Like the voice of your grandpa telling you to put on a raincoat before you go out, KWMU Meteorologist Ben Abell has for years been a reliable source of helpful advice. But after April, the able weatherman will be moving on.

Last night, the 75 year-old Abell announced he will be retiring. According to the radio station, his weather reports have been a part of KWMU ever since the station went on the air, in 1972.

Abell’s last forecast will be on April 27.

Click here to read more.

Pub Def is now offering two 8-week internships for students interested in new media.

These internships offer students a chance to:

1) Witness and record public meetings of local and state government bodies;

2) Practice and improve their journalism, video production and blogging skills;

3) Learn the players in local politics;

4) And participate in (and even lead) online discussions of current events.

These internships come with a $500 monthly stipend and require approximately 10-15 hours per week of work.

About Pub Def:

PUB DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the City of St. Louis, Missouri. Our goal is to cast a critical eye on lawmakers, their policies, and those that have influence upon them, and to educate our readers about legislation and the political processes that affect our daily lives. Our reports have been featured on NBC’s “Meet the Press”, Fox News, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Kansas City Star, and numerous other mainstream and new media outlets. The St. Louis Business Journal recently named PubDef.net as one of the most influential players in local media. Our exclusive reports and innovative use of video has made PubDef.net one of the most read political blogs in the state.

Please send resume and references to editor@pubdef.net with the word “INTERNSHIP” in the subject line.

UPDATE: We have received many excellent applications for these two positions. So much so that we think we can be bit picky. So here is what we’re holding out for:

As we review these resumes, we are asking one question: “How can this person help make Pub Def better?”

These are the skills we have in mind as we look for the ideal candidate:

A top-notch reporter

and/or

Adobe Flash design experience

and/or

Video production experience

Now please keep in mind, potential applicants, that there are probably other skills that we can greatly use to make Pub Def even better. If you have them, tell us about them and how they can be used to keep Pub Def on the cutting edge.

Thanks to all who have already applied. We are looking to make a final decision before May 1, 2007. If you have any questions or would like to present yourself in person, email editor@pubdef.net.

I’m scheduled to be a guest on “Collateral Damage” tonight with hosts D.J. Wilson and Fred Hessel and Steve Patterson of Urban Review STL. The show starts at 7:00 and can be heard on KDHX 88.1 FM or online at www.kdhx.org.

With Election Day tomorrow, the likely topics of discussion will be the race for Aldermanic President and the various contested ward races — Oh, and how annoying anonymous blog commenters can be.

Former U.S. Senator Tom Eagleton passed away today.

From Wikipedia:

Thomas Francis Eagleton (September 4, 1929 – March 4, 2007) was a United States Senator from Missouri, serving from 1969 until 1987. He is best remembered for briefly being a Democratic Vice Presidential nominee, sharing the ticket under George McGovern in 1972. He taught Public Affairs at Washington University for over a decade and taught a seminar on the Presidency and the Constitution at Saint Louis University School of Law.

Click here to read more.

Mayor Francis Slay has ordered flags in the city to be flown at half staff in honor of former State Senator, City Comptroller and Alderman John Bass.

“As an educator he inspired thousands of students in our city. As Comptroller he fought relentlessly for fairness and fiscal responsibility, and as State Senator, he fought fearlessly in Jefferson City to protect the vital interests of the City of St. Louis,” said Slay.

“On behalf of all the residents of our City and all City employees, I want to extend my deepest and heartfelt condolence to his family and friends,” he said.

Bass, who was 80 years old, passed away Sunday. A wake will be held tomorrow, Thursday, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Wade Funeral Home, 4828 Natural Bridge. The funeral is set for Friday, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist Parish, 4330 Shreve Ave.

Slay has ordered all the official flags be flown at half staff through Sunday.

Former State Senator and former St. Louis City Comptroller John Bass passed away yesterday.

In a message on her website, Bass’ granddaughter, Kacie Starr Triplett, said Bass loved St. Louis and enjoyed being a public servant.

“He took his role very seriously, and was ALWAYS willing to share his wisdom and experience,” wrote Triplett.

“My grandfather was both fair and honest. Although, I wasn’t around when he began his career in the 1970’s, so many people tell me today, how much of an impact he made on their life, and how fair and balanced he was. My heart is heavy with this great loss.”

