The Royals have hit more spring training home runs than any other team this spring and they continued that trend against the Cubs. Alex Gordon went deep twice and Mark Teahen hit his 6 th homer, but they tied Chicago 8-8.
Billy Butler’s RBI single, following singles by David DeJesus and Willie Bloomquist, snapped a 5-5 tie in the eighth. Gordon then hit a high fly to center that was dropped by center fielder Kosuke Fukudome allowing two runs to score on an error.
However, closer Joakim Soria came in with a chance to save the game, but blew the 8-5 lead in the ninth by giving up three runs on four hits and a walk. Royals and Cubs tie at 8.
Kyle Davies, who is expected to start the season’s third game at Chicago, had his longest outing of the spring, 5 2/3 innings. He was charged with four runs on eight hits.
Listen to manager Trey Hillman as he talks about Gordon’s timing and the pitching of Davies and Soria.
[box score]
Royals, Cubs tie 8-8
Mizzou FB season tickets on sale now
Missouri Tiger football fans can now purchase season tickets for the upcoming season with six games on the schedule including key Big 12 home games with Texas and Nebraska. We’ve got pricing and purchase information inside.
The athletic department has put on free on 2008 ticket prices. General public season tickets are available for $280. Faculty-Staff pricing is $225, $199 for the Tiger Zone, and $168 for Young Alumni seating.
Tickets are available online at mutigers.com , or can be purchased in person at the Mizzou Arena Ticket Office, or via phone at 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in the 573 area code). If you are a season ticket holder, you should have received a renewal form in the mail. 2008 season ticket holders have until May 8 th to reserve your seats from last season.
Politics and voting sometimes don’t get along
Politics are getting in the way of the public’s ability to conveniently vote.
Senate committee considers bill to protect the fetus
The Senate Judiciary Committee is considering SB 459 – a bill that would allow for the criminal prosecution of a woman for harm to an unborn child due to intentional and unlawful use of controlled substances.
Senator Brad Lager (R-Savannah) sponsors the legislation. He says the state must do what is necessary to protect the unborn child.
“I just believe strongly that this type of action and this type of behavior cannot be condoned,” Lager told the committee. “And we need to take the steps necessary to make sure that, you know, whether it’s a child that’s born or unborn that this type of action – we have a method and a way to deal with it accordingly and, unfortunately, today we don’t.”
But Senator Jolie Justus (D-Kansas City) fears a law of this kind might have unintended consequences.
“We are going to, number one, scare women away from getting any sort of pre-natal care, whatsoever,” stated Justus. “And then, number two, I think an unintended consequence may be an increase in abortions because people who want to continue their lifestyle of taking drugs, they’re going to know that this could be a possibility that they could go to jail for it. So, instead of maybe seeking pre-natal care or trying to come up with other solutions that they’re going to seek an abortion.”
The hearing ended with the panel taking no vote.
Download/Listen: Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on SB 459 (15:00 MP3)
Scholarship program favors private over public colleges
A plan to change Missouri’s primary scholarship program so that public college students can get the same amount of money as private college students has stalled in the legislature.
At present, Access Missouri provides a maximum scholarship of $2,150 a year if the student attends a public college. That maximum jumps to $4,600 if the student attends a private college.
Rep. Gayle Kingery (R-Poplar Bluff) sponsors HB 792 which would make the maximum scholarship from Access Missouri $2,850, no matter where the student attends.
"We do think they should be equitable," Kingery says, "and that’s what this bill tries to achieve."
Kingery’s bill, though, has yet to be assigned to committee, a necessary step before the legislature can even consider it. The best Kingery has been able to get is an informational hearing before a House committee to discuss the concept, but not to take any action.
It appears House leadership feels bound by a deal struck during the Blunt Administration that paved the way for the MoHELA college capital improvement program. In exchange for House support of the MoHELA plan, then-Governor Blunt promised to support creation of Access Missouri. The disparity between scholarships awarded to public and private students apparently was part of the deal.
Kingery says the current Access Missouri policy encourages students to go to private colleges. He says the state is pushing students toward private colleges when it offers more than twice the scholarship for private school as for public.
"We’re actually influencing part of their decision when we do that," Kingery says.
Westminster College sophomore Raghela Scavuzzo of Harrisonville receives the full $4,600 scholarship to attend the private college in Fulton.
"I still have two years left on my education," Scavuzzo says, "If they’re going to cut me by a lot, I can’t afford to take out more loans and my Mom can’t afford to pay that either. I’m gonna have to probably transfer."
Kingery’s proposal will be discussed in a House committee meeting today. A similar senate bill, SB 390 , has a hearing scheduled for tomorrow. It is sponsored by Sen. Kurt Schaeffer (R-Columbia).
