Missourinet affiliate KFRU in Columbia is reporting that the FBI has obtained over two-dozen hours of Rickey Clemons’ phone conversations recorded the Boone County Jail. They’ve also obtained mail he received at the jail. The FBI wouldn’t comment on why they acquired the tape other than to say it’s part of an on-going investigation. Clemons, who was dismissed from the Missouri basketball team last month, is expected to be released on Sunday. The University of Missouri sports information department declined to comment to the Missourinet on the situation and a call placed to Athletic Director Mike Alden’s office last night, has not been returned. The NCAA is also investigating claims made by Clemons former girlfriend. She says he received money and clothes at Mizzou and that he had at least one paper written for him.
Heat Grips Missouri … Again
It wasn’t as hot in Kansas City Tuesday as it was on Monday by one degree. The western and extreme northern part of the state continues to swelter under the heat with no relief in sight. Kansas City recorded a high yesterday of 104 degrees, one degree shy of the 105 recorded Monday afternoon. If it tops triple digits today, it will be the 5th straight day Kansas City suffers under three digit temperatures. It wasn’t quite as hot across the state in St. Louis, where the high hit 97.
Drivers Advised To Watch For Stopped School Buses
School’s back in and that means drivers have to be a little more careful. In addition to watching out for school zones and their lower speed limits, drivers also have to be on the alert for stopped school buses. Jackie Allen with the State Division of Highway Safety reminds drivers they must stop when a bus’s stop arm is lowered whilc picking up or letting off kids. Failure to comply with the school bus law could result in a year in jail, a one-thousand dollar fine, or both.
Hot Weather, Reduced River Levels, Could Affect Power Supply
Hot, dry weather and smaller releases from upstreams dams on the Missouri River are forcing river levels lower. And that could end up affecting how much electrical power can be generated at a time when more is needed. Paul Agathen is with AmerenUE, the state’s largest electric utility. Ameren owns two electric plants on the Missouri River – the nuclear plant near Fulton and a coal-fired plant near Washington, Missouri. Agathen says while it has not become a problem yet, low river levels could have an impact on power prodcution. Agathen says Ameren could end up buying power from other sources if need be but of course that would be more expensive for the company and ultimately, consumers.