UPDATE: The arrangements are as follows:

Thursday, March 1st - Viewing from 4pm - 8pm at Wade Funeral Home, 4828 Natural Bridge

Friday, March 2nd - Viewing 9am - 10am at St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist (formerly St. Engelbert) Parish 4330 Shreve

Friday, March 2nd - Funeral at 10am, St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist Parish, 4330 Shreve Ave.

Thank you again for all the words of condolences, cards of sympathy, and general acts of kindness since the passing of my grandmother. My family and I are greatly appreciative — not just of your actions, but of the community we call home. Thank you.

And now back to work.

ADF

The wake for my grandmother, 21st Ward Committeewoman Myrtle French, is tonight from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Randall and Sons Funeral Home, 4600 Natural Bridge Ave. The funeral services will be tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., also at Randall.

Myrtle L. French, longtime community organizer and Democratic Committeewoman of the 21st Ward, passed away peacefully on February 8, 2007 at the age of 79.

Her strength, charm, determination, wisdom, and laughter will be deeply missed by son Fernandel French; grandchildren Antonio D. French, Diane F. Donaldson, and Deon F. Donaldson; sister Mildred Phipps and her husband, Robert, and children; sister Barbara Gess and her husband, Col. William Gess, and children and grandchildren; niece Shirley Spencer and children and grandchildren; nephew Jimmy Williams and children; many other relatives around the country, and countless neighbors and friends.

Myrtle Long was born August 31, 1927, the eldest of four daughters to James and Mary Long. A devoted mother and housewife for many years, she began in politics alongside then-husband, R.C. French, as an organizer in the 1960s in the old 20th Ward working with Committeeman Leroy Tyus and Committeewoman Geneva Wright.

In the 1970s, she moved into the 21st Ward and became a close ally of State Representative Russell Goward and Committeewoman Jackie Butler.

She diligently served the City of St. Louis as a Deputy Sheriff from November 1983 to retirement in March 1994.

After the tragic death of her daughter, Diane, in January 1990, Myrtle became legal guardian of her grandson, Antonio.

After decades of working to get others elected to public office, in August 1996 Myrtle was elected 21st Ward Committeewoman, an office in which she took great pride and served honorably, and was re-elected by the people of her ward ever since.

Early this morning, 21st Ward Committeewoman Myrtle French, my grandmother, passed away.

No posts for a while. Check back later for funeral information.

Thank you to all that have already offered their prayers and condolences to my family. It is very much appreciated.

ADF

UPDATE: Thank you again for all the calls, emails, web postings, and words of support. My family is very appreciative.

The funeral will be next weekend, Saturday, February 17, at 10:00 a.m. at Randle and Sons Funeral Home, 4600 Natural Bridge Ave.

There will be a viewing the night before, on Friday, February 16, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

For those that wish to send flowers or cards, our home address in 4524 Athlone Ave, 63115.

Thank you again. Pub Def will return on Monday.

Congressman Lacy Clay has issued the following statement in response to President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address delivered a short time ago:

“Tonight, the President reviewed his long list of broken promises and confirmed that he is still disconnected from what really matters to the American people. A year ago, he promised that as the Iraqi government stood up, the U.S. would stand down. Since he made that statement, 879 more brave Americans have been killed in support of Mr. Bush’s failed policy, for a total of 3,059 U.S. soldiers killed in action. The very last thing that we should be doing now is to send 21,000 more U.S. troops into the middle of a civil war.”

“Next week, I will cosponsor a resolution that will advise the President that the House of Representatives strongly opposes his plan to escalate this tragic and unnecessary war. Mr. Bush’s continuing refusal to face reality in Iraq is depleting our military strength and weakening our efforts to fight the very real war against terrorism. We don’t need to escalate this war… we need to end it.”

“The President also spoke a great deal about health care. But unfortunately, his health care proposal will do little or nothing for most of the 47 million Americans who are uninsured. It’s like offering a band-aid to a patient who is bleeding to death. The obvious and most cost-effective way to achieve universal coverage is to expand Medicare to cover the uninsured, which is exactly what I have proposed.”

“In the first 100 hours of the new Congress, the U.S. House, with bipartisan support, has voted to raise the minimum wage, expand federal funding for stem cell research, implement the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission, require negotiation of lower prescription drug costs for seniors, make college loans more affordable, and end the multi-billion dollar giveaways to big oil and gas companies. That is a great beginning.”

“In the coming year, I hope that the President will truly put the state of our union first, and work with us to find common ground on key issues like immigration, alternative energy and conservation, restoring fiscal responsibility, increasing home ownership and ending unfair trade policies that hurt American workers.”