May 15, 2008

Throughout the campaign season, Ron Paul supporters have fought against the odds

By ALEX BRAUN Ron Paul's self-reliant attitude and brutal honesty has made him a cult figure among those who believe in the small-government tradition of Taft, Goldwater and Reagan.

Graduation day approaches

By Alex Lewis

Site work on Landmark Hospital to begin in July

By DANIELLE KARSTENS A representative for the company said the crew would work during daytime hours, and the hospital should open in July or August 2009.

West Broadway residents form neighborhood association

By AFTON GRIER A new neighborhood association for residents of West Broadway formed Wednesday night to improve communication with city officials and neighbors.

Fire department tests fire hydrants

By LAURA MEDINA The fire department will conduct annual tests of fire hydrants starting on Monday. The testing, which was postponed in response to recent water quality issues, will continue throughout the duration of May and June.

MU students collect aid for earthquake victims in China

By BRIAN DOTY and STACEY TALAROVICH The Friendship Association for Chinese Students and Scholars of MU have organized a fundraiser to collect donations for the victims of the earthquake in China. They will be collecting donations all weekend from various locations.

Driver strikes another car while reading mail

By LYNDSEY NIELSEN A woman reading her mail while driving struck two teenagers in another car Wednesday at 2:50 p.m, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

House adds item to bill to allow death sentences for child rape

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in April on a Louisiana law allowing the death penalty for child rapists. But the court has not yet ruled.

Senate OKs illegal immigration bill

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS But it has a provision House leaders don’t like.

May 14, 2008

Columbia police Capt. Martin to retire

By JONATHAN RANDLES Columbia police Capt. Mike Martin, executive assistant to the chief, announced Wednesday he will retire from the department to pursue a career with the Missouri State Teachers Association.

Kansas man convicted of murder of MU student may get retrial

By RYAN NEAL and ERIN VAN SICKLE On Tuesday, the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals upheld the ruling by Boone County Circuit Judge Gene Hamilton that Taron Crawford deserved a new trial because of ineffective counsel during his trial on a second-degree murder charge for the death of Charles Blondis in November 2003.

A view of development from residents' backyards

By RACHEL HEATON and SARAH PALMER This is the fourth in a four-part series on growth and development in Columbia. You can find the other stories at ColumbiaMissourian.com. You can also visit the Missourian’s Public Life blog, The Watchword, to read the reflections of reporters Rachel Heaton and Sarah Palmer, who have spent more than a month working on the series.

Sheriff’s deputies think three burglaries in Midway area are related

By BROOKE TACKER Belongings, including several thousand dollars in jewelry, credit cards and a gun, were taken between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday from three houses on Locust Grove Church Road near Hatton Chapel Road, deputies said.

Women learn about wellness at fair

By LAURA MEDINA As a part of National Women’s Health Week, the Columbia/Boone County Health Department held a health and wellness fair Wednesday.

U.S. House passes farm bill

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, The Associated Press The House has passed a $290 billion farm bill with a strong veto-proof majority. The legislation includes more subsidies for farmers, food stamps for the poor and special projects that lawmakers can bring home to voters this election year.

MU graduation begins Friday

By MELISSA HUFFER MU graduation ceremonies will be held Friday through Sunday. MU will distribute 5,194 degrees to 4,774 graduates, according to the MU News Bureau.

Missouri illegal immigration bill stalls in Senate

By CHRIS BLANK Senators stopped just short of a vote on an illegal immigration bill because of questions about its cost and jockeying over an unrelated measure. The legislative session ends Friday.

May 13, 2008

Farm bill diverts money to farmer subsidies

By MARY CLARE JALONICK/The Associated Press A five-year farm bill in Congress this week does little to address the growing global food crisis. Instead, it diverts money that could be spent feeding poor children abroad to give more subsidies for U.S. farmers now enjoying record high crop prices and incomes.

Lawmakers reject database fee increase

By DAVID A. LIEB/The Associated Press In a rebuke of Gov. Matt Blunt’s administration, House members on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a large fee increase charged to businesses obtaining vehicle and driver’s license information from state databases.

Obama courts working class in Cape Girardeau

By BETSY TAYLOR/The Associated Press Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama stressed his desire to help the middle class during an economic town hall Tuesday in Cape Girardeau — a visit viewed as an attempt to court working-class and swing voters.